Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can anyone recommend a good quality car cover tailored to fit a S3 Elan?

Doesn't need to be waterproof, but I want something more robust (and perhaps more padded) than a simple dust cover. The car is going to be stored for a while in a friends garage.

UK based, mail order supplier preferred.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Andy.

Don?t do it if your friends garage is in any way damp. The paint will bubble....

Regards
Richard

I second the above comment from experience.

I will third the bubble comment!

If there's power in the garage buy either a Carcoon or better still a Cair O Port will keep it clean and dry with nothing touching the paint. The latter has a frame so it's easy to drive in and out of it. Often for sale used on ebay

Andy

I appreciate that I am a bit late to the party but I have an indoor car cover that I am very happy with and you may like to consider it if you have not yet made your decision. See the attached website and particularly read the 'Fact and Fiction' section for confirmation that a simple cotton cover is not good news.

http://www.carcovers.eu/car_covers.htm

The cover I have is one of their universal Supertex type.

Hi
I will join the list of bubbled paint and fourth it
Beware

5th it!
Just caught my old +2 before it was too late.

Convert your living room into a garage, it makes more sense.

6th it,
DO NOT PUT COVER unless you want bubbles on paint and like crying
Alan

In my opinion the only choice is carcoon for over winter, or long term indoor storage. I don't think covers which touch the car are worth a damn. The carcoon is not for day to day use as it can be quite a long winded process to insert the car and zip it up. However for over winter storage they are perfect as they don't touch the car, and are pressurised, so preventing rapid temperature transients which cause condensation. They also allow a steady airflow over the car and so remove any residual damp which may be present when putting the car away for winter.
They are not cheap to buy but worth every penny, and cost around 2p a week to run. My own car has been carcooned since end of October and I know it will be OK when I revive it shortly. The battery has a ctec conditioner connected permanently whilst in storage.
Chris

i'd have to convince my wife to become CAR COVER way before i could get close to our living quarters with my s3 sandy