I have been following the posts concerning the paint problems many Maxima owners are experiencing. I just traded a 1998 SuperBlack SE that had paint chip issues. My new 2001 SE is grey lustre. I am considering a car cover since I have no garage. What are your thoughts on a custom made car cover for the Maxima? Also, what about the use of a bra to keep paint chips and bug problems away? Are these items worth the effort? I appreciate your advice Thanks

 

I've pretty much had a nosemask a.k.a. the bra on my max since i got her last summer, my first long trip convinced me that it was worth while. It will help with the chips...n bugs.
On the cover...depends on where you live (it kind of draws more attention), since the pollen counts crazy the last few days and i had to park outside the garage it blocked out the stuff...so i'd say go for it.

 

do a search on car cover...I post a thread on this not long ago.

I have one, I just go to pepboy and look for the softest one to avoid swirl marks for prolong use. The stock one is way too expensive

I would get the 3+ layers and a size bigger on the reference list.

I got it b/c my car got egged

 

Hey guys I wouldn't leave that bra on the front of the car on all the time. Because of the sun when you take it off your car will be two toned, (in the sence that the paint that is under the bra will not have been affected by the sun and it will not be the same color.)

 

Although my car is garaged at home and work, I have a good car cover that I use whenever the car will be out in the sun for an extended period. I even crack the two rear windows to keep the heat build-up inside to a minimum. It really helps maintain the leather and dash surfaces, especially in Southern California where the summers are quite hot. Without a cover your car will bake like a cake in just a few hours. That’s no way to treat a Maxima.

 

I keep my Maxima at my girlfriend's house since she drives it most of the week. Living in San Francisco and a few blocks from the beach is rough as most mornings I find the car covered with either sand or black particles carried over from wind or fog. Sucks. Anyway, I end up religiously washing both my cars every weekend. I would get a cover, but it is a bit of a pain to have to put it on and take it off everyday, and I know my girlfriend wouldn't do it so the weekly washings is fine with me.

As for the bra, I would recommend getting one if you travel very long distances. Put it on during good weather and take it off when you don't need it. We're going to Las Vegas from San Francisco in June and the bra will go on for that trip especially with all that desert and open road to drive through. Did it last December without a bra and got a tiny paint chip out of it.

 

Definately get the car cover. It makes a big difference in keeping the car clean and saving the paint. I keep my car in my garage while Im at home. At work, I park my car outside and I cover it everyday. Its been pretty warm in LA lately and the cover helps keep the paint in good condition and the interior cool. I can go about one month without washing my car because of my garage and the car cover!

 

The bra is really a no-brainer...any protection is better than none. My car is garaged at home, and garaged at work, so I don't have to worry much about uneven sun fade.

Also, I have car covers, which I use at home, in the garage, because of our cats climbing all over them. And when they try to jump on a slick new car...well, just imagine what happens.

Do what makes sense for you and what you have time to do. the cover is a hassle, but it beats slaving over my car for two or more hours on a weekend, only to have muddy kitty paws on it in 5 minutes!

srm