| Author |
Message |
Gordo A. (Gordo)
New member
Username: Gordo
Post Number: 49
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 11:00 am: | |
I use a 'Carcoon'. Drive the car onto the base, zip on the top and the car is maintained within a bubble. No dust and the car is dried out over time. I used to have the problem of the dials fogging up, no more. I put the car away hot or cold, works a treat and it charges the battery at the same time.
http://www.carcoon.co.uk/
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Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Junior Member
Username: Paulie_b
Post Number: 196
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 8:09 am: | |
let it cool down for a while before covering it. you can always go back out to the car after you arrive to put the cover on. |
Dr. Ken Lee (Kenster888)
Junior Member
Username: Kenster888
Post Number: 64
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 7:22 am: | |
Don't cover a hot car, especially Ferraris with an exposed engine (such as your 348). It is a fire hazard. Better safe than sorry. My $0.02. |
David McAlexander (Stuttgartdavid)
New member
Username: Stuttgartdavid
Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 3:58 am: | |
I recommend using a cover to protect from the sun, which is the biggest long term threat to our cars short of semi-trucks and neglected maintenance. Scratches shouldn't be an issue if you wax your car regularly, as you should. On the other hand, the sun's UV rays will fade your paint, shrink your leather and generally make your car look like **** in a real hurry. I use a cheap cotton cover simply because it is easier to put on and take off and to store than the fancy thick synthtic ones that are also prone to melting.This encourages me to cover, which I do religiously, because it is so easy. I find the tail pipe tips cool pretty fast - by the time I get out and put on the cover, they have cooled enough so as not to pose a fire hazard, but you can always cut a hole to accomodate them. |
Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 206
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 4:48 pm: | |
A couple of ideas:
Put a snap or some other attachment point a few inches on either side of the exhaust (discreetly--perhaps underneath the car). Now cut your cover (you may have to reinforce the newly-cut borders with seams) so that the exhaust area is left exposed. Attach straps to the cover near the cut areas, and put the corresponding fasteners on the ends of the straps. Make the straps adjustable so that you can adjust how snugly the cover fits.
Get an object you can insert into the exhaust, with an insulated handle. Put it in, stretch the cover over it, and the protruding insulated handle should keep the cover away from the hot exhaust. Don't forget to remove this when driving off...! |
Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member
Username: Jaguarxj6
Post Number: 527
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 4:29 pm: | |
Fold the corners of the cover underneath themselves so the tailpipes are exposed.
Tuck it in above the tailpipes.
The long term solution would be to sew a patch on the interior of the cover that won't burn or scratch the finish. A Nextec fabric is pretty durable and I haven't burnt mine yet. However, your tail pipes are probably a bit hotter then mine ;)
Good luck!
Sunny |
David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member
Username: Worth_it
Post Number: 134
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 3:15 pm: | |
Thanks for the input - a few notes -
The car is kept clean as I do not get to drive it as much as I would like. This aside - When I do drive it to work I see no reason to leave it exposed to sun, birds, etc... Thus I purchased a custom fit outdoor cover for this use -
Other places I just don't need the attention - good or bad - ( see "355 spitting thread" )-
I would never put it on a dirty car for reasons mentioned - and I am not concened about when I am parking in my garage, I do the front and wait for it to cool thing, their I use the flannel indoor cover.
Remember I am talking about a Spider also - easier to cover than put the top back up for 1-3 hour parking.
Suggestions on not burning the cover is still out there.
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jm2 (Yello355)
New member
Username: Yello355
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 2:42 pm: | |
one thing you may consider, and it's something i do w/my car; cover the front of the car back to the engine compartment, wait about 15/20 min for things to cool down then cover the rest. i also open the engine compartment to let the heat dissipate more rapidly. |
P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Member
Username: Ferrari_fanatic
Post Number: 308
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 2:15 pm: | |
Yeah I concur. Well intentioned, but from a pragmatic stand point, it does not make sense. to cover it.
My short version: Don't cover it. |
Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member
Username: Jaguarxj6
Post Number: 524
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 1:24 pm: | |
A cover is useful depending on how clean you keep your cars, the color of your finish/interior, your climate, and if you want to protect it vs the nasty crap that can land on it.
Done correctly, you won't get swirls or scratches if you keep your car clean all the time. Sounds like pain in the ass, and it is.
A washable, breathable, water proof, dust proof, outdoor cover is an expensive accessory. A good cover should also be durable enough to not melt or char when it touches tailpipes, mine are hot enough to burn flesh in a few seconds of contact.
For people like me who like a concours finish as much as possible, a cover is a necessity.
I put mine away wet, that is, after a short drive to work, or a 30 mile drive in the heat to a friend's place. My engine gets into the 175-190F temperature range, I have a metallic black finish, live in So Cal, and I'm parked outdoors 24/7. A cover does keep it cooler. Putting 1500 miles/mo. on it, a wash once or twice a month, a wipe down once or twice a week, it also keeps it far cleaner without. |
Willis Huang (Willis360)
Intermediate Member
Username: Willis360
Post Number: 1263
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:30 pm: | |
I'd consider covering if I'm storing a car for extended periods. Then again I think letting a car sit around not getting used is stupid. |
Craig A (Milo)
Junior Member
Username: Milo
Post Number: 183
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:27 pm: | |
Covering a car can cause problems with the finish as dirt and fine dust is picked up while driving. Covering a dirty car is a big cause of scratches and swirls.
Your cover also gets very dirty... brake dust comes to mind right away.
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Willis Huang (Willis360)
Intermediate Member
Username: Willis360
Post Number: 1262
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:21 pm: | |
Forget it. You'd be wasting a lot of time waiting for the car to cool off enough to put the cover on. Just drive it, park it, walk away and live your life.
Even if I own a 250 GTO, I wouldn't bother to cover it. |
TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 3773
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:16 pm: | |
wait, let the heat escape |
BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bobd
Post Number: 1209
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 11:59 am: | |
David, personally I don't like to cover a hot car anyway.... the heat stays under the cover and bakes the interior. I always wait for my car to cool before I cover it. Just my $00.02. |
David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member
Username: Worth_it
Post Number: 133
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 11:34 am: | |
My problem is that I like to cover my car after I arrive at my destination. Nothing crazy, ususally my office, kids school, etc... NOT a mall or similar.
Obviously the tail pipes are still 'Hot'. If the cover touches them it will melt / burn. If I leave the cover just above the pipes the wind will usually cause them to slide down.
What would you do to prevent this contact ?? The cover is easier than raising the top and it also protects the car from birds and other.
Any suggestions. |