Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius?

Kizzy · 12-25-2007, 06:47 PM

Was thinking of buying one of these. They run about $50. Anyone using one? What do you think of the quality? I park my Prius in a carport so it would be mainly for protection from dust as opposed to direct sunlight or rain. I've had higher-end CoverCraft covers in the past, but I'm wondering if the Costco cover would be sufficient. Any opinions?

Kizzy · 12-27-2007, 07:09 PM

Just a follow-up to my previous post. I bought the Costco cover and gave it a try. It is made of a four-ply material and is quite decent in quality. Comes with a storage bag as well. Price - $32.79.

I tried the size Medium. It fit the car well from front to back, but unfortunately was not quite long enough on the sides to cover the doors entirely, leaving approx. 6" to 8" exposed on both sides.

I'm probably going to return it and give the size Large a try, although I'm afraid it will probably be too big, and drape over the front and back by too large of a margin.

Anyone else out there try the large? It could save me a trip to the return counter!

patsparks · 12-27-2007, 07:26 PM

Dust won't settle up on the sides of the car. Large size will be too big. Are you going to have the car exposed to wind? If the cover flaps it may damage the paint on edges.

Kizzy · 12-27-2007, 07:43 PM

I'll mainly be using the cover in car port. Maybe I should stick with Medium? I'd be happy with it if only it were a bit longer on the sides. Might need to go with a custom fit cover after all.

patsparks · 12-27-2007, 10:45 PM

Shove an old pillow up each side to keep the edges of the cover away from the paint. Also an old blanket of sheet over the car under the cover prevents abrasion on body edges.

Kizzy · 02-06-2008, 04:53 PM

I ended up returning the Costco cover and went with a ready-fit (semi-custom) Technalon cover by CoverCraft. Model number C80004RB. It fits the car well from front to back, and leaves only about 3" to 4" exposed on the sides. I can live with that. A custom-fit would obviously fit perfectly all around, but costs substantially more.

As with the Costco cover, it is necessary to fold in the side mirrors and remove the antenna first, but I can live with that. The Techanlon material is slightly thicker and softer than the Costco, although the Costco cover was very decent for the price.

subarutoo · 02-11-2008, 03:58 PM

Get a shark fin antenna, and the antenna problem with a cover goes away. I bought the high end cover with antenna and mirror pockets, but got tired of threading the antenna sleeve over the antenna, and got the 'fin. Simple to install, and I see no loss in radio reception.

12-25-2007, 06:47 PM	#1
Kizzy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? Was thinking of buying one of these. They run about $50. Anyone using one? What do you think of the quality? I park my Prius in a carport so it would be mainly for protection from dust as opposed to direct sunlight or rain. I've had higher-end CoverCraft covers in the past, but I'm wondering if the Costco cover would be sufficient. Any opinions?

12-27-2007, 07:09 PM	#2
Kizzy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? Just a follow-up to my previous post. I bought the Costco cover and gave it a try. It is made of a four-ply material and is quite decent in quality. Comes with a storage bag as well. Price - $32.79. I tried the size Medium. It fit the car well from front to back, but unfortunately was not quite long enough on the sides to cover the doors entirely, leaving approx. 6" to 8" exposed on both sides. I'm probably going to return it and give the size Large a try, although I'm afraid it will probably be too big, and drape over the front and back by too large of a margin. Anyone else out there try the large? It could save me a trip to the return counter! Last edited by Kizzy; 12-27-2007 at 07:14 PM.

12-27-2007, 07:26 PM	#3
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 182 Times in 140 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? Dust won't settle up on the sides of the car. Large size will be too big. Are you going to have the car exposed to wind? If the cover flaps it may damage the paint on edges.

12-27-2007, 07:43 PM	#4
Kizzy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? I'll mainly be using the cover in car port. Maybe I should stick with Medium? I'd be happy with it if only it were a bit longer on the sides. Might need to go with a custom fit cover after all.

12-27-2007, 10:45 PM	#5
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 182 Times in 140 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? Shove an old pillow up each side to keep the edges of the cover away from the paint. Also an old blanket of sheet over the car under the cover prevents abrasion on body edges.

02-06-2008, 04:53 PM	#6
Kizzy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? I ended up returning the Costco cover and went with a ready-fit (semi-custom) Technalon cover by CoverCraft. Model number C80004RB. It fits the car well from front to back, and leaves only about 3" to 4" exposed on the sides. I can live with that. A custom-fit would obviously fit perfectly all around, but costs substantially more. As with the Costco cover, it is necessary to fold in the side mirrors and remove the antenna first, but I can live with that. The Techanlon material is slightly thicker and softer than the Costco, although the Costco cover was very decent for the price.

02-11-2008, 03:58 PM	#7
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,176 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Anyone Using a Costco Universal Fit Car Cover on their Prius? Get a shark fin antenna, and the antenna problem with a cover goes away. I bought the high end cover with antenna and mirror pockets, but got tired of threading the antenna sleeve over the antenna, and got the 'fin. Simple to install, and I see no loss in radio reception.