5 Ways Custom Car Covers Can Save You BIG BUCKS!

A luxury or sports car is a big investment that's worthy of the best care. A car custom cover is all it takes for your automobile to retain as much value as possible. That's only important at trade-in time, but the proper care needs to start on day one. For the money, there's no better way to keep your fine machine in excellent condition than keeping it covered when it's parked. This lens explains why custom car covers are preferred by most car enthusiasts, including this one.

To understand how using a cover will keep residual value as high as possible, you'll need to realize how used car buyers rate vehicles. In almost all cases, the data published by Kelly Blue Book (KBB) will be used to determine the value. Kelly Blue Book rates vehicles by their condition. They developed a standardized grading system with four levels: poor, fair, good and excellent. Based on research I conducted using the KBB website, the monetary difference from one full grade to another is approximately 15% of value. Based on the exterior vehicle condition alone, the difference can be as much as 5% per grade.

I think we can all agree that the Mercedes-Benz brand is renowned for its superior luxury and quality. It may not be your brand of choice, but indulge me while I use it as an example. Take a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan, if all other conditions are the same, a specimen in "excellent" exterior condition will bring $2,100 more than an identical car that's presented in "good" exterior condition. I discovered many other models with greater variances, including a Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Coupe. When the vehicle is perfect all the way around it can bring $98,530. However, if the AMG's exterior condition falls to "good" the price drops by a wallet punishing $4,900. Making it hurt all the more is when you realize it's just a few door dings and parking lot scratches that made the difference.

If you're a car nut like me, then you really have a passion for automobiles. This is a small photo collection appreciating a few beautiful cars and the dreams custom car covers protect for us.

You might be asking yourself if a ready-fit cover will do the job. After all, they are available at most auto parts stores for very reasonable price. My strong recommendation is that you don't even consider it as an option. Based on personal experience with ready-fit products, I only recommend Covercraft and Coverking custom-fit. I'll tell you why.

Not only are these the top two brands, but they are right here in the USA producing jobs. I like that. What you get for your money is quality, computer controlled construction, using only the very best fabrics. A perfect fit for your vehicle is guaranteed. A ready-fit hangs on a car like a sack. Custom-fit is pattern-perfect and snug so it shows off the beautiful lines of your vehicle. It's the snug fit that prevents the possibility of damage to the paintwork.

There is one alternative, and that's a visit to your car dealer. In most cases you can get a factory branded cover. It might even be made by one of the top manufactures. The problem here is that they treat it as if everyone has the same basic need. Don't take me the wrong way; I'm not suggesting it's inferior. It's just that your car dealer can only offer you a single choice. If we all lived in sunny San Diego, California where the humidity is low and the rainfall is lower, what the factory offers would be okay. I say that because factory covers are light weight fabrics made for basic protection from the sun and dust.

For piece of mind and the very best quality, a Coverking or Covercraft custom-fit is the right decision. You will really appreciate the amazing selection of fabrics for indoor, outdoor and waterproof conditions, and a fit that's second to none. You have a choice of specialty features, too, including logos, racing stripes, colors and more.

These thumbnails are just an example. Click one and use Amazon's Parts Finder. It's fast and easy!

Attention ladies. Are you stumped trying to find the perfect gift for a man who has everything? A custom-fit car cover is a great gift. I speak from experience, because I still have mine. I received it as a holiday present over ten years ago and I still use it. Trust me on this suggestion. If your man is a car guy like me, he will love receiving one as a gift for his favored car.

If you're considering giving one as gift for Christmas, Valentines Day or even a Birthday, think about where and how he will use it. If your guy pampers his car and tucks it away in the garage before going to bed, what he needs is an indoor car cover. If he drives a two door coupe or sports car, remember that storage space is tight, so a heavy 4-layer cover will be an issue. If he needs protection for outdoor parking, be sure to compare fabrics that work both indoors and out.

In all cases, consider a locking cable and a storage bag. The locking cable helps with theft protection. You will sleep better at night knowing both car and cover are safe and sound.

Custom car covers are one of the few car accessories that will keep your luxury car in excellent condition. Most late model luxury cars, including Lexus, Porsche or Audi, decreases in value by 5% or more when the exterior condition falls from "excellent" to "good". With a few minor door dings or paint scratches your car will no longer be excellent. If you keep it covered while parked it will remain protected from most of the hazards that bump, scrape, fade, scratch and chip away at the fine finish.

Car cover competition is pretty fierce, so do a bit of shopping. I've had GREAT luck buying covers on eBay. Click on any of these autions to start your search in eBay Motors.

I've been a lover of automobiles and motorcycles for as long as I can remember. I purchased my first motorcycle when I was just 10 and my first car when I was 15. I drove my parents crazy because I was always taking things a part to see how they worked. Most of the time I got everything back together again, albeit with a few extra parts left over.

In all I have owned more than fifty cars, trucks and motorcycles. Although I no longer collect or modify vehicles, I still enjoy writing about them. With more than ten years of experience developing and selling car care products, I'm passionate about helping people learn how to care for and maintain their cars. If you don't have a garage, custom car covers are one of the best investments you can make to prevent damage and retain more resale value.

If your automobile's exterior finish is already deteriorating, you can restore the paintwork back to like-new condition using a car buffer. You can checkout my Buffer Polisher lens to learn more about repairing dull, scratched paint.

When David Bynon is not on Squidoo you will find him blogging about health care and senior's issues on www.MedicareWire.com.