Advice Please

[yorkkie]

I've decided to take the Monaro off the road for the winter .
Are there any special precautions I should take? I was a little worried about brakes rusting or oil decomposing etc. I am sure it will get an airing on those rare days when the sun shines .

I would also like to put a dust cover over it , any recommendations.

Thanks in anticipation

Andy

[DAVE52]

OH! DEAR OH! DEAR OH! DEAR.

[A57 HSV]

Don't do it! IMO you'd be better doing what we do with the wifes claasic Saab 900 cab. Just take it out on dry days when there is no salt on the roads, which is probably every 10 days or so & make sure it at least gets up to normal temperature. This is much better for the car than laying it up incorrectly which could do more harm than the good you intend.
I'm getting an outdoor cover for the HSV from LSV (they have indoor ones in stock), but I've never bothered using one before. I'm going to stop driving it through the worst of the winter, now I've got a 2 yr.old Saab 9-5 Aero as a family car & to rack up the business miles in.
If you lay the car up properly, you also have to recommission it, which rules out a quick blast.

>> Edited by A57 HSV on Tuesday 8th November 22:40

[moosepig]

I drive mine in all weathers. It's the only car I've got! Seen off one winter already, no problems.

Haven't had to deal with snow yet but that fun is looked forward to with evil sideways type grin

[monkfish1]

A57 HSV is probably right. Better to keep it in the garage, and take it out when its dry and no salt is about. Do it at least once a month. I'm assuming your garage is not damp though.

If you must lay it up, the normal advice is to jack it up off the ground to avoid flat spotting the tyres, push the brake pads back in the calipers and spray the discs with a protective fluid, WD40 if you cant find anything else. Engine oil should be OK if its only a few months.

In my experience, storing cars is a bad idea, usually resulting in sticking brakes, siezed clutches and damp, not helped by having a cover.

[A57 HSV]

[quote]I drive mine in all weathers. It's the only car I've got! Seen off one winter already, no problems.

Haven't had to deal with snow yet but that fun is looked forward to with evil sideways type grin [/quote]

I got caught out in fairly bad snow once. I thought it would be an impossibility to get home & thoughts of abandoning the car crossed my mind.
However, it was much better than I thought. The engine braking was good & with new F1 tyres it really wasn't too bad. Had one tense moment going down a steep hill when I started to slide at about 5mph towards a wall, but thankfully it stopped about 6" before the crunch.
It did take me 4.5 hours & half a tank of fuel to drive 16 miles though!
Compared to other rwd cars I've owned it was the best.

[stevieturbo]

Parking it for 3-4 months wont cause any problems. Only thing is to keep the battery charged.

Ive parked cars for a lot longer and never had a problem with tyres etc.

[yorkkie]

thanks guys, I am going to garage the car and it is dry. I thought I would put a dust cover over it just in case.

From the discussion it seems that as long as I run it every couple of weeks in the dry and dont park it up wet it should be ok. Being careful not to hoon it straight from the garage.

Now to take down the kitchen wall so I can get it in the garage

I guess from Dave52 response I must be a southern softy, I am very worried about salt under the car and the adverse effects it will have. However, I am more worried that my right club foot will get me in trouble on the slippery mornings

[DAVE52]

Andy what little snow we had last year just made it INTERESTING driveing.Last year i jet washed underside every week.

[mcd]

I use my Monaro as a daily driver too!! Just the way i like it really! Do try to use the otherhalfs astra at least once or twice a week to keep the Monaros mileage down..

.. Only problem is, i Work in Buxton! its a 19mile drive in for me each day! Winters gonna be fun!

That said, not sure id want to take it of the road for a period of time.. i enjoy driving my cars in all weather & miss the Monaro within minutes when i come to work in the Astra!

Mikey

[yorkkie]

Too right one of the advantages of having another car to drive is that it makes the Ro seem fast again. Just bought a 4X4 for winter and at 0-62 of around 15 seconds woaaa hold those ponies.

I will get it out on dry days etc and Im hoping the smile will be even bigger. Also it will help me keep the miles down as well

[booster]

I bought a Rover 418 Turbo Diesel for the winter months. Couldn't be a more opposite driving experience if I tried. But at least it saves the Ro from the wet 'n salty roads. I'm also going to buy a Weatershield HD cover with flannel seams for the worst of the weather. Still hoping to take it out for a hoon at least once a week though.

[yorkkie]

Booster I bet the paint work is immaculate on the Rover.

Do you intend to keep the Ro inside?

[booster]

I've only washed it once I don't have a garage unfortunately, otherwise I would definitely keep it indoors with a dust cover on and a garage heater.