Unfortunately being a renter in Seattle I currently do not have a garage to put my new baby to sleep in. I do, at least, have a cement/gravel lit parking area off the street just to myself, but it is not covered.

I'm considering a few options, and am wondering if anyone else has had experiences with these:

1. The official MINI outdoor car cover ($160 from Classic w/ 20% discount + $?? shipping) to put on most of the time, especially when the weather turns rainy (hello, I live in Seattle!)
2. An UNofficial outdoor car cover from Costco which sells for $30 and comes in various sizes
3. A full-on steel-framed, 4-sided canvas caonpy / carport costing $170 from Costco
4. Nothing, just wash it more often.

My lease ends in October, so I might consider moving to a place with a garage for when fall/winter comes on. However, I like where I'm at and don't have a need to move.

 

Hmm, I don't know about the car cover in Seattle. It might draw unwanted attention to your car.

The cheaper Costco cover, or a canopy (for the same price!) might be a better idea. Especially since the canopy would probably be easier to deal with than a car cover.

I'd go for option #4 myself. Who wouldn't want some extra time pampering their MINI? :D

 

I'm in Ohio, and have the official MINI outdoor cover. It's real nice and works well. Two problems.

First, you can't just throw it on every night unless you're prepared to first clean off any heavy dust or dirt to avoid scratching the finish with the cover itself. In Ohio, that includes road salt overspray.

Second, it will still leave a little moisture under the cover depending on the weather conditions when it was put on.

So, I wash a lot more often and don't use the cover much. I do for times when I'm out of town and the car was cleaned before I left. I also do for times when I'm part way into detailing and want to keep it clean over night so I can start right back in the next day and avoid re-rinsing and wiping due to the morning dew.

A small garage is on the MCS mods wish list.

 

sounds like option 3 or 4 are best...

 

I'd go with #4

All the others cost money and you will still have to wash your car just as often, and some of the other choices might even cause harm over time in wet conditions.

 

I'd go with 3 AND 4 - nothing better than a clean AND protected MINI!

 

Option number 4 especially if the car is outside. I know that sounds strange, but car covers are known to scratch cars if sitting outside in the elements, especially when the wind starts.

Donna

 

my commuters are outside and i don't use a car cover. not that I don't care about the car's finish, usually it is better to let the car dry completely than to put a cover while it's moist. So, i would recommend just giving it a nice wash (#4).

ive seen rotors and brakes go extremely rusted (among other parts you probably can't see) from using car covers under humid conditions, so unless your car is clean and completely dry, i would not recommend a car cover....unless you need to park under some pigeon's dripping festival under a light pole.

 

I've used covers on some of my cars for years and have never experienced problems.

The trick with installing and removing a cover without scratching is just technique (it can be very simple and fast) and, as mentioned, keeping the car clean. There are also many different materials...some collect dirt more than others.

The main advantage of covers at night is simply added protection from sap, birds, etc. They also reduce damage with acid rain and are less likely to allow spotting damage because of heat/sun baking. Here in the Midwest they can save you from hail damage as well.

Car covers are more beneficial in the day...UV protection, fallout, birds, protection from baking water spots from an afternoon shower or sprinkler, sun damage on interiors, keep the car cool, etc.

A well fitted car cover will not move around enough on a car to scratch. There are many poorly designed covers on the market. Price is not a reflection of quality either...ABC brand may make a great one for one car and have a bad pattern for your car. Need to do research and see examples if possible. Never use plastic, cheap nylon or covers that don't breathe. These will hold in moisture and not allow it to dry properly.

Outdoor covers aren't meant to keep your car clean you still have to maintain and wash your car as often as you would (should) normally. Doing so means that a cover can fit into the routine easily.

Car covers aren't for everyone but sometimes in a situation they work out great.

Overhead pop-ups are great if you can secure them well enough. Wind can take them quick.

FUNNY STORY: I used to have a fully restored VW camper that lived outside all the time. Not a daily driver, I kept it covered for weeks at a time. My neighbors would call the cover a big "toaster cozy"! Oh well, I loved that bus!

 

I think your overthinking

I have never had a garage. I have had several "nice" cars far more expensive than a MINI. We have used car covers at times. We have one now for the MINI. Most of the time its just a pain in the butt to put on and off. It also attracks WAY too much attention. Everyone wants to know what is underneath, especially if you dont have your own driveway.

After all these years we now use it for only two reasons:

1. Hail. Yep small hail is bad. Put the cover on ... lift it up a bit and the hail bounces off
2. Sitting for days in hot sun ... SUN ... is the killer.

Other than that ... its just a car ... wash it!

 

We'll track you down and beat you later!

 

I said that in this thread because I think Oron is nervous about his new baby. All new babies get dings, dust, dirt, it just goes with driving. The cars are meant to be driven Not garage queens (not saying that is happening). Hence ... its just a car. It will get dirty, it will get dings, and someday it will end up in Mexico or a junkyard

That said, I got to get my wife to go wipe down the leather seats ... she aint done that for a month

 

 

Do what I did...

Start a detailing business

 

I'll hold him for you.

o-ron, if you've got a place for it and can secure it, go for the 'PWT garage' (#3). The rear of the MINI gets FILTHY quickly, so it would be a must to wipe it down before placing a cover over it.

 

SO I'm reading this thread, get to Chows post and sure enough, read and it shall fall I just got hit by a hail storm as I read the word hail. I ran out moved the MINI and my previous vehicle (which was in the garage as it is in the process of being fixed up) and thankfukky got the MINI in just before the bad hail hit. I would have had no chance to wash the MINIs dirty boot, and it would have been impossible to dry her off. I vote for the structure option be it #3 or a concrete bunker.

BTW I managed to make the switch JUST in time no MINI damage done as best I could tell under the light in the garage, will check in sunlight tomorrow to be sure. And well I don't care it the other car gets some cosmetic bumps as it is truly an A to B travel vehicle.

 

Hail can be terrible. We got one storm recently and could have shoveled the marble size hail in the walk. However, it did no damage to either vehicle but it did hurt like hell on your head!

A bit bigger and I dont want to imagine the damage hail can cause

 

Yeah, hail can do serious damage. Our MCS got nailed a few years ago and there were hundreds of decent sized dents all over the bonnet and roof. Luckily, the dealer did a good job fixing it.

As for covers, I recently purchased a Noah car cover fron THIS SITE and am very happy with it. Search under BMW...

 

I'm just going to talk to chows4us' two chows and have them eat him in his sleep... they already want to do it... they just need permission!

If you have the ability (space, private property, etc.), I like the canvas car canopy idea... It helps protect from hail, snow, sun, rain etc. Your car is still going to get dirty, but it has SOME protection.

I'm not huge on car covers unless, like the Brad's VW Bus, you can wash it, dry it and put it away for a long while. For a daily driver, I just don't see how it would be workable most of the time.

 

Luckily hail is a freak thing here in Seattle, if it ever occurs.

I'm also lucky that at work I'm parked in a secure, ventilated, underground garage (owned by the company).

 

Thats not going to be too much trouble. The older female never liked me anyway and in old age is starting to get cranky. Give her a few doggie biscuits and she might be willing to take out a contract!

 

avoid the canopy...get caught in some wind and it could collapse on your MINI.

 

I got an Evolution cover for about $125 and it's perfect.

 

I thought nobody ever washed their car in Seattle? My DH wants to move there.......

 

i think they still wash their cars using soap... they just let nature do
the final rinse.

im sure seattle is a great place... (to be indoors) the few days
ive been there had been sunny.