[vhs]

I've got to start driving my car to work (it is supposed to be my daily driver). I work in sports stadiums. Right now, it's all MLB. In this situation, I park in a lot shared by employees and paid fan parking. It's close to the stadium and I bring a heavy roller which carries my gear so parking far away is not an option.

Being San Francisco, it often gets foggy and misty at night, so cars can get damp. Add in some wind from the Bay, and cars get dirty very quickly.

I'm torn as to whether or not to cover my car while I'm working. On the plus side, it'll keep it dry and clean. On the downside, I won't always have time to let it cool enough to do a waterless wash before I go to work, and I'm worried about scratching up the paint. I'm also worried that a cover makes the car a target. I can park at the very back of the lot, closest to the police station, so it would be a direct effort to mess with the car. Parking closer to the front - my SLK got hit, probably by a drink idiot parked next to me, trying to pull out. The lot is somewhat patrolled during the games, but I leave about an hour afterward.

I also haven't found a decent detailer to do a basic wash, and I can't wash the car at home (by law). So I hate getting it filthy and having a detailer in Monterey clean it, which only gets bugs all over it on the way home (it's Carrea White).

I have a 75 mile drive to work, each way. It's part mountain highway with twists, part open freeway, very little in the city, so I'm looking forward to the drive, particularly coming home, which is late at night and there's less cars in the way.

Given all of this, what are the thoughts as to covering vs not? It's not a one time deal, as I'm a sports photographer and cover most of the home games (baseball season is loooong).

 

[mksz51]

I would not cover - you'll only scratch the paint. White will hide it well - for awhile - but it will scratch.

 

[JazzCatGab]

I'd consider ceramic sealing of PPF and then use the cover. Both those options are expensive, but there is value in each that makes it worth it, particularly with someone like you with all those limitations on cleaning the car. When it was too cold to wash where I live, and I was still taking it out on days over 45 degrees, I would "wash" my car whenever a good thundershower would come along. That and a no-rinse wash kept it clean for the three months I had it during winter. I have the Ceramic Pro sealant, btw.

 

[Porsche2018]

Agree, never put a car cover on a dirty car you will drag all dirt/debris over the paint and after 75 miles there will be quite a bit of dirt/debris. The only time I use a car cover is after I wash the car and when I am going away for an extended period of time.

 

[RussellHodgson]

I would not cover the car. It attracts more attention that way, and won't help keep it clean (probably the reverse).


In the winter my car is really dirty. But after a good wash everything is fine. I wouldn't worry about it getting dirty during the week.

 

[aeronca65tl]

……….I also haven't found a decent detailer to do a basic wash, and I can't wash the car at home (by law)……..

Don't you have self service car washes in your area?

My white 718 Cayman is great for hiding dirt. In fact we have five white vehicles for exactly that reason.

I'm not a fan of car covers (I have a brand new cover I was given....it's still in the box). These covers can mechanically scratch a car. And I do think they attract unwanted attention. Also, I think they tend to generate mold and similar icky stuff if left on even a few days.
Better off to drive the car a bit dirty.

 

[vhs]

Don't you have self service car washes in your area?

My white 718 Cayman is great for hiding dirt. In fact we have five white vehicles for exactly that reason.

We do, but they are a mess with unraveling hoses with metal exposed, and they harbor homeless people. I have a couple of other detailers to try, so I guess I'll just leave it uncovered.


Thanks

 

[Porsche2018]

We do, but they are a mess with unraveling hoses with metal exposed, and they harbor homeless people.

Not to derail the conversation but the wife and I lived in SF from 84 to 88 and boy has it changed with the homeless situation. The west coast, sadly, has deteriorated and become almost unrecognizable. My wife and I were in SF on vacation two years ago and we were at a restaurant and there was a gentlemen from England that stuck up a conversation with us and his exact words were "I thought SF was going to be so beautiful but it looks like a third world country with all the homeless about". His statement was sad but true. We used to visit SF twice a year and now we have been going much less frequently.

 

[hume]

I used to cover my Boxster every night and day when I parked at home (carport) and work. If it got dirty, washed it right away. After a while it just became a pain and I accepted a car driven every day will get dirty. I found over time I sometimes just wanted to get to work and not worry about a clean car. I now don't even own a cover for my 718 Cayman. A car already dirty can't get dirty and it's just as much fun to drive

I was always cautious about keeping it clean before using a cover. I found some dirt around the lower edges was fine since not much fabric motion down there but dirt on fenders and higher up really gets pushed around a lot. You may wish to just consider going "au naturel" and let dirt be dirt. But I know how that can be painful at first! The first ding is also really painful. But the subsequent ones hurt less and less.

BTW, A daily drive from Santa Cruz to San Francisco? You have the perfect car, why not take Hwy 1 all the way up? It may take a little bit longer but a lot more fun than 280. It might actually not be that much longer at all, a quick google maps estimate says just 15 minutes longer and that's without traffic. Just think how lucky you are, you are in a situation to commute to work on Hwy 1 in a Porsche every day!

 

[Baka1969]

A professional detail, a full PPF and ceramic coating is very likely worth the heavy investment with a daily driver. Even some interior protection.

The PPF with the ceramic coating will make the car easier to clean when the car gets dirty. Plus the paint will last much longer. The 'ouch' is the $5000+ to do it all. But, in the end, it could be well worth the investment.

 

[geemman]

I lived in San Francisco all of my life and yes it's true, the city has definitly gone downhill as far as the homeless and drug addicts. I work close to City Hall and it's a mess. Needles and human excrement are everywhere. You always have to look where you are walking. Especially tourist, one wrong turn down a street and you are in a totally different neighborhood.

I personally would not cover the car as stated could get scratched.

I have PPF and waterless car wash and the PPF really helps protect the paint, the waterless car wash, you can basically wash your car in the lot if you want. I would also park by the police station if space is available.

Not to derail the conversation but the wife and I lived in SF from 84 to 88 and boy has it changed with the homeless situation. The west coast, sadly, has deteriorated and become almost unrecognizable. My wife and I were in SF on vacation two years ago and we were at a restaurant and there was a gentlemen from England that stuck up a conversation with us and his exact words were "I thought SF was going to be so beautiful but it looks like a third world country with all the homeless about". His statement was sad but true. We used to visit SF twice a year and now we have been going much less frequently.

 

[Porsche2018]

@geemman, how did the politicians allow this gem to tarnish. When I first visited SF in 1981 it was breathtaking, it had everything how on earth did this happen. Is it the liberal politics that has prevailed, i.e. power at all costs and the welfare of the citizenry as an after thought the reason or what? Very disheartened, that goes for Seattle and Portland as well.

 

[geemman]

I can only guess that drugs has a lot to do with the decline. By City Hall (I work close to) it's almost like an open air market for drug dealers and also users as well. I must see someone shooting up almost everyday, with a needle sticking out of their arm and of couse, the herion nodding in and out. Our current mayor, wants to build a homeless navigation center by the waterfront and the residents that live in that area are not having it. So yes, political.

some parts of the City are still very nice, as long as you know where you're going. If you ever come back to visit SF look me up and we can take you on a tour.

@geemman, how did the politicians allow this gem to tarnish. When I first visited SF in 1981 it was breathtaking, it had everything how on earth did this happen. Is it the liberal politics that has prevailed, i.e. power at all costs and the welfare of the citizenry as an after thought the reason or what? Very disheartened, that goes for Seattle and Portland as well.

 

[Porsche2018]

If you ever come back to visit SF look me up and we can take you on a tour.

Will do!

 

[vhs]

After a while it just became a pain and I accepted a car driven every day will get dirty.

BTW, A daily drive from Santa Cruz to San Francisco? You have the perfect car, why not take Hwy 1 all the way up? It may take a little bit longer but a lot more fun than 280. It might actually not be that much longer at all, a quick google maps estimate says just 15 minutes longer and that's without traffic. Just think how lucky you are, you are in a situation to commute to work on Hwy 1 in a Porsche every day!

I've got to get used to a dirty car again. My SLK was dark silver, like GT Silver, so it hid dirt really well.

As for the drive, I'm always late for work, so the extra time savings are a big deal. On the plus side, coming home late at night during the week, I have Hwy 17 which is a lot of fun. Hwy 1 is a beautiful drive and I do it often.

As for the comments on SF, it's truly a sad situation. I have to keep a place in SF, but I stay there infrequently. It's just such a hassle to be on guard about everything 24/7. Watch where you step, where you park, etc... My boyfriend has a beach house in Santa Cruz and I like the tempo of things there much more. However, Santa Cruz too, has gone downhill in the last eight years. California is incredibly beautiful, but it's challenging in a number of ways.

 

[Porsche2018]

California is incredibly beautiful, but it's challenging in a number of ways.

Agreed, California is a gem, and if the forum will permit, I urge all Californians to fire the current politicians and vote in those representatives that will serve the needs of the community and preserve the treasure that is California. Now I will put away my soap box.

 

[MLJJ]

You see that desperation in many cities/towns in the US. I see it in a small town! Some of it is self-induced, others not so much. Politics, social, economics, climate, etc... Many factors are at work. A complex issue for sure, but changing local politicians won' solve the broader root problems in the near term, or anytime for that matter.

 

[GGG]

I would consider a full (or at least extensive) PPF.

 

[vhs]

I would consider a full (or at least extensive) PPF.

It came with a partial PPF. For the cost of a ceramic coat and full PPF, I'm more of the mind of just fixing things when they happen. From reading this thread, I've got to come to terms with it being a daily driver and it's going to get some occasional scars. I need to find a good detail magician and paint shop to help with the little things.

On the positive side, we're going to buy our leased SQ5, so I can use that on occasion, but my bf put 85K on it in three years so we're going to use it selectively. I've got to drive my car and enjoy it. I've found that switching into Sport Plus mode and hitting the little button clears the mind of all of the cosmetic worries.

 

[aeronca65tl]

……….Is it the liberal politics that has prevailed, i.e. power at all costs and the welfare of the citizenry as an after thought the reason or what?...…..

First I agree that is an awful shame that homelessness has grown in the USA (generally in a linear fashion) since the '70s. We volunteer at our local food bank so we get to see some of this up close.

But as for the source of this problem in SF, I disagree with your implication.
In my view, correlation does not imply causation....especially not in this case where there are so many significant variables.

Just the deinstitutionalization process in the 1970s has had a major long-term effect.
As well as returning but ignored veterans combined with hyper-increasing housing costs.
Or for SF, the lingering effect of the Haight-Ashbury "psychedelic" diaspora.
The moderate weather and nice parks are a "draw" too.
Willie Brown was very aggressive with policing and clearing out the parks....but it didn't result in any long term improvement.

I wish it was as easy as just "voting the bums out". It isn't. :|

But I still agree with your taste in cars. >