Caught between the sun & the dirt.

Rtech · 25th July 2007, 15:32

At the parking lot where I work, I have two options on where I can park. Each has their pro's and con's. Need your help in deciding which is the lesser of the two evils.

Option 1: The Sun
Pro's: No bird crap all over the car. No water from AC's dripping all over the car. No bits of dirt pushed off the ledges by the birds.

Con's: Car sits in the sun the entire day. the interior becomes like an oven (even though I have a screen for the windscreen. Possible long term effects such as discoloration of the paint and interiors (even though all precautions as taken).

Option 2: The dirt
Pro's: Shade for most part of the day. Interior stays cool.

Con's: Bird crap all over the car. Water from AC's dripping all over the car. Bits of dirt pushed off the ledges by the birds. Basically the car is a complete mess at the end of the day.

Putting a cover on the car is not an option. So which option is best? I currently park it in the sun as I hate coming back to a filthy car at the end of the day.

theMAG · 25th July 2007, 15:40

I never thought I'd say this, but dirt looks acceptable

rks · 25th July 2007, 15:44

I prefer to park in open spaces. I absolutely hate to see birds taking a dump on my car; don't know what damage it does to paint, but it sure does raise my BP. And parking under trees also means that a lot of little leaves, twigs and dirt get into the vent holes on the hood. I think this may eventually cause blockage of the AC blower ducts, but not sure about this. In Maruti 800 some of this crap used to get into the car when I switched on the blower, but not in the Santro.

moralfibre · 25th July 2007, 15:52

I'd say park in dirt but a cover is a must. Otherwise in the sun with a cover.

Quote:

Putting a cover on the car is not an option.

Why is that?

CrAzY dRiVeR · 25th July 2007, 15:52

Sun!

Birds can really make a toilet out of the car!

toiingg · 25th July 2007, 15:54

In the sun mate, in the sun.
Just remember to keep one of the windows open a wee bit so as to let the hot air escape. I have myself suffered a cracked window as because i never used to do that.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 25th July 2007, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by moralfibre

Why is that?

Cover would be so full of bird**** at the end of the day! Specially if you park the car under a tree or close to a building.

Rudra Sen · 25th July 2007, 15:55

You don't go out once you get in to office. I hope I'm right here. Buy a car cover and park under shade.

tsk1979 · 25th July 2007, 15:55

Bird goo and water from AC etc., can cause permanent damage to paintwork. As for sun, you can always go for regular polish every 2 months.

bottle · 25th July 2007, 15:58

yea bird poop is acidic and can screw up the paint.. you can do some coating to protect car from sun and then leave it there..

btw what color is the car ?

rks · 25th July 2007, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

As for sun, you can always go for regular polish every 2 months.

I have also heard that prolonged exposure to hot sun can reduce tyre life. But I think most modern tyres are tough enough in this respect.

tsk1979 · 25th July 2007, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by rks

I have also heard that prolonged exposure to hot sun can reduce tyre life. But I think most modern tyres are tough enough in this respect.

My car is often parked in Delhi sun, and the tires did not have any damage I could see. They lasted 43000+kms. I think running at 100kmph on hot asphalt would be more taxing for the tyres?

speedmiester · 25th July 2007, 16:11

Surely I would park under the sun. Don't want those pesky birds to s**t all over my car.

normally_crazy · 25th July 2007, 16:13

Its the sun for me RT. Cant see the car all "worked upon" when I am not present.

No option there for coming to work by cab ?

Rtech · 25th July 2007, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMag

I never thought I'd say this, but dirt looks acceptable

Quote:

Originally Posted by moralF

I'd say park in dirt but a cover is a must.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra

Buy a car cover and park under shade.

If i park in the shade and put a cover on the car, the cover would be coated in bird crap, wet with the AC water and filthy with the dust/twigs/leaves, all of which would mix together to form a disgusting gooey paste. No way in hell will I then get myself filthy folding that cover and putting it the boot, causing the car to then stink up.

Quote:

btw what color is the car ?

The car is white.

So i guess the basic question is, which would be more harmful. Daily exposure to the sun, or daily exposure to the goo!

View Poll Results: Sun or dirt. Which is the lesser of the two evils?
Option 1: The Sun	35	70.00%
Option 2: The dirt	15	30.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll

25th July 2007, 15:32	#1
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Caught between the sun & the dirt. At the parking lot where I work, I have two options on where I can park. Each has their pro's and con's. Need your help in deciding which is the lesser of the two evils. Option 1: The Sun Pro's: No bird crap all over the car. No water from AC's dripping all over the car. No bits of dirt pushed off the ledges by the birds. Con's: Car sits in the sun the entire day. the interior becomes like an oven (even though I have a screen for the windscreen. Possible long term effects such as discoloration of the paint and interiors (even though all precautions as taken). Option 2: The dirt Pro's: Shade for most part of the day. Interior stays cool. Con's: Bird crap all over the car. Water from AC's dripping all over the car. Bits of dirt pushed off the ledges by the birds. Basically the car is a complete mess at the end of the day. Putting a cover on the car is not an option. So which option is best? I currently park it in the sun as I hate coming back to a filthy car at the end of the day.
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25th July 2007, 15:40	#2
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	I never thought I'd say this, but dirt looks acceptable
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25th July 2007, 15:44	#3
rks BANNED Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,238 Thanked: 17 Times	I prefer to park in open spaces. I absolutely hate to see birds taking a dump on my car; don't know what damage it does to paint, but it sure does raise my BP. And parking under trees also means that a lot of little leaves, twigs and dirt get into the vent holes on the hood. I think this may eventually cause blockage of the AC blower ducts, but not sure about this. In Maruti 800 some of this crap used to get into the car when I switched on the blower, but not in the Santro.
	() Thanks

25th July 2007, 15:52	#5
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,178 Thanked: 73,486 Times View My Garage	Sun! Birds can really make a toilet out of the car!
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25th July 2007, 15:54	#6
toiingg BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 639 Thanked: 266 Times	In the sun mate, in the sun. Just remember to keep one of the windows open a wee bit so as to let the hot air escape. I have myself suffered a cracked window as because i never used to do that.
	() Thanks

25th July 2007, 15:55	#8
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,590 Thanked: 6,532 Times View My Garage	You don't go out once you get in to office. I hope I'm right here. Buy a car cover and park under shade.
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25th July 2007, 15:55	#9
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Bird goo and water from AC etc., can cause permanent damage to paintwork. As for sun, you can always go for regular polish every 2 months.
	() Thanks

25th July 2007, 15:58	#10
bottle Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,634 Thanked: 274 Times View My Garage	yea bird poop is acidic and can screw up the paint.. you can do some coating to protect car from sun and then leave it there.. btw what color is the car ?
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25th July 2007, 16:11	#13
speedmiester Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 6,631 Times	Surely I would park under the sun. Don't want those pesky birds to s**t all over my car.
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25th July 2007, 16:13	#14
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	Its the sun for me RT. Cant see the car all "worked upon" when I am not present. No option there for coming to work by cab ? Last edited by normally_crazy : 25th July 2007 at 16:14.
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