GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: Golfgal on 22 November 2011, 21:22
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Anyone got any top tips when taking the car off the road for the winter?
I'm hoping to put her in a garage but might not be able to do this so she might be on my long suffering Dads driveway. Anyone know of a great car cover? Seen loads on ebay but worried their gonna arrive and be rubbish. Gonna start her once a week drive her forward n back a bit to move wheels round and let the engine get upto temp.
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Get a breathable car cover, got mine from halfrauds. Had it for at least a year now and protects the car very well. Their small size is a perfect fit for the mk1, its elasticated and includes straps that go under the car to prevent it from being blown off. It was nearly 50 notes but worth it. If you go for a cheaper plastic one you run the risk of moisture being trapped between the cover and the car. Made that mistake once before!
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I've got one of these, not used it yet but i used to work for the company and never had a complaint, had plenty of folks buying them for Mk1's an Beetles so cant be bad!
http://www.airflow-uk.co.uk/Moltex-Soft-Tex-Outdoor-Super-Luxury-combined.html
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Get a breathable car cover, got mine from halfrauds. Had it for at least a year now and protects the car very well. Their small size is a perfect fit for the mk1, its elasticated and includes straps that go under the car to prevent it from being blown off. It was nearly 50 notes but worth it. If you go for a cheaper plastic one you run the risk of moisture being trapped between the cover and the car. Made that mistake once before!
what you recon it would be like for a daily driver. will it stop ice on the windscreen ect with it being breathable. if so might get one, easier than scraping the car :D
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^^^ Yes, it totally waterproof even though its breathable. Had snow, ice and rain on mine and the car has always been bone dry...
The one randomjord suggests will be the same but judging by the price it must be a more fancy version.
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Never cover a car, you'll do more damage than leaving it uncovered. Even breathable ones will trap mositure where you can't see it and it can begin to really screw your paint work up. Even professional car bodyshops will tell you this.
Unfortunatley, I learnt this from experience.
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I've heard that there is a cover that lets warm air flow through once the car is under the cover and in winter storage is this true to anyone's knowledge ? If so is there any links that could point me in the right direction.
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^^^ Yes, it totally waterproof even though its breathable. Had snow, ice and rain on mine and the car has always been bone dry...
The one randomjord suggests will be the same but judging by the price it must be a more fancy version.
hmm may look into getting one, that way i can cover the car up on a night, then in the morning get the brush out and brush any snow off the car then remove cover, alot quicker than fannying around trying to scrape it all off .
as for trapping moisture, if its only going to be on over night it should be ok shouldnt it? cause it would be getting moisture uncovered?
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on my old car i used a breathable car cover and left on my uncles drive over winter 1 year when i came to get back out mold was everywhere inside the car :undecided:
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Did you start the car or just leave it? I'll be starting it once a wk letting it get to temp n rolling it up and down the drive a bit so I think a cover might be the best way forward for me. :undecided:
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went about once every 2 weeks and started it
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A decent cover should be fine. You'll get mould regardless unless you open the doors and let the car air for a good few hours each week, the only way to prevent this permenantly is a dehumidifier or leave the windows open an inch when under cover.
Additionally, rather than moving the car backwards and forwards, I'd turn it around once a week. This will prevent flatspots appearing on your tyres a wrecking them (over inflate the tyre to a higher but safe pressure too! About 40 psi should be fine. Helps prevent the flat spot syndrome!)
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If you can, remove the wheels completely and lift it up on axle stands. Give everything a good coating with some grease/copper slip as well.
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i think AirFlow do a £50 discount for members of the MK1OC if you are buying an air chamber so they may well give you a 10% discount off a car cover if you ask nicely
its worth becoming a member of the mk1OC just for the discounts - it really does pay off
mould is inevitable if you are storing a car and not airing it... usually collects on the steering wheel and seatbelts (where your hands touch).. a bit of APC and a cloth soon get rid of it though :)
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Never cover a car, you'll do more damage than leaving it uncovered. Even breathable ones will trap mositure where you can't see it and it can begin to really screw your paint work up. Even professional car bodyshops will tell you this.
Unfortunatley, I learnt this from experience.
Fair enough....
Not had any issues with this one yet, soft touch material on the paintwork and so far has always been bone dry whatever the weather.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/freresmith/Sleeps.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/freresmith/Sleeps1.jpg)
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hmm may look into getting one, that way i can cover the car up on a night, then in the morning get the brush out and brush any snow off the car then remove cover, alot quicker than fannying around trying to scrape it all off .
You'd be surprised. It might take you longer, as you'll have to find somewhere to hang the cover to let it dry. If you just put it in a bag, it'll still be wet later when you put it on, then you can't get it off in the morning as it'll have frozen onto the car.