Leaving your Corvette outside
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Leaving your Corvette outside
Hi everyone, hope you're good 
Just received my C5 Corvette over the weekend and I'm very excited! Due to sad circumstances however, I don't have a closed garage to park it in, so it has to stay outside subjected to the elements 
I have bought a decent car cover for it though, so it's safe from the rain at least. Summer is almost here, which means lots of UV and strong sun and heat, do you think this would cause any problems for the body? Should I be afraid of warping panels etc ? Is there other things that I should be worried about? What can I do to avoid them? Thanks for your advice!
Just received my C5 Corvette over the weekend and I'm very excited! Due to sad circumstances however, I don't have a closed garage to park it in, so it has to stay outside subjected to the elements I have bought a decent car cover for it though, so it's safe from the rain at least. Summer is almost here, which means lots of UV and strong sun and heat, do you think this would cause any problems for the body? Should I be afraid of warping panels etc ? Is there other things that I should be worried about? What can I do to avoid them? Thanks for your advice!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: livermore,ca
car cover
Hope this isn't too late. I got my c 5 2 1/2 yrs ago. I bought the best car cover I could find, very light weight. A little over $300. The car looks just as good as the day I took her home.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Hemet California
Can I ask where you live? Summer is just ending here in Southern California 
Other than the car cover, I'm not sure what else there is to do. Tinting the windows helps a lot, but I know that's illegal in some places. Car cover will Do wonders for your paint, though
Other than the car cover, I'm not sure what else there is to do. Tinting the windows helps a lot, but I know that's illegal in some places. Car cover will Do wonders for your paint, though
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Mid America Motorworks has a sun cover for the top that is quick on and off that protects the interior from sun and its related interior heat!! Might be something to use when you are driving it regularly and don't want the hassle of the full cover. You ARE going to drive it frequently aren't you
!!
!!
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
My car has been outside 24/7 for over 8 years and it looks great. I only use a cover during the winter when it snows for about 6 months. I did get a good laugh at the warping body panels comment, thank you for that.
Just be careful that rain does not hit it, it will melt almost instantly.
Dope
Just be careful that rain does not hit it, it will melt almost instantly.
Dope
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
haha thanks
Thanks for the replies! Yes I feel silly now about thinking they might warp 
. I don't have much experience with fiberglass, and my friend told me last week they're prone to warping...so that's probably the last time I trust his judgment 
haha
. I don't have much experience with fiberglass, and my friend told me last week they're prone to warping...so that's probably the last time I trust his judgment haha
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
the windows are already tinted. These cars aren't very common here, I've only seen one other C5 in the past 9 years I've lived here...and I'm worried that if something happens it'll mean an expensive part import from the US haha
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Mine lived for its first 4 years in Las Vegas. Although it was garaged overnight it was a DD and sat out in the Vegas sun all day. It still looks good 9 years on and I just made sure it was washed and waxed at least once a week.
My biggest tip would be to be very careful when you put the cover on. Never cover the car if it's dirty and particularly if its windy. I covered my old Camaro for a few months when I was TDY and the wind scratched some serious swirls into the paint.
Living in UK I need parts every now and again so hook up with a good vendor. I use Bob Wendorff at Fichtner Chevrolet. Bob's great and he uses USPS to ship which costs way less than the other shippers.
My biggest tip would be to be very careful when you put the cover on. Never cover the car if it's dirty and particularly if its windy. I covered my old Camaro for a few months when I was TDY and the wind scratched some serious swirls into the paint.
Living in UK I need parts every now and again so hook up with a good vendor. I use Bob Wendorff at Fichtner Chevrolet. Bob's great and he uses USPS to ship which costs way less than the other shippers.
Last edited by DeeGee; Sep 26, 2011 at 02:48 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 22
From: Portland OR
I do believe that corvettes are not made of fiberglass as we know it used to be. I believe it is more of a plastic composit.If anyone knows more about this you might jump in.This is what I was told so it might not be completely factual
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Its made in heated high pressure molds from a mixture of fiberglass, resin and catalyst.
The front and rear bumpers and the front wings are RRIM (Reinforced Reaction Injection Molded)
Last edited by DeeGee; Sep 26, 2011 at 07:01 AM.
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Keep it clean and waxed and use the car cover and your car should look good for years to come. Just be sure to wipe the car down before you put the car cover on - otherwise you could get scratches in the paint from the dust on the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
From your post,,figured you were in the southern hemisphere!!Spent my R&R from Vietnam in your big western neighbor!! Enjoy your new ride,,,and be careful driving it on the "wrong side" of the road!!! You and Dee Gee have that challenge,,would scare the hell out of me!!! Must be cool owing such a rare car in your area!!
!!Spent my R&R from Vietnam in your big western neighbor!! Enjoy your new ride,,,and be careful driving it on the "wrong side" of the road!!! You and Dee Gee have that challenge,,would scare the hell out of me!!! Must be cool owing such a rare car in your area!!
