ScionLife.com

kyle_husky · 12-09-2004, 08:36 AM

The factory car cover cost over $200. Do you guys think it worth to buy it? I am doubt getting one because I never seen one. My dealer said unless I order it or I have no chance to see it.

I am still thinking because here in Boston, the weather is so bad. Snow, wind, snow+rain, etc.

For those Scion soul who are living in cali or florida, see how lucky u are.

JMD83 · 12-09-2004, 05:06 PM

I too would like to know if the car cover is worth it... Or just get an after market. Boston weather can be a pain!

WineBox · 12-09-2004, 05:47 PM

I bought the factory cover for my xB at the end of the summer and it was really nice to have in the Fall when all of the leaves were falling on my car. It kept it much cleaner. The cover fits really well and is easy to put on and take off. Note however, that the xB doesn't have an outside antenna -- it's in the glass. I think I read that with the xA you have to either remove the antenna or poke it through a grommet in the cover. That might make it a little more difficult to put on and take off.

It is the only car cover I ever had, so I really can't compare it to an aftermarket cover except to say that everything is cheaper as an aftermarket part.

You mentioned the bad weather up north in Boston. I live "down south" in Rhode Island

but we get pretty much the same mix of bad weather. I don't think I'll be using my cover in the cold weather and here's why: I put the cover on one night before it started raining but by morning the rain had stopped and it got cold. When I went out to the car, I found the cover was frozen to the roof.

I tried to peel it off but it started to damage the fabric. I ended up pouring hot water on the roof and it came right off. I'd hate to see what happens in a really nasty ice storm.

So I guess the car cover is not a substitute for a garage, especially in cold weather. Also, it works pretty good in the rain but it is not waterproof so you may still get water spots on your car. Plus you'll have to put the cover away wet.

My dealer (Juan at Fox Scion in East Providence) has a small model of the cover on his desk. If your dealer can get one of those, at least you can see what the fabric is like before you buy.

Hope this helps.

JMD83 · 12-09-2004, 06:43 PM

Thanks for the info... In my "Pepboys" days I found that "one size fits most" cheapie aftermarket car covers never really work all that well... If you want a decent one, spend the big bucks and get a top of the line custom fit one from a quality vendor... I guess the dealer one sounds middle of the road from the response I just read...

Anyone else have any info/experience they can share?

P.S.
Sorry kyle_husky if I may have Hi-Jacked this thread, I was just wonderring the same thing you were...
By the way what part of Boston are you in?

kyle_husky · 12-09-2004, 09:58 PM

Quote:

WineBox
So I guess the car cover is not a substitute for a garage, especially in cold weather. Also, it works pretty good in the rain but it is not waterproof so you may still get water spots on your car. Plus you'll have to put the cover away wet.

damn...i thought it is waterproof. I was thinking to get this just because I do not have an indoor parking. So I will not buy the cover now. Thanks a lot, Winebox.

kyle_husky · 12-09-2004, 10:05 PM

hi JMD83! I am living on-campus at Northeasten Univeristy. What part of boston are you in?

JMD83 · 12-10-2004, 06:20 PM

Hi! I'm in Roslindale... My future cousin-in-law goes to Northeastern. Are you originally from Boston or are you jsut here for school?

Too bad the cover isn't water-proof! But there are some premium priced items that should stand up to the weather... Maybe covercraft? or coverking? or wolfe? I don't remember all the names of vendors... Been a long time since I've worked at Pepboys!

WineBox · 12-13-2004, 04:28 PM

I just found this link that talks about car covers and waterproofing:

http://www.carcoverworld.com/Help.asp

Here is a quote from their page:

Quote:

Some folks want to know if our covers are totally waterproof. The answer is no. Outdoor covers offer different levels of water "resistancy". Car covers must "breathe" and therefore cannot guarantee total freedom from water saturation. Anyone who advertises their covers as waterproof is selling an inferior product. Without breathability, a cover will cause serious condensation buildup and mold between your vehicle and the cover. If a waterproof solution is your goal, then your needs are best served by storing your car in a clean, dry, garage.

I was a little disappointed when I first saw that my cover wasn't waterproof, but after reading this, now I know why.

WineBox · 12-14-2004, 02:58 PM

Here's a little more info on the Scion factory car cover...

I checked the tags on the cover and it is made of a fabric called "Block-it Evolution". This is the same material used by California Car Cover (www.calcarcover.com) on some of their covers, except they call it "Stormweave". Their cover costs about $185 with the carrying bag.

The factory cover costs about $220 and comes with a clear plastic window so the rear license plate is visible, and it also has the Scion logo on the back. I don't know if the California Car Covers have the license plate window, but I am pretty sure that they don't have the Scion logo.

Info on the California Car Covers web site confirms that this fabric is "rain resistant" but not waterproof.