Many car enthusiasts consider car covers as a primary solution to protect their prized vehicles from the elements. I, too, once believed in this, especially for my Gto Car, a vehicle my wife and I used as our daily driver. Seeking the best protection, I invested in what was advertised as a top-of-the-line car cover, costing around $400 – a significant sum even a decade ago. However, my experience turned into a harsh lesson about car covers and daily driven cars, particularly if you own a GTO car and face environmental challenges.
At my previous home, while fortunate to have a double garage, its limited length meant my GTO car couldn’t fit inside comfortably with my tools and other garage essentials. This led me to rely on the car cover for outdoor protection. Unfortunately, instead of safeguarding my GTO car’s paint, the cover became the culprit behind unsightly scratches. Despite being marketed as having a soft, almost micro-fiber inner layer and designed for a snug fit, the constant movement of the cover against the car’s surface, even with minor wind or debris, inflicted scratches over time.
Living in Portland, Oregon, meant dealing with less-than-ideal weather conditions. The battle to keep my GTO car pristine became a year-long struggle. The car cover, intended to simplify car care, ironically complicated it. In wet and dusty conditions, the cover trapped moisture and fine particles against the paint, exacerbating the scratching issue. Perhaps in sunnier, drier climates, the outcome might be different, but in a place like Portland, the car cover proved detrimental.
Frustrated with the cover’s damaging effects, I initially resorted to high-end detailing, using a Porter Cable buffer and premium products to rectify the scratches. While effective, this became an incredibly laborious task for a daily driver. Eventually, I conceded to using car washes, mostly the touchless ones, although they were inconveniently located. The car cover, now relegated to a dusty corner of my garage, serves as a reminder of my misguided attempt at paint protection.
Now, with a more spacious and functional garage at my new house, my GTO car is finally sheltered indoors, awaiting some much-needed tender loving care. Reflecting on my experience, I’ve concluded that car covers are best suited for vehicles that are infrequently used and stored primarily in a garage. Even then, unless a car is going into long-term storage, the risks associated with cover-induced scratches, especially for a frequently driven GTO car, outweigh the perceived benefits. My advice, based on personal experience: think twice before using a car cover on your daily driven GTO car, particularly if it’s exposed to the elements.
