Outdoor car cover

[Colin Wilks]

I normally garage my car, but I'm after a decent quality fitted cover to protect my box saloon if I want to leave it out on the drive for a few days. I'm after something soft and stretchy, and waterproof but breathable. I've got a cheapo cover for a larger car which does the job, but this is a faff to fit and remove as it needs several straps to stop it flapping about in the wind.

All recommendations gratefully received.

[Howard Wright]

Hi Colin

I use a Smart car cover for the RK, bought off eBay for about £40.  The car is under a canopy and the cover is in its second year. Seems to work well.  For a long wheelbase car a Smart for four cover might work?

Cheers

Howard

[robert regan]

I also bought mine off ebay it cost a few pence under £40 and its for a mk1 mini, I bought it for my 1936 pearl cabriolet and the fit is as good as it could be it has a draw cord that goes around the bottom and elastic strap sewn on all four corners that tuck under to help keep it in place,its breathable and has kept my car dry in all bad weather we have had lately best to all Rob.

[Ivor Hawkins]

    I do miss my triple car workshop, double carport and single heated garage, but being a retired fogey now we were rattling around in the old place and didn’t have a garden, we had grounds, which took a lot of maintenance so the box saloon, which I have stripped for a total repaint is outside for a few days... looking out of the window this morning, I think I need a better cover!

Any suggestions other than a mk1 Mini?

[Mick Hanna]

I lived and worked in Brackley for quite a few years before moving up to South Yorkshire, and I have to say, we had more snow there than here!

[Steve kay]

Brackley is close to Silverstone, which is right next door to Siberia. Anybody missing the thought of the Pom, or is the event genuine madness. On the advise of the forum I also invested a few quid in the Smart car cover, hasn't blown away yet.

[Colin Wilks]

Hello Ivor

I was recommended to these people, who produce a quality product, and understood what a box saloon was when I called to enquire. I haven't purchased yet as I still have garage space and their prices are quite steep.

https://www.specialisedcovers.com/

Colin

[Martin Prior]

We bought a couple of cheap polytunnels for very short-term outdoor storage (eg eBay item number:174518489210). About £75 new for 3m x 2m (big enough for a Seven), steel framed and - importantly in my opinion - not in contact with the car.

[Denis Sweeney]

I have a small garage in which I restored and now keep my Ruby. 
I have a modern, but also run a 2001 MGF which I have owned now for about 8 years+ she is a an absolute joy to drive and use her as often as I can but is long term stored outside. As long as I have owned her she has been kept under cover when not in use but as yet I have not found any cover that lasts any longer than about 18 months and these have not been cheap covers. Invariably the outer surface breaks down through UV light and then the water gets in.
I am constantly searching for a solution to get her covered in another way but so far have not come up with a suitable solution!
I note from the link provided above that the covers are only for “short term” storage, still searching for the holy grail.......
Denis S

[Ivor Hawkins]

Thanks fells, yes I’m sure Silverstone (which Mick knows, is just a stone’s throw away) is closer to Siberia than we think, we do get some fairly serious snow here from time to time.

I might go for the Smart Car option, but Martin’s suggestion of a poly tunnel isn’t as mad as it sounds, anyway the boss has given me permission to build another garage for the Seven this year, so longevity is not too much of a problem, so thankfully Colin I won’t have to shell out 200 quid for one of those lovely specialised covers!