I've found myself in a situation where I might not have access to a garage for several months, or perhaps longer. Considering getting a car cover
and keeping the seven outside.
Has anyone done this? Will it just end up covered in mould with rotting bodywork?
Buy a good quality breathable cover and shouldn't be an issue.
A really good quality outdoor cover, that fits well, and take it off when the sun shines
Ditto an appropriate cover.
Mines sat outside for 12 years and stil looks good considering. They are quite resiliant
Thanks fellas! In that case, the next question is which cover?
Is this sort of thing any good? http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-covers-tarpaulins/halfords-all-seasons-car-cover-medium
Or should I be looking at spending more?
a guy i know built a packing case type structure in the front of his house.
just big enough to push the car in and pull it out. didnt look pretty but worked well.
Stormforce outdoor car cover........some on ebay at £139 ish.....not cheap , but really nice quality and tailored to fit. I keep my MK in the garage and have an indoor cover.......ex Lotus Exige......not a tailored fit but keeps the dust off !! I had an outdoor cover ( Stormforce ) for my MX5 which was great.
quote:
Originally posted by Skirrow
Thanks fellas! In that case, the next question is which cover?
Is this sort of thing any good? http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-covers-tarpaulins/halfords-all-seasons-car-cover-medium
Or should I be looking at spending more?
Kept my Zero outside under a halfords cover for nearly 2 years. No issues other than being caught in the rain and throwing the cover onto the hot exhaust haha!
Cheers! It's a rented property so any buildings / structures are out really.
There is a stable which I intend to use at some point but it needs the door widening and some other work doing in there, and plus it's full to
the brim with stuff at the moment.
The car cover is only a temporary solution until I can sort the stable out but... weeks become months and months become years so I decided I should
probably treat it as indefinite.
Stormforce looking like a good option at the moment
Worth also considering Hamilton Classic covers
They are well rated and a mate has a couple of Classic MG's and rates then highly
I rate the halfords one. But get the small not medium one and it is a good fit for a 7. Make sure you let the exhaust cool a few minutes before you put the cover on or it will melt right through.
How about a car tent?
Link to Amazon
140 quid for 3m x 6m Tent on Amazon.
With the wind that has been battering my house over the past few weeks, I think I'd end up with a kite instead of a tent. Look pretty good but my
place seems to get a lot of wind.
Just ordered the Stormforce cover. Hoping it's a tight enough fit so that that doesn't fly away
[Edited on 25/1/18 by Skirrow]
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-CAR-COVER-MINI-MG-STORAGE-GARAGE-BARN-MOTORCYCLE-CAR-FOLDING-SHED-BIKE/311406662670?epid=1856131592&hash=item48
8148940e:g:aNoAAOSw-wJZ-c-u
I've just bought one of these.
I'ye yet to assemble it, but it looks to be good quality.
I bought my car in December and have been storing it outdoors using the Halfords premium breathable cover.
Seems a few people (on the reviews) have used these on 7's and are quite happy - for me the convenience of just being able to roll it in and out
is much better, and will hopefully keep it a bit drier .
Even the waterproof/breathable cover lets through a bit of moisture.
I would put a couple of moisture traps in the car before putting the cover on,just to absorb any moisture inside the cover.
Also get a couple of thin straps long enough to go under the car and over top,just for peace of mind the cover won't take off! 
Mine lived here for 3 years, sold the car now though
[Edited on 25/1/18 by benchmark51]
My hairdressers lives outside without any major problems.
I bought a cheappo fleabay tyvek type cover and a cheapo waterproof, breathable cover to go on top of the tyvek one.
It means that the majority of water is fended off by the waterproof one and the tyvek one keeps damp and moisture at bay.
Total cost about £50 and I've had 3 waterproof ones and one tyvek one in 5 years.
Only slight problem is the waterproof one is fairly thin and prone to tear if you pull it too much, plus UV? takes its toll turning it brittle .
I attach both buy folding around the body corners and using spring clips to sandwich them against the body.
Cheapo tent type garages are just not worth it. Tried one which was proof up to 50 mph winds. About 3 days after I erected it we had 65 mph winds
overnight and I ended up chasing the tangled remains down the street first thing next morning!!
Cheers, Pewe10
is it road legal?
I ask just so you've though about insurance - my last two insurers have insisted on the car being garaged as part of the policy..... just a
thought in case anything happens....
Liking the box benchmark!
It's not currently road legal as insurance, tax and MOT expired in Nov and I've not renewed them so I'll just immobilise it by taking
something important off it. Hoping by spring/summer I'll have a more permanent and cosy home for it but so busy with work and stuff that
it's the last thing on my mind at the moment. Which I'm ashamed to say...
I had a stormforce for my MGF. I also have realy strong wind as I live on the coast. I would suggest some extra straps as the wind ditroyed my cover
quote:
Originally posted by Skirrow
Liking the box benchmark!
It's not currently road legal as insurance, tax and MOT expired in Nov and I've not renewed them so I'll just immobilise it by taking something important off it. Hoping by spring/summer I'll have a more permanent and cosy home for it but so busy with work and stuff that it's the last thing on my mind at the moment. Which I'm ashamed to say...
quote:
Originally posted by Skirrow
Liking the box benchmark!
It's not currently road legal as insurance, tax and MOT expired in Nov and I've not renewed them so I'll just immobilise it by taking something important off it. Hoping by spring/summer I'll have a more permanent and cosy home for it but so busy with work and stuff that it's the last thing on my mind at the moment. Which I'm ashamed to say...
Another vote for Hamilton Classic. Kept my Elise outside for seven years. Still use the cover for my kit when occasionally outside ( normally on trailer for an early morning track day start ).
quote:
Originally posted by Skirrow
Liking the box benchmark!
It's not currently road legal as insurance, tax and MOT expired in Nov and I've not renewed them so I'll just immobilise it by taking something important off it. Hoping by spring/summer I'll have a more permanent and cosy home for it but so busy with work and stuff that it's the last thing on my mind at the moment. Which I'm ashamed to say...