Car covers?

[ocmdiaz714]

I have a black daily that I wash weekly and which lately has been getting alot of swirls and fine scratches. I believe it might be due to the fact that I use small orange vroom towels from Target to dry after washes and the fact that I don't use a grit guard? The car is not garaged and parked under a canopy at times, it doesn't help much as it gets a lot of dust. It's occasionally parked under a large tree for shade and so it doesn't get heated up by the sun yet many leaves fall on it and again leave it dusty.

I'm planning on buying a car cover. I found one on ebay but have been told that covers scratch the car as you apply the cover over the dirt which is picked up as you drive. Can anybody give me any advice or suggestions? I'm in Orange County, California and I currently have my car parked down the street under no tree and know it will get all hot tomorrow morning.

Also, I've used ultimate compound and such for the scratches yet am not pleased with the results as I rub in the product for hours. I'll give it another try once I buy a Porter Cable 7424 or the Meguiar's own dual action polisher. Seems I can't do much working by hand.

Here's the cover:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Fleetwood-4door-1989-1994-Car-Cover-u5_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem27aaacbf38QQitemZ170367172408QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Thank you.

[Murr1525]

Re: Car covers?

Yeah, the car will have to be clean to put the cover on, so unless you want to wash or QD every day, I wouldnt plan on it working well.

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: Car covers?

Yeah, the car will have to be clean to put the cover on, so unless you want to wash or QD every day, I wouldnt plan on it working well.

Ugh...sounds like the car cover would be a waste of money then. Would it really be safe for me to apply QD every day in between washes?

[Murr1525]

Re: Car covers?

Thats always a tough one.... QD's are for light dust and dirt. But there is really no exact line of where light dust becomes heavy, abrasive dirt.

Many people do it every day and it works well for them, I suppose it depends what kind of area you are in.

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: Car covers?

Thanks for the help. I'll apply QD daily now.

[Murr1525]

Re: Car covers?

At least try it for a few days on a test panel maybe in between washes....

You also might want to look into Last Touch, I think it is supposed to be the best lubricating detailer.

[james0509]

Re: Car covers?

A warning for using car covers.

If you buy a car cover for a "class" of vehicles which is not SPECIFICALLY made for your vehicles, it WILL put more swirlmarks and scratches on your car!!!!!

When wind blows the car cover, it will tend to rub against the car's paint, seeing that your car is black it will be very easy to cause swirlmarks.

( this is why I don't like car covers in general, I'd rather leave it out in the open without a cover. )

[Blueline]

Re: Car covers?

As others have said, don't use a car cover on a daily basis, no matter how good it is. Removing it and putting it on daily, plus the wind, will ruin your paint. Covers really are only meant for long term storage, and stored inside out of the wind. My opinion anyway.

[mis3]

Re: Car covers?

How about a California Duster... This might serve you well.

Do a search in this forum. Many here like it.

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: Car covers?

How about a California Duster... This might serve you well.

Do a search in this forum. Many here like it.

I tried it and it only spread the dust and contaminants. I'll be using a NOAH car cover but will make sure to use Meguiar's Ultimate QD before-hand. Can anybody recommend a good vinyl top cleaner/protector? I've been washing it with gold class car wash and using Meguiar's Direct Gold Class Vinyl/Rubber Protectant, so far. Just saw on google there's a Gold Class Vinyl Cleaner & Conditioner by Meguiar's; however, I doubt it would do any better than what I get out of a regular wash using gold class wash.

[jfelbab]

Re: Car covers?

There are car covers and there are car covers. The better ones are soft and light dust won't mar the paint.

You need to ask whether the paint will be better off in your environment not having bird poo and acid rain on it. Are you planning on using it to cover a car that will be parked outside 24/7 for a week or longer?

I just use the car cover for my garage queen as it goes into storage for the winter. It sits for 3-4 months and doesn't collect any dust.

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: Car covers?

There are car covers and there are car covers. The better ones are soft and light dust won't mar the paint.

You need to ask whether the paint will be better off in your environment not having bird poo and acid rain on it. Are you planning on using it to cover a car that will be parked outside 24/7 for a week or longer?

I just use the car cover for my garage queen as it goes into storage for the winter. It sits for 3-4 months and doesn't collect any dust.

Yes. The car will be parked outside 24/7 until I manage to get garage space which I doubt will happen any time soon. The car gets really dusty and all these yellows dots all over, I don't know what it is. And the car is black, it looks horrible after that. The vinyl top was in great shape when I picked it up, less than a year ago and now it's starting to rip apart in the center and small tears are forming. I know this may sound stupid but is the cold bad for a car? I'm in Southern California so the weather is horrible and I need to get a cover quick before Summer. It's about to start raining next week, can't wait for that.

I'm getting a California Car Cover, NOAH. It runs for almost short to $300 but I've heard good things about it.

[tguil]

Re: Car covers?

A piece of advice from an "old guy" who has "tried it all". You are in a tough situation. Lots of environmental problems and no garage. I suggest that you concentrate on regular maintenance and totally forget about "perfection".

A weekly wash using quality products and "finish safe" procedures. Clay once a month and then apply a good one step cleaner/wax (ColorX). That's about as good as you can do and still keep your sanity.

Tom

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: Car covers?

A piece of advice from an "old guy" who has "tried it all". You are in a tough situation. Lots of environmental problems and no garage. I suggest that you concentrate on regular maintenance and totally forget about "perfection".

A weekly wash using quality products and "finish safe" procedures. Clay once a month and then apply a good one step cleaner/wax (ColorX). That's about as good as you can do and still keep your sanity.

Tom

Yes, that's what I was thinking about this morning. I'm going crazy trying to keep it clean. Although I do think after a detail and having it covered every other day would prevent it from getting the top worse. Although I am going to wash it weekly, It needs protection out there, especially when the summer comes.