Winter outdoor protection ideas?

I'm in the same situation as of next week, I'm considering the breathable cover from halfords but it's £65 :-O

Got a 18 month waiting list for the council,
Thinking of 1980escort's idea and yours half n half cover and plenty of wash n airing

Don't. I bought one just to keep prying eyes away for a while before a garage became available and the cover started to tear along seams within a few weeks and, of course, was not water-resistant and trapped moisture underneath. I would have been better off just using a tarp.

No cover, run it regularly and wash underneath religiously. Unless, like where I love, people pay just a little too much attention to shiny things.

I'm glad you said that because according to the reviews on there website there the best thing since sliced bread, maybe the reviews are written by Halfrauds staff

don't worry, ive got the same issue as you, I'm losing 2 of my garages (which is 2 inside spaces and 2 parking spaces infront of) because the owner has been offered very good money as his family got planning permission to turn the land into flats (as with everything around this way)

Hate car covers, absolutely RUINED my MGC GT, paint blisters, leading to cracking and flaking off paint, ruined the paint and now needs a full respray, would just wash and wax it as much as possible over the crappier months, if youve got a garden have you considered a temporary garage?

The bummer is they cost alot...

www.dancovershop.com/uk/products/portable-garages-6.1.aspx

I agree with Freddies. I've used them in the past, and unless they have carcoon-like properties, then they are cack, with the potential to curse word up your paintwork.
Spend time ensuring any leaks in seals or holes are sorted, wax her up and rub a bit of grease on any grotty bits.

have you tried all local places ..say within a 10 min drive for a council garage? theres empty ones near me , when i asked they gave it about the waiting list but came up within one in a couple of weeks ..might be best to call in at the office in person , mention youve had some break ins etc

otherwise make sure the drain holes are clear etc , our polo sits outside 24/7 , if i get chance i nip out and water blade the worst off and dry it , stick a couple of those damp absorbing bags in if need be

Ferdyfred - the place i work has plenty of rented garages available about £8 a week - they have got them in Lichfield/Burntwood and Stonnal which is probably the closest to you if your in walsall? no long term contract or anything, just give a weeks notice when you don't want it...let me know if you need the details

Halfords car covers, they cover a car. Thats it. Then after a bit of rain and sun have all the covering qualities of a damp piece of newspaper. I've lost my storage too, but I've built my BM by myself and it's super tuff (except for the rear diff mount that just destroyed itself). I done it so I didn't have the hassle of having to protect the outside in adverse weather. If I need to use it and it's iced up it'll be getting a bucket of cold water chucked over it and it will like it, and it will start.
But then I do understand that some people care more about the effects of the weather on the car, I know, I've been there and it drove me insane. Kind of OCD like...
There is the obvious to always rinse off after driving, road salt sucks. Parking it uber close to a residential building can help shield from the frosts and make use of radiated heat, under trees like evergreens also act as a giant umbrella but leak bird poo and dirt sometimes, which could be worse. How about getting creative with a second hand shed if you have a drive, it would look odd on the street. And then you have the fun of answering peoples questions of 'how did you fit that through the door'?
You would also be surprised at the amount of people who scrape their screens and then turn on the wipers which are frozen solid to the glass. I worked for citroen and every year (amongst the battery replacements) were an untold amount of c3 and c2's with blown wiper fuses, to the point where it could have become someones sole job to replace the fuse and tell the owner the same old advice.....yawn....
Just as an idea, has anyone thought about coating the paint in something? Like a thin coat of Vasaline? What would that do and does it have any other advantages by sitting on rubber trim etc? It would be a bit of a git to wash off though. Perhaps use margarine and then wipe it off with toast?