Using a cover routinely?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 64
From: Detroit Suburb
Using a cover routinely?
My 2017 Stingray is a daily driver but I find that being black that it is pretty much dirty every other day (live in Michigan- no garage). This time of year there seems to be a lot of dust/pollen that accumulates over night.
I am considering getting an outdoor cover to use at least sometimes, does anyone else do this (not including for storage)? I have to admit that it is something that I never considered for any other car that I have owned, but I never owned a Corvette before this one either...
I am considering getting an outdoor cover to use at least sometimes, does anyone else do this (not including for storage)? I have to admit that it is something that I never considered for any other car that I have owned, but I never owned a Corvette before this one either...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Detroit Suburb
Yeah, no doubt. I swore years ago when I got rid of my last black car that I would NEVER have another one. But, when I went to turn in my leased Camaro, here this black Stingray was and, well you can figure out the rest 
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Melting Slicks
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There's people on the Forum who manage to make the car cover thing work for them, but to me it seems to be a lot of trouble. If the car isn't clean when you put the cover on, the cover will scratch it. If you cover a dirty car the dirt will stick to the inside of the cover, and then you have to figure out how to wash it.
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I never use a cover primarily because they are a major PIA. In addition, it's really not a good idea on a black car, because no matter how clean you try to keep them, they will collect contaminants which will cause swirl marks, and those are most visible on black, clear-coat finishes.
Last edited by Foosh; Jun 18, 2019 at 12:32 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Fairfax VA
I use a cover on my C4 as it sits outside. I only drive it maybe for a few days every few weeks since I got the C7. Cover fits in the home washer and dryer, and I wash the car before I put the clean cover back on. Mostly trying to protect what's left of the clear coat from the sun, bird droppings and whatever else lands on it. When there's heavy pollen then rain, it will soak through and I end up needing to wash the car after removing the cover. If the car and cover are dirty I'll just leave it out for a few days until I can clean both. I get about 3 years out of a cover before it starts to come apart at the seams.
Not a good solution for a daily driver.
Not a good solution for a daily driver.
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Covers work well to help protect the car’s finish, but putting them on a car that has any dirt on it will just cause scratches and swirls. Not a good idea.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Detroit Suburb
I can't think of a a more effective way of swirling up the paint on a black car than repeatedly putting a car cover on and off a car that lives outside.
Swirl marks in the paint come from wiping across the finish when its covered in dirt or grit. The more you can minimize touching the paint, and wiping against it, the better you are at keeping your paint. A car cover is the polar opposite of this.
Car covers are a pain to wash too. As soon as you put one on a dirty car, now that inside soft layer has grit in it.
Swirl marks in the paint come from wiping across the finish when its covered in dirt or grit. The more you can minimize touching the paint, and wiping against it, the better you are at keeping your paint. A car cover is the polar opposite of this.
Car covers are a pain to wash too. As soon as you put one on a dirty car, now that inside soft layer has grit in it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 272
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From: Detroit Suburb
Some good points here that I had not thought about with using a cover, thanks.
So, if I do get a cover, it will just primarily be to put on overnight, after a good washing (because that is my biggest pet peeve, washing the car and after it sits all night it has pollen and crap all over it).
Will have to look into the ceramic coating also.
So, if I do get a cover, it will just primarily be to put on overnight, after a good washing (because that is my biggest pet peeve, washing the car and after it sits all night it has pollen and crap all over it).
Will have to look into the ceramic coating also.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I would be cautious of buying an outdoor cover. You are not supposed to put a cover on when the car is dirty. If you drove it around, it got dirty. Fine dirt will build up over time and eventually your car will get dirty from putting on the cover. May even begin to put swirls in your paint since wind might shift and move it a bit.
Now if you plan to wash it every time before you put the cover on, it will be clean when you take if off, but i would wash it again before butting the cover on again.
Now if you plan to wash it every time before you put the cover on, it will be clean when you take if off, but i would wash it again before butting the cover on again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Los Angeles CA
I use a cover daily. It takes less than 60 seconds to take on or off. I find it prolongs the car washes significantly. Sometimes I can go 2 weeks without having to wash but moisture that settles on the glass does require frequent cleaning. I just keep a bottle of window cleaner and cloth in the back.
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I cover mine every time I put it away & no swirls...trick is that you MUST put the cover on a clean car...."Once you go black, you will never go back"
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Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Albany NY
Ceramic, get the "Gold" or top of the line, 7 Layers of coating. Then you will have 7 "hard" layers on top of 5 factory clear cost layers.
I downsized and had 30 years of "stuff" in my garage, '17 GS sits outside year round under a
I downsized and had 30 years of "stuff" in my garage, '17 GS sits outside year round under a
Melting Slicks
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With all do respect ...that is not my experience and I have been covering my vettes daily ( at work) since 2006.Until it starts raining here in Florida in the summer ...that is indeed where the PIA factor comes in. As for swirling ?? I use the OEM covers and they have no Cotten liner ( as does my indoor cover that I use at airports parking garages when I travel). I wipe my car down each night and while it is only logical that enroute to work in the am you acquire a fair amount of surface dust that attaches mostly due to static, I can honestly tell you none of my vettes have sustained any swirls or scratching in the high contact areas in the front and back where you pull it over to seat it. I am just sharing my experience ...not saying do it or don’t . I am **** about my paint and do all my own detailing. As for the PIA in taking it on or off .....the wind will make that complicated however it is like folding a sleeping bag nd once you get a system I can have it bagged in less than 6 minutes . The reason ? Where I work there is a lot industrial fallout ...and those damn sea gulls .
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
I can't think of a a more effective way of swirling up the paint on a black car than repeatedly putting a car cover on and off a car that lives outside.
Swirl marks in the paint come from wiping across the finish when its covered in dirt or grit. The more you can minimize touching the paint, and wiping against it, the better you are at keeping your paint. A car cover is the polar opposite of this.
Car covers are a pain to wash too. As soon as you put one on a dirty car, now that inside soft layer has grit in it.
Swirl marks in the paint come from wiping across the finish when its covered in dirt or grit. The more you can minimize touching the paint, and wiping against it, the better you are at keeping your paint. A car cover is the polar opposite of this.
Car covers are a pain to wash too. As soon as you put one on a dirty car, now that inside soft layer has grit in it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
My cars sit outside and that's why I only buy white cars. I've tried car covers in the past and found that they were more trouble than they were worth. Especially when the car cover got dirty and that happens very quickly and the only way to clean the cover was in a commercial washing machine.
As for the guy that said "Once you go black, you will never go back", I would add that that saying was not about cars. And as applied to cars only a masochist would go back to black.
As for the guy that said "Once you go black, you will never go back", I would add that that saying was not about cars. And as applied to cars only a masochist would go back to black.