[ttpscooby]

ok well i'm leaving the states for a year and was going to leave the car in my grandma's garage and have her start it up once a week and drive it around once a month is that sufficient to keep the car in working order or is there anything else i should be doing?

[upncummr]

You might try a Google search for "long term auto storage tips".

Here's an example of what you'll find.

Buy Classic Cars :: 10 Tips for Long-Term Classic Car Storage

Long-Term Storage the Correct Way

Gary

[onlytakes4]

It would be a lot better if someone could drive it around the block once a week. Put a gas treatment in the gas.

[upncummr]

The other thing to consider besides storing the car is selling the car.

Selling the car has the following benefits:

1. Let's you avoid storage charges.
2. Let's you avoid registration fees and taxes.
3. Let's you avoid insurance coverage costs.
4. Let's you avoid taking a hit on the continued depreciation of the car while it's in storage.
5. Let's you "cash out" whatever equity you have in your car.

Just something to think about.

Gary

[ttpscooby]

well it will be paid off 2 months after i get back and if i sell it and dont have insurance on anything it will cost an arm and a leg for insurance when i would get a new car because of the year lapse in insurance coverage.

also so i still need fuel stabilizer even though it will be run at least once a week? and it could be driven once a week that's not really a problem

[upncummr]

Originally Posted by ttpscooby

well it will be paid off 2 months after i get back and if i sell it and dont have insurance on anything it will cost an arm and a leg for insurance when i would get a new car because of the year lapse in insurance coverage.

also so i still need fuel stabilizer even though it will be run at least once a week? and it could be driven once a week that's not really a problem

I'm no insurance expert so I'm trying to figure out why your insurance rates would go up because of a lapse in insurance coverage.

If you didn't have a car to insure because you were out of the country, why would your rates increase when you return, buy a new car and attempt to insure it?

My past experience with insurance companies is they're always looking for "good" new customers. So there should be plenty of companies willing to accept you at competitive rates provided your history is good.

Gary

[fullerton]

Originally Posted by upncummr

I'm no insurance expert so I'm trying to figure out why your insurance rates would go up because of a lapse in insurance coverage.

the is standard with the insurance world and is not unique to car insurance. the same goes for life...

[upncummr]

Originally Posted by fullerton

the is standard with the insurance world and is not unique to car insurance. the same goes for life...

Learn something new every day, I guess.

Would the additional premium related to a lapse in coverage be greater than the premium paid while the car was in storage?

It seems to me that if your current insurance costs are $2,000 a year and you could avoid paying that by selling the car, you'd be money ahead as long as the premium differential for lapsed coverage was less than $2,000. The greater the difference, the greater the savings.

Gary

[rmo55c]

definitely still put in fuel treatment even if someone is driving your car around once a week. I'm sure they won't be going through a tank of gas every few weeks by just getting it out once in awhile, so put in the stabilizer to be safe. Also I would do all fluid changes before you go and as soon as you get back - but I tend to be overly cautious about stuff

[amg destroyer]

Originally Posted by rmo55c

definitely still put in fuel treatment even if someone is driving your car around once a week. I'm sure they won't be going through a tank of gas every few weeks by just getting it out once in awhile, so put in the stabilizer to be safe. Also I would do all fluid changes before you go and as soon as you get back - but I tend to be overly cautious about stuff

I agree with the fuel stabilizer, but changing all the fluids before AND after is a little over the top IMO...

[ttpscooby]

again gary i thank you for your input but the car will be paid off soon after i get back and even tho i'd really like an 07 i also would really like no car payments so sure i could save maybe 8k by selling but i'd be locked into another 4 years buying a say 25k 07 sti 8k<25k

and also the car will be on parking insurance which is like $20/month for fire and theft protection

[upncummr]

Parking insurance sounds like it might be the way to go.

At the same time, don't forget that someone will still be driving the car for you occasionally. If that's the case, you may still need liability and comprehensive coverages.

Just a thought.

Gary

[STI Dy]

Your grandmother is going to drive the car? That's going to freak out the ricers when they see that.

[stiboost21]

disconnect the battery, thats for sure. check around the forums as well, there are numerous threads on the topic.

[ttpscooby]

haha well she drives a harley too or rides... whatever eitherway its pretty badass haha