[carid]

I wanted to do a quick write up of the most overlooked Mod ever. When we start fixing up our cars everyone immediately goes after 1 of 2 things. The first is to increase horsepower and the second is the "beauty" upgrade. Now, I am not saying that these are bad upgrades. Actually, I fell victim to it too. I wanted the intake (got it) and then the exhaust (got it). Then the flood gates open and I want new this and new that... The one valuable upgrade I overlooked and that I think should be on everyone's "wishlist" is... Are you ready for it?

The CAR COVER...

Yes, I said it! A car cover.

Now, before you all start laughing - hear me out.

I am not able to keep my car in a garage (even though I want to) the homeowners cars have first dibs and I am forced to park in the driveway. In New Jersey we have four season weather and I learned the hard way. I never realized how important it was until it was too late. I left my car out in the snow uncovered and when the blizzard (one of many) came last year the ice built up on the car and now a new hood and upcoming paint job has left me with a lesson learned.

So, here comes the hard part. Choosing the right car cover to suit your needs. Sounds easy right? Just go and get a universal outdoor cover and you are good. Wrong! Even though that sounds easy, how much do I trust the cheesy, non-custom Pep Boys car cover to protect my $1000 + paint job and my vehicle - which is priceless to me. Here is how I figured out what I needed to make the correct choice for my vehicle.

There are two types of covers: Indoor and Outdoor

Indoor Covers:

They are designed for "garage kept" vehicles. They are breathable but not normally water resistant, UV resistant, and are more along the lines of the "pretty" car covers. Take a look at this example:

SATIN STRETCH

This car cover looks pretty, is lightweight and great for a garage kept vehicle. It fits nicely to the curves, feels smooth and has a soft material on the inside to protect your paint. However, take it outside and kiss your investment goodbye - not to mention it is doing nothing to protect your paint job.

Outdoor Covers:

They are designed to be the armor for your vehicle. Block harmful UV rays, protect against bird droppings, sap and even hail. On top of that, it gives a soft cushioning around the car to even protect against some dings. ie acorns falling on your car **stupid squirrels**. Anyway, they let moisture out and not in -be sure to check to make sure it is water proof and not coated with a water resistant coating because, after your first wash it will slowly lose its waterproof qualities and be a waste of money.

Here is what I decided on:

Stormproof

I picked this because the material is lightweight and easy enough for daily use, custom fit for my car, and the material is naturally water resistant. Even after 1,000 rain storms my car will stay dry underneath. If not I will use the warranty from the manufacturer.

Now the effort to protect your car and keep its shine really depends on you but, this will definitely help.

I just wanted to share my thoughts and what I learned with some fellow enthusiasts because, ultimately, regardless of what car we drive we all have the same goal. So I figured I would share something that we tend to overlook initially and really can help us in the long run.

[Timbo]

I agree but that is alot of money to blow on a cover.