Recommend an outdoor weather resistant car cover for Golf 118TSI Mark VI

[wind]

jc29 - there are plenty of options for you re protection/storage/cover etc. for your car. If you are going to leave the car in one spot longer-term then that is another thing altogether. If it is only for short term cover . . . then you are better off giving it a wash more often rather than pulling on/off a cover all the time.

Do agree with the others re putting a cover on your car. Better to wash the car to remove any dust that settles on it than to have scratches due to grit/dust/dirt between the cover and paint!

It's been a while since I've last been on. Will give Dave a call this week. Anyone know how long it usually takes?

Had my new car given the Opti-Coat treatment by Dave at Reflect Effect (full cover, incl. outer face of alloys + got him to tint the windows while he was at it and put some clear protective film on the tailgate loading area). This took him about 2 working days as he needs to clean the car surfaces thoroughly before the Opti-Coat can be applied and the other work I had him do also added time.

I had him Opti-Coat all the external 'glass' (including windscreen, wing mirrors, head/tail lights etc.) and he said that you need to let the coating cure at least a couple of days before using wipers. In the wet, at highway speed (90+ km/h) I find that I do not need to use wipers very much, if at all (even if the car is not washed) as rain/water beads and runs off by itself and I can see quite clearly through the windscreen even at night with on-coming traffic headlights . . .

My advice: speak with Dave, he will tell you how long your car will take based on what you want him to do.


Personally, I am very happy with the result and would do it again with no hesitation.


If you want 'more' protection, then you can always put a protective sealant/wax etc. on the car on top of the Opti-Coat (which is essentially another but tougher clear coat on the paint) as per what Candyman said. Basically, comes down to personal preference/choice and how much time/money you are prepared to put into it.

[Candyman]

No wind, the product I use is a stand alone product

Does not need OptiCoat under it

User applied, easy to use, all surfaces

[jc29]

I want to get my GTI done..fairly new car <300Km's just haven't had the time to get paint protection on it, didn't opt for the paint protection option provided at the dealer.
Car is barely driven, only driven in the rain once (fairly light showers), parked under cover.

Should I get a Stage One (1) enhancement before Opti-Coat is applied?

@wind: I'll send him an email since it's pretty late now.
@Candyman: Appreciate it, but no need to try, looks like it works just fine.

[Candyman]

The product I used is not OptiCoat

The product I used is considerably cheaper and user applied

[wind]

Candyman, I agree with you that you can get some great results without going the whole hog (like I did!) or blowing the bank in the process.

The reason I went with Opti-Coat is the permanence of it . . . you still end up using 'stuff' on top BUT when that wears off (sooner or later) you still have the Opti-Coat.


jc29, speak with Dave @ Reflect Effect. He will tell you what needs to be done to prep your car - he did tell me that if the car does not come straight from the dealer there is a little extra work involved.


Re dealer paint protection - plenty of posts on this forum, and from my reading of them they are pretty uniform in feeling from most posters is that they basically take a big chunk of your money and give you an ordinary result , much better to go direct to the pros (or even DIY) and get a great result and still walk away with cash in your pocket.

[Candyman]

wind

The sealant I am using has lasted 12 months on the wife's Fiesta and still protecting (is parked outside)

I didn't go the whole hog nor break the bank. I applied it myself (anyone can do it) and it cost a fifth of OptiCoat and performs as well.

Your choice though

[wind]

The sealant I am using has lasted 12 months on the wife's Fiesta and still protecting (is parked outside)

That's a great result Candyman . . . definitely want to look into it for my other car/s (only the Passat got the 'royal' treatment).


Can you name the product you used (or even what the label on the bottle says)? With so many different products out there it can be hard to pick a good one.

I am always happy to benefit from the experience of others (hence why I am here)
. . . my definition of experience = "something you get just after you really need it!"