Greetings, all.

I am in the process of purchasing a car cover for my 2005 coupe. However, there are so many choices out there, and a wide range in prices depending on the fit and material. As I must always prioritize where the paycheck goes, I would like to keep the budget to around $100 (if possible). Thus, I have to pick and choose what features are most important in a cover.

1) Simply put, is Evolution 4 fabric good enough for outdoor storage? Is there any benefit to using NOAH, or other more exotic materials? (It will be moved indoors once the first snow flake hits the ground. Until then, she's sleeping outside).

2) What are the real advantages in selecting a custom fit car cover, versus one of the shorter universal types?

3) If you had a certain budget in mind for your car cover, which would you choose - more exotic materials, -or- a custom fit?

Any problems with universal fit covers or certain materials? Please share your horror stories about scratches, losing your cover in a windstorm, etc.

 

I bought a cover from the dealer shortly after buying the '04. At the time it was the only custom fit cover on the market and the dealer got $300. from me. It's very light weight, has a see-through license plate feature and has CROSSFIRE embroidered on it. It's easy to handle but leaves smudges on the glass so it;'s like you have to wash your car after trying to keep it clean!

 

I don't know the differences in materials, but you might want to consider where it will be parked when you pick a material. I have the Chrysler cover and it is a very thin material. I cover mine in the parking lot at work and I wish I had gotten a cover that was a little thicker so it might offer more protection from door dings. If that isn't a concern for you, the thin material still does a wonderful job of keeping the interior temp down during the day and it does just fine keeping my car clean.

I think the biggest advantage of the custom fit cover is that it won't flop in the breeze if it has a nice tight fit. Therefore it is less likely to blow off. Mine has stayed on during some fairly heavy storms while I see generic covers that blow off just about every day. The custom fit also helps with putting it on. The mirror pockets help secure the cover while you are taking it off or putting it on if it's a little breezy.

 

Thanks for the responses. Would you say that the genuine cover is well suited to protection in all kinds of weather? How well does it keep the car dry in the rain, etc? Any scratches from that plastic lic. window?

My Crossfire will be covered when sitting in my driveway, so dings are not much an issue. However, all weather protection and keeping condensation from damaging my paint is an issue here in humid Michigan! Therefore, breathability is important.

 

i purchased mine through: "autoanything.com" (great prices imo).

here is a nice link for the different environments, protection, pricing and ratings: (all listed below are custom fit for your crossfire).

http://www.autoanything.com/category...ers_covercraft

 

The Chrysler cover seems to be pretty good in heavy weather. The rain beads up on it pretty well and the car stays dry underneath. The cover has survived some pretty heavy spring storms without any problems with tearing either. I do get some condensation on the windows, so that might be a problem for you. I think that would be a concern with any waterproof cover.

I don't really like the license plate window. It drags on the paint if you are not careful. I haven't noticed any scratches, but I'm always afraid that its going to pull off the Crossfire emblems when pulled over them. It's not a big deal if you're careful, but something to be aware of.

I don't thing the Chrysler cover is worth $300. You can find it online for around $250. I only paid $150 on EBay. For the money I would recommend buying something like Andrew linked above. You can probably get the same cover for half the price, unless you really want the Chrysler and Crossfire emblems on the cover.

 

Although you will have the car parked in the driveway, a heavier ply cover is important to protect from flying objects like branches, etc...and also hale storms. I have the same situation parking my car outside during the winter here in Pennsylvania...so I am considering the NOAH cover by Covercraft for its 4 ply construction, rain proof barrier, and breathability. Its also suppose to have a soft inner liner to protect the paint in stormy weather. A little more expensive...but average the cost over the life of use...its worth the extra $10 - $15 dollars/year.