Tucking it up for the winter?

[NotKenBlock]

So just about to head off to the DVLA to SORN the MX5 until next year. As its in need of a few bits doing cosmetically.

I plan on keeping it on my drive outside, probably under a car cover. But what should I do to keep it ok overthe winter?

My plan was to simply start it up once a week and let it run for a bit to keep the battery alive and keep everything lubed. Ideally i'd want to give it a run out for 10 minutes, but not being taxed makes that a bit of a no-go.

Any thoughts on what I need to do to it to keep it ok and not turn it into a siezed wreck come the spring?

Other option is to tax it so I can give it its run, but it seems a bit pointless as it will spend 99% of its time under a tarp!

[tuttle]

The handbrake can be a bit prone to seizing. If its a flat drive chock the wheels so that you can leave h/brake only lightly on. IIRC it has to be on legal wise when parked.
Some folk like to leave a tray of rice or cat litter or something similar in the car to absorb moisture.

[snotrag]

Keep it taxed.

ALL the problems I had on my Mk1 came when I SORN'd it one winter.

Tax it and drive it once a week when the weathers dry. Whats tax - £118 for 6 months? Not actually that much is it...

[NotKenBlock]

Interesting.

Could you expand? What issues did you have? Do you think they may have happened anyway even with it on the road?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mine lives in a garage but even then if I don't use it for a few weeks it definitely doesn't run as well as when I use it regularly. Personally I wouldn't mothball for winter. These cars are absolutely fine in winter as long as you aren't planning to drive on frozen roads with summer tyres. Mine gets used all year round regardless of the weather despite being only one of 3 cars we have available. Sometimes it feels a little pointless, especially with the winters we've had the last couple of years when it might go for a month without moving but it's always a pleasure to drive when I do get a chance. Driving with the top down on a bright & sunny but freezing cold day, wrapped up in a coat, hat & gloves, heater on full, heated seats on etc. is better than driving on a hot summer day in a t-shirt imo.

[JFReturns]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Driving with the top down on a bright & sunny but freezing cold day, wrapped up in a coat, hat & gloves, heater on full, heated seats on etc. is better than driving on a hot summer day in a t-shirt imo.

+1

[RichB]

NotKenBlock said:

Other option is to tax it so I can give it its run, but it seems a bit pointless as it will spend 99% of its time under a tarp!

OOI how much is it to tax? I've sorned my Griff but i) it's in a warm garage and ii) I have other cars to drive over winter which are tax free.

[VladD]

I think there's some good advice in Evo this month, but I haven't got my copy with me. The one bit that sticks in my mind is filling up with fuel before storing so that condensation can't form in the petrol tank.

[Little Bob]

JFReturns said:

+1

+2

Totally agree - life's too short to drive it only 6 months of the year.

[DavesBRG5]

snotrag said:

Keep it taxed.

Tax it and drive it once a week when the weathers dry. Whats tax - £118 for 6 months? Not actually that much is it...

Couldn`t agree more.........i certainly couldnt last one month let alone 6 without driving mine.