Driving a classic in the current weather

[jdw1234]

Chaps,

I have just bought a 1989 merc sl (R107) and plan to bring it home next week.

Would you drive it on the roads currently? I saw them spreading salt this weekend.

Do you recon it would be ok with a quick jet wash underneath or would you get it transported?

It's coming from north west London to Surrey/Hampshire borders so mostly m25/m3.

[timolloyd]

An occasional journey, followed by careful washing underneath, shouldn't matter too much. Indeed, better to use the car a bit, than risk things going wrong through lack of use over the Winter months.

[Humper]

I'm currently using my R107, not every day but fairly regularly, it's a car, I used the Jag last winter, it survived, buy a pressure washer, wash it a lot. Yeah, maybe it'll take a year or two off it, but what the hell, that's what it's for

[vpr]

It depends how precious it is to you

I wouldn't use much of what I have in the salt

If you do and then follow up with a jet wash make sure it's dry before you store it.

I used my Aero 8 in dry salt one year then I pulled it out of store a few months later only to find corrosion had set in around the nose cone

[sim16v]

It's lasted 25 years already, so I think it'll get through another year or two.


I've less faith in later Mercs though, my '00 C43 will get through this winter, but it will need remedial work doing on it over the summer!

[Isimmo]

I've always worked on the assumption you're dead for a very long time, and cars are all about the owners enjoyment/liberation/freedom/'ragging the ass' off them before the former statement becomes reality. The key to classic car ownership isn't 'condition', 'value' or 'other people'.... Its far more intimate, selfish even; its about what makes 'you' happy... If its ragging a '50's Classic Lancia in the December salt, that's fine, and long may it continue in my humble opinion.. If its polishing a Morris Marina for one show a year, thats fine too. Classic cars are not about who has the 'best'; for true enthusiasts its all about the self endulgance of owning and driving your dreams just the way they are.

[AndrewCrown]

How very wise Isimmo... I agree entirely...

Isimmo said:

I've always worked on the assumption you're dead for a very long time, and cars are all about the owners enjoyment/liberation/freedom/'ragging the ass' off them before the former statement becomes reality. The key to classic car ownership isn't 'condition', 'value' or 'other people'.... Its far more intimate, selfish even; its about what makes 'you' happy... If its ragging a '50's Classic Lancia in the December salt, that's fine, and long may it continue in my humble opinion.. If its polishing a Morris Marina for one show a year, thats fine too. Classic cars are not about who has the 'best'; for true enthusiasts its all about the self endulgance of owning and driving your dreams just the way they are.

[sawman]

I'd be wary of powerful jet wash if the car in undersealed - bits of it can dislodge and then trap salty water underneath.

The car will be better for regular use, just rinse off the underside with a garden hose if its salty

[Gabby123]

Read in Sunday Times Driving section, about a steam clean facility for lorries somewhere. £45 a pop. Thought 3 times a year would suffice.

[jdw1234]

Cheers for advice chaps.

My plan is to enjoy the drive (weather is meant to be relatively good) and enjoy listening to my CDs for a change.

When I get back I will rinse the underside with a hose, check the arch lips etc are clear. Squirt about with a bit of WD40, allow to dry under the carport and then put in the garage when dry.

[tuffer]

Out for a bike ride yesterday down the Woodford Valley near Salisbury, damp slippy conditions but bright and clear. A Ferrari 288 GTO trundles past in the opposite direction, sounded glorious. Plate was 89 GTO and looking at the classifieds the car was probably worth c£1.5M. Fair play to the chap.

[Humper]

tuffer said:

Out for a bike ride yesterday down the Woodford Valley near Salisbury, damp slippy conditions but bright and clear. A Ferrari 288 GTO trundles past in the opposite direction, sounded glorious. Plate was 89 GTO and looking at the classifieds the car was probably worth c£1.5M. Fair play to the chap.

To be fair, my drive it, it's a car was aimed at German build quality, Italian stuff? Nope, my Ducati is tucked up in bed till spring, it rots if someone nearby cries!

[Hooli]

AndrewCrown said:

How very wise Isimmo... I agree entirely...

Isimmo said:

I've always worked on the assumption you're dead for a very long time, and cars are all about the owners enjoyment/liberation/freedom/'ragging the ass' off them before the former statement becomes reality. The key to classic car ownership isn't 'condition', 'value' or 'other people'.... Its far more intimate, selfish even; its about what makes 'you' happy... If its ragging a '50's Classic Lancia in the December salt, that's fine, and long may it continue in my humble opinion.. If its polishing a Morris Marina for one show a year, thats fine too. Classic cars are not about who has the 'best'; for true enthusiasts its all about the self endulgance of owning and driving your dreams just the way they are.

I agree too.

[DonkeyApple]

I was out in one of the Rangies over the weekend. Just took it down to a car wash this morning and selected the option with the underside wash.

I don't drive the Tiv in winter but with the Rangies I just clean them on a regular basis so the crud doesn't sit for long or build up.

[jdw1234]

To be clear, this is just one journey.

Should be fine if it gets washed right?

[Stuart70]

Hooli said:

AndrewCrown said:

How very wise Isimmo... I agree entirely...

Isimmo said:

I've always worked on the assumption you're dead for a very long time, and cars are all about the owners enjoyment/liberation/freedom/'ragging the ass' off them before the former statement becomes reality. The key to classic car ownership isn't 'condition', 'value' or 'other people'.... Its far more intimate, selfish even; its about what makes 'you' happy... If its ragging a '50's Classic Lancia in the December salt, that's fine, and long may it continue in my humble opinion.. If its polishing a Morris Marina for one show a year, thats fine too. Classic cars are not about who has the 'best'; for true enthusiasts its all about the self endulgance of owning and driving your dreams just the way they are.

I agree too.

I really like and thoroughly agree with this

[sawman]

jdw1234 said:

Cheers for advice chaps.

My plan is to enjoy the drive (weather is meant to be relatively good) and enjoy listening to my CDs for a change.

When I get back I will rinse the underside with a hose, check the arch lips etc are clear. Squirt about with a bit of WD40, allow to dry under the carport and then put in the garage when dry.

Whoa!! WD40??

I might be inclined to leave in the car port - probably less moist than a garage

[jdw1234]

Whats wrong with WD40? Obviously not on brake bits!

It will be allowed to dry out under car port, but I want it in garage for security.

There is a slight gap under door for circulation so shouldnt get too damp.

I will probably end up using a Carcoon.

[sawman]

WD40 is funny old stuff, some folks think its fab and swear by , but my experience is that it dries to a sticky gunk and then attracts all manner of bits,grit and muck.

It does depend on what you are putting it on, I suppose. but I prefer thin oil ( 3in1) for a bit of light protection

I was always alarmed at the amount of moisture that my morgan seemed to attract, when in garages - the least moist garage was the one with cracks/holes in the clear polycarb corrugated roof panels - so long as I didn't park underneath them! - the worst being an integral garage.

If you drive it most days and get it properly warmed through garage based moisture shouldn't be an issue - its only when you leave it a few days un touched

[DonkeyApple]

A common problem with an awful lot of garages is that they are single skinned walls and then if a joined to a warm house the moisture build up can be even worse.

Having said that, a garage needs to be pretty shocking to be worse than outside.