How to Protect My Corolla!!

[EWyatt]

OK, perhaps a dumb question coming. I plan to leave my pristine 2011 Corolla in Austin, TX for 3 weeks in the sun and heat. What would be the best way to protect it from typical Summer extremes: sun, heat.

Question: would one of those "blue" plastic tarps from Big Lots or Harbor Freight work well, or would the cheap plastic in them somehow ruin my new car's finish? This is a one-time shot, and I'd really like to avoid spending the big bucks on a super-duper pro cover.

Or would my Corolla do well just to be left out in the sun on its own for 3 weeks in the hellish Texas countryside? Note: the cars in the dealers' parking lots seem to make it!!!

[Zembonez]

You don't have sun where you live? We have the same one here. Many cars sit on dealer lots here for 6 months without issue. You have nothing to worry about... as long as the car is parked in a safe location.

You don't want to put anything over it. That will cause more damage than letting it sit out.

[leonvx671]

Paint Sealant or Wax helps keep your car's finish...as long as you keep it clean and waxed...you shouldn't have a problem with like color fading...paint cracking...and other things...

[Zembonez]

What do you do in Abilene... drive only at night? It has been a ton hotter there than in Austin this summer.

[PhatRoyale]

Wax it.

Just grab some off the shelf Megiuars or Mothers and apply it after you wash your car.

[CTB727]

Meguiar's NXT 2.0 is a good durable wax.

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by leonvx671

Paint Sealant or Wax helps keep your car's finish...as long as you keep it clean and waxed...you shouldn't have a problem with like color fading...paint cracking...and other things...

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

Wax it.

Just grab some off the shelf Megiuars or Mothers and apply it after you wash your car.

Do this but always clay the paint before waxing so that you don't grind in any grime in the paint that doesn't come off with just a wash.

[msncorolla422]

I agree with every post above this...

I had mine at the shop for 2 months in the sun and I have no issues. I just need to clay bar it later on as some got baked in but you have to clay it anyway so you should be fine

and I'm in the Houston soon to be San Antonio area

[pinoyesv6]

if you can park it somewhere where it could be out of the sun for most/part of the day that would be better than full sun. probably not under a tree sinec trees usually mean branches falling during a storm or bird poop.

parking it in a car port or even better, a garage would be much better too.

if you have someone you can really trust, have them start the car at least once a week and even get the car washed.

[EWyatt]

Thanks to all for the comments. The consensus seems to be to wax it well and just leave it out in the sun -- which I'll probably to do. I have no option of parking it under anything.

However...... I did see a pretty fair-priced auto cover at WalMart that would fit. I can't see how that would somehow hurt the Corolla, as someone wrote.

Decisions, decisions.
Thanks again....

[leonvx671]

I know they don't normally make dark colored one's but make sure the car cover is a light color to reflect off the sun from absorbing into the cover therefore heating up your car under it

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by EWyatt

Thanks to all for the comments. The consensus seems to be to wax it well and just leave it out in the sun -- which I'll probably to do. I have no option of parking it under anything.

However...... I did see a pretty fair-priced auto cover at WalMart that would fit. I can't see how that would somehow hurt the Corolla, as someone wrote.

Decisions, decisions.
Thanks again....

Save your money. Just don't forget to clay the paint before waxing & the paint will be fine. I wouldn't use a car cover unless it was inside a garage. The wind could rub the paint if left on during a storm or windy period. I would do this...

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Paint Sealant
4. Wax

You will be golden!

[EWyatt]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

You don't have sun where you live? We have the same one here. Many cars sit on dealer lots here for 6 months without issue. You have nothing to worry about... as long as the car is parked in a safe location.

You don't want to put anything over it. That will cause more damage than letting it sit out.

Why is that? Isn't that the purpose of auto covers? What kind of damage?

....just trying to learn!

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by EWyatt

Why is that? Isn't that the purpose of auto covers? What kind of damage?

....just trying to learn!

I would use a cover on a collectible car while in the garage to keep it clean & dust free only.

[PhatRoyale]

It might pick up the odd pebble or road debris and scratch your paint as you put it on and take it off.

It might also speed up the corrosion process if water for any reason gets trapped under and pools up.