Now that we're getting near winter windscreen scrapery again, I'm interested in getting a car cover to ease the morning pain.
Looks like 25-30 quid buys you a basic one, 60-75 buys a breathable zipped lined one and more than that I can only surmise buys you a butler to take it on and off again.
Any views on whether the really cheap ones are adequate or a false economy for some reason?
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ive been thinking the same thing but i've heard that the cheaper ones actually hold moisture inside on the car which would'nt be good. I live on the coast so with the winter swells we get a lot of salty spray coming over the sea wall so a cover would probably be a good idea for me but im reluctant to pay more then £40 for one
Edited by welshlad on 17/10/2008 at 15:53
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you want a breathable cover otherwise paint problems can occur
my cover advises that you never use it on days when freezing is expected...i guess it sticks to the car and might yank paint off
another thing to consider is that unless the car is totaly clean the cover will rub all the mud and salt over the paint and cause more damage
oh and theyre a bind to fit in the dark /breeze..and where do you stash the soaking wet cover next morning
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Now that we're getting near winter windscreen scrapery again I'm interested in getting a car cover to ease the morning pain.
I imagine that fitting and removing the cover would, over time, damage the paintwork.
And what would you do with the cover after you've removed it following overnight rain or snow?
Start the engine, set the heater to maximum temperature and maximum airflow to the screen, and by the time you've scraped the rest of the windows the windscreen should be clear ~ unless you've got a diesel of course.
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Being of the rural persuasion, I have a plastic fertiliser/feed bag, split down both long sides. Tuck each end into a front door, and I'm laughing. Two more bags do each of the front windows.
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Although my car is a diesel and heats up slowly, I can recomend the Ford electrically heated windscreen. Demists in seconds, defrosts in a minute.
Edited by Old Navy on 17/10/2008 at 16:50
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....... I can recomend the Ford electrically heated windscreen. Demists in seconds defrosts in a minute.
I second that. Best thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't want a car without one.
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to ease the morning pain.
I tbink once you have experienced the joy of removing a soaking wet car cover with the temperature near freezing and a biting East wnd blowing. you will decide that any car cover is a waste of time and money.
Have a good night out with the money saved instead
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We got a cheap full car cover from Argos for my wifes MX-5. We got it to cover the car while we were on holiday a week at a time, but now we cant be bothered to use it, IMO it would be too much hassle to remove and re-fit every day.
Theres also the concern that if you put it on a dirty car with grit present, the wind could move the cover about and scratch the paint.
You can get windscreen-only covers but I've not tried one. They look a lot more manageable.
snipurl.com/4g6aj [shop_ebay_co_uk]
Or give it the old warm (not hot) water treatment instead.
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Yup, got my clean 2l plastic milk bottle standing by to dowse the screen. Car rarely freezes up again if you get the demister going, slosh the water on, dump bottle in the passenger footwell and drive off.
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I always use hot tap water to de-ice the windscreen and other windows. Not boiling kettle water, just from the hot tap. I know they used to say don't do this because the heat shock can shatter or crack the glass, but I've never heard of it happening. I've always done this on all my cars, my parents used to do the same.
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Buy a Ford - Quickclear windscreens are great.
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Old carpet or a ribbed doormat keep a windscreen nicely free of ice -- fabric to windscreen, backing to air. The rubber-backed doormat is better as it doesn't get as soggy and it dries more quickly.
Edited by Roger Jones on 18/10/2008 at 16:36
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Thanks all - looks like the general consensus is don't bother, but one or two good tips there. I'll mull the possibilities.
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