[har42]

I was thinking of getting a car cover for the winter so i don't have to spend 20 mins in the morning getting the car free of snow and ice, also going to use it when on holiday so i don't come back to a dirty car.

Does anyone here use one?
What do you think of it?
Where did you get it from?
How much do you recommend spending?

Many Thanks
Harry

 

[Ali C]

My dad bought one from Halfords, £50 (they saw him coming!). Not the best quality, and I noticed that it started scratching the paint on the Punto. He stopped using it in the end simply because it was such a faff.

A big problem with the MiTo is the fact that is has frameless windows and therefore they are prone to freezing over and not dropping down when the door is opened. So, you may be best buying one. I keep mine in the garage so I don't have to worry about this kind of stuff!

 

[NickWarwick]

I'm also considering this - does spending more mean you're able to get a cover that is less prone to scratching the paint?

 

[dgh]

I have seen some on ebay for about £30 not sure of the quality but I will be watching the thread with interest.

 

[mark bowie]

car covers for outside use do more damage than good if you cover your car when it is dirty you will get lots of fine scratches all over the car plus if you leave it covered up for a long time in winter it will keep in all the damp which is not got good with all that winter salt and crap ):

 

[rhw908]

I bought a cover from here
Stormforce 4-layer car cover to fit Alfa Romeo Mito to use when i went on holiday as I didn't want 2 weeks of bird poo on the car.

It's made of a breathable fabric so the car doesn't sweat and has a soft lining so it wont scratch the bodywork. It's also tailor maid for the MiTo and have to say it fitted very snugly.

Not cheap at nearly £150, but then only 1% of the cost of the car.

You'll never get it back in the bag though, once it's been opened!

 

[97396]

I bought a cover from here
Stormforce 4-layer car cover to fit Alfa Romeo Mito to use when i went on holiday as I didn't want 2 weeks of bird poo on the car.

It's made of a breathable fabric so the car doesn't sweat and has a soft lining so it wont scratch the bodywork. It's also tailor maid for the MiTo and have to say it fitted very snugly.

Not cheap at nearly £150, but then only 1% of the cost of the car.

You'll never get it back in the bag though, once it's been opened!

I have the same cover - highly recommended but the car has to be clean when you cover it or you will get scratches as described. You can also get "car caps" which only cover the roof and windows and this may be preferable for daily use.

http://www.thecovercompany.co.uk/arctic_car_covers.html

 

[Ralf S.]

If the car is clean (first time you put the cover on) then it's fine.

Every other time you put the cover on, it'll be dirty and the grit will mark the paint when the cover flaps about in the wind. The quality of the cover (if it's a single skin jobbie) won't make any difference. The cover would have to have a fibre lining to have a chance of keeping the grit off the paint... but then it would get damp.

Also.. don't use tie-downs to hold the cover to the car, or they'll mark the paint. My old 155 (Alfa 155, not MiTo 155 ) has had these few issues.. though a cover has largely kept the paint in better condition that it would be without one (long term standing around, not daily on-off).

If the windows stick and that's the only reason for the cover, get some tyre wall stuff ... soak a small cloth with it and then on a weekly basis wipe the rubber seals with it. It drives the water off it and so the window will not freeze to the seals (In my 145 the whole door sticks to the rubber, never mind just the glass.. but the tyre shine sorts it).

Ralf S.

 

[Guest]

Good tip ralf, thanks

 

[Ralf S.]

The only drawback with tyre shine on your window rubbers is that the glass gets greasy marks on it where they touch.. but once you've wiped off the excess (regular Mr Muscle glass cleaner will do) then it generally stays non-greasy.

Ralf S.

 

[jaymz]

I have tailored covers from www.coveryourcar.co.uk for both my spider and 156. Both are used outdoors and are very easy to take on and off. As above I would not recommend using a cover unless the car is clean as any grit could damage the paint work...