Hi All,

I live in the UK (London area) and don't have a garage for my 1999 XKR. When I'm away for more than a couple days, I cover the car with a good quality cover and it remains completely dry. For the winter when it will be used less, is it sensible to leave it covered for a long cold and rainy period, or must I fork out some £££ and hire a garage for it?
The lower body is properly sealed and clear from rust, but I do have some rust in the windscreen frame that will be taken care of before winter. Would like to avoid attracting more rust if possible, and leave the heavy spending for high quality tyres and specialist maintenance.

Thanks!

Photo added for additional attention.

 

I too have looked into this ...there are lots of full car covers on ebay for cheap money but I would prefer one that just covers the central part. the only problem is the material flapping and rubbing the paintwork.

 

I have looked in the past but to be honest I think it's best to keep the car un-covered or in a garage. The covers are a neat idea but I think they create more harm in the form of scratches then good. Frost won't damage the car the salt will so just make sure you aren't driving on salty roads or keep the car washed in the winter. The only problem I have in the winter is when the windows freeze up because the windows won't drop. Just make sure you de-frost them properly first.

 

For salt use an Australian beach trick ..drive your car onto a lawn sprinkler to wash the underside.
I have re waxed mine underneath and in the sills..there are plugs at each end you can spray through

 

a question is "where" will the car be covered. If a car is parked at the roadside or in a close proximity to the road such as a driveway apron, the ice melting salts are going to get under the cover a lot. If the vehicle can be stored at the rear of a location well away from the roadway, a good car cover will protect it. Have had no problems with mine over five winters. They use so much salt here that it literally coats the fronts of the houses well into spring. When i remove the cover there is nothing on or under the car.

 

Parked far off the road in a parking lot, between walls and and foliage that protect from the wind and some of the rainfall.
My main concern was moisture building up under the cover and causing body rust, but this seems to be a non issue based on the responses here. Thanks!

 

Be careful with being near foliage for "protection." Plants are in soil which holds moisture. Cars routinely rust out on the side nearest something damp. Water hits the planting beds and bounces up. A wall or even fencing as a windbreak is great, but i like hard surfaces six feet around. Wind is air flow. A little billowing of the cover means that air is drying things out even though the cover does itself breathe. Would strongly recommend flushing out wheel wells and undercarriage a week or two before storage. Then spray some rust preventative liquid in the wheel well edges and at the inside and outside rocker seams. Also, open up the front wheel liners at the rocker and clean out this area and spray rust preventative here and along the lower edge of the fender (wing). Also spray the edge where they meet the bumper cover.

Give the car a light wash and wax just before covering, but do not wash the wheels nor the wheel wells. This last soaking before storage has ruined many brake sets. For some reason natural rain does not do this, but municipal water carries ions that really cause rusting when forced into these areas and not dried out by driving. Clean the wheels long before the last long drive after a storage oil change, let it cool, lightly wash as stated here, disconnect battery or place on maintainer, lock and cover.

 

You could get a car tent for the winter if you have the room. I have one over my 1980 Trans Am and it keeps the car protected when I don't drive it, even with 2 meters of snow in the winter.
P.S. That's a beautiful looking car.