What's the BEST way to protect paint from the sun?

[99OZDSM]

This summer I will be parking my car in a parking lot that is outside with no cover from the sun. Anyone have any suggestions for ways to protect my paint and interior?

I plan on washing as often as I can can (at least once every 2 weeks, every week ideally) and waxing at least once a month when I can. I currently use Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash and Meguiars NXT Paste Wax. Will this be enough? Any other suggestions?

For the interior, I use Armor All spray and I also have 15% tint on the backs with 35% on the front. I plan on buying a windshield sun block thing too.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[sprmotohooligan]

Get one of those dorky reflective things to put in your windshield, it definitely helps keep the interior temps down. Maybe get the windows tinted if that is within budget to help protect the interior.

As for exterior get a garage! haha I'm just kidding. Keep it waxed, look into paint sealant. It is relatively cheap and works great. A car cover too if you are getting really into it.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

To protect interior: Tint the windows, and get one of those reflectors you place in the windshield. You could also get a dash cover and some seat covers.

To protect paint: Apply wax and keep it clean.

If you really want to go all out you could get a car cover and protect everything with that.

 

[MY1GDSM]

Ride a bike to work/drive something else...

Park it an keep the car under cover?

 

[wkmitsu]

Basically everything everyone has said. Wax it, keep it clean, sun shade for the windshield for sure, and invest in a nice car cover to keep over it if you know its going to sit for a couple days.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Car covers work great, they just look dorky..If you don't have a garage, you could always get one of those car port things..It will protect from above, but I don't think the sides are covered..If thats the case, Wood might be the cheapest, or plastic sheeting put on the sides..

 

[talon1990TSi]

window tint saves the interior and looks good. Exterior keep it clean and wax it. nothing you really can do unless you want a garage queen.haha

 

[90trbogsx]

Car covers work great, they just look dorky..If you don't have a garage, you could always get one of those car port things..It will protect from above, but I don't think the sides are covered..If thats the case, Wood might be the cheapest, or plastic sheeting put on the sides..

+1 on the car port things. They do sell one that covers everything with one spot open so you can obviously get in .. They should be anywhere from 160$ - down. Also as everyone been saying washing, waxing is a plus. My car is down I have it waxed under a car cover still clean.

 

[Cainith]

i keep mine under a wolf cover, real nice when you get a fitted one for your car

 

[99OZDSM]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I definitely plan on keeping it washed and waxed as often as I can. But I will be parking in the city of Pittsburgh at the University of Pittsburgh campus where it is known that drunk kids will break peoples side mirrors off or jump on the hood if parked in the street.

I'm actually paying extra to park in an offstreet parking lot. I think that a car port might be too much and attract too much attention. A car cover is definitely a possibility as I will not be driving my car everyday because I can take the bus. By all means if this was my own private parking lot I would buy a car port.

Any other suggestions for any specific products anyone has used that has very good UV protection?

 

[tazndrew04]

When I was down in arizona during the summer and I left my car out in the sun. All i did was wash and wax at least every week if not every other week and I also bought a dash cover and window reflector. And it worked.

 

[housegsx]

Try finding something better than ArmorAll for interior and rubber. It has petroleums in it that make it look good now, but break down rubber and plastics over time.

If you're ever in Monroeville stop by the mall at Autoality, I hear they carry a bunch of the good car care products.

For the paint, it sounds like you're on the right track. As long as you can keep the bird shit and drunks off of it.

 

['97boostinGST]

I personally like Meguiar's products better than ArmorAll products, seems to be a better product since I've used both.
But yeah wash often, I thought waxing often would damaged the paint?

 

[DSM_PWR]

Definetly trash the ArmorAll

This is what i use
http://detailersdomain.com/carcareproducts/plasticvinylcare/1ZeinszettCockpit.html

 

[housegsx]

Also, this is supposedly the best for you rubber door seals and such. I'm probably going to pick some up for my new car.

Shin_Etsu_Grease

 

[99OZDSM]

But yeah wash often, I thought waxing often would damaged the paint?

I hope this isn't true because I wax my car around once a month normally

When I was down in arizona during the summer and I left my car out in the sun. All i did was wash and wax at least every week if not every other week and I also bought a dash cover and window reflector. And it worked.

This is very reassuring news to me.

I will be sure to switch away from Armor All products, I was completely unaware that they would eventually dry out my interior. Guess they just have good marketers.

And for my window trim, I've been using Bondo Restore Black. I'm not sure if it has UV protection but overall it was an ok product, definitely left a layer of black but not as much as I would have liked.

 

['97boostinGST]

Also, this is supposedly the best for you rubber door seals and such. I'm probably going to pick some up for my new car.

Shin_Etsu_Grease

Is this to lubricate the hinges or to actually apply on the weatherstripping itself and keep that 'new look'?

BTW, OP thats what i've heard, dont know if its actually true.

 

[housegsx]

Is this to lubricate the hinges or to actually apply on the weatherstripping itself and keep that 'new look'?

The rubber weatherstrip seals

 

[rommel rojasgsx]

It was already posted, but yeah dont use armor all, with the sun beating on it, dash will crack even faster. Also unless your close to saltwater i wouldnt wax every month or month and a half.

It was already posted, but yeah dont use armor all, with the sun beating on it, dash will crack even faster. Also unless your close to saltwater i wouldnt wax every month or month and a half.

 

[SrKegler]

We tend to get into habits. For example the clear coat finally came of my car. Main problem was I always parked in the same spot. Sun always hit the left side of the car, even at home in the drive way. After i get betsey painted I'll start changing how I park, pull in somedays, back in the others.

 

[project_skyline]

You only need to wax if the old wax is wearing off. It all depends on how often you wash it, how you wash it, and what kinda wax your using.

I wouldn't use a car cover if your in a shady area. That will just attract even more attention because people usually assume the car is nice if its sitting with a cover on it.

 

[NOREMORSE93]

Get some tint, keeps temps down nd looks good.