Here's a bit more on the 'tent' type of
suggestion vis-a-vis clearcoat intregrity:
The worst clearcoat damage I've ever incurred
was on a black coupe that commuted a couple of
times a week from San Diego to El Centro.
(spending its days in a office parking lot in
the low desert--sometimes warmer than Phoenix.)
A custom painter cleaned up the clearcoat mess
for $ 750.
OTOH I drove a white coupe with clearcoat
between San Diego and Palm Desert on a regular
basis, and regularly parked it in the sun with
few paint issues.
So, if the car is dark and tends to soak up
sunshine, you may cover the cost of a tent or
reflective cover in less than a year.
Years ago, my favorite 'purveyor' of covers was
/North Coast Tarpaulin Works/ and I bought a
'reflective' cover from them for a 911. They
are no longer in business but some of those guys
migrated over to Big Sky. (I've had no
experience with BigSky but they came from good
breeding.) You might give them a call and
inquire what they suggest in the way of heat
reflective covers for use in Phoenix.
< https://www.bigskycarcovers.com/
>
--
pj
Andrew DeFaria wrote:
> WayneC wrote:
>> I haven't tried the second option, but it sounds like a good choice if
>> all you want to do is keep the interior cool for short periods rather
>> than protect the paint from harmful rays over long periods of sitting
>> outdoors. As for full covers: Inexpensive covers won't last long in
>> the AZ sun, my advice would be to buy a lightweight, thin reflective
>> cover and just resign yourself to replacing it yearly.
> Good points. Let me say that while I'm currently living in Phoenix I'm a
> contractor. Chances that I will remain here after this year are probably
> pretty slim. So it's not like I'm planning on having to endure years and
> years of hot Phoenix summer sun. But you are right, option 2 will not
> protect my paint. Then again I haven't seen many older vettes with faded
> paint jobs.
>> The best alternative at the other end of the scale is a Sunbrella
>> cover, which will be
>> long-lasting (at least 5 years or longer) but will set you back around
>> $400... probably worth it if you really need a good sun-proof cover;
>> it's a lighter canvas-like material but it isn't as compact as some
>> covers when stowed. Another high-end possiblility is the very
>> lightweight "Stormproof" material, which isn't quite as expensive, but
>> I haven't tried one so I can't vouch for that material.
>>
>> To cut down on chafing, you need to buy a custom-fitted pattern, which
>> means the
>> "cheap" alternatives won't be so cheap. Full covers aren't all that
>> difficult to use, just takes a minute to put 'em on and take 'em off.
>>
>> I don't have a late model Vette, but I live in CA and have more cars
>> than I can keep indoors, so I've owned a lot of car covers; Sunbrella
>> is by far the best I've owned. Most covers are one of the composite
>> Kimberly-Clark-type material (rather than fabric) that starts
>> disintegrating after a year and can't be successfully washed (but I
>> admit I do keep buying them because of price), or they are so light
>> that the slightest breeze pulls them off the car, hence my
>> recommendation for custom-fitted.
> Good point. I'll keep that in mind.
>
> So far I'm thinking of getting option #2 with option #1 for day to day,
> quick stops and hope I'm not here in Phoenix for the 5 year lease.
>
> Thanks for your input.
> --
> Andrew DeFaria <http://defaria.com>
> I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. - Thomas J.
> Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
and, real programmers don't use Assembler.
|
