slash8915

Right now my DD is an '09 Z06 that's Cyber grey metallic (not sure if the metallic paints are any more or less prone to fading than normal colors.). My current job has a parking garage, so it stays out of the sun, rain, ect. I'm about to get a new job that doesn't have any sort of covered parking. Naturally, I'm worried about how the elements will treat my car. Especially being as that I'm in Houston, TX.

I considered getting a nice car cover, but it seems like it would be a major pain to to put it on and remove it every single day. Not to mention that if it's raining when I get off, it would not be good. Another option would be to get a basic DD, but that's pretty costly.

I'm mostly worried about the sun fading my paint and yellowing my headlights. I would use a sun visor at the very least, to protect the interior since the windows are all tinted. So I'm wondering how well our cars deal with direct sunlight? Rain isn't too much of an issue, as I would wash it frequently.

1968swbbigblock

The paint will be fine - just keep the car with a good coat of wax every 3 months
The headlights will look terrible in 3-5 years just start looking for a bargain set to replace yours when the time comes

slash8915

I remember seeing some sort of screen protector type things that can be put on the the headlights that are supposed to prevent yellowing/hazing. They were applied with special solution of some sort.

RocketDawg

I bought a new Forester about 3 weeks ago, and it has to sit outside. The Vette and Caddy sit in the garage. I also got a car cover, a nice heavy one, to protect against tree sap, sun, etc.

That thing is the biggest PITA I've ever seen. One person really can't do it by himself without spending at least 10 minutes doing it. Plus at some point it'll drag on the ground and potentially pick up stones and other debris to scratch the paint.

In my experience, a car cover just isn't worth the hassle, unless it's one of the really light weight ones. I can't even tell the back from the front of the thing with it off the car.

slash8915

My point exactly. I'd be getting a light weight one, but it just seems like a huge PITA to have to use every single day. Especially in the rain.

markzeronine

Buy a daily or keep your current job. I feel bad leaving mine outside for the one day out of every 4 months I take it to work lol

RocketDawg

Mine was such a hassle I've quit using it ... essentially wasted $145 but at least learned a lesson.

I now park it on the side of the driveway instead of the driveway extension, which has overhanging trees with plenty of sap. Some of the stuff the tree dropped would stain, and soap and water wouldn't get it off. I had to use some Menzerna Final Polish to get it off. The new parking place doesn't have that problem to a great extent even though it's only a few feet away.

Tbong

I leased a CRV for that reason. Even though I don't have a daily commute I don;t want to make the Vette an errand runner. It is nine years old when I bought it and it clearly had not been in the sun very much even with 23K on it. I don't want to change that.

The CRV will live in the driveway.

Daviddear30

You can wax or apply sealant to the headlights (not just paint)

woody6

Ditto. I wax the plastic headlights on my cars just to have the UV protection on them.