I had to leave my city due to the pandemic and unfortunately was not able to find a house in the short amount of time that had a garage. I thought to myself no big deal - I'll just put an outdoor car cover on it. I kept my indoor car cover on for paint protection, then threw the outdoor cover over that. Unfortunately I unwrapped it a couple weeks later to find the entire thing *soaked*.

Humidity and dew just accumulated under the cover, and the inner cover just soaked up all the water like a mop. Now my taillight and headlight is partially out.

I am not considering a car port with zipper doors which seem surprisingly cheap. Has anyone used these before? I am worried to buy one of these things and once again find out it's crap.

Also if anyone has ever had lights fail due to moisture I'm curious if you were able to fix it!

Any help is appreciated

 

Mr. Robot, your idea to first put down an indoor cover for paint protection would seem to make sense, but I seems to have had the obvious effect of preventing the moisture from escaping through the outdoor cover. I use a Noah cover on my cars and it is good for outdoor storage because it allows said moisture to escape. I've never had obvious paint damage using the Noah.

I have never used a car port of the type you described.

I know there is an Outdoor Car Bubble with air exchange that I am quite certain would be effective. I use the company's indoor Car Capsule for winter storage of my P-car in my unheated garage and never had any issues. The Outdoor Car Bubble is pricey, however, and takes up considerable space. My homeowners association would never allow it.

I acquired a 2012 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS two years ago. My wife allowed me to park it in the garage the first year, but then resented that her car was outside while mine were all garaged. So, it spent 8 months outside last year. This year, I purchased an inexpensive portable Coleman canopy (no side walls) secured down by sand to shield the car from UV and droppings, which are my biggest concerns. I drive the car during the winter, but it is then garaged. So far so good with this idea.

Can't help you with the headlight/tail light problems.

Good luck.

 

Every Vantage (I've had 6 of them this past 12 years) except my original 2007 (bought new with red lens) had tail lights replaced for condensation - including both my rear lights on my 2017 Vantage. For Aston to not have addressed this known problem - the innards are made by a firm not to far from me in Lakeville, Minnesota - I believed assembled in Canada should have been a recall item covered by the company.

 

I have kept my Vantage in one of these for years,

https://www.shelterlogic.com/shop/autoshelter (size 10x15x8)

It must be firmly anchored of course. I also live in CA so don't know how it would handle a heavy snow load.

But other than having to replace the cover due to UV sun damage after 4 years, it has done the job.

[I have no affiliation with this company, ymmv]

 

Thank you! The Noah material looks much better than the exterior cover I currently have. I ordered one from covercraft so crossing my fingers on that.

 

probably better to just leave it uncovered... why subject it to high humidity, trapped moisture? not sure where you live, but cars amds finishes are rather durable... get and maintain a good finish on it and drive it often as you can

 

Don't bother with a cover on a car outside. Just keep it waxed, glazed, etc... and live with it. Sun shield is mandatory or at least a towel over the dash.

 

Wow, It's rare to see such a low rating on a product on their own web site. I applaud them for their transparency, but it doesn't speak well for the product.

 

I've had a car stored outside for a couple years under an outdoor cover. I wasn't satisfied. The cover I had claimed to be water resistant but breathable. Either the company or I have the incorrect definition for water resistant because it would get soaking wet in the rain. I suppose it did dry out when the sun came out, but the process left the paint dirty and between the wet/dry cycles and the movement of the cover in wind, I'm sure it generated surface scratches. Even with the cover strapped down under the center of the car, wind can pull it off the front or back. It's just not a good solution for car protection, IMO.

 

My main problem are trees and sap. Within a day I'm covered in tree stuff; bird poop is also a problem and has already left a permanent mark. I did just have it repainted and doubtful that the new paint is as good as factory quality.

 

Was it a Noah? I've spent quite a bit of time in the rabbit hole of car covers this past week and the noah seems vastly different than typical covers. I will be sure to check back and post a review/video when I test it out. The cover I have now from Amazon is just a 2-ply material, basically a thin tarp with a mediocre liner; wondering if this is the same? Fwiw the noah seems almost like a quilt material so hopeful this will be different.

 

It was a 3 ply from California Car Cover. I don't recall the product name.

 

I also highly recommend the Noah car cover. I have them for my Aston, Ferrari and Porsche and they fit each car perfectly. Great protection for those times when I have no choice but to temporarily leave my cars outside, and need protection from sun, storms, bird and sap droppings as well as cars parked in close proximity. I even use them for longish term indoor storage in place of my OEM indoor covers, as they add an extra modicum of protection from dings, etc.

 

Garages are for garage queens. Drivers live in the driveway. I just make sure to wax it whenever I wash it, which has been about 6 months so it's due!