New here, so sorry if this is the wrong place to post questions like this.
My new (to me) car is going to have to live outside all year, previous owner had it garaged and I mentioned I was thinking of getting a cover and he said i should just get a small cover that goes over the roof and windows as when he had a cover it stayed damp underneath and wasn't good for longterm or paint - makes sense to me. I'll be using all year round as well so it'll be good for frost protection as well as sun and the birds.
So, anyone have one or recommend one?
I've seen some silver elasticated one's on the web but they look like the cheap sort of stuff you get as frost protectors on windscreens - anyone have one of those? I'd prefer something a bit better or thicker material if such a thing exists - seen a better one for an MX5 but not sure about fitment.
Thanks ;D
Maybe not quite the right place, but can see why.
Maybe a mod can move to general chit chat.
Or re raise yourself.
Sadly cannot offer any recommendations. That said if its a daily. Will the cover be on that much to cause issue?
Probably a good idea but I've never bothered and all my 2s live permanently outside.
As
@Ardent said, "if it's a daily". The problem with any cover is that to use the car it has to be removed, not so easy in winter if it's frozen on, and at all times the cover then has to be stored.During my working life I found that cleaning the screen and windows in winter was inevitable, in really cold times I used a strip of heavy gauge plastic sheet (damp proof course material) just wider than the windscreen and long enough to shut in the doors to keep it in place, but even that needs storage, my company cars all had boots. The frunk is your most likely place and so whatever you decide on the folded size needs to fit that.
Well, it won't be a 'daily' as I have use of a van, so when the weather's bad I'll use the van so might be stood for a week or so, so I wouldn't be removing and replacing everyday. I remember my other soft top car going a bit green before, driveway has a bit of greenery. Storage will just be 'bung it in the hallway'.
I was looking through a few pages here and saw someone ask the same question a few months ago and no recommendations there too so guess I'll have to do some more 'googling' myself.
Surprised there isn't a specific/recommended half cover for the MR2 Roadster. Maybe it just says how much better the roof is than other convertibles! The Smart Roadster had one you could leave on when driving (not too quickly) the roof was so leaky :))
By 'outside, do you mean 'on your property'?
If so, perhaps a small gazebo/tent arrangement (well tied down) would do the job?
Quote from: SoloNomad on November 4, 2020, 18:23New here, so sorry if this is the wrong place to post questions like this.
My new (to me) car is going to have to live outside all year, previous owner had it garaged and I mentioned I was thinking of getting a cover and he said i should just get a small cover that goes over the roof and windows as when he had a cover it stayed damp underneath and wasn't good for longterm or paint - makes sense to me. I'll be using all year round as well so it'll be good for frost protection as well as sun and the birds.
So, anyone have one or recommend one?
I've seen some silver elasticated one's on the web but they look like the cheap sort of stuff you get as frost protectors on windscreens - anyone have one of those? I'd prefer something a bit better or thicker material if such a thing exists - seen a better one for an mx-engineinwrongplace but not sure about fitment.
Thanks ;D
As you can get full outdoor covers for Ferraris and such, I wouldn't agree that it is a bad thing to cover a car completely. You do need to spend decent money though and get something that is exactly tailored for the car.
The best covers are made of material that is breathable and lets any moisture out. The material is also very soft and doesn't scuff the paintwork, though car needs to be spotless and free of dirt and grit before it is covered.
I used to cover my Mk2 in the winter as it wasn't garaged and I only drove it every couple of months to keep it ticking over (too 'lively' to enjoy it properly in the cold and wet!). The cover I had fitted around the wing mirrors and had some underbody straps. I'd say you'd be looking at a couple of hundred quid and there are quite a few companies that do them assuming they have kept hold of the pattern. As you say - Google is your friend.
As to a half cover - I don't visualise how that would be held on and remain in place in say a very strong gale (apart from not seeing the point).
Quote from: Carolyn on November 5, 2020, 09:24By 'outside, do you mean 'on your property'?
Yeah, it's on the drive, but so is my van and there's no room for a tent type thing.
Quote from: ManInDandism on November 5, 2020, 15:38As to a half cover - I don't visualise how that would be held on and remain in place in say a very strong gale (apart from not seeing the point).
Generic type one's that I've found have long elasticated straps to sort of wrap around the front and back wheel areas. I did see a taylored one for an MX5 that looked like it sort of fitted under the lip of the rear boot lid, can't remember how the sides and front stayed in place but it did say you have to unlock the car to remove it ... might try and find the websites and put links in?
Ah, found the MX5 one quick - UK Custom Covers, it's held on by 'a concealed magnetic fixing system .... cover is secured to your vehicle and cannot be removed without unlocking the car. I wonder if that would fit the MR2
https://new.ukcustomcovers.com/mazda-mx5-mk1-mk2-mk2-5-tailored-half-cover-black-1989-2005?gclid=CjwKCAiA4o79BRBvEiwAjteoYAcmME4srJl8XtRGDPv4ISmy65NzIFdjb3fKyCBlcaMbINBT_A9V-BoCTfAQAvD_BwE
They don't list one for the MR2, otherwise it's this sort of thing
https://www.everycarcovered.com/collections/toyota/products/toyota-mr2-mk3-99-07-half-size-car-cover
Ay, that top link won't work cos of the auto replace thing of MX 5 :))
As we have just had a period of torrential rain followed by the 1st frosts of the Winter I thought I would check up on my '2' today, that has been standing for about 2 weeks, check out the inside and start the engine.
The car started instantly, but the roof lining had many drips of condensation, with one or two having dropped onto the seats. This despite 2-3 recent roof treatments by myself over the last few weeks
I had a '2' many years ago and can vaguely recall now a sort of white/green powdery residue ending up on the roof lining
SO .....I, like the op have been looking at sturdy breathable outdoor coverings
The 'best' I have currently found is this one
https://www.stormcarcovers.co.uk/products/toyota-car-covers-1?_pos=1&_sid=6878f00a0&_ss=r&variant=661744401
BUT am holding off just for now to see if anyone else has any other suggestions/alternatives
If you have a fabric hood I could see a benefit in a half cover, but the stock MR2 hood is vinyl so it's wipe down. No issues.
I have a fabric hood now & considered a half cover. I also considered breathable covers. Even then I'd want to put the cover on a dry hood & there's no guarantees on that (epecially on the west coast of Scotland).
In the end I decided against it & treat the hood regularly with Fabsil Gold & wipe off any bird poo etc. that might appear at the first opportunity.
The 'treatments' I referred to in my post used Fabsil Gold - brushed on, looked fab + beaded well after application .....but now upon reflection I have maybe 'boobed' as this was applied onto the original vinyl roof.
After a week or two the finish changed to a mottled grey/white appearance compared to a shiny black ....hence the reason for 2-3 attempts.
Second that. Tbh I have a fabric type roof and it was covered with ash etc from bonfire nite so being lazy I blew it off with compressed air from my sprayer to see wot damage was caused n it came back as brand new.
I want to treat it again with the Fabsil fluid which is ok for tents etc but without the extra 0 put on for car softops.n. Takes only 10 mins but it's looking fine even with that blow job so not desperate to pour on that liquid over her top But I will at some stage do this again. I can't see any point in car protectors as such as mr T did a grand job with these beasts. If it's parked outside for a long time I can see it, but why not use it. .? If it's garaged for winter which some have the luxury of then a cloth will suffice.