Going away for a year, need to store my car.

[benim2000]

I'm headed over to the UK for a year, maybe longer.
The options are Sell or Store.
If I store my VT while I'm away, What do i need to make sure it doesn't get stuffed?

Sorry if this has been answered before but couldn't find it in the search.

[alien]

Take it to a long term carpark near an airport? And make sure you let your road authority know you want to renew it's registration, or you can wait until you get back to get re-register it.

[LightningVP]

Where abouts do you live? I could leave it in my backyard and hope no one touches it

[LightningVP]

Take it to a long term carpark near an airport? And make sure you let your road authority know you want to renew it's registration, or you can wait until you get back to get re-register it.

He would pay more for car storage than the trip :|

[WhiteVS]

id say if your attached to the car then its probally a good idea to store it.
If not sell it and put the cash towards your trip.

[alien]

Don't trust LightningVP, it'll probably be impounded by the time you get back LOL He IS from broady!

[barely legal]

Have your car impounded.
then get it out when you get back.
not sure what fee's are though.

[LightningVP]

Don't trust LightningVP, it'll probably be impounded by the time you get back LOL He IS from broady!

You can trust me but just not anyone else around me....I have 2 other cars I can drive so I won't use it

[alien]

The VT has more power than your VP or your sisters car though LOL If i had like a VE SS that i was minding for someone i'd probably take it out instead of my VY LOL

[LightningVP]

The VT has more power than your VP or your sisters car though LOL If i had like a VE SS that i was minding for someone i'd probably take it out instead of my VY LOL

Well that rules you out of minding his car its people like you that keep my car with me at all times...

[alien]

LOL, i've got a Supercharged VY, now WHY would i take your VP out? LOL, it would just sit on the front lawn like many other cars before it :P

Although it would be run like once a fortnight to make sure the battery doesn't die on it. And if it needed fuel i'd take it LOL But that's about all that would happen to the cars i mind. Unless they want modifications.

[LightningVP]

LOL, i've got a Supercharged VY, now WHY would i take your VP out? LOL, it would just sit on the front lawn like many other cars before it :P

Although it would be run like once a fortnight to make sure the battery doesn't die on it. And if it needed fuel i'd take it LOL But that's about all that would happen to the cars i mind. Unless they want modifications.

cause my VP works

[alien]

Thats because your engine isn't in pieces atm

[Grennan]

You might be able to check out places like Fort Knox or something of the sort. They might have something suitable.

When you get back though your going to have a flat battery and probally need to give the fuel tank a good clean as well as do a service.

You dont have any family that you could leave it with and atleast start it every now and then and take it for a quick drive?

[andyman]

put it up on stands as you will get flatspots, or whack some burnout tyres on and sit your good wheels to the side

[redcv6]

just sell it mate. dont have to worry bout insurance, rego (if you want to keep it registered) storage costs..... then when you come back, using the money you sold your vt for + money you saved from all the other **** you would have spent on it you can buy a newer car.

[commsirac]

Suggest you search the net for some worthwhile advice: like this one:OLDGMH: Storing Cars for Extended Periods

Are you going to be able to store in a garage or outside. Deterioration of the body and mechanicals if exposed to the elements and/or leaks that can occur can wreck anything if not monitored. Ive had bits of wheel bearings rust out due to the wheels not being rotated while the car was stored in the open.
Car covers....read up on them, they can be used with guidelines.

I dont advise having someone start the motor up every month or so, and get it to operating temp, that can do more harm than good. See the ^ article suggestions.

I like the battery idea to, you could leave the battery connected to a charger set on a timer to operate once a week for a few hours and that would keep your battery tip top. but if you leave it connected to the car, expect to buy a new one when you return.

Fuel tank, not sure on the best way there.....should you leave a full tank so the tank cant suffer any condensation/corrosion or empty the tank?

Also like the idea of selling it! you could possibly buy it back for a few grand cheaper on your return and in the mean time you have some cash as well as a years rego etc. If you let the rego lapse then getting a rwc again could be financially troublesome.

[BANKS]

isnt this what parents are for?

[Morton]

I would sell it. You'll be able to get one back MUCH cheaper afterwards

If you choose to store, I personally wouldn't put it on stands like some guides recommend. Some people believe this can place undesirable strain on suspension components from having them "hang" for too long. Grab soome $10 cheapie tyres from the wreckers and use them.

That guide commsirac posted up has some good information in it

[Ozzie]

Look toward family to look after it for you.
If a family member could run it every couple of weeks for you that would be good.
They can also renew the rego for you, and perhaps keep it in their garage or undercover.

[benim2000]

I could possibly leave the car with my mum but she hates driving it around and doesn't have much room at her house, a mate would be the next option and not really keen on that ha ha.

I think storage could be more hassle than its worth, I think I will go the selling route.
Makes sense in having extra money for the trip and no insurance costs.

Cheers for the responses and great advice everyone, you have helped make up my mind.

[spoonfork]

I left my car in my dads care (Not registered). He forgot about it and didn't start it for about 3 years. I returned in Sept this year. Other than a flat battery and replacing all fluids and filters, there was nothing wrong with it. I have registered it and it's back on the road. I even managed to fix a few things that were broken when I first left it to go to the UK (Thanks to the guys on this forum). I obviously would not advise you do the same! My car was kept indoors for all that time & I don't have any flat spots on my tyres either. Again I wouldn't advise you do this (it just happened to be the circumstance I was in!).

I planned to go to the UK for only a year and ended up staying 3.5 years (really enjoyed it). This was my second trip to the UK. The first time I went I got homesick and came back after a year. Oh and on the first time I kept the car registered and had my dad drive it around (he looked after it then because it was registered). That was good choice as it was only a year.

So..... If you're going for only a year just keep it. You don't have to re-register it. just hand the plates back when it runs out of rego. Make sure you find someone reliable who will run the car for you regularly.

If you plan to stay longer, like I did on the 2nd trip, sell it!

For me , it all really boils down to how long you are going for.

[Dirbatua]

you could put it in a place like storage king of something, empty the fluids out and put some ****house tyres on it to sit on, cover it in a tarp and lock the door

cost like 2-300 per month to put it in a place like storage king.

[greenfoam]

I friend of mine left his little Nissan sx out under a cover for a couple of years while he was in Europe, he got his relitives to start it each once in a while and it was fine. But if it's going under a cover make sure you get a good one. I got a Chinese cover once and it was eroded to nothing in 3 weeks (true story) one of the biggest wastes of money ever that was

[adamc11]

Sell it, will only collect dust and depreciate in value.