I have a new Sport Tech on order in Soul Red. Like my current NC roadster, it will live outside. What’s the view on getting a high quality cover for it, for protection from UV fading and bird shite etc?
Vince
I got a half-cover for the Winter for my NC soft top and honestly, wouldn’t have been without it. Well worth the investment!
I previously had a Z4 which I bought a cover for, but never used cos I turned out to be too lazy, I ended up getting rid of it with a pond in the boot and mouldy interior. If I wasn’t keeping my MX-5 in the garage I’d definitely be learning from my mistake and using a cover!
As long as it doesn’t rub then they’re fine.
That said, the wind took ours and broke the straps, in the end we gave up using it.
I would say yes. I plan to get a cover when I find the mx5 I’m looking for. Think the material it is made from makes a difference as to how good it is for the car. Maybe have a look at that for what works best for your needs.
If anyone has used a good quality cover and can recommend for ease of use and importantly no rubbing damage to paintwork, please post about it here.
I have a brill cover made to spec from specialisedcovers.com been a customer of Douglas for 16 years now he’s made me some lovely fits 
fleece lined shower proof elasticated some of his work …
Just to say this is an elasticated fabric with a soft fleece inner will not Rub in the wind the bottom of the cover has heavy duty elastic edge to it contours to the cars shape,… the reason the cover on the MX~5 picture looks much longer is that it was designed with a boot spoiler in mind the spoiler has yet to be fitted …
top my old RX~8 cover
Back end Of the MX~5 ND2
best place for a Deal is the NEC or NIA classic car show " when its Back "
I’ve used one for a couple of years which was designed for the car and cost about £100, but not nearly as good a fit as that one on the photos from @exiled-viking. Despite strapping it down fairly well, it still rubs.
From my experience, either expect to spend more time dealing with the very light rub marks and polish it a lot more than you do at present, or spend a heap more and get a truly fitted one like those shown above.
I have neighbours’ cats which sit on the roof and birds nesting nearby which cr*p everywhere, both of which have necessitated the cover, but there is a definite increase in the amount of care needed for the paintwork.
1 Like
I have a cabrioshield. It’s fit is very snug. It is fastened in between the door and the chassis both between the front wing and door and the rear wing and door. And then you also fasten it between your trunk lid and body work. This means noone on the street can remove your cover except when they destroy it. The material of the parts that sit in between is thick, if it is even possible to rip it by hand you’d really have to use excessive force. This makes it harder to break into the car, let alone viewing inside to see what’s in there. So makes your car a lot more break in proof.
The material of the cover itself is also very sturdy and thick. I really like this cover. They also have a breathing version for prolonged use.
Halfords have a quilted inner with a reflective outer, very good quality. Comes with a 2 year warranty. I have the large size, you can wrap it up like a baby!
Thanks for the replies so far. In order not to rub the paintwork it needs to be a properly tailored snug fit on the bodywork with quality fastenings, not a ‘fits many cars’ product. Does anyone know if such a cover is available for the ND convertible?
Cabrioshield. I forgot to add that the edges that touch the paintwork have a fleece layer as not to scratch the paint and have a magnetic band that keep it on it’s place so it barely moves. Obviously it might move a little bit with heavier winds but still not much really…
I have bought a Monsoon Winter Cover for my NC 3.5 from Cars Covers. They do custom-made for every model. You have the option to add a locking kit to them too. I chose the Monsoon because I live in East Scotland and we can have 4 seasons in one day regularly! wwww.carscovers.co.uk
1 Like
My view is yes, yes, yes and yes.
I can speak on this on as I have had one on mine for 3 years (August) and I’ve used the Mazda half cover (you can get it on MX5 Parts, costs about £80). I’d pay £500 if I had to.
Mine also lives outside and the cover is on the car whenever it’s not in use. I’m on my second one as I find, to be honest, that winter frost and a UV summer kills them a bit and they are not as good then. However, my old/first one is still used all the time in the summer to stop the new one getting battered by UV and the old one is still fine for summer rain.
If I say so myself, my top still looks like new. However, I try not to drive it in rain, but when parked it’s always under the cover. The half cover stop literally everything: bird poo, pollen, dust, stuff getting in the drain holes, not to mention keeping it (fairly) dry.
Negatives: They are not 100% waterproof. If you’ve got a day full of rain, a storm Dennis etc etc, when you lift it up the next day ‘some’ will have got through, but compared to what it would have with no cover, it’s not worth mentioning.
Regarding swirls etc, I would consider myself an OCD detailer and, seriously, I can see nothing on the paint negative. The car is Ceramic Metallic which granted must help, given it’s light, but looking at all OCD angles, in all lights, nothing.
Also, nothing was better than going on a week’s holiday, coming back and the soft top under the cover was untouched by nature.
Also, depending on where it’s parked, if you’ve not got cover to the side by another car/wall etc, I find in wind they lift up a bit in the rear quarter area, i.e the fuel cap area. Not in a blowing off way, but enough to let water get under in those areas. Remedied in high winds/driving rain by pinching the cover a little and using a peg. Hard to describe, but common sense in practice.
If it rains overnight and then the skies clear and it freezes, it can literally secure itself to your car. Something to think of if you’ve got to go to work in the morning with it. Also, when you remove it with some frost on it, and it’s cardboard-like, shaking it then isn’t the best for it then as I’m convinced vigorous shaking of a frozen cover don’t do much for the material.
3 Likes
which half cover did you go for?
This one
Absolutely no complaints, it got me through last winter and all the heavy snow with no issues.
1 Like
I’ve got a half cover for my ND convertible. It’s well worth it, keeps the hood clean, is quick to take off, fold and put in the boot.
Secures in the door jambs, velcro around the mirrors and secures under the boot lid, and under wipers.
Also when there is a big storm less likely to get any leaks inside as all the run off goes down the doors and boot.
£79.95
1 Like
thanks!
1 Like
I took the non-breathing one as my car is not one to stand still for weeks after another. Although it’s been standing still now for at least 6 weeks now as the precat is broken and because of a busy life at the moment I have only loosened the header today. Every now and then I just partly pull back the cover when I work on the car and I keep my windows slightly opened and so far there is no mold whatsoever to be seen. Also, even in the worst of storms my car has endured with cover so far, not a drop water has penetrated the cover.
But, even though we have had quite some rain there’s also a decent amount of sun and it’s far from cold. So if you expect to have your car standing still on the streets in autumn and winter I’d pick the breathing version.
The cover is still going strong apart from the fact that it’s not black anymore. I am really fond of it. I always take it with me (except when it’s wet because of rain) and I use it everytime I park my car.
2 Likes
Half cover will protect the hood and keep crud out of the drains. Just make sure the few inches of paint around the cockpit is clean when you put it on. It doesn’t get very dirty anyway and if you keep some waterless wash and clean cloths handy you can do it in 2 minutes.
A full cover will necessitate fully cleaning the car every time you want to use it and even then could abrade the paint. A half cover will give you much of the benefit and a fraction of the hassle. Minimise bird sheet on the paint by not parking under telephone wires and trees if you have that option.
1 Like