I am goign to college and want to get a cover for my car. Whats the best cover? Also i saw a locking system in MAD?

 

I've been happy with my Noah cover, though I don't use it as much now that the cars running. :D

 

I'm using a Noah cover, and I'm very happy with it so far. It stands up well to weather, just not cat claws. :( I have no long-term experience with it though. One thing I like about it, is it covers the wheels pretty well to keep cats from pissing on them.

My vette came with a Performance Choice cover from Mid america, which sucked... not sure how old it was, but it was deteriorating and made my vette filthy with lint and dust.

 

The best cover IMHO is NO cover.

I am still chuffed every time I see the gel coat damage on the
lip of the rear wheelwell where the cable that joined the bottom
of the car cover together underneath the car wound up after the
wind lifted and shifted the cover on a blustery day.

I found the cover billowing off the car like a parachute
and the cable up above the rear wheel riding against the lip and
working back & forth like a hacksaw. The protective outer housing
on the cable helped to keep the damage to less than what it might
have been, but damage is damage. Needless to say there was some
buffing to do at the other end of the car where the fabric had been
hanging off and slapping against the body.

Even if you only use a cover inside a building, they still don't make
sense. Why? unless you wash your car before you put the cover
on, then the cover uses the dust & dirt on the car to grind the
finish. Plus, the cover picks up the dirt and holds it for next time
- just like making your own sandpaper.

Oh, and have you given any thought to cleaning the cover? The
high quality ones are too heavy for the washer at home so cleaning
day means a trip to the coin-op. And have you read the fine print?
You aren't supposed to stick the quality covers in the dryer ! So
there you are at the coin-op with a soaking wet cover that you need
to get home and stretch out somewhere to dry - without getting it
dirty again. Good luck.

I know people out there use covers, but I'm not one of the group.

(As an aside, did you ever read the fine print about 'bras'? The
one I bought (from Speed Lingerie - nice) warns against driving with
the bra installed. I'm supposed to park the car, wash it and then put
the bra on -removing it again before heading out on the road)



[Modified by Slalom4me, 9:10 AM 4/6/2003]

 

Ive had Noah covers for both Vettes and I like them. Mine stay in the garage though. I just cover them to keep dust off. I know its a little over kill, having an indoor/outdoor cover for just a dust cover. But I like to pamper my cars, and they are always clean when I cover them, so there is no risk of scratching. It also depends how you take cover on/off to keep the inside clean.

 

NOAH :yesnod:

 

Noah.

 

I have to disagree with the post above. My vette stays parked outside in the driveway - I use my Noah only when the car's pretty clean, and only after running the car duster over it. Although it doesn't usually get very windy here, I've never had trouble keeping the car cover on. The corners are elastic, so it holds onto the car very snug. Also, after a heavy downpour with the cover on, the car remains clean and relatively spot-free. There is a discount price on the Noah if you buy through the forum mall. $120 I believe. :cheers:

 

a garage! :jester


i got a noah from mid america and i have had no problem with it.

 

Well I'll admit, if it's windy here, mine tried to pull up at the front corners. After the first time it tried it, I bought 2 solid plastic (no rust) chip clips (yellow too!) and clip the corners on the black plastic part of the air dam. It's never blown up since.

 

The best is, unfortunately, also the most expensive - Weatherguard. Mostly waterproof, light enough to wash at home, compact enough to store in the car. About $240.

 

I have a Noah car cover as well. The car is garage kept, but I wanted the versatility of an indoor/outdoor cover. I don't have any complaints with it. It is lightweight and has a soft underside.

A car cover should never be used in windy conditions, nor applied to a dirty car. :nono: After I have had my car out for a drive, I will quick detail the body, clean the glass, tires, rims, front air spoiler and exhaust before I reapply the cover. It also must be removed from the car properly in order to avoid the outside coming into contact with the inside.

A Noah should serve you well for your needs. The locking feature that you are asking about is simply a cable with a padlock that attaches to each side of the cover through grommets. It's supposed to serve as a theft deterent. :rolleyes:

 

I agree with jimb500 that the WeatherShield by Covercraft is the best for all -weather use. I've used most of the better covers, including Noah, and found that the WeatherShield is by far the best and most convenient to use. It's well worth the cost if you really want the best protection.
I just took mine off about a week or so ago after putting it on before Christmas and the Vette was amazingly clean. It sat in my driveway through the wettest and coldest weather we've seen in recent years. All of the other covers I've used leave the car a mess after just a short time from dust and moisture seeping through the material. Didn't happen with the WeatherShield.
:seeya

 

Noah! :yesnod:

 

NOAH :yesnod:

 

I sell Covercraft car covers here are how the outside covers rank.

1) Weathershield, the best car cover on the market and can be washed in a home machine. 9.5 out of 10

2) Noah, very good cover offers some ding protection, not very bulky. 9 out of 10

3) Technalon, best ding protection very bulky. 7 out of 10

The key is none of these covers can be left on a car unattended for long lengths of time. All car covers will scratch if they are left on a car when the wind is above 20mph.

Autoanything.com has a good explaination of car cover types in both indoor and outdoor specifications.

John

 

Looks like I'm a minority of one in turning thumbs down on a cover.

To those who scold about using the cover when it is windy, your
neighborhood must have more predictable weather than mine
does. While kite-flying conditions are only reliable in the spring,
there is always chance of a breeze. And as for 20 mph being the
decision criteria - I remember watching my cover ripple in wind
at a lot less than 20 miles per - to my way of thinking, if it moves
and there is dust, then there is abrasion.

Sounds like the popular covers today can be washed at home.
(Actually, if my washer was a front loader with no agitator, I'd
probably toss my cover in, too - but there's no way I'd put it in
a top loader.) What about machine-drying? Nobody spoke up
to say that is now approved.

Those of you who are detailing your cars when you park them
are better men than me. My Vette is my hobby ride and when
I get time to pursue this hobby, I get pleasure from taking it
out and giving the car a good rinse and rub to shine it up before
a drive. But when I get back, I've already mentally shifted
gears and I'm thinking about the real world stuff waiting when
I pull up on the driveway. It was a chore for me to do a good
job of cleaning at the end of a ride and it dulled the glow from
the trip but if I was going to use the cover, the car had to be
clean first.

Life is simpler and guilt-free now that the cover stays on the
shelf - I think it is better for the car, too.

But, different approaches work for different people...





[Modified by Slalom4me, 7:49 AM 4/6/2003]

 

>> Autoanything.com has a good explaination
>> of car cover types in both indoor and outdoor specifications

From the FAQ on covers at Autoanything.com

<Begin quote>
"Weathershield® Car Covers:

Weathershield® car covers may be washed using most home washing machines and dryers. Use a powder-type detergent such as Tide. DO NOT USE BLEACH OR A DETERGENT WITH BLEACH. Wash the cover using the "Normal" or "Permanent Press" cycles in cold or warm water only, DO NOT WASH IN HOT WATER! Run the cover through two rinse cycles or as many as necessary to make certain that all the detergent is removed. The cover can be dried in most home dryers. Use the "Permanent Press" setting. DO NOT use fabric softener. If your cover becomes soiled in a few spots, light brushing with a soft rag will remove most dirt.

All Other Car Covers:

A home washer is not large enough to accommodate your car cover and clean the cover properly. Covers must be taken to a commercial Laundromat and washed in large automatic washers without agitator. Use two cups of Fantastic All Purpose Cleaner WITHOUT soap or detergent. Wash your cover using the "Normal" or "Permanent Press" cycles in cold or warm water. DO NOT WASH IN HOT WATER! Run the cover through two rinse cycles or as many as necessary to make certain that all the detergent is removed. Air dry the cover. DO NOT put the cover in an automatic dryer as the fabric may melt. DO NOT attempt to dry clean car covers.

<End Quote>

From this I see that there seems to be some improvement in cover
technology that makes them more convenient to maintain since the
days of my Wolf Evolution 3, at least with the Weathercraft material.
Just the same, the fundamentals of wind + movement + debris =
disappointment are still felt to hold true. No cover for me, fellas.

(I did not see Copyright notices on the FAQ in particular or their
site in general. If this posting of material from their site is considered
a violation, I will remove it or certainly agree to it being removed by
the CorveteForum admin)




[Modified by Slalom4me, 9:29 PM 4/6/2003]