is a car cover worth it?

[425hpChargerSRT8]

I was thinking of purchasing a car cover for the challenger, but is it worth the money. I want it mainly because it gets so hot where i live and the dark interiors dont help; not to mention i dont have a garage yet. So my question is, does the car cover cut down on the heat inside the car, and does it really protect the car? I have never had one, and just curious as to the results you guys have had with them.

[Venthos]

Good question. I was wondering this myself -- not so much for the heat but for the potential damage from the elements. Being in Michigan I'll get the full gamut from summer to winter elements. I've heard a tidbit that a car cover can actually cause more damage than protection if you're not fully washing your car down before using it every time since the cover will slide around any dirt on your car and effectively be like sandpaper to it.

Any information on car cover usefulness would be awesome.

[425hpChargerSRT8]

Originally Posted by Venthos

Good question. I was wondering this myself -- not so much for the heat but for the potential damage from the elements. Being in Michigan I'll get the full gamut from summer to winter elements. I've heard a tidbit that a car cover can actually cause more damage than protection if you're not fully washing your car down before using it every time since the cover will slide around any dirt on your car and effectively be like sandpaper to it.

Any information on car cover usefulness would be awesome.

Thats basically why i wanted it, to protect from the elements. Really the only element i get is heat, so im good on snow and sleet lol. Thats actually probably true, i never thought about washing it each and every time. I wonder if it is actually doing harm if you dont wash it.

Please, someone with experience using one fill us in.

[firstmethod]

IMHO a car cover is a must have. It will cut the number of times you need to wash in half and the less washing you do the less the paint will be damaged with spider-web scratches, etc. I had a 1970 442 with a beautiful red & black paint job. I used a car cover religiously and 10 years later it was indistinguishable from the day the paint job was done. Even if you garage the car it is worth using a cover.

[425hpChargerSRT8]

thanks. That is a good reason to have one then

[Venthos]

son of a... you guys seriously need to stop increasing my list of "things to buy" for this car.

[anthem ss]

My Impala SS was outside for seven years before i bought a house with a garage. From the day i bought it i had a cover (BTW-get the best one you can afford) and have never had a problem. Don't put the cover on the car if it's dusty or very dirty - this is where a car duster comes in handy, dust it before you cover it and let it cool a little. If you get cought in rain, don't cover it untill you've had a chance to wash it, you'll just trap the moisture between the paint & the inside of the cover.

Now that i have a garage, i STILL cover it to keep the dust off as it sits for weeks at a time. It's worth it.

[68RT/71GTX]

I have always used a cover. My biggest concern was always the sun. The uv rays will oxidize the paint and cause the plastic components to deteriorate. This is particularly important if you keep your cars over 40 years like I do. LOL

[worlok]

I plan on getting a cover when I get one of these cars because I can't put a car in my garage - it's too full of crap that I have no other place to put!

good tip on the washing thing - obvious but I never thought of that!

[Venthos]

I'm curious as to what I can do about it in the winter, though. It will be a daily driver and I won't be able to garage it. Throughout the winter I doubt i'll be able to cover it effectively. There'll be snow all over and such and road grime on a daily basis. I'm not washing the thing literally everyday I drive it so I can cover it.

Those of you who live in climates similar to Michigan that are not able to garage their daily driver, how do you take care of your car?