Car Cover Assistance
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 27
From: Bethesda, MD
Car Cover Assistance
Good day all -
I am in need of a solution. I live in a condominium complex that requires me to park in a garage that is covered and only partially protected from the sides (wall comes up about halfway as you will notice in profile picture). Consequently - the car accumulates a lot of dust, pollen etc. which is frustrating post a significant cleaning (and is black on top of it). I drive the car 3-5 times a week and thought perhaps a car cover might be a solution - however I am concerned about amount of time it would take to put on/take off each time, storage, potential car scratching, etc.
I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with an "every day" car cover that would solve my issue. Alternatively - I am thinking of just keeping a car dust brush in the frunk to use. Car is a year old with half PPF and full ceramic.
I welcome any thoughts/experiences on a car cover solution or alternative.
Thanks.
I am in need of a solution. I live in a condominium complex that requires me to park in a garage that is covered and only partially protected from the sides (wall comes up about halfway as you will notice in profile picture). Consequently - the car accumulates a lot of dust, pollen etc. which is frustrating post a significant cleaning (and is black on top of it). I drive the car 3-5 times a week and thought perhaps a car cover might be a solution - however I am concerned about amount of time it would take to put on/take off each time, storage, potential car scratching, etc.
I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with an "every day" car cover that would solve my issue. Alternatively - I am thinking of just keeping a car dust brush in the frunk to use. Car is a year old with half PPF and full ceramic.
I welcome any thoughts/experiences on a car cover solution or alternative.
Thanks.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 5,980
Likes: 7,922
From: Ohio
I wouldn't use a car cover in that situation. It's inevitable that the dust with debris will collect on the cover, as and with each on and off event, it'll get saturated.
My car has full PPF, and I do park in a garage, but I use a Swiffer Duster on the car a few times a week.
I haven't used anything like a California Car Duster in ages. Your half PPF job will unfortunately accumulate dust/dirt along the edge/seam.
The factory Porsche cover is heavy, and I found that it slides around a lot and can be difficult to put on, especially if wind is blowing. But that's also another thing. With the wind blowing, it's effectively causing your cover to rub on the car thousands of times per day.
Solution is to just buy one of those inflatable bubbles
My car has full PPF, and I do park in a garage, but I use a Swiffer Duster on the car a few times a week.
I haven't used anything like a California Car Duster in ages. Your half PPF job will unfortunately accumulate dust/dirt along the edge/seam.
The factory Porsche cover is heavy, and I found that it slides around a lot and can be difficult to put on, especially if wind is blowing. But that's also another thing. With the wind blowing, it's effectively causing your cover to rub on the car thousands of times per day.
Solution is to just buy one of those inflatable bubbles
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 116
Likes: 25
From: West Virginia
Hey don’t laugh at the bubbles. I honestly believe that is one of the best investments I made for my 911. The bubble works great! I use it for indoor storage and it would not be practical for anything that wasnt to be considered long term storage because it takes a few minutes to enter/exit but I highly recommend it. I use it for winter hibernation. 😊
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,988
Likes: 1,442
From: North Bay Area, CA
My Porsches have always been parked inside an enclosed garage and for the last 10 years or so I've used one of the Porsche indoor covers. I like them because they fit perfectly, are lined with a soft flannel material and are not too bulky. Being indoors the cover and car accumulate little dust but I always make sure the car is clean after a drive, using a detail spray if necessary, before putting the cover back on. If the car can't be cleaned with minor effort, I won't cover it again until the next wash.
That said, my car isn't subject to the kind of environmental factors that apparently affect yours. Your situation is more like the one that I face with my GMC 2500 pickup which I have to keep outside. I have a partial cover for the truck and it does a good job of protecting from the sun and various pollutants but it gets kind of dirty and a little dust always manages to filter through the cover. Since I drive the truck relatively infrequently that works out ok, but it would not be good if I was putting the outdoor cover on and taking it back off to drive the vehicle several times a week, like you want to do.
I agree with the previous poster that your situation isn't a great one for a cover. For me, removing and replacing an indoor cover on a small car like a 911 is a relatively quick operation but the fact that it and the car will be getting somewhat dirty requires extra care. Bottom line, you should never use a cover unless it and the car are kept clean, and in your scenario I think that will be hard to do. My $.02.
That said, my car isn't subject to the kind of environmental factors that apparently affect yours. Your situation is more like the one that I face with my GMC 2500 pickup which I have to keep outside. I have a partial cover for the truck and it does a good job of protecting from the sun and various pollutants but it gets kind of dirty and a little dust always manages to filter through the cover. Since I drive the truck relatively infrequently that works out ok, but it would not be good if I was putting the outdoor cover on and taking it back off to drive the vehicle several times a week, like you want to do.
I agree with the previous poster that your situation isn't a great one for a cover. For me, removing and replacing an indoor cover on a small car like a 911 is a relatively quick operation but the fact that it and the car will be getting somewhat dirty requires extra care. Bottom line, you should never use a cover unless it and the car are kept clean, and in your scenario I think that will be hard to do. My $.02.
Last edited by Mike in CA; Jan 20, 2025 at 05:26 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 36
Likes: 28
From: PA
I had a brand new exterior Porsche cover and used once on a clean car sitting a couple of days oitside while I had my garage floor refinished. When i took it off I had fine scratches at the roof touch points. I was told later by SA not good to use if any wind, which there was. Will never use the cover again.
SA thinks it is just in the ceramic coating. Will find out when the shop that did the ceramic coating takes a look at it next week
SA thinks it is just in the ceramic coating. Will find out when the shop that did the ceramic coating takes a look at it next week
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 27
From: Bethesda, MD
Thank you all for replies - I do have a blower which I can use - but again - in a shared garage environment - not easy to just blow off and go (can place in frunk after use but a pain). Likely will need to be a combination of that and Swiffer.
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 2,572
From: NoVA
Agree with Shrimp Money. I wouldn't get a cover.
Not a substitute for my EGO blower, but I just got one of these and it's absolutely crazy how powerful it is. It literally pushes your hand back when it starts up.
https://wolfbox.com/products/mf100-c...sed-air-duster
Not a substitute for my EGO blower, but I just got one of these and it's absolutely crazy how powerful it is. It literally pushes your hand back when it starts up.
https://wolfbox.com/products/mf100-c...sed-air-duster
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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Likes: 551
Get the air filled bubble capsule or consider renting garage space for car storage. I have a hagerty garage and social close to me in delray and everyone that lives in a country club with multiple cars keeps them there. It used to be 600 a month and you had 24 hr access to ur stuff. They even have a lift and other amenities you can use like indoor washing. If I had your issue and the money, I'd be looking to rent space.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 163
Likes: 132
OP, I use these daily indoor covers between washes to keep dust off of all my cars. They are cheap, well made, easily washable and come on/off the car very easily. Given you have some PPF with ceramic, scratching shouldn't be too big a concern with these given it's a loose fit. Size is B3, it fits the 911 with room to spare.
https://amzn.to/4ju06gR
Separately, I have some form fitted covers I use for long term storage, including the Porsche model (my least favourite) but your car must be clean before applying as they will cause scratches on non PPF cars.
https://amzn.to/4ju06gR
Separately, I have some form fitted covers I use for long term storage, including the Porsche model (my least favourite) but your car must be clean before applying as they will cause scratches on non PPF cars.
Last edited by guards85; Jan 8, 2026 at 01:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 27
From: Bethesda, MD
Get the air filled bubble capsule or consider renting garage space for car storage. I have a hagerty garage and social close to me in delray and everyone that lives in a country club with multiple cars keeps them there. It used to be 600 a month and you had 24 hr access to ur stuff. They even have a lift and other amenities you can use like indoor washing. If I had your issue and the money, I'd be looking to rent space.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 446
From: MN
While in Florida 3 months only have a car port which keeps the sun off but nothing else. I run it through a touchless wash once a week. At first I tried detail spray daily but too much work for a retired guy.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,241
Likes: 6,305
From: Fairfax County, Virginia
The Porsche indoor car cover should be perfect. It fits well,goes on and off quickly and will definitely cut the dust down to virtually nothing. Wash it every few weeks. Don't use it in the rain where it gets wet. I cover my black 992 inside my garage as well.
