Due to political intrigues too convoluted to go into, our XKR will lose her place in the garage for the next several months, maybe into early winter. East Texas is warm and relatively dry with a few heavy downpour days. I have a car cover on it, but what other precautions should I take, and what ill effects are at risk?

 

Sorry to hear, but its not the end of the world.

I would spend the money on a quality detail Full wax (cQuartz if its within budget), convertible top sealer, and a leather treatment. This will protect the paint from the elements and the leather from the heat.

If you use a car cover, make sure you know how to get it on/off without damage. Sounds silly, but car covers have been the cause of many scratches and other surface damage.

Best!
dsd

 

You have nothing to be concerned about. The car was designed and built by the people who invented rain.

I would invest in a windshield shade and possibly shade the window glass to protect the interior from accumulated sun damage. There are covers for the roof and glass that would be preferable to a full cover. I have a full custom cover for very long (1 month or more) storage, but caution you that the car must be totally clean before you install such a cover. Movement from the wind will cause abrasions if there is grit present. Otherwise mine lives outside without problem.

Make sure to nourish the leather and you will be fine.

 

What WhiteHat said, mine lives outside in the Hawaiian sun and still looks like new.

 

(East) Texas in the spring can be a hazardous place. I suggest a rapid response plan for getting her under proper cover when needed. Hail laughs at car covers!

 

This last post is certainly true.

 

Thanks mhminnich. We've lived in Texas for 20 years, the last 6 out East. Our hail-mary plan is to displace one of the tractors and run it into the machine shed--not practical as a daily solution due to the route to get in there.
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dsd, thanks for the advice. I keep two coats of wax on it, and I've learned to remove the cover by double folding it up from the sides such that no part of the inside touches any part of the outside, and then rolling it up from front to back without letting it slide on the paint.

Good point WhiteHat, I hose it off and dry it and wait until the rag top is dry before covering. I don't want to wash it with soap every time so the wax will last a bit longer...

 

My friend in the mid-West is plagued by hail and has a simple fix when there is no carport available or he will be away. Thin foam insulation boards between two cheap nylon car covers. It only required about an hour to cut and fix the whole thing together. He used glue and tape. The nylon acts as a hinge so it folds up rather easily. It can be installed over his good car cover or directly when time is short and ties with clothesline. It folds small enough to fit in the trunk or you can decide to have larger sections. It does not matter if the nylon is bridging anywhere there is no foam as it is suspended and acts as a trampoline. It can be installed in minutes and could be a product design. Make one for yourself. It is easy if you ignore the soft roof (which will not be affected by most hail) and glass which is easy to replace.

On another note, try Mother's Gold spray detailing wax. I find that it is good for light soiling, spots and extends your regular wax after washing.

 

If the people that built the car invented rain why didn't they also invent rust protection?

 

This job was for the new world after we attempted the reinvention of governance. As for the rust, try Corrosion Free. We got that right.