KOTYKB

I stayed at a hotel that was right off the beach last night and when I parked my car in the lot it was sparkling. When I woke up this morning it had a film on the paint which I'm guessing is salt. I noticed a lot of people with nice cars put a car cover on the vehicle if they're parking it outside for the night.

I should have a car port but if I'm parking my black Corvette outside you would think the salt would start to eat away at the clear coat and chrome wheels.

What do recommend I do and what are some tips to living near the ocean?

DSOMC6

I live in Laguna as well. I keep my car parked in the garage to avoid the salt mist.
I have family in San Clemente and at times park outside for 10hrs or so.

If you have to park outside over night, get a cover at least. However even a cover will not protect it completely. A garage is obviously much better and easier.

KOTYKB

Do you use a quick detail spray such as Zaino Z6 to wipe off the salt mist?

I'm looking at renting a place at Blue Lagoon which is on the south end of Laguna Beach

redrckt97

I'd want to hose the car down rather than using detail spray -- salt is tiny crystals that could scatch little swirls in your black paint.

Boomer111

Living at the beach plays havoc with metal, especially exposed metal.

Wash often, and have a good sealant or wax on the cars paint and rims.

Good luck and enjoy the weather...

Oh ya and have fun trying to keep the windows clean, ha ha.

A DD would be a beater for sure for me. Just not a car that I wanted to keep up on closely.

Did I mention the windows....good luck there.

KOTYKB

The first thing I noticed pulling out of the hotel today was that I could hardly see through the window because of the film. I use Zaino on my car which keeps it looking new but I'll put a car cover on it each night. I have an Infinity FX35 back home that I should bring out for a daily driver.

blkvet6

jim2092

Living on Laguna beach is a good problem to have. Your Corvette will survive easily with occasional washings.

VET4LES

I live in San Clemente and park inside every night. Never had a problem. Everything outside is wet most morning's so parking inside is important.

vig1116

you guys are really living a tough thug life i see...... living in laguna beach driving vettes, america good country no?

Bill Dearborn

Better to use the Vette as the daily driver it will hold up better than the Infinity. Salt will still get to the metal parts but there is a hell of a lot less metal to corrode. If somebody scratches the finish on the Vette you don't have to get it repainted right away as the plastic body panels can sit in that environment for years without being damaged.

Bill

briancb1

I grew up in Laguna Niguel, lived in San Diego last year and recently moved to Houston.

I don't hate the salt, I hate that it rains all @&$@in time and you can even drive it. Beyond that the traffic is killer. I miss so-cals perfect driving weather *face in pillow crying*

JimmyLee

I live at the beach and my sister lives in Laguna, driving a $100K Porsche. She street parks her two other luxury cars and nothing has ever been destroyed by the ocean. Just wash them when they get dirty. No big deal.

Aviator

KOTYKB

I found an apartment at Blue Lagoon and its very similar to the link below but it was just listed today. They have a carport that fits two vehicles with a faucet so I can wash my car. The carport also faces away from the ocean which should help prevent getting the salt mist from accumulating on the car. I'm picking up an outdoor car cover from West Coast Corvettes in Anaheim tomorrow afternoon.

http://www.bcre.com/idx/rentals/L39379/details.html

My company is paying for the housing in Laguna Beach for up to two years as I'm on an assignment. Then it's back to reality...

Thanks for the input guys!

Seadawg

I had a DD vette right on Daytona Beach for a couple years, and I just hit the $1.25 car wash whenever the car got a film on it (usually after every few days).

I would wax it every couple of months, and it held up fine. Would also spray detail it about every couple of weeks if I wanted it to sparkle for some event.