Sorn & winter layup advice

[rockits]

I have never laid a car up over the winter before but it seems to make sense to do so with my 4200 this winter. When do most of you start your hibernation? I was thinking or SORN'ing it from 1st Oct to maybe end March.

It sits in a nice garage with a nice Maser indoor cover. I am going to get a trickle charger and can start and move it a bit OK with no issues.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

 

[conaero]

I do the same with my play cars. With a Maserati they hate not being used so start them and leave idling till up to temp every 2 weeks and drive them around a private lane if you have one. As you have a cover, drop the windows a bit so it doesn't get damp and if you isolate the battery dont close the boot, thats about it.

 

[Gp79]

I use mine until they start gritting the roads, after that hidden away until spring salt free.

Hand brake off and trickle charger on.

 

[highlander]

I do the same with my play cars. With a Maserati they hate not being used so start them and leave idling till up to temp every 2 weeks and drive them around a private lane if you have one. As you have a cover, drop the windows a bit so it doesn't get damp and if you isolate the battery dont close the boot, thats about it.

Exactly what I did last winter following same advice on here and all was well in the spring. Only add on was a little mouse poison in the garage to try and keep the little beggars from getting in to chew the wiring! But then, I do live in a rural patch so might not be an issue where you are.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Can't go wrong with what Matt said, all cars will flatten their battery, their brakes will seize, aircon will lose its gas, leather will dry out and mold can take hold not to mention lack of oil circulation to the top of the engine.
So it's good to exercise everything, keep the trickle charger on, run the car up to temperature, turn on the climate control to full, wind down the windows and give it a run up and down your drive or estate depending on affluence. The odd wash wouldn't harm either but make sure it's dry before storing it again.

 

[safrane]

Alao... extra air in the tyres to avoid flat spots.
Do not wash the car nust before or put it away if its been raining on it as the water will just sit there rusting.
tell your insurance you may get a discount if its not being driven
I alao put an open bag of cat litter in the car...great at absorbing damp and just as good as those crystals you get for caravans.
if you get a nice day during the lay up open the garage door to exchange the air.
I alao get my car serviced at Emblem over the winter as they give yoh a discount on ths hourly rate.
finally its a good chance to get any wheels refurbished again they may be quieter and do a deal.

 

[Ebenezer]

Watch the mice - Friend of mine wondered why his window wouldn't work come the spring. Dealer found a the beggars had made themselves nice an comfy in the door and fouled up the mechansim!
Eb

 

[macaroni]

My advice is don't! I used mine all winter with no ABS or ASR. Great aircon keeps the windows clear and the car warm, I just kept it clean and washed the underside regularly.
No reason not to.

 

[bigbob]

My advice is don't! I used mine all winter with no ABS or ASR. Great aircon keeps the windows clear and the car warm, I just kept it clean and washed the underside regularly.
No reason not to.

Me too. Mine gets winter tyres, washed plenty and parked with the EPB off most of the time. Sure it's used less in winter and largely on dry days but I enjoy it and feel it looks after the car better. SORN savings are small in comparison with what might happen....

...that said I have another car that is parked up for about four months with the usual up and down the drive stuff, over inflated tyres etc. Had to buy a new a/c compressor this summer. Has to be connected with lack of use so a lesson for me for this winter.

 

[StuartW]

Watch the mice - Friend of mine wondered why his window wouldn't work come the spring. Dealer found a the beggars had made themselves nice an comfy in the door and fouled up the mechansim!
Eb

Very hood advise, they like to move into the warm and nest in the winter months. Put some poison around the floor of the car, if you don't have pets that is, and look for tell tale droppings or bits of foliage or pet hair in unusual places. They can do so much damage in no time at all

 

[Contigo]

As mine is sold I am putting it into the garage where the other 3200 is under a indoor cover until buyer collects. Going to use the other one all winter, why not? On the odd day where the may be some snow I won't go out in it and when they salt the roads will avoid that too but let's face it in this country we really do get mild winters. These cars hate not being run so why not run them?

 

[allandwf]

I also agree don't. It's a car, it likes being used, there are nice bright crisp days in winter plus you have the option of pressing it into service if others develop problems.

 

[D Walker]

I was thinking the same thing.
Mine will be in a garage with a cover - as it is now

BUT - I live maybe 80-100m from the North Sea with only a farmers field in between - Been thinking of putting mine in Storage in Durham in a bag thing with trickle charger!!
£60 a month - The other complication is the MOT is due in January - Figure that one out?

Dave

 

[greeny12]

As mine is sold I am putting it into the garage where the other 3200 is under a indoor cover until buyer collects.

You slipped that in! This is potentially very exciting news for us "investor" owners...!!

 

[Contigo]

You slipped that in! This is potentially very exciting news for us "investor" owners...!!

I sold mine not the other one which was advertised online. I decided to keep that one and use it as it just wasn't getting any use. The exhaust mods will be done very soon don't worry!

 

[greeny12]

The exhaust mods will be done very soon don't worry!

That's good news - I missed out on hearing the other car 'in the flesh'

 

[Needamaser]

Very hood advise, they like to move into the warm and nest in the winter months. Put some poison around the floor of the car, if you don't have pets that is, and look for tell tale droppings or bits of foliage or pet hair in unusual places. They can do so much damage in no time at all

I prefer traps to poison.
Firstly you can tell from decreasing numbers caught just how effective you are being as opposed to hoping they have died somewhere and you have to find a decomposing body which smells and secondly I don't want a poisoned mouse going into the food chain.
We have buzzards and red kites and poison takes a few of these in our area. I live in the middle of farming country.
I now use plastic traps which are easy set and easy to dispose of the dead mice.
Last autumn I took over 30 in space of a couple of weeks and then nothing so happy I had wiped them out.
Had half a dozen in last few days already.

 

[highlander]

I prefer traps to poison.
Firstly you can tell from decreasing numbers caught just how effective you are being as opposed to hoping they have died somewhere and you have to find a decomposing body which smells and secondly I don't want a poisoned mouse going into the food chain.
We have buzzards and red kites and poison takes a few of these in our area. I live in the middle of farming country.
I now use plastic traps which are easy set and easy to dispose of the dead mice.
Last autumn I took over 30 in space of a couple of weeks and then nothing so happy I had wiped them out.
Had half a dozen in last few days already.

never thought of that Stewart so will be traps from now on. thanks

 

[StuartW]

I prefer traps to poison.
Firstly you can tell from decreasing numbers caught just how effective you are being as opposed to hoping they have died somewhere and you have to find a decomposing body which smells and secondly I don't want a poisoned mouse going into the food chain.
We have buzzards and red kites and poison takes a few of these in our area. I live in the middle of farming country.
I now use plastic traps which are easy set and easy to dispose of the dead mice.
Last autumn I took over 30 in space of a couple of weeks and then nothing so happy I had wiped them out.
Had half a dozen in last few days already.

You're right of course. I have poison inside a metal bait box which can take 6 or so mice and they die pretty quickly.

 

[rossyl]

If you SORN it then what will you drive in to go to the Forum Christmas Party?