Hello Everyone - Nothing in the Archives and we need a Car Cover. Coverking's Armour Body Cover seems top notch. I park outside in So. Florida Sun and no Garage. I know Covers can be a hassle but I think I need one after I living abroad for months at a time.... My Prius sits in the Sun all day, every day. Does Pep Boys or Auto Zone sell a Cover that fits like a Custom? Armour Body: http://www.southerncarparts.com/coverking-covers-c-112.html Stormweave or Noah seems pretty good .... http://www.calcarcover.com/how_to_select.aspx#stormweave Anyone have a Cover ? Thanks !!!
I would get a the Budge car cover made of DuPont Tyvek material. Got one years ago for my Gen2 Acura Integra, from PepBoys. Not a "custom fit, but fit well enough. The elastic band around the the edges helps keep it snug. Definetly get the security lock as it includes a plastic tab housing you put onto the left and right door side ares of the cover, to run the cable lock through. A super windy day may overpower the elastic (esp w/ weak elastic), but the cable lock should keep it on. The cover itself is lightweight, white in color (great for reflecting the sun/heat away from the car), and water repellant. You shouldn't leave any cover on the car when its raining for possible damage to the car's finish. I think the damage would come from the possibility of water penetrating the layers of any cover and drying onto the car after the rain stops. The major problem I see w/ any car cover for the Gen 2 Prius' is the factory antenna. Either unscrew the factory antenna mast off the base, OR, get the shark fin after market antenna. Since your not around to keep a watch on the car, ask a trusted friend/family member to look after the cover/car, esp if if rains. Hopefully they'll be kind enough to remove the cover before a rain fall and reinstall the cover after a rainfall (but they should rinse/dry the car or take a duster to remove the dirt; dirt may scratch the finish as it sits between the pain and car cover which may move around from the wind).
You guys scare the living bejesus out of me.... .... and if I counted every cheap MoFo on PriusChat, I'd be a Gazzilionaire by now !!!
After previously trying various car covers over the years, in 2006 I purchased a Coverking Stormproof custom cover for my new 2006 Gen II Prius. I purchased it from the Coverking factory website. I do not regret the $280 that I spent for it as it has proved to be very strong and lightweight. Previous car covers tear after a few years and by now I would have been on the second one, but the Stormproof has held up well. As with any cover you want to take it off if you think it's going to rain otherwise you wind up with a wet car cover which is no fun, however if the Stormproof gets rained on it doesn't absorb water and I can usually shake off most of the water. My previous Tyvek covers were also lightweight and water resistant but they only last a few years. My Stormproof over is now coming up on six years and is still in great shape.
I have and highly recommend this one: <link rejected, so google "california pop top" > Even though it's "CA" there are a lot of other states. Of course, if you are trying to protect the paint, then this is not for you. But the ease of this one makes it a lot easier to use. And after having this one, there is just no other "sun shade" that I could ever use again. Plus, the guy makes a custom Prius size. (I have no affiliation with the company; just love it and recommend.)
How would this hold up in rain/sleet/snow/ice? I am looking to get a cover for winter, I hate scraping my windows every morning and this seams like a fairly simple install/remove. Am I right about the simplicity?
Right about the simplicity. Rain is fine, except for what would be usual with any cover: having to rollup and deal with a soggy cover, till you can shake/hang to dry or put it on car again in sun to let it dry. Snow and Ice, well I've been out of those for over 20 years, so I'm not experienced enough to say. It is developed by a CA guy so my guess would be that it's not specifically great for harsh ice conditions. Maybe you can check on the website and send in a question, and maybe he does have clients in icy conditions. For me, just guessing by the feel of the material (which is quite thin), I would think that one would have to be a bit careful not to maybe tear or damage it if taking off when lots of ice frozen on car, if there is a lot of weight or sticking due to ice. Powdery snow, I would think no problem if brushed off most of the heavy weight before taking pop-top off.
