Car Covers - Are they worth it?

MBE2017

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  • Feb 16, 2017
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    The blower/heater clears the ice off the outside of the screen on my van quicker than it does the inside which is wetter than an Otters pocket despite the cab, carpets etc., being bone dry?
    Moisture in the air condensing. Clean inside of screen, smear shaving foam onto glass, wait couple of minutes and polish off. That will reduce the condensation a lot.

    Cat litter in old sport socks(sealed) dries the air out a fair bit, but best thing end of day as you are getting home, turn heater and blower off in the car half a mile from the house, open your windows and get rid of the warmth in the car. Hot air holds a lot more moisture than cold air.
     
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    Lucan Unlordly

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    Feb 24, 2009
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    Moisture in the air condensing. Clean inside of screen, smear shaving foam onto glass, wait couple of minutes and polish off. That will reduce the condensation a lot.

    Cat litter in old sport socks(sealed) dries the air out a fair bit, but best thing end of day as you are getting home, turn heater and blower off in the car half a mile from the house, open your windows and get rid of the warmth in the car. Hot air holds a lot more moisture than cold air.
    My business unit is only half a mile from my house?

    PS: and yes, I do walk some days;)
     
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    HFE Signs

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    I've always used a pump action de-icer spray, I don't like to create extra work for myself fitting and removing covers and then folding them away wet.
     
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    HFE Signs

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    You don't have to with the ones I bought.
    Just take it off, drape over fence, put back on again when get back - about 30 seconds
    I live in the Peak District, I don't have a fence and if I hang anything over a wall a cow will take it
     
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    MBE2017

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  • Feb 16, 2017
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    I've always used a pump action de-icer spray, I don't like to create extra work for myself fitting and removing covers and then folding them away wet.

    I think covers are far less hassle, more importantly they are effective. In my experience most de icer re freezes in truly cold weather, but it is getting milder in most winters. I bought a cover for my daughter and it takes approx 40 secs to put it on the car, and 20 secs to take off.
     
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    UKSBD

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  • Dec 30, 2005
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    I think covers are far less hassle, more importantly they are effective. In my experience most de icer re freezes in truly cold weather, but it is getting milder in most winters. I bought a cover for my daughter and it takes approx 40 secs to put it on the car, and 20 secs to take off.
    Just take it off, drape over fence, put back on again when get back - about 30 seconds

    We could have a race :)
     
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    I work from home so rarely use my car, and over winter rarely venture out in it.

    This year could be different with me acting as taxi driver for both children getting them to and throw from work.

    This is going to result in little 5-minute journeys at about 10 in the evening 3 or 4 days a week

    We don't have a garage so if we have a cold winter, I could end up spending 10 minutes defrosting the car for the sake of 5-minute journeys.

    Would a car cover be a good option in these circumstances?

    Is a blanket over front and back screen just as good, would I get fed up of putting one on/off or are they really simple?

    Harte the thought of spending £200 for one and only using it a couple of times because it's too cumbersome to use.

    Does anyone here use them and have any comments?
    I bought a cheapish one,(car cover) mainly to stop all the bird muck from overhanging trees. Sometimes the wind just took it off.
     
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    MBE2017

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  • Feb 16, 2017
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    Just revisiting this thread with a quick update. My daughter got a windscreen cover from Halfrauds, and has since become totally converted into its regular use. She wouldn’t be without it now, saves her loads of time and effort.

    Being a teacher she leaves for her work at 7.10am, rarely leaves her work in the country earlier than 5.30pm, so the car would be frozen most days atm, she can just stick it in the boot and drive off without delay.

    £10 well spent.
     
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    UKSBD

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  • Dec 30, 2005
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    Just revisiting this thread with a quick update. My daughter got a windscreen cover from Halfrauds, and has since become totally converted into its regular use. She wouldn’t be without it now, saves her loads of time and effort.

    Being a teacher she leaves for her work at 7.10am, rarely leaves her work in the country earlier than 5.30pm, so the car would be frozen most days atm, she can just stick it in the boot and drive off without delay.

    £10 well spent.

    I'm the same, probably one of the best things I have bought
     
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    Marantzdigital

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    Great to hear about the cover. Seems like a good idea but was unsure about the gimmicky side of it.

    Glad to see it's a genuine life changer for yourselves. I may invest when I get my driveway back!

    Depending on how secure your parking is you can start some cars from manufacturers apps as someone mentioned above, or old school way is to get a remote start stop fitted. This way the car is warm inside and the screen is on its way to being defrosted and the engine is pretty much ready to go.
     
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    WaveJumper

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    Aug 26, 2013
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    So suggestions on how to protect the paintwork on daughter’s car (and mine when I visit her) from the pesky foxes who live in the communal garden of the flats where she lives. They like the warm bonnets…..
    Just saw this: interestingly enough at our apartment block we have a fox living in the car park many of the neighbours have a gizmo sitting on the roof of their car, I assume some sort of ultrasonic device might be worth a google. Ill ask next time im down there.
     
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