Indoor or outdoor car cover?

[RaceRedder]

So my Mustang will be parked for six months on a Caribbean island before shipping it to Israel.

The car is parked in an underground parking, but the parking is not totally closed. My paeking spot is close to an open window close to the beach.

The island is also in the hurricane zone.
My bet is to go for an outdoor car cover, but I also hear many people say that an outdoor cover damages the paint. I guess an outdoor cover is still the best thing in my situation but I have no experience.

What do you guys think is best?

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[Supraman]

I keep my pickup and an old Jaguar sedan under covers and under carports. Just being exposed outdoors damages the paint regardless of what kind of cover it has on it. Its the wind that blows dirt up under it and then blows the cover around. If you're parking location is fairly well protected from the wind, that's the key. Mine are pretty well blocked from the wind. Having a good, close custom fit is also helpful so it won't move around so much. The worst offenders tho are the lawn crews with their 250mph gas backpack blowers that blow all the dirt and clippings up underneath the cover. Being in a garage hopefully its on an upper level away from those guys. Being away for months, you're going to come back to some insects that have made a home under the cover tho. I spray the concrete around and underneath my cars, but it doesn't seem to help much.

You should invest in a cover that has a soft lining tho. And be careful putting it on and removing it, that you basically set in place on the car and unfold/unroll it without moving it across the surface as much as possible and the same in reverse to fold/roll it back up. There's youtube videos showing what I'm trying to describe. You also have to realize that you can only put the cover on when the car is freshly washed. Some people try to use car covers outdoors on daily drivers and that's just not a good idea. If you drive the car after washing it or let it sit out for more than a couple of hours (mere minutes here in Fort Worth), it'll be too dusty to put the cover on without risking making a bunch of swirl marks. But for long-term storage use, you'll be OK.

And yes, an outdoor cover. Thicker material provides more protection from "garage rash". I'm always moving around my vehicles and try to be careful, but those covers have saved me a number of times I got careless. I have limited space. Things I'm carrying or moving get away from me or even just my expanded girth sometimes gets in my own way.

 

[RaceRedder]

I keep my pickup and an old Jaguar sedan under covers and under carports. Just being exposed outdoors damages the paint regardless of what kind of cover it has on it. Its the wind that blows dirt up under it and then blows the cover around. If you're parking location is fairly well protected from the wind, that's the key. Mine are pretty well blocked from the wind. Having a good, close custom fit is also helpful so it won't move around so much. The worst offenders tho are the lawn crews with their 250mph gas backpack blowers that blow all the dirt and clippings up underneath the cover. Being in a garage hopefully its on an upper level away from those guys. Being away for months, you're going to come back to some insects that have made a home under the cover tho. I spray the concrete around and underneath my cars, but it doesn't seem to help much.

You should invest in a cover that has a soft lining tho. And be careful putting it on and removing it, that you basically set in place on the car and unfold/unroll it without moving it across the surface as much as possible and the same in reverse to fold/roll it back up. There's youtube videos showing what I'm trying to describe. You also have to realize that you can only put the cover on when the car is freshly washed. Some people try to use car covers outdoors on daily drivers and that's just not a good idea. If you drive the car after washing it or let it sit out for more than a couple of hours (mere minutes here in Fort Worth), it'll be too dusty to put the cover on without risking making a bunch of swirl marks. But for long-term storage use, you'll be OK.

And yes, an outdoor cover. Thicker material provides more protection from "garage rash". I'm always moving around my vehicles and try to be careful, but those covers have saved me a number of times I got careless. I have limited space. Things I'm carrying or moving get away from me or even just my expanded girth sometimes gets in my own way.

Thanks for the detailed information. I guess I will go with the outdoor cover because my paeking spot is close to the open outside window where wind can blow very heavily.

Also thanks for mentioning cleaning the car before using the cover. I will go for the official Ford Performance outdoor cover I guess.

 

[Coyote Chase]

I use an outdoor cover when trailering my car and have zero paint damage.

Hint: I also use bird netting, over the cover and tie it to my trailer, to prevent the cover from blowing off (this also reduces the number of people who are tempted to lift the cover to see what's underneath).

 

[RaceRedder]

I use an outdoor cover when trailering my car and have zero paint damage.

Hint: I also use bird netting, over the cover and tie it to my trailer, to prevent the cover from blowing off (this also reduces the number of people who are tempted to lift the cover to see what's underneath).

What exact cover did you buy?

 

[Coyote Chase]

What exact cover did you buy?

Picked it up off eBay, it's rated for outdoor use and has a soft liner, cost under $100

 

[RaceRedder]

Picked it up off eBay, it's rated for outdoor use and has a soft liner, cost under $100

Holy cow. I was considering an outdoor cover officially from Ford that costs over 600 dollars. Wonder what the differences are.

 

[dusman59]

Water intrustion will cause paint damage if left for a period of time. Many covers claim to be water resistant. I would never over a long period of time store a good car with a cover outside. The cover will eventually leak.

 

[Skye]

Along with the cover and other prep, maybe gift the staff or an attendant a generous tip to look at the car once in a while? Not remove the cover, but do a stop-and-go, check to see that she's resting fine while you're out, the cover remaining secured.

 

[Upacurb]

Get a plastic bubble.......living in California relatively close to the beach......the salt air is the real enemy here.....we get rust here close to the beach but its from the top down from all the salt in the air

 

[RaceRedder]

Along with the cover and other prep, maybe gift the staff or an attendant a generous tip to look at the car once in a while? Not remove the cover, but do a stop-and-go, check to see that she's resting fine while you're out, the cover remaining secured.

Oh, no staff needed. I live just above the parking garage and can check on the car on a daily basis.

 

[RaceRedder]

Get a plastic bubble.......living in California relatively close to the beach......the salt air is the real enemy here.....we get rust here close to the beach but its from the top down from all the salt in the air

It's funny because I was also considering the plastic bubble. Is that really a good thing? What are the pros and cons?

Update: I saw some video's about the bubbles and they look pretty good doing their job. But there is 1 thing. There is no electricity on the parking space to keep the vent rotating for fresh air.

 

[Supraman]

I've never tried one of these, but after a mouse surgically clipped 17 wires in my old Jag sedan, my brother sent me a link to these covers.

https://www.getcoverseal.com/collections/car-covers

I don't know but it might provide a little more protection against the salt air too.

 

[RaceRedder]

I've never tried one of these, but after a mouse surgically clipped 17 wires in my old Jag sedan, my brother sent me a link to these covers.

https://www.getcoverseal.com/collections/car-covers

I don't know but it might provide a little more protection against the salt air too.

I just watch a few youtube videos on this cover. The problem with this cover is that it's not a perfect fit. A lot of loose cover hanging around. With some wind it will scrub on the car.

 

[Supraman]

I just watch a few youtube videos on this cover. The problem with this cover is that it's not a perfect fit. A lot of loose cover hanging around. With some wind it will scrub on the car.

Yes. Also the weighted edge will become encrusted with whatever is on the ground so you have to be extra careful going on and off which is why I haven't jumped on the idea. I wonder tho if you first put on a lightweight "fitted" indoor car cover and then the Coverseal over top of it? I don't know tho. There might be other negatives to that idea. I wish they offered fitted ones.

I was actually thinking they might be a good solution for indoors rather than outdoors. Every time I watch Barn Find Hunters, I just cringe at all the critter poo.

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