Dean_Fuller

The SUN will KILL any paint over time. UV is the worst enemy your paint has. If you can't park in the shade a UV cover is all you can do. I would rather rub out scratches than deal with faded paint on roof and hood.

Manfred

Again, thanks everyone. Actually my windows are already heavily tinted so maybe all I need to do is get the windshield cover and maybe get one of those solar-powered window fans that blow hot air out. I too have tried the tree route only to find my car targeted. jthwan22 thanks for the tip on the nice fitting shield and the discount code.

Anyone have any used 928 Specialists 100% occlusive window shades they are interested in parting with.

Thanks, Dan.

Manfred

You think a basic light-weight cover would scratch less because it's light or more because it will tend to blow around more?


I need a trunk monkey.

Bill Ball

If it's real windy, leave the cover off.

UV is probably a bigger issue with certain colors (red, in particular), later paint (water-based sometime in the early 90s) and clearcoats (mostly with just metallic basecoats). My 89 has single-stage white enamel and it seems completely impervious to anything but collisions and stone chips. So, I focus on interior protection when I park outside. Fortunately where I used to work, the parking spaces were fairly wide and I never got any door dings in 7 years. I used a cover when the car was fairly clean, but otherwise completely blocked the windows.

Dean_Fuller

A 100% UV rated cover that is form fitted to the car shape would be best. The "universal fit" would most likely have extra material to flop around in the wind. The site I attached earlier has them for around $200....I have no interest with the site. I used a NOAH fitted cover on my old vintage Corvettes. Never had a problem but again does NOTHING for water protection. They are breathable so you could leave the windows or sun roof cracked and the inside temp should not be a problem.

I agree with Bill...if its windy or rainy I would just not worry with it. As long as its protected on the "sunny" days.

If you have ever noticed an older car with a faded roof , hood and back deck...thats all UV damage.

morganabowen

Hire an armed guard. Not cheap but very effective

Warren928

If the lot is tight with no extra spaces, forget taking it to work, its just a matter of time before soemthing happens. Otherwise, take up 2 spots and get a windshield reflector along with solar grade tint, keeps the interior from getting fried.

Fogey1

There's this:
http://www.carcoverexpress.com/
I had and sometimes used one when we lived in Texas (a close suburb of Hell in the summer, i.e. nine months a year). It's a bit more of a PITA to put on than they show but it works.

And this:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...357&lpage=none
With a roll of this stuff you can make a bunch of custom-fitted sunshades. One for each window on the 928 and leftover for the other cars. The windshield and side windows are easy to fit but I'm not sure how I'd mount covers on the 1/4's and hatch.

Maybe a few strategically placed bits of steel glued on the inside perimeter of the windows and hatch and magnets on the custom-cut Reflectix?

I don't know why modern cars don't have auto-opaquing glass.
http://www.nanovic.com.au/?a=industry_focus.glass&p=246

Manfred

Actually, come to think of it my wife had a red Subaru legacy that had a pretty faded roof after five years in Texas. My car is a very orangey red so I would definitely worry about the roof fading.

Good plan, just not sure about the practice part. There are a lot of summer days where its sunny and warm all day until about 4-5 o'clock when it rains (then I'll be stuck with a wet cover in my car) I guess if I'm really good about leaving it off when there's any chance of rain but I use it on the really hot absolutely no chance in hell it's gonna rain days it'll be a good compromise.

That's pretty cool! Yeah, I'm sure it's much more of a PITA than they suggest (just having to close it in both doors seems like a PITA). But still, it small enough and light-weight enough that if it ends up getting rained on I could easily stuff it in a bag and not worry about it...

Good suggestion in lieu of the 100% opaque shades that used to be available from 928 specialists. I think magnets or a good press-fit would do the trick.

Where I work there is employee parking and customer parking. In the employee area I should be relatively safe from door dings because everyone I work with knows how much I love my car. It's part gravel/part grass which is bad for the obvious reasons but good because there's no lines--everyone comes by themselves so I can give the car next to me plenty of drivers-side access when I park. On the downside I have to be really careful when the landscaping company comes to mow. If I park in the customer area all bets are off--there's a lot of loading/unloading going on and I'm in big trouble. We do have some shade provided by trees but there's always birds.

I guess in the end I'm going to get a car cover and use it on days when my car is clean, there's light wind and no rain in the forecast. Otherwise I'll throw up occlusive shades on the windows +/- a solar-powered window fan.

Thanks everybody for all the good ideas.

SharkSkin

That looks neat, but either they are a bunch of morons or they think everyone else is a moron... In the video, that whole song and dance about how people can't see into the car cracked me up. If anyone wanted to see in they could just lift the edge of the cover.

Bill Ball

Will:

Andre, one of our locals did make a set of window shades out of that Reflectix material, modeled after the NLA ones from 928Specialists. He used some suction cups similar to the original ones, but larger and more effective. BTW, Home Depot sells the same stuff and in a roll that appears to be 4 feet wide, which would be easier to use. I couldn't find the suction cups Andre used.

That Smart Cover seems handy if it covers the entire hatch glass.

Andre Hedrick

So does anyone thing I should start making and selling the ones I made?

Nicole

Sure, there is definitely a market!

I wonder why 928 Specialists no longer carries them,

Dave - are you reading this???

Andre Hedrick

Lemme finish the edges on the proto-types v2 and toss out some photos.

DR

Hi Nicole,

The manufacturer changed their materials and was having some issues (dumb). Jeannie checked with them a while ago and still no solution.

I will have her call again today and get the latest info and post back.

We do still have a few of the Rear Hatch Window versions (w/3rd Brake Light and without) in stock.