How to protect cockpit in a downpour

[Sunny66]

Taking delivery any day now of my first Cobra. The car has a tonneau cover, but I realize its not a waterproof solution for the cockpit in a big downpour.
Where I live in S Florida, it can go from a clear sunny day to a sudden heavy rain blast unexpectedly. Since there are no convenient overpasses here to duck under, I'm wondering what others do in this predicament. Is there a make of outdoor cover that I could pull out of the trunk and put on the car that is waterproof?

[MOTORHEAD]

haven't had an opportunity to try it yet, but I carry a small tarp and bungee cords in the trunk just in case. Bungees go from tarp eyelets to wheel wells.

[Bob Hess]

I got caught in my car several times in the rain. The tonneau cover was sufficient to keep rain out sitting still but takes a good bit of time to install in a downpour. I got caught on the expressway in a downpour and got soaked, but the biggest problem was that the raindrops curled back inside the windshield(on my side!) and I couldn't see anything until I pulled over and wiped off the glass. The wipers ain't so hot either.

[my427cobra]

What we all need is for a supplier to produce one of those giant clear poly/plastic "shower caps" that were available briefly 6 or 8 years ago.

They were a clear plastic with an elastisized edge that fit over the whole car. I recollect seeing pics of people sitting in the car with the cover on during a rain storm ( not driving or car running of course). Can't remember if it extended over the side pipes ( hot side pipes would be an issue).

I don't have any pics but one of the forum regulars might remember the product or where they came from.

Cheers
Greg

[CBattaglia]

I keep plastic tarp as well. But I learned valuable lesson, when throwing the tarp on in a rain storm be careful it doesn't hit the pipes. What a mess!

[IMLost]

drive fast, and plan on getting wet. That's when a Cobra becomes a water moccasin.

[dcdoug]

Some of this was discussed on the last few pages of this thread:
Why Do Cobra Owners Sell So Fast?

Here are my thoughts:

I have found that in a standard rain storm with normal size drops, rain will blow right over the top of the cobra if you are moving faster than about 40mph.

HOWEVER, some exceptions:

- Deluge-style thunderstorms with huge drops don't all blow over

- Water will land on the back of the car and roll back down into the cockpit. Doesn't get you wet, but gets carpet wet

- Lay the visor horizontal or rain hits it and drops on the dash

- Water will come up from the front wheels and in around the door seals (which aren't great, at least on my car - if it was a regular occurrence, I'd probably play with better weather stripping)

- Some water will come around the windshield and drip onto your leg

- You better hope there aren't any lights or stop signs....

- The look on people's faces when you go by in a rainstorm in a cobra with no top is priceless.

I also carry a car cover and a tonneau (not one you can drive with) if I'll be out and might want to cover the car during a rain storm. Someone else suggested carrying a large golf umbrella as another option.

[Johnc1]

Clear plastic and clothes pins, light cord come in handy.

[JBCOBRA]

The wipers are basically ornamental LOL.
I have gotten pretty quick at putting the top on.
I want a tonneau that is like a poncho that snaps on!

[Bobcat]

As others here have said ... 40mph and up gets most of it over the car . I ran a HPDE in the rain at VIR several years ago and noticed that once I got moving up to about 100 mph , rain/water in the cockpit wasn`t a problem . I got the wettest on pit road . Obviously , wipers were useless .... Rainex does work .
Got caught a while ago cruising about 10 miles from home . The weather seals on the drivers door let my left leg get wet , otherwise we only got slightly damp .
Enjoy the car and don`t worry . Carpets dry . I do have a tonneau cover and it keeps 95% of the rain out while parked .
dcdoug is right about the looks you get from others as you go by . One lady almost ran off the road when she saw us .

[Sunny66]

Thanks guys. All this info from experience is very helpful. I'm actually more concerned about how best to protect the cockpit when the car is parked as I would most likely pull over in a deluge.

Concerned about the abrasive nature of tarps, grommets, etc on paint.
Found an interesting looking heavy duty, flexible from a company called Coverall, which has a soft inside to protect against paint damage. A bit more pricey than the typical Home Depot tarp, but well worth it if it works. Anyone with any experience with this product?

[PNJSNAK]

Sunny 66
Go to the California Car cover website.
Look at the Miata Cockpit cover.
I bought one and it works great while the car is parked of course.
At a car show recently, the weather was threatening.
Pulled out the cover from the trunk and put it on the car.
I carry a couple of umbrellas in the car for me and my passenger.
Cloud burst, blew over quickly, took off the cover, spread it out on the pavement to dry, wiped down the car, took best modified at a two seat sports car night.
You can also use this cover to cover up the interior while you go into a restaurant or other. Money well spent.
Jim

[mln385]

I carry a large umbrella(golf type xlarge) this style will quickly open once you pull over cover yourself and the cockpit. Sit there and wait it out if stuck in the storm.

[mikiec]

I don't worry about the car. I carry a poncho, put it on, and drive on.

Mike

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by mikiec

I don't worry about the car. I carry a poncho, put it on, and drive on.

Mike

That was kind of how I felt. I got caught in a few thunderstorms and just kept moving. Stopping at stop lights was not fun. When I got home I used towels to dry everything off. The carpets did get wet so I left it out the next morning to dry out.

I got caught in a big hailstorm (yeah, for Carbon Fiber) and when I got home scooped out more than a 5 gallon pail of hail out of the passenger compartment.When I was done there wasn't much moisture left - just the carpets were damp because the hail was still frozen. Did the same thing - dried the seats etc off with a towel and left it out to dry.

Driving a Cobra is like a Harley - you probably won't deliberately take it out in a rain storm, but recovery isn't all that hard.

My wife was not with me on this drive, she would have freaked.

[YerDugliness]

I have a tarp I carry that is already outfitted with bungee cords with "hooks" on the end. Soon as it starts raining anything more than a drizzle I stop and spread it over the car and the hooks make attaching the bungees quite easy. I hook them on the wheel spokes, on the headers/sidepipes, on the bumpers. I have yet to see how it would withstand heavy wind, but it does work well for just rain without the wind.

I am getting ready to have the interior redone on mine...plan on putting in drain plugs! The floor on my replica is steel, so I will take a 1/2" castlenut and have it welded "upside down" onto the floor on the interior...then when the floor pans fill up with water, all I have to do is unscrew the bolt that goes through the floor and the water will run out past the "lugs" on the castle nut. I am also going to have the cockpit carpeted in marine carpet...made to withstand getting wet. The seats will be vinyl except for the contact areas, which will be leather so that I can treat it with Neatsfoot Oil to waterproof it. Gotta be proactive!!!

Cheers!

Dugly

[twobjshelbys]

I actually had a tonneau cover and started off with it on the passenger side but when the hail started whacking me and hurting my head I finally found a tree to pull under (there was a guy with a 60's restored jeep from the same car show there). My ears were bloody and my head hurt so I used the tonneau cover over me. That's where the hail came from on the passenger side. I was freaked out - I figured the car was a loss - but the carbon fiber took a lickin' and kept on tickin. The aluminum Radyot mirrors weren't so lucky and had hail dents but the rest of the car was fine.

[PNJSNAK]

Aren't we talking about a rain shower, not a freakin' Storm of the ages!
Keep a cell phone with a weather channel to look out for the bad stuff!
If it is that bad keep it at home under a careful watched eye!

[dcdoug]

California car cover also makes weathersheild covers for cobras. I have one of those two if I'm going on a trip.

[gsharapa]

Here's a thought.... Don't drive in the fricken rain! If you happen to see a storm blowing in head for cover ie home, gas station or under a bridge.