Advice about taking Mx5 off road for extended period of time

[mike9009]

Hi

Just looking for some advice. I will soon be taking my 1991 eunos off the road indefinitely. It is in fair condition,full MOT and about to have a new roof fitted. It has some 'dings' but is essentially worth very little money to anyone but me.

I will be storing it in my garage. What precautions should I take. Any routine things I can do to keep it in 'good' condition?

( i am starting to do more business mileage, and so have purchased something more appropriate to these mileages. Plus i want something a little bigger to take the family out at the weekend.)

Thanks


Mike

[I Am Milk]

Up on axe stands with all 4 wheels off, hand brake off, and trickle charger on the battery.

When you come to reuse it, some fresh petrol in it, and if it's been sat for more than 6 months, a service and a thorough check before you use it.

[mrmr96]

I Am Milk said:

Up on axe stands with all 4 wheels off, hand brake off, and trickle charger on the battery.

When you come to reuse it, some fresh petrol in it, and if it's been sat for more than 6 months, a service and a thorough check before you use it.

Yeah, that. Might also be worth putting some fuel stabiliser in the tank. I know you'll top up with fresh when you bring it out of hibernation, but putting this additive in the fuel before layup is a good precaution.

Up to you, but I'd also check the oil regularly and start the car regularly. Even drive it in/out of the garage if you can. Only once a month maybe, but it will help stuff not to cease up. But do take note of the precaution regards wheels: The tyres may flat spot if left in one place too long, and remember that backing it out of the garage and putting it back will leave it with the tyres in the same place, unless you drive it around a bit.

[I Am Milk]

Also, may be worth wedging the clutch pedal down, avoids the risk of it getting stuck on!

[gforceg]

To all of the above I would add, pump the brake and clutch pedals every couple of weeks maybe twenty times each. Buy a decent indoor car cover (or a few old bed sheets from a charity shop) to avoid a build up of grimy dust and spider pooh (that's what I call that stuff I can't identify that seems to appear on a car stored in a garage). Would anyone else put fresh oil in before laying up?

What about the new rules regarding isurance for unused cars? Is that relevant?

Greg.

[mrmr96]

gforceg said:

Would anyone else put fresh oil in before laying up?

What about the new rules regarding isurance for unused cars? Is that relevant?

Greg.

I probably wouldn't bother with an oil change unless the oil was already quite old. Definitely new oil and filters when it's brought back into regular use though.

Insurance shouldn't be a problem. Declare the car SORN then you don't need to tax or insure it. (The issue covered by the new rules was having a car taxed but not insured.) SORN is exactly what you need. You will probably want insurance though (to cover fire and theft) and this is called 'Laid Up' insurance. Do a google and there's plenty of companies to choose from.

If it's a classic there's more choice, but if you get stuck I think Competition Car Insurance have a policy which covers modern cars too.

[gforceg]

mrmr96 said:

I probably wouldn't bother with an oil change unless the oil was already quite old. Definitely new oil and filters when it's brought back into regular use though.

Insurance shouldn't be a problem. Declare the car SORN then you don't need to tax or insure it. (The issue covered by the new rules was having a car taxed but not insured.) SORN is exactly what you need. You will probably want insurance though (to cover fire and theft) and this is called 'Laid Up' insurance. Do a google and there's plenty of companies to choose from.

If it's a classic there's more choice, but if you get stuck I think Competition Car Insurance have a policy which covers modern cars too.

Good knowledge. Thanks!
Just out of interest, would your home contents insurance cover a car laid up in a garage attached to your house?
I'm not in this position myself because although my garage is filled with a little used car I keep it taxed and insured because I want to be able to use it as and when.

G.

[mrmr96]

gforceg said:

Good knowledge. Thanks!
Just out of interest, would your home contents insurance cover a car laid up in a garage attached to your house?
I'm not in this position myself because although my garage is filled with a little used car I keep it taxed and insured because I want to be able to use it as and when.

G.

Your home insurance may cover your car, but you'd definitely need to declare it to them, as most of them need to know about single items worth over a certain threshold. This is intended to cover valuables like jewellery. You may argue with them that a laid up car in simply a 'valuable' but I wouldn't bet on them agreeing with you. There's probably going to be 3 carve outs which mean it wouldn't be covered 'as standard':
i) That it's a valuable over the threshold (which you'd need to notify of)
ii) That it's in a 'garage or outbuilding' (which are often excluded)
iii) That it's a motor vehicle (running or not) which may possibly have a specific carve out.

I think my laid up policy was about 1% of the vehicle's value, with an excess of about 2.5% iirc.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Personally I'd just sell it. They are 10-a-penny so while you won't get a great deal for it when you want to come back to a fun car you can get a replacement nice & cheap.

[mike9009]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Personally I'd just sell it. They are 10-a-penny so while you won't get a great deal for it when you want to come back to a fun car you can get a replacement nice & cheap.

I have thought about selling but it is a little tatty, but rust free and mechanically sound. At some stage it will go back on the road. I hate selling cars and thought 'better the devil you know'.

Thanks for all advice. Any other tips?

Mike

[robgee1964]

Providing you've got the radio codes, I would completely disconnect the battery if I were you. Then bench charge it every few months if necessary. My own experience has been if you disconnect they will stand up the entire winter without problems.

The other thing to watch out for, is condensation. If your not careful this can make the car deteriorate quicker than if stored outside under a carport (say). If you put a cover over the car make sure it is a breathable one. Be careful of these cheap water proof ones which claim to be breathable, they are not and condensation can build up underneath them.

My garage has a concrete floor, and I've put some old carpet down, as this reduced condensation tremendously.

Mx5Lazza is right though the MX5 bubble seems to have burst and they are ten a penny at the moment, as I have been finding out whilst trying to sell my own car!

[mike9009]

Well, just to update this thread. Car has recently returned to the road and insured for £104 for the next 12 months.

During its hibernation, I started it every two weeks and had a quick move around our front driveway. Sorry but didn't bother with axle stands as I thought my regular movement of the car would help in this respect. Changed oil, checked tyre pressures, checked other fluids and off I went. No problems whatsoever.

Great to get behind the wheel again. It does feel like an 'old' car after nine months driving the Cooper S - but it does feel lovely. The delicacy and feedback from the steering is a different level to the modern machinery I have been driving around in recently.

Bring on the good weather.....

Mike

[mrmr96]

Glad it worked out ok.