Carcover

[lex - eleven]

We are having a full repaint and as the car is now not our daily driver and as it is kept on our driveway we were thinking of using an outside cover to protect it from all the elements. Does anyone use a cover already and might recommend a company or brand that's good. 

[Stanwithaplan]

Hi. Yep I use a Halfords one for my LS400. Its heavy duty. I use bungees to stop the wind setting the alarm off.

[Malc1]

Mark, do you have the room for a modest type of easy erect, portable’ish  “ garage “ to erect ?  If so I’ll find the name of the one used by my nephew for my 1932 Triumph ……… doesn’t need Planning permission whatever I’m assured 

Malc 

[messi]

Dont put a cover, it will ruin the paint work, even breathable covers are rubbish

[lex - eleven]

2 hours ago, Stanwithaplan said:

Hi. Yep I use a Halfords one for my LS400. Its heavy duty. I use bungees to stop the wind setting the alarm off.

Thanks Stan. I have looked at some but was unsure whether the wind would shuffle the cover around a bit and then rub on the paint.

[lex - eleven]

1 hour ago, Malc1 said:

Mark, do you have the room for a modest type of easy erect, portable’ish  “ garage “ to erect ?  If so I’ll find the name of the one used by my nephew for my 1932 Triumph ……… doesn’t need Planning permission whatever I’m assured 

Malc 

Thanks Malc, yes I've plenty of room on my drive and I had considered one of those but not sure of prices yet but I will have a look around.

[lex - eleven]

10 minutes ago, messi said:

Dont put a cover, it will ruin the paint work, even breathable covers are rubbish

Thanks for the input Messi. I looked at some that said we're breathable but did wonder about a good fit as well.

[Malc1]

This is what we’ve used on a concrete base and it took 2/3 guys a couple of days to erect …… if it’s of any use for you ! 

Good luck 

Malc 

[Stanwithaplan]

30 minutes ago, lex - eleven said:

Thanks Stan. I have looked at some but was unsure whether the wind would shuffle the cover around a bit and then rub on the paint.

I havent noticed any rubbing but its possible. I've got a leaky boot that is resisting all my best efforts to fix it. So I stuck a cover over it, as it's better than a water feature in my boot and under the rear seat.

. 

[Bezzer]

If you're looking at portable garage type covers, i Machine Mart do a fair range of them. Mate has got one for his MGB and is pleased with it.

[lex - eleven]

28 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

This is what we’ve used on a concrete base and it took 2/3 guys a couple of days to erect …… if it’s of any use for you ! 

Good luck 

Malc 

Cheers Malc. Sounds really good and as much as I want to protect it I need to consider the cost on top of the repaint. I may well look around for something like that but something a bit more within my budget....and that would be.... Not a lot left now. 😆 

[lex - eleven]

26 minutes ago, Bezzer said:

If you're looking at portable garage type covers, i Machine Mart do a fair range of them. Mate has got one for his MGB and is pleased with it.

Thanks Bezzer I'll take a look and have a good look around everywhere.

[lex - eleven]

19 hours ago, Stanwithaplan said:

I havent noticed any rubbing but its possible. I've got a leaky boot that is resisting all my best efforts to fix it. So I stuck a cover over it, as it's better than a water feature in my boot and under the rear seat.

. 

As my car is sitting on the drive I noticed some water in my boot as well. Luckily I have a lexus rubber boot protector with a lip all round so the water didn't reach the carpet. My drive is on a slope and I think that because it was facing downhill, so to speak, it couldn't run out round the channels. I turned the car round and that stopped the rain seeping in.

[Stanwithaplan]

Same situation for me, she's pointing uphill and that helped a lot but didn't cure it totally. I siliconed the new boot seal (again) and also added a little to the top left of my rear window, where the black rubber looks like it may have shrunk a little. I also found, to my horror, that there was water under the back seat, so dried that off and rust treated it. Then I covered her up.  Today I took the cover off after 2+ months, the boot had a tiny little pool of water in the wheel well and there was a little condensation on the sunroof ( to be expected) other than that she was dry, but being under a cover, so she should be! So I'm leaving the cover off, lets see what happens. I took her for a 60 mile drive this afternoon, smiling all the way, so smooooth.

"Check engine and VSC off" warnings when i started her up to come home. So new problems to solve... keeps me out of trouble I suppose.

[lex - eleven]

I have reservations about using a cover but having a new repaint I feel I need to do something to try and protect it from the elements and living 5 minutes from Brixham harbour the seagull luftwaffe are a damned nuisance! I'm using a pug 107 as a run around now but it's soooo nice to get back in the lexus for a longer journey. 

Oh by the way, on my 1st 430 the engine light was on for two and a half years - no change to anything whatsoever. I reckon it lights up to let you know there's a bulb in there. 😆 

Edited March 9 by lex - eleven
Additional information

[Malc1]

When you had the repaint done, didn’t the paint shop advise on best care going forward ? 

I’d have thought simply washing, maybe with recommended additives whatever, might protect modern paintwork from the elements ! 
Just a thought 🤔

Malc

[lex - eleven]

It's in for painting at the moment Malc. 

[SH20]

Specialist Car Covers of Shipley West Yorks,     The best in the business.      info@specialisedcovers.com

You won't believe what they can do/supply. 

[Boomer54]

I bought a car cover for the SC 430, but it isn't in use that much. I found it LED to condensation (so much for breathability). Hence, I got into the habit of taking it off very regularly and drying off the car. I would still use it selectively, but not in any continuous sense. In fact, the instructions that come with it do advise taking it off once a week.

[BigBoomer]

Perhaps consider a car-tent like these from MM?
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/categories/?search=garage
Just make sure to secure them to the ground as they WILL blow away in a storm.
I recommend gaffer taping every joint once it's up and make sure that your anchors are bolted into concrete.

[Malc1]

Wot a kerfuffle 😂

Malc 

[lex - eleven]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I had also considered one of those types that fold back, you drive up to it and then you pull over the car. A bit like a pram hood but folds right over. I'll have to give it some thought. I may have to get a cover for short term use to begin with and take it off to air once a week on a dry day....whenever that happens!

[Malc1]

2 hours ago, lex - eleven said:

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I had also considered one of those types that fold back, you drive up to it and then you pull over the car. A bit like a pram hood but folds right over. I'll have to give it some thought. I may have to get a cover for short term use to begin with and take it off to air once a week on a dry day....whenever that happens!

I remember that style of cover from maybe 60 years ago 🤔

Malc 

[BigBoomer]

The fold back ones (clamshell?) are OK, but again you need to make certain they are well secured to the ground, or the wind will bounce it off the side of your car.
I had one for a motorcycle (Bike Barn) and it lasted about 6 years before the nylon degraded and started to split.

Whatever you get, you will need size Large or Extra-Large as the LS is a big old beast 

[lex - eleven]

Well I decided to go with stanwithaplan and buy the Halfords car cover option as my driveway is tarmac and I don't know what is underneath it so bolting anything down may not be possible anyway. Size XL and 10% discount ended yesterday so I payed £60. When I get the car back from paint I'll make sure it's completely dry if it has rained and regularly air it when we get a dry day to try to avoid condensation. Thanks for all the helpful information guys.