Use or store?

[Skyedriver]

Here we are again, into October, it's rained for the last few days and the forecast is for rain for the coming week up here in Scotland. they'll soon be throwing salt on the roads like it's going out of fashion.
For decades, I've taken whatever car(s) I've owned off the road for 6 months to try and protect them from the worst of the weather but it means I'm only getting half their use.
I'm 70 now, maybe not that many years left to enjoy them and beginning to think "sod it" just use them. Currently a '73 Gilbern and a '04 Boxster both in tidy condition. I have a "family car" too but it's a soulless modern estate that I get no pleasure from driving. So if I use them over winter, they deteriorate, what's the worst that can happen? They're not super valuable.....

[Mabbs9]

It does make sense to use them, unless you were specifically preserving them for another reason. Perhaps like you've promised one to your son etc.

My fun car isn't terribly rare but is in great condition. I sometimes remind myself to just use it or there's no point. My friendly Indy garage tell me to get on and put some miles on it!

[jeremyc]

I'm firmly in the use camp. As well as the enjoyment I get from driving them all year round, I reckon on balance it's got to be better for them to keep everything moving and lubricated than sitting idle deteriorating.

Don't forget we get a fair number of dry, clear, bright days through the winter and spring as well.

Or maybe I'm just mad having just adopted a '72 classic as my daily driver.

[CKY]

Skyedriver said:

So if I use them over winter, they deteriorate, what's the worst that can happen? They're not super valuable.....

Having seen how the underbody of a classic car can get coated in all the lovely assortment of st that we get on our roads through the Winter months, i'd perhaps ask "How much will it cost me to put right anything that goes wrong?". Granted not such an issue on the Boxster, but for the Gilbern i'd be paranoid enough to want to wash the underside of the car after every outing, and for me it's just not worth it. To each their own though, and as you point out it can be frustrating not using the car for such a prolonged period of time.

[sixor8]

I had a Triumph Toledo the last 2 winters and I used it all the time, after all it was £0 VED and MoT exempt. However, it was battered with non-original bits and not worth a lot, and I didn't use it in icy conditions, which are obviously more prevalent up in Scotland.

It's a judgement call but a Gilbern at least has a glassfibre body, just hose it off underneath if you get any salt on it.

I've also had a couple of Boxsters and actually, although modern, the exhaust systems and their clamps don't like winters.

[Old Merc]

My Mercedes SL320 R129 is in immaculate condition and is my summer fun car. The fun is driving it with the hood down in warm sunny weather. Going to classic car shows, events and tours. During the winter the fun has gone, no shows or events to go to, I cant see the point in driving around with the hood up in cold crap weather, getting the bodywork filthy.
My pride and joy is now on SORN, all covered up in my garage, for "winter hibernation" till April next year. Doing this keeps it in perfect condition.

[Skyedriver]

sixor8 said:

It's a judgement call but a Gilbern at least has a glassfibre body, just hose it off underneath if you get any salt on it.

I've also had a couple of Boxsters and actually, although modern, the exhaust systems and their clamps don't like winters.

Giilbern: exposed MS chassis underneath
Boxster: from what I've read these corrode underneath like a BL car from the 70's or at least all the mechanical bits do.

With regards to devaluing the cars, I'm reaching the point of thinking "so what", if I have to sell for a few £K less then at least I've enjoyed them instead of saving them for the next person. A bit like leaving the plastic seat covers on so it's like new when you sell a car

Edited by Skyedriver on Thursday 5th October 18:06

Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 6th October 07:28

[PositronicRay]

Skyedriver said:

sixor8 said:

It's a judgement call but a Gilbern at least has a glassfibre body, just hose it off underneath if you get any salt on it.

I've also had a couple of Boxsters and actually, although modern, the exhaust systems and their clamps don't like winters.

Giilbern: exposed MS chassis underneath
Boxster: from what I've read these corrode underneath like a BL car from the 70's or at least all the mechanical bits do.

With regards to devaluing the cars, I'm reaching the point of thinking "so what", if I have to sell for a few £K less then at least I've enjoyed them instead of saving them for the next person. A bit like saving your girlfriend for the next fella....

Edited by Skyedriver on Thursday 5th October 18:06

It's only money, they're only cars, and shrouds have no pockets.

[nismo48]

PositronicRay said:

Skyedriver said:

sixor8 said:

It's a judgement call but a Gilbern at least has a glassfibre body, just hose it off underneath if you get any salt on it.

I've also had a couple of Boxsters and actually, although modern, the exhaust systems and their clamps don't like winters.

Giilbern: exposed MS chassis underneath
Boxster: from what I've read these corrode underneath like a BL car from the 70's or at least all the mechanical bits do.

With regards to devaluing the cars, I'm reaching the point of thinking "so what", if I have to sell for a few £K less then at least I've enjoyed them instead of saving them for the next person. A bit like saving your girlfriend for the next fella....

Edited by Skyedriver on Thursday 5th October 18:06

It's only money, they're only cars, and shrouds have no pockets.

Wise words

[Mr Tidy]

I'm a bit younger than you but my philosophy is definitely to use what I have while I still can!

I'm even doing a trip to the Scottish Lowlands in a couple of weeks in my 2006 BMW Z4 - I just hope it doesn't dissolve.

I don't think leaving cars sitting for months on end does them any favours anyway.

[sixor8]

Skyedriver said:

Giilbern: exposed MS chassis underneath
Boxster: from what I've read these corrode underneath like a BL car from the 70's or at least all the mechanical bits do.

With regards to devaluing the cars, I'm reaching the point of thinking "so what", if I have to sell for a few £K less then at least I've enjoyed them instead of saving them for the next person. A bit like saving your girlfriend for the next fella....

Edited by Skyedriver on Thursday 5th October 18:06

I was aware they are mild steel underneath, I have a TVR with similar construction. I meant that the body won't rot, so as long as you jet off underneath occasionally, it would survive quite well I expect. Just use it in the winter but not if the roads are thick with salt.

I concur on the Boxsters underneath, not good.

[aeropilot]

Skyedriver said:

I'm 70 now, maybe not that many years left to enjoy them and beginning to think "sod it" just use them. Currently a '73 Gilbern and a '04 Boxster both in tidy condition. I have a "family car" too but it's a soulless modern estate that I get no pleasure from driving. So if I use them over winter, they deteriorate, what's the worst that can happen? They're not super valuable.....

The Boxster is a new car in real terms, with modern anti-corrosion protection during production, so not idea why you'd consider not using that all year around anyway, and have been taking it off road in wintertime?
The Gilbern maybe for the odd dry winter's day you might get up there (which won't be many I grant you)

While not the same geographical location, I never took my classics off the road in winter, as there's enough dry winter's days to get half a dozen decent 30 miles runs through winter time down here in the civilised world (I'm half Scottish so can say that with a smile). The Gilbern is free VED anyway, so its no extra cost, but not so with the Boxster of course, if you only tax it for 6 months and then SORN it through winter?

[PositronicRay]

When I went through a phase of 60s British rag tops, the idea was my hobby would pay for itself, even make a slight profit. I did, and had a company car anyway.

When I retired I wanted a do it all modern classic, a '94' merc filled daily duties. It was a shame, the use I put the car to didn't do it any favours. But the additional costs and deterioration were still cheaper than an additional regular car.

If you have to make excuses to take them out it loses rhe point. My cherished car now does lighter duties in winter, no forestry work or muddy dogs, but not sorned.

[Skyedriver]

sixor8 said:

I have a TVR with similar construction.

I concur on the Boxsters underneath, not good.

3x Chimaera, 2x350i, myself in the past, first one was a daily for three years, the rest were mollycoddled and did less than 2K /year as a result.
The Caterham I had did even less. Total waste.

Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 6th October 07:36

[Mark A S]

Use them, Definitely. I use mine all year round, as has been said, when the conditions are sensible ish.
If i do get caught out with salt on the roads, and so long as the hose pipe is not frozen, a good wash off underneath suffices, come spring time, up in the air, wheels off etc

I do draw the line at around zero temps using the Jeep though

[Yertis]

From those of you declaring “use all year round!” I demand photographic evidence of same, throughout the forthcoming winter

[Mark A S]

Yertis said:

From those of you declaring “use all year round!” I demand photographic evidence of same, throughout the forthcoming winter

Will do this forthcoming winter. Here is one from a few winters ago as you can see by the amount of clothes i had on, thermals too

[jeremyc]

Yertis said:

From those of you declaring “use all year round!” I demand photographic evidence of same, throughout the forthcoming winter

Here's one from a freezing Thruxton last winter.

Yes, that's ice/snow on the ground.




Elan on New Year's Day at Brooklands, and at a rainy February event.

[witko999]

Not sure who told you that a Boxster will rust like 70's BL. They're well protected and nothing to worry about in my opinion. I used mine as a year round daily for years and it didn't develop any rust anywhere.

[Skyedriver]

Thanks, bit of a confidence boost although I understand it's the quality of materials used in the mechanics, bolts, studs etc that dissolve rather than the bodywork.