RE: 2011 XKR Convertible: I've had problems with Covercraft car cover purchased from Carid. After less than two years, experienced ripping around the side view mirrors. Cover was too tight-fitting, problems from the start. Sent back to Carid and it was replaced with a new one around a year or so ago. Same problems. Now both mirror covers have ripped, passenger side of cover ripped up to the roofline! Makes no sense to return and try and get second replacement. Does anyone have recommendations? Car is garage kept, cover never used outside. Anyone have experiences with California Car Cover products? Anything? Thanks, Martyn

 

I have not had experience with them, but if the warranty period has expired, or you don’t want to go through the hassle of getting an exchange, you could just attempt to sew it. You could end up with a more durable cover if you do or right.

 

If you actually have a need for a car cover, get one of those inflatable bubble-boy covers that don't actually touch the car. Covers that actually touch the car will damage it, at least a little bit.

 

I only cover my car in winter. Car is always garaged in every season. I use a California duster during driving season. I bought an indoor cover from Costco. Extra baggy with room to breathe. It was advertised as "semi custom fitted" but that just means it's shaped like a car:-)

 

I didn't buy that one at Costco cuz I thought it was custom fitted for a semi!

 

I know this is an older thread, but felt a reply would be warranted. I have a carcover.com indoor cover for my 07 vert. It fits pretty well. The only thing I’d like to see it have would be pockets for the under car straps. By tucking the straps into the pockets, you wouldn’t have to worry about scratching the paint with loose straps. It packs up rather small, so that’s also a plus. It’s definitely wide enough the mirrors won’t tear out.

 

All car covers destroy paint, it's just a matter of How Much. Course, those inflatable balloon covers work REALLY well.

 

I wash and/or dust mine before I put the cover on. But the cover is only a dust cover while it’s sitting in the relatively sealed garage. I agree that often a cover does more harm than good. Like everything, you do have to be cognizant of when to use one and when not to. If I would drive her more, I would not use the cover.

 

I just purchased my 3rd Covercraft Noah cover for my XK... just about 2 year life for each previous one. The mirror area has torn on the previous 2. I sewed them both up with some strong thread to get a little bit more out of them. Some advice... when taking the cover on and off at the mirrors, pull from the inner area behind the mirror seam. Also, when the cover is wet, it puts much more stress on the cover when you try to get it on or off... so be extra careful not to pull from the mirror cover area. At this point for me, I will continue to use the cover craft covers knowing that they will only last 2 years, and write it off as the cost of protection outside... they work very well in my experience. Keep some of the old cover to use as patch material if you buy another one! - Sean

 

Do you use that inflatable balloon covers?

 

I did once when I had to leave my old Mustang at a buddy's house all winter. It was his cover. When I unpacked it in spring everything was perfect. I did however have to first blow off all the dust and wipe down the ballooney thing before I took it down so dirt and dust wouldn't poof all over. It was quite heavy as the guy used his garage for woodworking.
My car looked wonderful and smelled great.

 

It’s true that covers destroy paint a little, but sometimes I have no choice but use one, especially when I have to leave the car outside for several days. I need to protect it from water and dirt and cannot risk leaving it there as it is.

 

Damage to a car's paint caused by abrasion from a car cover can be buffed out. That's a minor inconvenience compared to an uncovered car's paint that's been deeply etched by the uric acid in bird poop.

 

I have used a car cover on my BMW for 17 winters stored in a garage that stays closed through the winter months. It's not a custom snug fit cover, more like a loose fitting cover that goes clear to the floor all the way around. Someone posting about a cover causing wear on the finish was a total surprise to me. Those 17 years having the Z4 covered for 6 month never once showed any problem with the cars finish.
I now have a similar cover for my XK, again, not a snug fit, but just a dust cover loose fitted, same style as my old one, same garage. This is the 3rd winter and again not a single wear spot on the finish and I do really watch the appearance of the car.

 

I've done the same thing ever since I bought my XKR in 2010 and have no paint damage from the cover. I use an oversize indoor cover and admit that I'm a bit OCD, since before I put the cover on I always spray the entire car with water and dry it off with clean microfiber towels. That's quick and easy because I keep the paint protected with Griot's Garage Best of Show Wax and water just beads up and wipes right off. The cover doesn't blow around in the garage so there's no abrasion.

 

The car cover abrasion problem is from wind moving the cover around and grinding any dust, dirt or even the cover material. Clearly you don't HAVE any wind in your garage to move the cover around. Therefore, no cover damage.

 

To answer the OP's question....Ive had 3 of the California Car Covers in the past.....quality product that fit properly.

 

Cee Jay
Makes sense.

 

It’s true that covers destroy paint a little, but sometimes I have no choice but use one, especially when I have to leave the car outside for several days. I need to protect it from water and dirt and cannot risk leaving it there as it is.
I have one of these semi universal covers for such cases. I like that it’s multilayered and well-tailored to fit my car. It is also fully breathable to let the moisture from under the car cover evaporate and not cause rot. One of the most common issues a car cover can cause is rotting, and that’s why getting breathable is a must.

 

We're just like a car cover - when we stop breathing we rot!