Moss Mini Car Covers

[MiniMan7]

I'm going to be purchasing the Tyvek car cover from Moss Mini in about a week or so. I just wanna know what peoples experiences are with these car covers, what is their durability like? How easily do they fit? I would let go get the Official Mini car cover but at $850.00 Canadian, its alittle expensive. I just want a cheap but durable cover for my Mini, and the Tyvek car cover from Moss Mini seems to be perfect. Just let me know your past experiences with the cover, thanks!

[MINIAC]

According to the Moss MINI site:

Quote:

Installation is easy due to the generic fit. One-year warranty. Suitable for outdoors in covered areas.

The Tyvek is not a fitted cover. The warranty period and the fact outdoor use is suited to COVERED AREAS, suggest it might not fare well against the "elements".

The WeatherShield by Covercraft is fitted and warranted for 4 years, but costs $200. It is made from a machine washable umbrella-like material, and is definitely compact:



The Tyvek sounds OK if you're going to be using it in a garage or in a carport. If you need a cover for unprotected outdoor parking I'd go for the WeatherShield.

Lot's more info in the FAQ:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...&threadid=9595

[MiniMan7]

I just called Moss Mini, and they told me the Tyvek cover is like a giant shower cap. He also said that it could possibly scratch the paint! - forget that, I'm not getting the cover if it could scratch my Mini!

[JCIP]

I have been using the Tyvek covers for the last 6-7 years with good results. I don't deal with snow and ice however. As for rain, it has faired the best of any of the covers I have tried. I have used some of the moderately priced covers (Up to $170 US) and found them to be junk. They are made from a Kimberly-Clarke (i.e. paper)material. After a little sun and wet, they start to shed little fibers, and can make a mess on your car. The Tyvek is much lighter, both in color (white, for highest reflectance) and weight. It is very much like a shower cap, can't fault that descripeion, but it doesn't shed! And cats don't use it as a scratching post. Never had any sense that it scratched the finish of the cars it was, and is still being used on (Corvettes). I have found no other cover that I have tried has lasted as long. I get about 2+ years out of one, usually the elastic goes. The others don't last a year here in Hawaii. Can't speak for other climates.

[MiniMan7]

JCIP - where did you buy your Tyvek car cover? Did you buy it from Moss Mini?

[Spy Car]

I have said it before, but the the WeatherShield by Covercraft that Miniac refers to really is a great cover. Costs more but it is well worth the extra expense IMO.

[JCIP]

I buy mine at the local Wal-Mart. The tuff part may be finding the small size. My local WM always seems to have only the largest sizes, but the price as of yesterday was $42.95. I have bought them on sale for as little as $20, on occasion. As I said, I wouldn't recommend a Tyvek cover for a snow/ice condition. But I don't have a garage or carport, so all my vehicles are outside. I forced my wife to cover her Corvette every day when she worked at a seaside resort, because of the sun and salt air. The habit stuck, and when she changed locations, to where it was sun, then rain, then sun, then rain all day long, the Tyvek lasted the longest, didn't absorb water, was the lightest weight, and had the highest sun/heat resistance. And, my wife was willing to cover the car because she saw what happened to cars that where NOT covered: dull and peeling paint, UV damage to interiors, and water spots burned into clearcoat from the sun/rain conditions.
MINIAC: What is the weathershield cover material? I have purchased so many covers that I may have missed the one you are refering to. I might give it a try, if it really could do a better long term job. As it is, I can get 4 Tyvek covers for $200, which might outlast one weathershield. At least that's why I have voiced my satisfaction with the Tyvek. But, as I said, many of the covers costing more have simply not performed well for me.

[MINIAC]

Quote:

Originally posted by JCIP

What is the weathershield cover material?

I describe the material as "umbrella-like" ... the FAQ on car covers has a link to this:

http://www.covercraft.com/weathershield.htm

[JCIP]

Thanks for the link MINIAC. This weathershield cover does sound better than the ones I have had experience with. I may give one a try. For $200, I would definately want one custom fitted to the MINI!
Thanks for your info.
JCIP

[Spy Car]

I don't think you will be sorry JCIP. It really is a great cover. It is very well fitted and the quality of materials and stiching is very high. I think it should last a long time.

[JCIP]

Thanks SpyCar for your response. Based on your and MINIAC's opinion, I did a little more research on the covers. While there is an issue of personal taste, there are a few things about the Tyvek that I didn't know, but might be useful information. It might interest some folks to check out the following links:
http://www.tyvek.com/
and
[url=http://www.tyvek.com/]
or do your own search. The Tyvek has some pretty interesting properties, and pluses, including that it is used for Haz-Mat clothing, protecting against dust particles down to 5 microns, and chemical invasion, even low level radioactivity. I guess that would qualify it against bird droppings and tree sap too!
Not to say that the weathershield isn't a fine product, just that it is wise to find a cover that meets your specific needs. I need more sun & heat protection, and have constant changes with sun/rain/sun that can create blister burns in paint. I don't have to deal with snow or ice. But I may well invest in a fitted Tyvek cover now that I know more about it. Thanks, and I hope the links come thru, and provide some info.
JCIP

[JCIP]

Sorry, the second link failed to appear.

http://www.tyvek.com/na/covers/english/carcover.htm