7 replies to this topic

[Vinay-RS]

Hi all, 

 

I hope I am not posting this in the wrong section. I was reading a few old threads on the forum regarding the Stormforce car covers.

 

My Mini lives outside all the time and is my daily drive. Over the course of the past two years the paintwork (especially on the roof) really suffered and in the end, I had the roof resprayed when a couple of rust spots and other damages were fixed. Now, it's been a couple of months since then, and I know that I won't be able to rent a place with undercover parking anytime soon so I have been looking at a long-term car cover solution. 

 

At the moment, I used a bed sheet to cover the top half of the car (as it wasn't quite big enough for the entire car) and a standard small car cover to fit over the rest of it. The cover is too big for the Mini, but the car is in long-term storage in a garage for the past few weeks out of the elements. 

 

One of the suggestions was to regularly wash the car and wax it, but given our water shortages, I can't exactly do that. 

 

So, looking at the best way to protect the car, I was considering one of the Stormforce covers from MiniSpares. The two options are:

 

[url= https://www.minispar...sic/CCC103.aspx]CCC103[/url ]

[url= https://www.minispar...sic/CCC104.aspx]CCC104[/url ]

 

The price difference is not insignificant, but obviously, I'd like to get the best cover possible. We really don't have a lot of rain (or any at the moment), but there's a good chance the car will need to get covered when wet, but I'm mostly worried about sun damage as that was what ruined the paint previously. 

 

Which one would be preferable/suitable? Or are neither good and should I look at another option?

[Vinay-RS]

Oh, and would they work for a Clubman? All the pictures I've seen of these fitted is for the roundnose saloon. 

[panky]

I too had the same problem with a Stormforce cover on my Morris Minor, wouldn't use one again. For the Mini I got a Trike Home off Ebay

 

http://www.theminifo...929-trike-home/

 

I've found it very good as long as you check for condensation if it gets really cold. My Cooper fits in complete with spotlamp bar and four lamps so a clubby should go in - just but best to check for certain. Only problem for you is the freight costs to SA

 

[Vinay-RS]

That is nice! I agree with you though, it might cost an arm and a leg to get it shipped down to SA... Sigh, I'm not too sure what to do, to be honest. 

[maximas]

Carcoon....easy decision..

[Vinay-RS]

Thanks :) Unfortunately, given the space available to park the Mini, neither of these would work. Maybe I should stick with the crappy car cover I'm using right now and just look into a finding a place with a garage. 

[panky]

If it works for you and it's keeping the car safe then stick with it. I think the problem with the Stormforce covers is that the fit too well and trap moisture between the car and cover with little chance of it evaporating in damp weather.

[Vinay-RS]

If it works for you and it's keeping the car safe then stick with it. I think the problem with the Stormforce covers is that the fit too well and trap moisture between the car and cover with little chance of it evaporating in damp weather.

My biggest concern with the local car covers is that there isn't a soft material inside and since they're loose fitting. If it is windy (which is basically all year round over here), the cover blows around and acts as sandpaper against the paint. For that reason, I've only used the cover when keeping the car parked for extended periods in undercover spaces (friend's garages, etc). 

 

Maybe a cover that fits correctly and doesn't shift in the wind would actually be ideal, especially since we don't have a problem with rain over here right now.