Car Covers

[gonetobama13]

First of all, I'd like to say that as a one-week old member of CAC, this is one of the most informative sites that I've ever been in. I especially benefitted from the topic "04 not 03", since I ordered an 04 two weeks ago. My question has to do with a cover for my new arrival as far as recommendations as to the kind I should get. I'm retired and plan to use my Vette on all my trips, long and short. When not in use, I plan to keep it garaged. So why do I need a cover? Namely because of Beemer and Lexus, my two cats who have a total of 40 claws and (as most cats do) like to jump on my vehicles. Any recommendations? Also, must the car be clean before a cover can be put on it? By the way, keeping the cats out of the garage is impossible and deep-sixing them is not an option. Thanks in advance.
John K.

 

[CFour]

Well this is "off topic" for this section but here goes. First of all welcome to CAC! Is this your first Vette? If so Welcome to a the world of being a Corvette owner as well. Get yourself a Mid America Catalog they are a sponser of this site. They have great covers and good prices. Yes a clean car is best and get the thickest cover you can if the cats have claws.

 

[corvettecrazy]

...So why do I need a cover? Namely because of Beemer and Lexus, my two cats who have a total of 40 claws and (as most cats do) like to jump on my vehicles... John K.

well personally i would suggest either a barbed wire fence or another wall to keep the cats out of the general vacinity of your new baby, and to keep the new paint looking the best i would definately only put it on when its clean

BTW welcome to

 

[WhalePirot]

Welcome!

to the This site will inform and help you.

Use the search feature, above, to find lots of opinions on covers and bras.

Think of dust as tiny rocks. It gets into the fabric and grinds the paint when it moves.

Our cat stays out of MY garage.
Mike

 

[gonetobama13]

Thanks for the feedback. CFour, what did you mean by this being an "off topic" for this forum? Should I have posted this somewhere else? Thanks.
John K

 

[LongTimer]

First of all, I'd like to say that as a one-week old member of CAC, this is one of the most informative sites that I've ever been in.

WELCOME!!!

Also, must the car be clean before a cover can be put on it?

Dirt on the car when placing the cover on acts like fine grained sand paper and also gets the cover dirty. I have an '87 driver that I've owned since new. I cover it when I arrive at work, cover and uncover at lunch, so I wear out covers fairly quickly. I try to use one of those big red dusters prior to covering. In So Cal, I'm concerned with sun and smog so I use a light weight synthetic. Usually the best available fron Walmart or Costco works great for about a year and a half. However, I don't think these would protect from cat claws.

Also, Cfour is absolutely right - my first order from MidAmerica was in 1977 and I have never been disappointed with many orders since.

 

[SlowRide]

Thanks for the feedback. CFour, what did you mean by this being an "off topic" for this forum? Should I have posted this somewhere else? Thanks.
John K

John, usually when a subject is labeled "off topic" it means it does not relate to the forum sections' subject matter. If you have any questions and or comments about the soon to be introduced C6, this is the place. You probably should have posted your question in the C5 Technical section. But, it doesn't matter. Most of the time a Moderator or the sites' owner, Rob, will move it to the appropriate place.

Anyway, enjoy the CAC and I hope you received the answers that you needed.

Nick

 

[gonetobama13]

Thanks to all for the advice and good info on car covers.
John K.

 

[Rob]

John,

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center and glad you enjoy the site.

Since it appears your topic was unrelated to the 2005 C6 Corvette but you received your answers anyway, I'm going to go ahead and close this thread now.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Since Silver had somthing to add to this discusion I reopened the thread and moved it to the Care and Detailing Forum.

Tom

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Thank you, Tom and Rob.

John, I have some advice for you about keeping your vette covered and in a garage with several un-declawed kitties:

Ideally, you don't want the kitties to get on it AT ALL. The best way to do this is avoidance training, and it is very easy to accomplish.

First, make a comfortable area for the kitties to louge around in. They usually like to be elevated a little so they can view their surroundings, and if it is near a window, even better.
Second, you don't want them to get on your vette at all. A cat sleeping on a warm hood, roof or deck can make a depression in the fiberglass, and if they get startled they will use their claws to try and get traction.

This is where you make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.

They have an acceptable lounging area, so now you want them to associate your vette as an uncomfortable and uninviting perch. Cover your vette with your car cover. Then cover that with a thick blanket, quilt or comforter (one that claws can't go through to the car below). Next you take a bed sheet the same or similar color as your car cover and COVER the bed sheet with wide, double sided, sticky tape, so that the cats will feel the sticky tape under their feet or against their hair.

The kitties will only jump up there a few times and the thick blanketing will protect the paint when they jump down. Cats don't like sticky things on them and will associate your vette and its' cover as unacceptable. Eventually they will always avoid your vette and you can stop using the thick blanket and taped-sheet.
Heidi (aka: Silver)

 

[corvettecrazy]

that's really ingenious, gonetobama13 i would give that a serious consider,

Could you train them on a differnt car and then would if the covers are they same color will they stay off the vette too?

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I think so.

However, to not confuse the cats into trying to remember which cars are acceptable and which ones aren't, I'd try to deter them from getting on top of any car in the garage.
Be consistent.
Heidi

 

[gonetobama13]

Thanks a lot, Heidi. You gave me some really good ideas to work with. I really like the tape idea. Apparently, you have or have had cats of your own. Take care.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Yup. Aspiring cat-lady.

We currently have 8. Four from CA, 2 from WA and 2 from GA.
Growing up, I had a special cat who lived to be 21, and at our country property, I recall having up to 30 barn cats at one time.
I am now big into promoting spay and neuter programs.
In the 10 years of our marriage we have rescued about 15, total. All spayed and neutered. I would like to point out that Kenny has brought home an equal amount of kitties...so it isn't just me!
We're both bleeding hearts for kitties in need. :love
Heidi