If you get a decent cover you can put it on as soon as you get home, assuming you've dusted the car off first. Also be sure to use detail spray to get off any bird surprises, mud that may have splashed up along the sides (especially behind the rear wheels) and the back bumper, which is usually covered in soot.
You do that to prevent a buildup of dust, dirt and whatever on the underside of the cover. If you put the cover onto a dirty car it will scratch the clearcoat and leave marks on the windows.
The good news is that if you do it properly and cover your car nightly you'll be able to go a long time without having to wash your car or the cover. If you let it slide now and then it will show and you'll start leaving the cover off, leading to possible cat footprints or who-knows-what.
Be sure to get a cover that you can just throw in the washing machine and air dry.
I got the one with the Pony on the front and it's been working fine for over 2 years.
Why only when clean and do you know if i can cover car while still hot
if car is dirty or dusty, cover will just scratch the car when putting on. i agree with beaustang. as long as exhaust is cool enough to touch you should be alright. since you drive a black car, you will want to cover it by all means.
I covered my last car every day at work for about 25 years. (I didn't cover for the first 4 years) I didn't clean, wash & wax, wipe it down, or whatever before I covered it. I wanted to protect it from the sun and sun rot. After all those years all were amazed it was still the original paint. I had a friend with another car that covered his without fail just about anywhere he went, if it wasn't moving, it was probably covered. Looked great!
I think you can cover it any time you damn well please! In the case of my '05 Screaming Yellow GT when I cover it I "flop" the cover on and off, carefully folding and unfolding from the roof top, I don't drag the cover over any paint and I don't go to lots of trouble making a tight pretty package of the cover. Takes a couple of minutes to cover and to uncover.
On the other hand, my 4' 10" wife covers our '89 GMC S-15 red pickup just about every working day for the last 19 years, and since she is "vertically challenged" she needs to drag the cover on and off the roof. When I get up there to wax, looks mighty fine! People can't believe the GMC has 169k miles and nearly 20 years on it and it's paint!
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05 GT - Screaming Yellow
Granatelli CAI
I have covered mine since the day I got it. I got the cover from American Muscle and I have no problems with it. Whenever I know I am not going back out I cover the car up. I use the california duster....and a microfiber towel on the rims. The cover also works great for protecting it against rain. Its well worth the money.
To cover or not to cover?
