Car is barely being driven.... Input sought
#1
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Car is barely being driven.... Input sought
Hi Guys, My new `14 Ruby Red V6 I bought in August has turned into nothing more than an expensive lawn ornament thanks largely in part to my job which now keeps me busy and behind the wheel of the company car 6 and sometimes 7 days a week
Purchased new on Aug 9 with 221 on the odometer
2 weeks later it had 1800ish miles after a vacation trip.
As of tonight after getting ready to go out of town on business for a couple of weeks counting the 200 or so yards to drive it to the big barn in the back for storage it has ( get ready for it )......... 2477 on the Odometer and a strong residual new car smell still in it.
How long can these cars "sit" before lack of use begins to be a problem?
Purchased new on Aug 9 with 221 on the odometer
2 weeks later it had 1800ish miles after a vacation trip.
As of tonight after getting ready to go out of town on business for a couple of weeks counting the 200 or so yards to drive it to the big barn in the back for storage it has ( get ready for it )......... 2477 on the Odometer and a strong residual new car smell still in it.
How long can these cars "sit" before lack of use begins to be a problem?
#3
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Like MJJ said, keep some type of fuel stabilizer in it (fill the tank first) if you're storing it over the winter months, and put a battery tender on it. Mine plugs into the outlet on the dash.
ALSO: If you don't plan on driving it during the winter months, there are a couple of other things you might want to consider:
1. Get a closet dehumidifier (Walmart: $3) Leave that inside the car to absorb any moisture that might accumulate.
2. Get some moth ***** and place them under the hood to discourage rodents from building nests under there.
3. Get two pieces of steel wool and stuff them in the exhaust tips to keep rodents out. (Be sure to remove before starting.)
4. Overinflate your tires to 40 psi to prevent flat spots on the bottom.
I always open a bar of Irish Spring and leave it in the interior to keep a fresh smell going on in there. Just keep the wrapper under it and put it on your floor mat. If you have a cover for it, put that on to protect the paint.
ALSO: If you don't plan on driving it during the winter months, there are a couple of other things you might want to consider:
1. Get a closet dehumidifier (Walmart: $3) Leave that inside the car to absorb any moisture that might accumulate.
2. Get some moth ***** and place them under the hood to discourage rodents from building nests under there.
3. Get two pieces of steel wool and stuff them in the exhaust tips to keep rodents out. (Be sure to remove before starting.)
4. Overinflate your tires to 40 psi to prevent flat spots on the bottom.
I always open a bar of Irish Spring and leave it in the interior to keep a fresh smell going on in there. Just keep the wrapper under it and put it on your floor mat. If you have a cover for it, put that on to protect the paint.
Last edited by Michael Broadway; 10/15/13 at 07:45 PM.
#5
Only 2600 mi. on mines I got 3 1/2 months ago. It sometimes goes days without me driving it and I plan to put it away for winter. These guys are exactly right for what you should do and you are still driving it enough to make it a worthy purchase imo. I love Mustangs so I'm gonna have one in my garage regardless, lol.
#6
GTR Member
So long as you at least drive it occasionally, every couple of weeks or so, you really shouldn't have any issues.
Will your company give you a car allowance instead of a company car? Then you could drive your Mustang all the time.
My car has less than 2500 miles on it and I've had it since April.
Will your company give you a car allowance instead of a company car? Then you could drive your Mustang all the time.
My car has less than 2500 miles on it and I've had it since April.
Last edited by Ltngdrvr; 10/15/13 at 08:11 PM.
#8
Shelby GT350 Member
Join Date: February 26, 2012
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I have a '07 Vette with 15,000 miles. Like the others have said, hook up a battery tender, possibly some fuel stabilizer, and drive it a bit (at least 10 miles) every two or three weeks, and you'll be fine. The 7 days a week stuff shouldn't last forever, and then you can enjoy that Mustang.
#9
I bought my 2014 GT on August 13th with 38 miles on it and it now has a little over 3,300 miles on it. I took it on vacation about a month ago and put about 1,800 miles on it then. Mine is not a DD and will probably only be a fair weather car.
I wouldn't worry about it and just drive it when you get the chance. My fiancée has a 07 GT that she bought in March 2010 with 6,900 miles on it and it now only has about 15,300 on it now. She only drives it when the weather is nice and most of the time not even then. It still runs and drives fine.
Wayne
I wouldn't worry about it and just drive it when you get the chance. My fiancée has a 07 GT that she bought in March 2010 with 6,900 miles on it and it now only has about 15,300 on it now. She only drives it when the weather is nice and most of the time not even then. It still runs and drives fine.
Wayne
#10
Mach 1 Member
Store it with at least 1/2 a tank of premium in it to keep condensation from accumulating in the tank. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Treat her to a good cleaning/wax/detail and put a good cover on her and put her in a dry and rodent-free area. If you're storing her for 6 months or less that's all you need to do. If you can start her up once a month or so and let her warm up to operating temperature, moving her back and forth a few car lengths that's even better.
Last edited by PaxtonShelby; 10/16/13 at 06:53 PM.
#11
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We have a Vehicle Storage section in your owner’s manual (2nd Printing), on page 257. It gives you the step by step on what to do and look for.
Deysha
#13
Cobra Member
Yeah, unless it is sitting for months on end no worries...I have had mine for 2 years this month and only have 4750 miles on it and only put about 1,300 on it this year since mid April...starts right up after sitting, though one time I did need to throw it on the charger...getting it ready to store as temps are dropping fast...highs next week only in 40's....
#14
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My '08 GT still has less than 10k miles on it. I go through a tank of gas every month or two except for 4-5 months when it is stored over the winter without being driven. One last autocross with it this weekend, maybe a couple more drives in the next couple of weeks, then I'll top off the gas tank, cover it up in the garage, and it will stay parked until March.
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