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Originally posted by Rockpick
While it's a great item to have if you have your own apartment or similar 'semi-secure' area to park within, on a campus or around a dorm, it SCREAMS look at me.
I personally saw two car covers shredded in one night while attending college. One of them was mine.
It was an 'el-cheapo' dust cover but, it was serving my purpose (even on my old 1990 Geo Prizm). Some twit decided that a pocket knife and that thin nylon would be a good match for each other and thus, they ripped it to Guam and back. In turn for my efforts, I not only got a shredded car cover but also a few knife knicks on my paint that weren't able to be removed.
I wish there was a happy end to the story but, the twits in question were never caught. (mind you, few 'vandalism' cases of this stature on a college campus even get investigated... they just accept it as part of the culture and environment on the campus...).
My advice to you....
1. KEEP IT CLEAN: I carried a bucket and a bottle of car wash shampoo with me at all times in the trunk. I'd break away about once per week and get to the wand wash and utilize their water and spot-free rinse. I never once utilized their soap. Watch out, in college towns, you'll often have wand-washes that will frown upon hand washing. I got tossed from one one night at 3 am for doing it. Yes, 3 am.
2. QUIK DETAIL WHEN YOU CAN: As has already been mentioned, carry a bottle of QD and several high quality MF towels to compliment the product. Use it and use it often when it's safe to do so.
3. DON'T ATTRACT ATTENTION: Let's face it, some people are twits. If they see you out there pampering your vehicle they are apt to go out of their way to come by with a key later on in the day. To curtail this, I detailed early in the morning. I was awake anyway (typically not studying...).
A clean/shiny/well maintained vehicle is obtainable when on campus but, be prepared for the occasional door ding. It's going to happen no matter where you park. It's unavoidable.
4. PROTECT OFTEN: After you get a good wash in, don't hesitate to utilize a good last step product (LSP) like NEW NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste or a product like Quik Wax or NXT Generation Spray Wax. As has been demonstrated by several folks on this board, it goes on and comes off very easy and very quickly.
In short, you might not have the luxury of taking care of all of your surficial problems like swirls or some of the stuck on stuff that clay would lift but, the protection is in place. You're not going to be able to check on your vehicle on the hour, every hour while you're there and thus, the more protection, the better!
5. STUDY!!!!!!!! Enough said. Remember, you're there to have fun, party, and establish a social life that will last you a lifetime... urr..... I mean you're there to learn, establish a basis for a career, and develop in a more mature adult member of our society. Yeah, I meant the second part. Really though, the key is to balance both of those. It took me two semesters to figure out how to do it. It's tough but, it CAN be done!
Best of luck! I'm only about 5 years out myself... I miss it each and every day. Make the best of it and apply the heck out of yourself. It will pay off. Trust me.
RP
While it's a great item to have if you have your own apartment or similar 'semi-secure' area to park within, on a campus or around a dorm, it SCREAMS look at me.
I personally saw two car covers shredded in one night while attending college. One of them was mine.
It was an 'el-cheapo' dust cover but, it was serving my purpose (even on my old 1990 Geo Prizm). Some twit decided that a pocket knife and that thin nylon would be a good match for each other and thus, they ripped it to Guam and back. In turn for my efforts, I not only got a shredded car cover but also a few knife knicks on my paint that weren't able to be removed.
I wish there was a happy end to the story but, the twits in question were never caught. (mind you, few 'vandalism' cases of this stature on a college campus even get investigated... they just accept it as part of the culture and environment on the campus...).
My advice to you....
1. KEEP IT CLEAN: I carried a bucket and a bottle of car wash shampoo with me at all times in the trunk. I'd break away about once per week and get to the wand wash and utilize their water and spot-free rinse. I never once utilized their soap. Watch out, in college towns, you'll often have wand-washes that will frown upon hand washing. I got tossed from one one night at 3 am for doing it. Yes, 3 am.
2. QUIK DETAIL WHEN YOU CAN: As has already been mentioned, carry a bottle of QD and several high quality MF towels to compliment the product. Use it and use it often when it's safe to do so.
3. DON'T ATTRACT ATTENTION: Let's face it, some people are twits. If they see you out there pampering your vehicle they are apt to go out of their way to come by with a key later on in the day. To curtail this, I detailed early in the morning. I was awake anyway (typically not studying...).
A clean/shiny/well maintained vehicle is obtainable when on campus but, be prepared for the occasional door ding. It's going to happen no matter where you park. It's unavoidable.4. PROTECT OFTEN: After you get a good wash in, don't hesitate to utilize a good last step product (LSP) like NEW NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste or a product like Quik Wax or NXT Generation Spray Wax. As has been demonstrated by several folks on this board, it goes on and comes off very easy and very quickly.
In short, you might not have the luxury of taking care of all of your surficial problems like swirls or some of the stuck on stuff that clay would lift but, the protection is in place. You're not going to be able to check on your vehicle on the hour, every hour while you're there and thus, the more protection, the better!
5. STUDY!!!!!!!! Enough said. Remember, you're there to have fun, party, and establish a social life that will last you a lifetime... urr..... I mean you're there to learn, establish a basis for a career, and develop in a more mature adult member of our society. Yeah, I meant the second part. Really though, the key is to balance both of those. It took me two semesters to figure out how to do it. It's tough but, it CAN be done!
Best of luck! I'm only about 5 years out myself... I miss it each and every day. Make the best of it and apply the heck out of yourself. It will pay off. Trust me.
RP
I agree with Rockpick
I spent 5 years at University and worried every day about vandals. The best thing is to avoid being noticed. I would not use a car cover as that will get peoples' attention. Instead, keep it clean, and try to park on the ends of the lot, but NOT near a dark or closed-off area. If you have a good stereo, do not crank it while pulling into the lot. The LESS attention the BETTER!
If you do this, you will probably be just fine!!! Congrats on the new car!!!
Tim
). 
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