Car covers are one of those accessories that we don't often think about unless storing an automobile or truck.
Myself, I bought one years back when I found a “project car” which was a fairly clean, non-running 1974 Ford Galaxy 500XL. Actually, I only bought it because the car cost me $80 for the car and the plates... The car cover was therefore an expensive investment as it cost me nearly $100.
The main reason for the high cost was that I had to purchase the largest car size; the Galaxy was roughly 18 feet long. The quality, on the other had, was fairly low. The principle characteristics I was looking for in a car cover was one designed for the outdoors, something breathable, strong and lightweight.
The Galaxy never ran and it regretfully headed to the local scrapyard before I ever got to turn a bolt. The car cover remained though and served as protector to my various old Volkswagens in a number of indoor storage facilities. That did not work very well.
It's important to select the right type of cover for not only the right car, but for the proper application. There are real differences between inside and outside covers as well variations in materials that make up the actual tarp.
My “exterior” cover allowed all forms of dust and water (building had plumbing problems) to touch the car because of its breathable nature. What I needed was something with a water-repellent nature...
Of the many materials that can be used in the make-up of the covers are polypropylenes, DuPont TYVEK and PGI Endura Plus. These substances can be layered up to four times for maximum protection. The prices change accordingly, obviously.
These quality covers can be purchased at numerous fine retail stores. But why would you leave your house when all you need to do is drop by EmpireCovers.com and make the purchase online. The only elements you need are your car's make, model and year and a credit card.
Empire Covers sent us a sample that we tried on an Auto123.com staffer’s car, a Grabber Blue 2011 Ford Mustang GT. This car cover is called the Titan and is manufactured by Budge, a company who has been making them for nearly 70 years.
The 4-layer cover is waterproof, but completely breathable. When the air is warmer under the cover than outside of it, condensation may appear, which can damage the car’s paint. The Titan cover we tried out prevents that, and was extremely easy to install, tie up, take off and even store back in its storage pouch.
Although I regret losing the Galaxy, I'm glad I was able to protect her for a little while longer. Even though some of these covers, such as the Titan 4-layer one lovingly sheltering the Mustang, can set you back nearly $200, it'll always be cheaper than a garage.
What's more important than preserving that which is most precious to you?
