Nice Cars on the Playa...

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 1:54 pm

I own what you might call a nice car, well, atleast by my standards (http://www.vw.com/passat/index.htm). My big question is, would I be a complete dummy to bring something like that to the Playa?
Should I just rent a car/truck? What can I do to prevent my car from being ruined? Can I cover it and forget about it? What about the inside (I have Black lether too!). Can I wrap it up like a Burrito and feel safe?

Please let me know what you do to protect your car on the Playa?

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:09 pm

The only real problem is that there will be dust in your car for months after you get back home. It will be in your air vents, it will reappear on panels you thought you just cleaned, etc. It won't ruin the interior, just leave it less clean than you might like for a while.

If that bothers you greatly, rent or bum a ride off someone. If you can live with it and don't mind spending several hours cleaning after you get home, don't worry.

The only other complication would be if you plan on bringing a lot of gear with you. Driving all that way in an overloaded car could have complications.

You can minimize the amount of dust by bringing an extra tent for your gear (so you don't have to keep getting into your car to remove items) and covering the car.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:14 pm

Someone on the San Diego Burningman Mailing list told the story of how one of his friends brought a car and a HUGE tarp. They layed the tarp out flat, drove the car onto it and then wrapped the tarp over the car. Called it a Car Burrito and also said that it worked perfectly.
The only problem is that you can't get to your car in this state. Once sealed, it stays that way until you leave.

Any comments.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:21 pm

I wouldn't suggest covering your car with anything that isn't designed to cover a car. The wind will move the tarp around and the rubbing might not be good for your paint. If the tarp were so tight it wasn't able to move at all, maybe that's ok.

angelface · Post by **angelface** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:01 pm

I took my brand new car to the playa last year (2003 Honda Civic hatchback), I didn't cover it or do anything special to it, except put up a sunshield in the front window. However, I did not get in and out of it at all during the week. After getting home I spent a whole day washing, waxing and cleaning the car. It seems to have come out no worse for the wear (aside from a little playa dust on the dash). Then again, I kinda chose that car thinking of burning man, good gas mileage, very reliable, holds lots of stuff. I also think possessions are meant to be used, not saved in pristine condition. For leather seats.. I think I would cover them somehow (sheets maybe?) to protect them from the sun and dust.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:12 pm

I brought my honda civic in 2001. It still blows playa dust out of the heater vents evertime I start using the heater for the first time each winter. There are still lots of areas that I cannot quite reach that are covered in playa dust. I used my car to lock stuff up that year, and opened the doors a few times a day. It doesn't seem to have caused any problems (I actually kind of like it, sort of a "badge of honor" when people ask why I don't clean my car). One thing I would do - change your oil, oil filter, and air filter when you get back (I bring a new air filter that goes in at the first stop on blacktop). YMMV - Jafe

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:52 pm

As III has said many times before (I'm paraphrasing since I can't find the exact quote), don't bring anything to the desert that you aren't prepared to have destroyed or have to leave behind--including, among many things, your car.

It has happened before. And probably will again.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 9:40 am

angelface wrote:I took my brand new car to the playa last year (2003 Honda Civic hatchback), I didn't cover it or do anything special to it, except put up a sunshield in the front window. However, I did not get in and out of it at all during the week. After getting home I spent a whole day washing, waxing and cleaning the car. It seems to have come out no worse for the wear (aside from a little playa dust on the dash). Then again, I kinda chose that car thinking of burning man, good gas mileage, very reliable, holds lots of stuff. I also think possessions are meant to be used, not saved in pristine condition. For leather seats.. I think I would cover them somehow (sheets maybe?) to protect them from the sun and dust.

What if I just put a good car cover on it and make sure it does not flop around in the wind?

angelface · Post by **angelface** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:33 am

MrMullen wrote:
What if I just put a good car cover on it and make sure it does not flop around in the wind?

That would probably work fine for keeping the exterior and interior happy.. I would also recommend getting a good wash and wax before you go, protect the paint as much as possible. Also, I'm going to have the undercarriage painted with sealant on my car before I go this year, my mechanic suggested it for salted roads in the winter, but I immeadiatly thought playa..