Here's an interview I did with total911, the sadly now defunct Porsche magazine, in November 2020 - and its still relevant today, though I have updated a few bits including prices.
With 17 years in the business, lets talk winter protection with Mark Wibberley, owner of well-known car care products company Morethanpolish.com. As his company also ran (at the time) covers specialist carcovershop.co.uk, his team have plenty of real world experience in an area that there are many internet ‘experts’ in…
We’ll start with his cars though – 3 years ago (I stil have it!) he added the ex-AFN Park Lane Boxster demonstrator to his treasured 944Turbo, owned since 2003 (but sold in 2023). Both are well used, have spent most of their time outside and have their own covers.
It’s a common misconception that covers scratch cars. Cheap, badly fitting covers on dirty cars may scratch cars, but if you’re covering your Porsche, is a fifty pound cover from eBay or Amazon really likely to do the car justice ? In the same way that you probably don’t drop your 911 at Halfords for a service, the value of product advice and knowledge that a specialist provides is usually well worthwhile. After all, few people are car cover experts but sad folks like me deal with them all day !
Our most popular covers are now the relatively new Waterproof & Breathable covers, which do exactly what they say. Made from a very sophisticated, high quality knitted 3 layer laminated neoprene polyester/blend applied with a Goretex-type middle layer (to be precise), these are well proven to keep your Porsche totally dry. They can go on a wet car due to breathability. Slight stretch in the fabric gives a close fit too, and we do custom versions now for Carerra 3 to 993, 996-991 and 992 models, plus 718 and 987 Boxster/Cayman. These are £249 except the Custom ones, at £325.
Spun polypropelene is the material used for the popular ‘golf ball texture’ covers many vendors sell, but it varies in weight and whether it has a soft fleecy lining. We much prefer the cotton fleecy ones, our Protector4, which are £129/£135 for the Porsche sports sizes. But you’ll not always find honesty from all car cover sellers. These covers are not waterproof as some claim – in heavy or persistent rain water will come through, though breathe back out. I use one on my Boxster.
Some owners put heaters in their garage to keep the car warm, but this isn’t necessary as the UK doesn’t get that cold, but crucially warmer air holds more moisture. A dehumidifier will naturally heat the air anyway, though only if its working – compressor-based machines are useless below 10 degrees, and are outperformed by desiccant machines even well above that. They do stop mould, rust and mildew growth, and the one I have in my garage, Meaco DD8L Junior, (still!) costs £165, also producing free washer bottle water that doesn’t leave marks down my windows.
I shall also invest in an AirChamber this winter for my venerable 944Turbo, as its going into a large store where I cant dehumidify the whole place. This will keep the dust off, spiders and rodents away and my discs shiny. It will of course have its CTEK 3.8 attached – the Forums tend to recommend the 5.0 but that’s overkill for all but the largest engined Porsches. The key here is to have a Conditioner, as opposed to Charger, the latter keeps pumping in current and will cook, not condition, your battery.
Obviously all my cars are well protected with wax etc – a mixture of ceramic coating, Nano sealant, wax and newer SiO2 coatings by my own brand Race Glaze. Graphene products promise to be the future, are a little controversial right now, but the gloss levels are out of this world and if you prepare the panels correctly, I think could become hugely popular due to ease of use and durability between the best waxes and ceramic.
Roll on Spring 2021 !