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I can't tell you how many relatively late-model cars I've seen in the high desert with a "Southwest suntan"....the UV bakes the top clear coat and oxidizes it.
My cute little red Mitzibitzi was perfect until I moved to the desert and didn't have a garage. Now it looks like a tweaker car. We're embarrassed to drive it and the local body shops want $1,500 to paint a $1,500 car.
The desert just eats cars. I would never buy a new car living here unless it was garaged most of the time. And no - covers don't help. The grit hurts the paint too.
Can you rent a nearby garage? If not I'd just buy a beater and drive it until you move.
I can't tell you how many relatively late-model cars I've seen in the high desert with a "Southwest suntan"....the UV bakes the top clear coat and oxidizes it.
Move or rent a garage, or don't bother purchasing a new car.
My car goes from my garage at home to our covered parking garage at work. I get insurance discounts because my car is garaged at home and garaged at work.
You didn't tell us the car's color? C'mon, we're like Click and Clack, we need that vital information! Especially this time. My white cars wear well in the sun, but a black finish would absorb much more solar energy. Our UV light is especially harsh on red paint. If you see any store or sign with a deep red color, you know it's been painted recently.
I hand-wax my cars two or three times a year, and reapply when water no longer beads readily. The car gets spray-washed at least every two weeks so lingering dirt or leaves don't stain it. I've planted a shade tree west of the parking space, and that's giving good summer shade now. If that's not practical in pinyon country, I'd recommend a "Shade Sail" stretched horizontally between several upright posts. These are available in various sizes and colors. Better than tarps, because they include a catenary cut, like a tent, to spread tension stresses so they pitch up all taut and shipshape. Squares and triangles can be overlapped and combined at will. My triangle shading the picnic table has stood for six summers and withstood high winds, so at $150 it's a good investment. You could use these directly over the car to shade it for the most intense hours of the day.
As for the dust, you're on your own! That's why we can't have nice things, like black cars! ; >
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