Car Cover While Parking at Work

[tx_revo]

For the first time in about 5 years, I (along with most of the people at my company) am being forced out of covered parking. I HATE the idea of my car stewing out in the sun all day. So, I was thinking about buying a car cover to put on when I get to work and back off when I leave for the day. I do keep my car clean and protected with a wax or sealant, but I would still like a true cover. Is this ridiculous/overkill? Anyone currently do this??

[dbtong]

My S5 is parked outside every day. Been thinking of getting a car cover because the trees and birds are dropping stuff all over the place this time of year. Would like a lighter weight one for ease of use/packing.

[Sgibb16]

For the first time in about 5 years, I (along with most of the people at my company) am being forced out of covered parking. I HATE the idea of my car stewing out in the sun all day. So, I was thinking about buying a car cover to put on when I get to work and back off when I leave for the day. I do keep my car clean and protected with a wax or sealant, but I would still like a true cover. Is this ridiculous/overkill? Anyone currently do this??

Seems overkill, you need to make sure the car is really clean before putting on a cover or you risk damaging the paint.

[JamesRS5]

Seems overkill, you need to make sure the car is really clean before putting on a cover or you risk damaging the paint.

Absolutely, your car will be covered in scratches if you use a cover without first washing it.

How about a car umbrella?

https://www.lanmodo.com/auto-car-umb...SAAEgLKafD_BwE

[namvar]

Absolutely, your car will be covered in scratches if you use a cover without first washing it.

How about a car umbrella?

https://www.lanmodo.com/auto-car-umb...SAAEgLKafD_BwE

I cover my car at work. But I wash my car every weekend and also wipe it down with Adam's water-less wash every night. PITA.... This umbrella think would do the job or protecting the molding and interior.

Will probably give it a try.

[PEM]

You guys are wild lol. I feel like doing all that at work will just cause unwanted attention and hard pass on covering/uncovering at the beginning and end of the day. I don't know about you but my time is better spent doing something else. Just get a nice ceramic coating or wrap and call it a day if you're that worried about your paint. I drive my RS in rain/shine/snow as a daily driver.

[namvar]

You guys are wild lol. I feel like doing all that at work will just cause unwanted attention and hard pass on covering/uncovering at the beginning and end of the day. I don't know about you but my time is better spent doing something else. Just get a nice ceramic coating or wrap and call it a day if you're that worried about your paint. I drive my RS in rain/shine/snow as a daily driver.

Ca sun... For those of us who keep their cars forever, protection is absolutely needed to protect the molding and interior. My RS5 is my daily driver.

[JamesRS5]

I had the full Xpel ultimate wrap on mine to remove all these worries of paint protection, micro scratching, etc. Parking the car in sunlight and letting it heat up allows the PPF to heal.

[03TLSinCO]

Here's an option. There are cheaper versions as well.

https://www.amazon.com/LANMODO-Four-...gateway&sr=8-5

[PEM]

Ca sun... For those of us who keep their cars forever, protection is absolutely needed to protect the molding and interior. My RS5 is my daily driver.

I get that protection is needed, sure. But seriously? Popping on a cover/umbrella at work? That's next level...

The problem with these covers and umbrellas are if your exterior isn't already squeaky clean, both these options will damage your paint regardless due to the scuffing at the contact points. Covers contact pretty much every part of the surface and is really only proper protection right after a wash and placed in an area with 0 air movement. Those umbrellas have a huge suction cup at the top (not much of a worry if on the moonroof) but then also has a contact point at least on each corner - have fun with that. Just picture a windy day with all that fabric or umbrella moving around. You think you're protecting your paint but really you're just doing more damage. The best way to go is a wrap or a ceramic coating as was already mentioned. You're just going to have to suck it up with molding/interior degradation and replace them when they start looking like crap. You say Cali sun, but that's about all you have to worry about. I've got the sun as well as the rest of the other 3 seasons over here in Virginia. At the end of the day, it's all part of car ownership. If you're too worried about some sun causing extra wear on your parts, then maybe don't take it to places where it'll sit out in the elements all day and leave it in your garage. It seriously takes all the fun out of owning these cars if you're too worried about these things.

[Darel]

I just bought three young boys, two of which hold large umbrellas over the car, the third fans it with a palm frond, and uses the palm frond to chase away undesirables who get within 100 feet of the car.

[03TLSinCO]

I get that protection is needed, sure. But seriously? Popping on a cover/umbrella at work? That's next level...

The problem with these covers and umbrellas are if your exterior isn't already squeaky clean, both these options will damage your paint regardless due to the scuffing at the contact points. Covers contact pretty much every part of the surface and is really only proper protection right after a wash and placed in an area with 0 air movement. Those umbrellas have a huge suction cup at the top (not much of a worry if on the moonroof) but then also has a contact point at least on each corner - have fun with that. Just picture a windy day with all that fabric or umbrella moving around. You think you're protecting your paint but really you're just doing more damage. The best way to go is a wrap or a ceramic coating as was already mentioned. You're just going to have to suck it up with molding/interior degradation and replace them when they start looking like crap. You say Cali sun, but that's about all you have to worry about. I've got the sun as well as the rest of the other 3 seasons over here in Virginia. At the end of the day, it's all part of car ownership. If you're too worried about some sun causing extra wear on your parts, then maybe don't take it to places where it'll sit out in the elements all day and leave it in your garage. It seriously takes all the fun out of owning these cars if you're too worried about these things.

I agree with your comments on both covers and umbrellas. My car sits in the hot sun all day long while I'm at work, but I'd never consider those car umbrellas. They seem like a novelty more than anything. Besides the contact points you mentioned, I'd also have to be concerned with wind. We regularly get 40 - 60mph wind gusts here and while the one I linked to states it's wind resistant, it's only up to 30mph. I'd hate to find my car all scratched up from a broken umbrella that's supposed to protect my car. For some people, this might work. For me? No.

[uraniumheart]

I too want my 2010 S5 to last into eternity, but I know the day will come where it ends up in a junkyard just like every* car eventually does. Enjoy the car and take care of it, but man, I can't imagine being so concerned about the sun that I put a car-sized umbrella over it... I have a windshield reflector and I keep my sunshade closed while it sits all day, it does the trick to keep the temperature down at least. Nothing lasts forever, personally being hyper-attentive and careful about keeping my car in a hermetically sealed chamber would spoil all the fun of being able to constantly burn the dinosaur juice as my daily driver through real-life road conditions.

[BigAngryBananas]

It's a car, not a Fabergé egg. Get paint protection film, ceramic finish over top, good ceramic tints and a windshield sun shade and call it a day. I don't see much point in owning a car forever only to spend the entire time worrying about it.

[S5Black]

It's a car, not a Fabergé egg. Get paint protection film, ceramic finish over top, good ceramic tints and a windshield sun shade and call it a day. I don't see much point in owning a car forever only to spend the entire time worrying about it.

The paint on my car leaves a lot to be desired, however I drive it and enjoy it.

[BuyTheWarranty]

It's a car, not a Fabergé egg. Get paint protection film, ceramic finish over top, good ceramic tints and a windshield sun shade and call it a day. I don't see much point in owning a car forever only to spend the entire time worrying about it.

Amen. I too have the OCD car affliction, and my wife always laughs. I won’t drive it in the rain, or winter (even though it’s far more fun), but usually that’s because I just spent two hours washing it and I want to get at least a week out of a fresh 2 hr detail.

At the end of the day it’s good to try and keep your car in as good of condition as possible, but there’s a point where you enter into whacko world. I did hear something once that resonated with me, and that’s that a lot of people don’t want to drive their cars because they’re so nice,however you SHOULD want to drive your car because it’s nice.

For me, a lot of my car OCD is trying to keep the car in great shape for the next owner (keep resale high), but the reality is why would I keep it in such amazing shape and keep the miles low, for someone ELSE to enjoy. that and a lot of the minor nicks and dings that drive me insane likely wouldn’t bother the next owner, or, they wouldn’t even notice. It also wouldn’t make much of a difference for resale anyway, though it might be easier to sell compared to a car that wasn’t in as good of condition. We’re talking maybe 1000-2000 difference.

I suppose it’s just an RS5, but to me it was a feasible dream car. I couldn’t imagine how anal I would be if I actually owned an R8 (I already parked a mile away in parking lots).