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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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 Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 3:18 pm Post subject: Recommendations for car cover? |
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I've read that a lot of covers will just trap moisture inside. Is this your experience?
I'm trying to find something that will hide a fairly unsightly bug (it's got to stay in the driveway), yet not make the situation even worse.
Any help appreciated.
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Lookin' for a wheel stamped 5/66 |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 35916
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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Way too many threads on this already. Check these out, "best" is a function of your particular situation.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%2Bthesamba.com+ca...s-wiz-serp
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Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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Yep, read through a lot of those yesterday but they deal mainly with covers for thoroughly finished, restored cars.
Lots of them deal with covers for cars that are stored indoors as well.
Not looking for the "best" either. I need one for a total beater car that is stored outside.
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Lookin' for a wheel stamped 5/66 |
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finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 10069
Location: not far from the madding crowd
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| Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 3:04 am Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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I know I've posted on those other threads but...a lot depends on what the climate is like where you are. the best option, imo, is either a stand-off cover or a rudimentary carport if the reason is to hide the car rather than protect it.
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut
nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect... |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4516
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| Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| summerof78 wrote: |
Yep, read through a lot of those yesterday but they deal mainly with covers for thoroughly finished, restored cars.
Lots of them deal with covers for cars that are stored indoors as well.
Not looking for the "best" either. I need one for a total beater car that is stored outside. |
Even though it's a beater I would think you would want to protect it as best as you can given the circumstances.
I use this cover indoors for one of my Ghia's.
https://www.jbugs.com/product/B-1MAX.html
It's a nice all weather that breathes. The only reason I bought the all weather was for the additional protection since my garage isn't climate controlled and I generate some dust when I'm working out there.
I have a stretchy blue indoor cover for the other Ghia that is ok but it won't hold up to the elements. |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| kingkarmann wrote: |
| summerof78 wrote: |
Yep, read through a lot of those yesterday but they deal mainly with covers for thoroughly finished, restored cars.
Lots of them deal with covers for cars that are stored indoors as well.
Not looking for the "best" either. I need one for a total beater car that is stored outside. |
Even though it's a beater I would think you would want to protect it as best as you can given the circumstances.
I use this cover indoors for one of my Ghia's.
https://www.jbugs.com/product/B-1MAX.html
It's a nice all weather that breathes. The only reason I bought the all weather was for the additional protection since my garage isn't climate controlled and I generate some dust when I'm working out there.
I have a stretchy blue indoor cover for the other Ghia that is ok but it won't hold up to the elements. |
Bingo. It's got cracked glass, so it's for element protection as well.
And you're right, I don''t need it getting any more weather worn than it already is.
This one looks like a good choice and a good price. Thanks!
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23153
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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These are excellent. They seem to have a database that has the general dimensions for many cars so they can get you something that is a pretty close if not exact fit. Here is my thread on the one I bought for my 412.
I actually bought two. They are very weatherproof. The only thing that can hurt them is below 0 temperatures with water before it. So if gets wet and does not have time to dry out and breathe...and then it gets way below 0 like 10 below or more....the deep freeze can crack the waterproofing polymer.
If you add high winds in...and it flaps around a lot....that will cause it to start flaking. It was just a perfect storm. Otherwise it spent years outside in rain and baking heat and was excellent.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730824&highlight=breathable
Just for the hell of it I input 1977 super beetle and this is what their site spit out.
https://www.carcover.com/volkswagen/super-beetle/1977/sedan-2-door.html
Ray |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3789
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| Tyvek covers are the bomb. |
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baldessariclan
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 2055
Location: Wichita, KS
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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Ordered one of the “Airhead Parts” car covers few years back, and have been pleased with the fit and material used: https://airheadparts.com/vw-part/vw-bug-sedan-car-cover/
Had tried one from “CarCovers.com” before that, but what they sent me was a terrible fit - some sort of generic cut that didn’t even remotely match a VW Beetle’s contours. Not much better than throwing a flat tarp over the car, IMO - ugh!  Returned it to them for a refund (which turned out to be a difficult process, and only received about 2/3 of the $$ amount I originally paid them — caveat emptor…).
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver
baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt... |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23153
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| baldessariclan wrote: |
Ordered one of the “Airhead Parts” car covers few years back, and have been pleased with the fit and material used: https://airheadparts.com/vw-part/vw-bug-sedan-car-cover/
Had tried one from “CarCovers.com” before that, but what they sent me was a terrible fit - some sort of generic cut that didn’t even remotely match a VW Beetle’s contours. Not much better than throwing a flat tarp over the car, IMO - ugh! Returned it to them for a refund (which turned out to be a difficult process, and only received about 2/3 of the $$ amount I originally paid them — caveat emptor…). |
The question is which "tier" of cover did you buy from Carcover.com? If you bought the middle or the lower/cheapest.....they are pretty generic.
If it's the top tier, it's five layer with tyvek and has elastic all around and cinch straps. At the very least, one for a new beetle should be pretty close if you do not buy the custom fit top tier.
Ray |
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baldessariclan
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 2055
Location: Wichita, KS
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| raygreenwood wrote: |
The question is which "tier" of cover did you buy from Carcover.com? If you bought the middle or the lower/cheapest.....they are pretty generic.
If it's the top tier, it's five layer with tyvek and has elastic all around and cinch straps. At the very least, one for a new beetle should be pretty close if you do not buy the custom fit top tier. |
Ray, it was either their “Platinum Shield” or “Ultimate Shield” level cover — don’t remember which off top of my head. Certainly wasn’t particularly “cheap”, in any case -- my bookkeeping records show I paid a total of about $207 for it (w/ tax and shipping), back in December 2020.
I had taken some pictures of it (to send the vendor, when I was trying to wrangle a refund out of them), but unfortunately appears I must have deleted them since then. But believe me, the fit wasn’t even close to any good on my bug, IMO.
I later bought one of the Airhead Parts beetle covers, at about half the price of that first one. Fit on that new one was obviously tailored specifically for a Beetle, and it worked well for me.
Just relating my own personal experiences, though — YMMV.
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver
baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt... |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23153
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Recommendations for car cover? |
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| baldessariclan wrote: |
| raygreenwood wrote: |
The question is which "tier" of cover did you buy from Carcover.com? If you bought the middle or the lower/cheapest.....they are pretty generic.
If it's the top tier, it's five layer with tyvek and has elastic all around and cinch straps. At the very least, one for a new beetle should be pretty close if you do not buy the custom fit top tier. |
Ray, it was either their “Platinum Shield” or “Ultimate Shield” level cover — don’t remember which off top of my head. Certainly wasn’t particularly “cheap”, in any case -- my bookkeeping records show I paid a total of about $207 for it (w/ tax and shipping), back in December 2020.
I had taken some pictures of it (to send the vendor, when I was trying to wrangle a refund out of them), but unfortunately appears I must have deleted them since then. But believe me, the fit wasn’t even close to any good on my bug, IMO.
I later bought one of the Airhead Parts beetle covers, at about half the price of that first one. Fit on that new one was obviously tailored specifically for a Beetle, and it worked well for me.
Just relating my own personal experiences, though — YMMV. |
Wow, that sucks to hear! A classic beetle should be one of the easier ones to get a fit for.
Their top end product ...material wise....is very nice. Sad they could not get you a fit!
Ray |
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