The Environment Is Tough On Luxury Cars. Fight Back With This!

If you own a luxury or sports car you have an investment that's worthy of the best care possible. All it takes is a little extra care 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 using a car cover when the vehicle is parked.

To best understand how car cover usage can affect resale value it's important to be aware of the used car market and how buyers and sellers appraise cars. Almost universally the information published by Kelly Blue Book (KBB) provides the basis for the value. The "Blue Book," as it is called, rates vehicles by their condition. A standardized grade of poor, fair, good or excellent is applied. From my own research on KBB, the difference between full grades is approximately 15% of value.

Let's use a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan as an example. With all other conditions being equal, a 2007 S550 sedan with an "excellent exterior" condition is valued $2,100 higher than the same vehicle with an exterior in "good condition." This is only a single example. In my research, I discovered other Mercedes-Benz models with a much higher value difference between excellent and good, including the incredible CL65 AMG Coupe. A 2008 CL65 AMG Coupe in perfect condition is valued at $98,530 but drops a whopping $4,900 if the exterior condition is degraded to "good" condition. The difference between the excellent and good can be something as minor as a few door dings or paint scratches from shopping carts.

Before you head off to your local auto parts store to look at covers, know this. All you will find are ready-fit products. The price is right, but I suggest you do your research before you even consider one. My personal experience with ready-fit car covers is that they can do more harm than good. I've had a lot of cars (thirty-two at last count) and all but my Bronco and trucks have had a Covercraft or Coverking. Let me explain why.

I recommend these two brands because they make superior products. Plus, their factories are right here in the USA. Both companies feature computer controlled construction using the best fabrics available anywhere in the world. You get a perfect fit for your car, guaranteed. I think the incredible fit shows off the classic lines of the car, but the real purpose of making it so snug is to prevent the possibility of damage to your vehicle's fine paintwork.

If you want you can go to your car dealer and order a factory cover, but I can assure you that it won't be the quality you need. Not that the factory product is junk. That's not the issue. You see, your dealer offers a single choice of fabric. If we all lived in the same climate conditions I suppose that would be alright. Most factory covers are light weight outdoor fabric made for basic protection. If dust and the sun are your only concerns the factory cover can do the job, but is it the quality your luxury car deserves?

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.

For the ladies, here's a gift idea for you. Some men are impossible to shop for, especially the affluent ones. Let me suggest that a custom-fit car cover is gift he will love. I can say this with authority because I still have mine, and it was gifted to me over ten years ago. Trust me on this suggestion, ladies. Car guys love receiving gifts that acknowledge their passion for the automobile.

Do plan ahead, though, as each one is made-to-order. If you're thinking of giving one as a holiday gift or as a Valentines Day or Birthday surprise, order it a month or more in advance. Also, be sure to discover how he will be using it. If he has a garage he needs an indoor car cover. If he drives a two door, be considerate of storage space. A multi-layer waterproof cover might be too bulky. Also, if he needs dual-purpose indoor and outdoor protection, be sure to compare fabrics. Some fabrics offer both types of protection, but not all.

A custom-fit is a hot item, so make sure it doesn't walk away. Use a locking cable when parked outside for long periods. It's a great way to reduce the risk of car theft, too. Most professional thieves won't take the risk of stealing a car that's covered.

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.

Shopping for custom car covers? Get the information you need Autopia Car Covers, a authoritative source of information about custom car covers and best car cover sources.

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