Ultimate Speed Car Cover Review - Malcolm in the Middle Aisle

Review of the Ultimate Speed “Full Car Cover” found on sale in UK branches of Lidl in late January 2022. Priced at a bargain £9.99, I bought 2; 1 medium size cover for my R50 MINI Cooper race car, 1 large size cover for my ST205 Celica GTFour.
Marketed as a waterproof and weather proof car cover, good for -30 degrees Celsius up to +50 degrees.

[@Perplexer1]

Some things I can share in case anyone will come across this video: I have tried many car covers and I can say that this one from Ultimate Speed (usually sold in Lidl shops) and Auto XS (usually sold in Hofer/Aldi) shops are the best (they're basically the same item) and cheapest compared to other generic car covers. They don't tear as easily and they're breathable. I've been using them for 15 years now and I keep my car covered with it 24/7, in the open air in my driveway (sun, snow, rain, wind,...). The water repellent coating will last only 1 month or so, after that it will be gone and will soak when it rains and let water through. But that's not an issue. In fact it proves that it also lets air through which is very important. It dries pretty quickly, too. You don't want an impermeable car cover because that will capture water / moisture underneath and your car will rust. It will protect against large dirt particles, but finer dust or flower pollen in the spring will get through, especially when combined with water after it rains. So don't expect it to keep your car perfectly clean. In my experience it's the most useful for protecting against large dirt particles, bird droppings, tree leaves, tree resin, insects and keeping water away from every nook and cranny in light rain and diverting it off the sides. Like I said, I have been using these covers for 15 years on my same car covered essentially 24/7 and there is no rust on the car and the paint is still OK, even though it gets quite brutally hot in summer sun on this dark blue color (although I strongly recommend parking it in a shade or under a tarp -- I installed this for myself last year for the summer months). I also like the straps which they introduced over the years. First there were none, then it was just one across the middle, but then they put one in the front and one in the back, so the wind doesn't take it off the car! Straps are not elastic though. They are regular nylon ones with clips, like on a backpack. The clips tend to be loose on the straps though so I usually tie a know behind them to keep them from moving / loosening. One cover lasts me about 2 years. After that it gets very dry and tears like paper. If the car was parked in the shade, it might last longer. Small accidental tears I usually cover with duct tape.

[@Perplexer1]

A comment specifically relating to what was said in the video: The cover is not designed to reach all the way to the ground. And I personally like it that way. I've been using these covers for 15 years on a car parked outside, covered 24/7 and I never had any problems with any dirt on the sills and no paint rubbing at all. So that's a complete non-issue! It also fits my car like a glove (Opel Omega-B). But I can imagine this isn't the case for all cars. But that's the problem all car covers have! There is a danger of the plastic clips rubbing on the body, that's true!! If using outside in the wind, you want to pull them tight so that they stay below the car and make sure they don't move (slip) along the strap (this will probably require some modification like a knot to immobilize them).

[@stevejoyce4132]

this cover was bought in Spain and we were pleased with it BUT last night the first rain on and it is NOT waterproof and as we get dirty rain the car covered in mud, useless