I am wanting to get a cover for the car when not in use (previous one not so great after 5 years of outside use) The car will be in the Garage when the cover is on it. Would a $30 Cover from the parts store be OK or do I need to get the $150-200 range cover?

 

Now, please recognize that there will be different viewpoints on this, but I would encourage you to not use a cover, regardless of the price and the reason why is because covers can cause damage to your paint by rubbing , by holding in moisture that accumulates in a unheated garage, by trapping dirt, dust, etc. I just don't believe that they add that much protection and I believe they contribute to more problems than they solve.

 

Of course there will be different viewpoints!
I *highly* recommend a light 100% cotton cover on a clean car. It will not damage the paint by rubbing any more that washing a car does. It just sits there. The dirt accumulation without a cover is much more damaging. A light cotton cover will not trap moisture. In fact, it acts as a bit of a buffer to the condensation that will occur with the changing temps in an unheated garage. And the cheapest all cotton cover will do quite nicely.
Note: You never want to *tow* a car on an open trailer with any cover on. That *will* damage the paint from rubbing!

 

I've always kept my cars inside. I used the cheap covers previously and don't like them for the very reason mentioned above - they are abrasive. I go with the California Covers-type car covers. I'm sure over time they are abrasive, too, but not nearly as much as the cheap covers. The more expensive covers were around $210/each but, to me, they are well worth it. If you go the more expensive car cover route, wait until a big swap meet where one, or some, of the major car cover companies are present - they usually provide some sort of discount at the big events that will shave a few bucks off the final price.

 

I have a heated and, occasionally, air conditioned garage and I keep a light cover with a very soft inner surface over the car since I often work in there and create dust, etc. that I want to keep off the car. It also helps protect the car from inadvertent bumps that seem to occur no matter how hard you try to avoid them.

 

I am mainly interested in it to avoid the unexpected bumps of the car and to protect it if the Kids try do to anything and also to help keep the kids out.. it seems when ever I have the Garage open.. the head right for the car and get into it.

 

I have one of those "Budge" covers which I've used since I got her in 2006. It's thin, but kept the dust off. Now it has gotten to the point where it leaves a white powder on the car when I take it off - which really irritates me, so I just ordered a Dustop car cover and am waiting for it to show up! Not Cheap!! But she'll enjoy her new "blankie" this winter!

 

Presuming you have an all cotton one, make sure you toss it in the washer a couple times a year! Shouldn't leave any powder.

 

the one that was on the car the last 5 years leaves powder all over everywhere. hence me wanting to replace it.

 

Just curious, is it cotton? Sounds like poly that is breaking down.

 

No clue.. I didn't buy it.

 

I washed the Budge once and put it on the deck to dry. It's polywhatever that word is! This new one will be softer on her paint - the old one has no lining at all and to me feels kinda roughish. I just don't like it anymore!

 

The one I got for my car has a nice soft cotton lining and breathable outer shell , plus it is washable but may have a hard time getting into the washer

 

The Budge covers and some others that are "water resistant" are some Poly material and do start to break down after a couple of years. I had a blue one on my white car a couple of years back and you should have seen that when I took it off - blue powder!

The lined cotton ones wash nicely but it is worth the trip to take them to the laundramat and use a commercial machine with large capacity.

 

That is exactly where I will take mine when it's time to wash it. even though I keep it in a heated garage I do a lot of work in there and want to keep all the dust and debris off the car.