how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

[fordraceing_man]

just wondering for you guys that park outside cause you don't have a garage or can't use it do you need to wax the car more or clay it more, how do you keep it up when its always outside?

[MikeGT]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

My car sits in a garage, but my Gfs saturn is always outside. While there is no trick for up-keep, the best thing you can do is wash it often, and wax it often.

[gollums_friend]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

Mine's always outside, under a carport. Purchased new in May, and (I just washed/dried/evaluated the finish) I have yet to feel the need to use the Quik Clay I just purchased. I'm going to do it before winter hits, regardless of how it feels though. Then in the spring, I'll clay again because I hate winter. lol

Every weekend since May I wash and dry the car whether it "looks" dirty or not. I wash and (2 thin coats) wax about every 6 weeks or so....because I enjoy doing it mostly, not so much because the car looks like it needs it. In July, I did a full detail of wash/paint cleaner/polish #7/wax. I plan to do that again before winter hits.

The biggest problem around here for me was the darn pollen this spring/summer. I used QD daily between washes but started to worry that I might be sctratching the car removing it all. So on days the pollen was really bad, I'd leave it and wait for the weekend just to wash it off.

I've dealt with bird doo only once, and got it off within 30 minutes of landing, I'd guess. Tons of birds around here, so I've been super lucky in that area.

All in all........I've felt I've really had no problems keeping my car clean and pretty parked outside. Besides, I have no choice, so that's that! I'm sure I wouldn't have had to fight with all that pollen if I had a garage......but there are worse things in life!

[grover]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

Both of my cars are outside 24/7. My sebring and my wife's PT convertible. I try to wash weekly but it ends up every 2 weeks, 1 car a week. I do manage to get a wax in about every 4 to 6 weeks for each car. My dark blue will usually get colorX then followed by NXT while my wife's white PT gets mainly NXT.

Then, twice a year I do the whole routine of clay, paint cleaner, polish and wax on both cars.

This routine seems to keep them in pretty good shape. My sebring is 5+ years old and I still get compliments that it looks like new.

[DogParkGuy]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

Mine is parked outside 24/7. I have thought about a cover, but just can't justify it in my own mind (let alone my neighbors). So I wash it regularly, wax, detail process, etc. And unfortunately use a car wash in the winter.

[kellyinkc]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

Mine is outside 24/7. Wifes is indoors. It also sits under an oak tree. So I get sap. I wash weekly and wax every 6 weeks or so. Rigfht now acorns are hitting all over it. Been looking at a canopy.

[indigo s10]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

I wash one or the other every week, and at least Quik Wax then, and full wax once a month. I clay once a year. On my truck(Indigo Bue Metallic) I Color X, then Gold Class. My wifes car(Galaxy Silver Metallic) I just Gold Class. Every now and then I will Color X it, to make the metal flake stand out. When I have time, I do a coat of #7 show car glaze.

[BlueTooth]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

ever since I left for college my truck has to sit outside, it used to be garaged, so now I wash and wax it every weekend, I was thinkin about getting a car cover but then I would be the only one in the lot with one and it would make people curious as to what was under there and they would prolly break into it. So I just wash and wax every weekend, and I think that $70 for a car cover from autozone is rediculous especially for a college student with no money.

[hondacrazy]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

both cars outside, wife and I will be looking to purchase our first home at the end of December, I want a 2-car garage SO badly, but doubt we will be able to afford it. we will draw the line at a one-garage, hopefully with the ability to add-on if we ever had that luxury. her car will get the garage, i mean, it has to be that way. that way she doesnt have to deal with the snow and cold temps...I SO HOPE WE CAN FIND A 2-Car Garage house that we can afford.

i try to wash both cars every weekend, havent gotten on a waxing schedule yet, but plan to do a FULL detail to both before the snow, and then salt starts to fly.

[jsfofec]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

I SO HOPE WE CAN FIND A 2-Car Garage house that we can afford.

Good luck in finding a 2 car garage! We bought our 1st home about 4 years ago, and like you I wanted a 2 car garage. It's soooo nice to have. I walk out of our family room right into the garage. Every night I go in the garage and check over the cars before going to bed. Especially with bad weather, it's a great feeling knowing your cars are nice and safe inside.

I also have Hondas. I just got an '06 Pilot. My wife just totaled our '95 Accord last week. She ran into a parked car...long story. I had just detailed it (15 hours) 3 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago I detailed the engine. I don't know if I can afford another car, we have the Pilot to pay for, but the new accords look so nice.

[MCA]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

My parents live quite a distance from me so I only get to detail their car(s) once every 2-3 months. Their Mazda 626 sits outside 24/7 so I set up the following regime that has yet to fail me:

- 1 layer of Color X
- 2 layers of #16

I also mechanically polish once a year to remove marring (usually in the spring timeframe). My dad will run the car through a touchless carwash once or twice a month (hey...can't win them all). Anyways, this combo gives me excellent looks and durability.

[indigo s10]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

both cars outside, wife and I will be looking to purchase our first home at the end of December, I want a 2-car garage SO badly, but doubt we will be able to afford it. we will draw the line at a one-garage, hopefully with the ability to add-on if we ever had that luxury. her car will get the garage, i mean, it has to be that way. that way she doesnt have to deal with the snow and cold temps...I SO HOPE WE CAN FIND A 2-Car Garage house that we can afford.

i try to wash both cars every weekend, havent gotten on a waxing schedule yet, but plan to do a FULL detail to both before the snow, and then salt starts to fly.

I here ya about the garage. I just bought a house not to long ago, and sadly no garage, yet. When my truck is paid off, I'm going to build a 32x40 two story garage. Garage downstairs, large entertainment area upstairs.

[Lydia]

Re: how many of you keep your cars outside? and how do you protect it?

We have a one car garage but there's never room for a running car in it; right now it has my Dad's motorcycle the Celica he is replacing the engine on, and once he's done with the Celica, my sister's motorcycle will be parked inside, so no room for my truck. It doesn't matter that much for my truck anyways since the paint is so scratched up from the previous owner anyways. I protect my truck with NXT Tech Wax, which works awesome. I try to wash it every week but it usually ends up more like every other week.

Good luck with the garage, hondacrazy.