To lay up, or not to lay up

[c4sman]

Parked my spotlessly clean 7GTS in the garage today under its indoor cover and started mulling over whether to lay up or not. I’ve never done it before as I always waited for that odd day in winter when conditions were right and taken my ‘toy’ cars out for a spin but this is often only 3 or 4 times between November and March. So wondering whether it’s worth laying it up and SORNing it. What do you do you recommend and if laying up, what should I do for a modern car. The car is on a CTEK most of the time already BTW.

[RankAmateur]

DRIVE her. Rain or shine.

[anonymous-user]

SORNing mine Dec and Jan. No elaborate prep: Full tank of fuel, tyres up to 50psi and heater on in the garage.

[c4sman]

RankAmateur said:

DRIVE her. Rain or shine.

I do when I get the chance. Most of the reason for limited use is not preservation, it’s time. My job is crazy busy, the house is mid renovation and the little that’s left is spent doing family stuff. A winter drive is great, but my OCD means that becasue hate putting a filthy car away in the garage, I have to then clean it, and take it for another quick spin to dry the brakes and everything else out. And that all take more precious time (even though I enjoy the process)!

[matfinch]

I share your desire to keep it clean, but life’s too short not to use it. Get out and drive.

Off for a spin in my 997 CSR shortly!

[GT3cs]

Life's to short . Get it used .

[c4sman]

You’re making me feel bad now, maybe I will give it another layer of wax and keep it running!

[Koln-RS]

I can understand people with valuable, vulnerable classics, putting their cars into winter hibernation, but most of the UK has mild winters. We may get a few weeks when nice cars are wasted on the road, but then days like today arrive, which are perfect.

[Magic919]

Or continue to be a slave to your routine.

[c4sman]

Thanks for the reality check. Been out in it most of today and loved it. It’s stayin in action all year!

[wtdoom]

Acf50 the rustables and drive all year

[Shiverman]

c4sman said:

Thanks for the reality check. Been out in it most of today and loved it. It’s stayin in action all year!

Looks a stunning example and loving it in black. Use it and enjoy!

[AinsleyB]

Given how clean and shiny it looks, I reckon you will soon get upset when it's covered in winter grime and its too dark and cold to wash it properly

[The Dangerous Elk]

With the increased use of salt brine spreading on Uk roads, lay it up.

[SRT Hellcat]

I took mine out of the garage yesterday afternoon so I could hoover up all the old leaves that creep in under the door. Let it warm up and then took the missus for a few laps around the block. Her first passenger ride in it since I bought the car last December. Then spent a little time cleaning off any minor bits of mess around the four wheel arches etc. Unless we have an unusually mild winter that will be it till the good weather arrives.

[c4sman]

The Dangerous Elk said:

With the increased use of salt brine spreading on Uk roads, lay it up.

The last few years of mild winters has produced the odd day (say once every 2 or 3 weeks) of winter where the salt has been rained off the roads and you can get out for a drive without too much of an issue. By not laying up, i give myself the choice of going out vs no option. After nearly 4 years of using it all year the car is clean and corrosion free. On those salt free days if it gets dirty I rinse it (including underneath) and drive it to get everything hot before putting it away again. After the lovely weather yesterday I am going to retain the option, but keep the tank topped up with fuel just in case we have a bad one this year. If it looks like its gonna be off the road for a while, I can then just pump the tyres up and the only extra cost will be a couple of months roadtax that I could avold. My mileage is so pathetic at the moment that I do need to grab every opportunity!

[Digga]

I'm still minded not to SORN my car, but when I last used it, I did notice there was a fair bit of salt on the roads. Ironically, I was on the way to get the car its Gyeon 5 year ceramic coating.

I'm trying to find a set of low profile scissor lifts for the car. Useful for the odd DIY oil or brake pad change, but also for taking the weight off the tyres and wheels for those extended periods of inactivity. Can't seem to find any low enough and cannot be arsed with a jack and stands - a real PITA - so may need to dig out the garage floor...

[MaxA]

I don't lay up my C4S, or store it for winter. It's not a race car, without a heater, on slicks. My cars are for driving. I think the 4S makes a great winter car, with proper winter tyres, lots of screenwash and an engine block heater. It does get filthy, especially along the sides and the rear, but I just wait 'til there's a mild day and I can get the Karcher out. The muck comes off the ceramic coating pretty easily.

[The Dangerous Elk]

To add to my simple post above

http://ctcandassociates.com/work-samples/saltimpac...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/salt-rust-w...

A "quick assesmnt" of other links draws me to conculde the increased use of brines is a increasing problem over that of salt/grit applications.

[c4sman]

If they’re approved for use in the UK were doomed, but still not laying up, just have to pick my days.