cAR COVER NEEDS FOR FLORIDA COAST HOUSE

[Argeo]

Hi,

I am looking for a car cover for a car that is park 9 months out of the year in Florida on the beach. Is there anything that is a must. I have seen cheap ones for $30 that say they are water resistant and sun blocking. Anything else I need. Is this the case of getting what you paid for or good marketing.

Thanks,

David

[jorian]

David,

I have had a number of covers for various vehicles in the past and the cheaps one aren't worth it. I have had cheap covers stick to the paint in the past, become brittle and crack, etc. I bought an expensive one ($100) for my Volvo wagon 5 years ago and it has held up like a champ. As we speak there is an inch of snow on it. I just bought a fitted cover for my 911 and it is a beauty. ($150) Same material with a 5 year limited wttee. I'm cheap and like to save where I can but I've found that with the covers you do get what you pay for.

[RickM]

Is the car going to inside or outside?

[Argeo]

Outside 9 months of year (not June, July, August).

Thanks,

David

[anthony]

Get the expensive fitted outdoor cover from Covercraft, Coverking, or California Car Cover Co. It will be a million times better than a cheap one size fits all cover.

[JeremyD]

and make sure it's mildew resistent. I had my alfa romeo outside for about 3 years - bought the top of the line car cover from The California Car Cover Company (I think that's what the name was) Make sure it is close fitting and can be securely fastened. It is not uncommon to have 50-60 mile an hour winds during one of our summer "normal" thunderstorms.

What coast?

[Eric Coffey]

A 911 outside? For 9 months? On the Florida Coast?? SHAME ON YOU!
Seriously, that's a long time for a car to sit outside, especially near the coast. So, I wouldn't skimp on the car cover. A mentioned above, Covercraft makes excellent products. For that enviornment, I'd probably stick with the Weathershield-HD or Sunbrella fabric lines they offer. Also, I wonder if some sort of anti-corrosion measures would be a smart move as well (Magnesium nodes maybe?).

[randywebb]

"on the beach"

First, I would try really hard to find a better place to park it. Find and rent the nearest storage unit. OR let a friend drive it while you are gone on condition they park it well away from the beach.

Search and read the thread on salt mist (!)

IF you absolutely cannot CANNOT avoid parking there, you have two issues to deal with, both very serious: 1. salt mist, 2. extra UV damage.

I would use a sheet of heavy plastic around the base of the windward side of the car, a cloth cover, and a stock Porsche silver cover on top of that. No matter what cover you use, your car is going to be damaged, and not just the paint.

[JeremyD]

I would not use plastic - enough rain and humidity here for the paint and plastic to be one. I wouldn't park a Porsche outside here unless it was a beater track car. I would also use Corrision X spray to keep the eletrics in one piece. That's what I use on my outboard(s)