Had a similar scare when I first stored my classic. Thought I was being smart sealing it tight... ended up with musty seats and moisture everywhere. Lesson learned—airflow is your friend, even if city regs make it tricky.
Went through something similar last winter. Figured I'd keep my '69 Camaro safe by sealing it up tight in one of those heavy-duty covers. Big mistake... ended up with condensation everywhere and a mildew smell that took weeks to air out. Learned the hard way that cars need to breathe, even if the city's making it harder. Now I just prop it open slightly and use moisture absorbers—seems to do the trick.
Had a similar issue myself... thought sealing up my Mustang tight was the safest bet, but ended up with rust spots from trapped moisture. Ever tried one of those portable dehumidifiers? Curious if they'd handle city humidity better.
I've actually used one of those portable dehumidifiers in my garage setup, and it made a noticeable difference. Here's what I did: first, I got a decent-sized unit—not the tiny ones meant for closets, but something rated for at least 500 sq ft. Then I placed it near the car, but not directly under or against it, to ensure good airflow. Also important: I ran a hose from the dehumidifier directly outside so I wouldn't have to empty the tank constantly (trust me, that gets old fast).
One thing to watch out for though—if your garage isn't sealed well enough, you'll just be pulling moisture from outside air continuously, and it'll never really dry out. Learned that the hard way when my electric bill jumped up without much improvement in humidity levels.
Have you considered combining a breathable car cover with a dehumidifier? Might help balance things out without trapping moisture...
Interesting points about the dehumidifier setup. I've considered doing something similar, but honestly, I've always been a bit hesitant. A buddy of mine went all-in on a similar setup—ran the hose outside, had it humming along 24/7—and ended up dealing with mold issues because his garage wasn't ventilated properly. It was like a moisture magnet, pulling in damp air from outside constantly. He ended up having to redo drywall and insulation... not fun at all.
I get the idea behind the breathable cover, but wouldn't that still trap some moisture underneath, especially if humidity levels fluctuate a lot? I mean, covers are great for dust protection, but I'm wondering if they'd actually make humidity control trickier by creating a micro-climate underneath. Maybe focusing on better garage ventilation or sealing first would be more effective in the long run. Just thinking out loud here—I've learned the hard way that sometimes the simplest solutions can save a lot of headaches later.
