Winter Storage

[Jonathan E]

Sadly I am one of the many owners who would dearly like a garage to store his Lotus in. I've considered moving house but I'm 4 years away from the holy grail that is living mortgage free, I'm presently employed in a job that I really really don't like and the thought of being able to pack it in and go and work in a far less stressful environment in four years time appeals to me far more than the garage.

However, over my many years of Elise ownership I have always owned a Specialised cover to keep my pride and joy protected from the worst winter weather, the first of these was purchased after the lovely Gunmetal paintwork on a brand new S2111s started to fall off my car at the first sign of frost, talk about micro blisters these were macro blisters, and even though my Elise was my only car I religiously covered and uncovered the car each day to keep it protected.

These days I have a Fiesta that I do the daily commute in and having sold my S1 and recently purchasing an S2 I started to look at options that might offer a little more protection, so on Friday my outdoor carcoon arrived.

For those who have never come across one it is basically a bubble for your car. It has two small fans at the front that inflate the bubble and then circulate the air to keep your pride and joy in the manner to which it has been accustomed. I did lots of research before purchasing via piston heads and seloc and even went to the factory to see them being made, it all seems to be very good quality and a reasonably simple idea. I had a custom size made for the Elise and it comes complete with battery conditioner. Hopefully it will live up to its reputation, but only time will tell.....

[FlyingExige]

Hi Jon,

 

as you know my Exige is in storage and has been living in a Carcoon for just under 2 years!  The car is spotless; no dust, no environmental crap and it also keeps the rodents at bay.

 

Don't forget to give the filters a clean every few months.

 

Regards,

 

Rich

[Christopher Lawless]

That looks fantastic. Is it mains powered for the fans? Could you heat it as well?

[Jonathan E]

Hi Rich,

I'll certainly keep an eye on the filters, although it will only be getting used November to March......I hope.

Chris, it's mains powered, although the fans cost just 1p per day to run, it's double skinned, so once you have inflated the bubble the air within is just circulated the idea being that you don't get any condensation and the car always remains dry and free from frost in its sealed environment.

[KurtB]

Jonathan, how great that you're only 4 years away from being mortgage free, that is a nice feeling!

My father has a 1979 MG Midget that he's owned from new, and it now has around 45,000 miles on the clock. It's rarely seen rain, and for the last decade it's been living in a carcoon. I have to say his car hasn't got a hint of rust in it, and comes out of the carcoon as clean as it goes in. Highly recommended here.

[quantum2000]

Another recommendation here

 

[Simon Mac]

Another recommendation here

IMAG0880.jpg

 

What size is that one?

[quantum2000]

What size is that one?

Its a size 4

[Simon Mac]

Thanks... just ordered one as a stop gap until my new garage is built! 

[quantum2000]

Thanks... just ordered one as a stop gap until my new garage is built! 

I'd continue to use it in the garage when its built. There great for drying the car if you put it away wet.

[Simon Mac]

I'd continue to use it in the garage when its built. There great for drying the car if you put it away wet.

 

Possible, but I am toying with the idea of a four post lift for the garage, more for storage space than working on the car though.

[Simon Mac]

Another recommendation here

IMAG0880.jpg

 

 

Just set mine up!  Very neat bit of kit.

 

Thanks for the recommendation!