Leaving car outside uncovered damage paint?

[Sam95RT/TT]

Im in the process of buying a TTA from this guy. The car has been garaged kept until recently. He told me it's been outside, with no cover, for over a month in FL weather. Would this do any damage to the paint or start the rusting process due to exposure to the elements?

Thank you.

 

[scottyb]

Outside for a month is nothing. It was outside for longer than that before it was sold new. What matters is the appearance and condition of paint, interior, etc. Unless it was kept close enough to the beach to get salt spray, I would just give it a good once over. I don't have t-tops, but I'm sure you will be able to see signs of aging from the sun on them and the weather stripping.

 

[SUFFRN6]

It is better to have the car uncovered if it going to sit outside. With a cover on it will scratch the paint and cause the car to sweat. The wind will blow the cover no matter how much you tie it down and mark the paint. Just my two cents. Chris

 

[ThikStik]

I say abslutely keep that darn sun off of it ! At least in the summer months. UV is the killer of painted and interior surfaces. Look what it does to human skin in just 30 min! Notice the wear pattern of a car with old paint, surfaces that "take" the sunlight burn and fade faster than lower side panels, etc. Heat is the second culprit and we have black cars at that. Heat causes oxidation which is basically a slow fire. At least put a towel over the dash. More uv makes it thru the atmosphere now than 20 plus years ago when the air was almost always hazy from pollution.