I hope to have my car for life, anything I should do?
Member
Joined: April 13, 2011
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From: White Plains, NY
My 2012 Kona Blue GT Premium, born on May 6 and delivered May 22 is called Noah. It arrived in New York from Flat Rock through the rain, into the rain, and my first ride home, yup - in the rain. Cleaned up just fine! 
Mach 1 Member
Joined: May 1, 2011
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From: Sarasota, FL
Unless it's a vert.
With the top down.
Cobra R Member
Joined: June 6, 2008
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The car that I sold before I bought my Vista Blue '06 was 30 years old when I got rid of it. I owned it for about half of it's life.
It ran like new when I sold it.
That car was always garaged. The original owner had driven in rain and snow.
He had done a body restoration before I bought it. I drove it in the rain twice.
I replaced many things as they got old. He had replaced very few.
.
My Vista '06 has never seen rain (even from Flat Rock to here it never rained). I have always planned to keep it forever (barring catastrophes).
I decided avoiding rain was the sure way to avoid the body work done on the last car (remember we are talking 20-30 years here).
I drive it every sunny day I can. It has seen 25% of the miles of my daily driver. That's a lot for a strictly fun and sun car.
My plan is to keep it until I cannot drive anymore and then some.
ADVICE TO KEEP IT FOREVER:
Garage it. Do not drive in the rain or snow. Do the maintenance. Watch out as it gets over 10 years old for rubber and other age wear. Keep a sharp eye out for any problems and fix them. If all your things are perfect, go ahead and floor it and take hard corners. That's why you bought it.
.
That being said, I have other cars and trucks to make my preservation projects reality.
You need to do the best you can with what you have available to you.
It ran like new when I sold it.
That car was always garaged. The original owner had driven in rain and snow.
He had done a body restoration before I bought it. I drove it in the rain twice.
I replaced many things as they got old. He had replaced very few.
.
My Vista '06 has never seen rain (even from Flat Rock to here it never rained). I have always planned to keep it forever (barring catastrophes).
I decided avoiding rain was the sure way to avoid the body work done on the last car (remember we are talking 20-30 years here).
I drive it every sunny day I can. It has seen 25% of the miles of my daily driver. That's a lot for a strictly fun and sun car.
My plan is to keep it until I cannot drive anymore and then some.
ADVICE TO KEEP IT FOREVER:
Garage it. Do not drive in the rain or snow. Do the maintenance. Watch out as it gets over 10 years old for rubber and other age wear. Keep a sharp eye out for any problems and fix them. If all your things are perfect, go ahead and floor it and take hard corners. That's why you bought it.
.
That being said, I have other cars and trucks to make my preservation projects reality.
You need to do the best you can with what you have available to you.
Last edited by fdjizm; Jun 14, 2011 at 05:43 AM.
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Joined: January 30, 2011
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From: Houma, Louisiana
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Joined: May 25, 2005
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From: Nocona, TX
Here's why I hate water. My injury led to me losing all hearing in my left ear. I just have the 1, can't take any chances on it going bad. I am just kinda freaked out when water gets near my ears.
On driving my car, it always has a layer of dust. Rain causes spots, I don't like that. I can live with the dust, not water spots!
On driving my car, it always has a layer of dust. Rain causes spots, I don't like that. I can live with the dust, not water spots!
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Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 19,953
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From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
I bought my F150 4x 4.9L I6 new in 2.83. It has never seen a garage. It has been my lifeline year round here in the mountains in deep snow, ice, rain and sun. For at least 4 months of the year it is driven in constant 4x.
Yes the paint is faded and a garage would have helped that. A camper shell has protected the bed fairly well but there are a few spots of rust (that I've sprayed some undercoat on) because it has hauled everything on a working horse ranch from pulling (yanking) stumps, skidding logs, hauling cords of firewood, tons of hay, fence posts, lumber, etc., etc....
It also was my main vehicle during some years in business that had me travelling 6 hrs to San Fran every other month so its seen plenty of freeway speeds.
I have changed the oil & filter (dino) + lubed zirks every 5k miles and done needed maintenance, tuned & timed myself. Replaced the long block with friends at 218k from a broken ring. Stuff like plugs & wires, dist cap & rotor, hoses, radiator & anti-freeze, starters, batteries, alternators, mufflers, rebuilding carbs, are just as needed maintenance. No problems with trans or diff. It has never been in a Dealer Shop.
It is now 28 years old, 253,000 miles and still going strong.
So all that stuff you are afraid of is just paranoia. These are machines that can be fixed. And with regular maintenance - oil changes the most important - they will run for years. Naturally my Bullitt stays in the garage and is stored for the winter but that is more to protect the appearance.
Driving the car for a lifetime is as important as owning the car for a lifetime. Builds life experience vs simply parking it and saying you owned it. I already have several great adventures/experiences with #901. You're only here for a flicker, life can be turned upside down (or end) in an instant. Go have fun and build some memories and maintain your car, and it will last a lifetime! IMO
(Similar story with a 74 Jensen-Healey/Lotus that I kept, maintained, drove for 15 yrs, 100k+. Great life experience!)
Last edited by cdynaco; Jun 14, 2011 at 12:21 PM.
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Cobra R Member
Joined: May 25, 2005
Posts: 1,614
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From: Nocona, TX
I guess I just don't want to drive it in excess, if that's a saying? I really don't have much of a life now, so don't need to go anywhere. I'm not a fan of doing stuff, anyhow. Washed it today & learned it's best to dry in the shade. Takes me longer to move & by time I got to other side, it was dried w/water spots. Good enough. I can spot clean with my Meguiar's stuff.
I want to keep miles down just because. Preaching to the choir about life is short! I woke up as good as I've ever been on 1/13/02. Didn't wake again for another 3 months. Woke & couldn't move just about every thing. I have the mind set of there is pretty good chance I won't wake up tomorrow. Didn't plan for 1st coma, won't know when #2 will hit!
I want to keep miles down just because. Preaching to the choir about life is short! I woke up as good as I've ever been on 1/13/02. Didn't wake again for another 3 months. Woke & couldn't move just about every thing. I have the mind set of there is pretty good chance I won't wake up tomorrow. Didn't plan for 1st coma, won't know when #2 will hit!
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
Joined: January 4, 2006
Posts: 3,904
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More importantly, rain starts rust. A lot of it is cosmetic, but I don't want to deal with chasing rust incessantly for the rest of my life.
When my blue car is not driving in the sun it is in a dark heated garage. The sun cannot damage it there.
The amount of sun seen on the road on a properly polished/waxed car cannot damage the paint to any degree than can be measured.
Sun damaged vehicles have invariably been left in the sun in parking lots, yards, streets etc. so they bake to a crackly crunch.
It doesn't come from just driving around with the wind cooling the vehicle to reasonable temps.
Remember, I am talking out top condition maintenance.
I certainly have driven many vehicles that have spent their lives out in the elements. They do survive.
If I want to be able to "keep a car forever" in top condition it takes a little more protection.
My other S197 Mustangs do not live in the garage, but I will not be keeping them forever.
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
Joined: January 4, 2006
Posts: 3,904
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I bought my F150 4x 4.9L I6 new in 2.83. It has never seen a garage. It has been my lifeline year round here in the mountains in deep snow, ice, rain and sun.
No problems with trans or diff. It has never been in a Dealer Shop.
It is now 28 years old, 253,000 miles and still going strong.
So all that stuff you are afraid of is just paranoia.
My trucks run for a long time, but they salt the heck out of the roads here and eventually big body parts fall off and replacing them becomes too much trouble. Big frame rails pieces missing and bedsides with large holes won't pass state inspection. 20 years is about it before I give up.
Do they salt much out by you?
Post *****
Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 19,953
Likes: 4
From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
No they don't salt. They spread cinders and the last few years are using more and more liquid de-ice (?) when its just black ice. But when its packed snow they just plow the loose stuff off while spreading more cinders and it makes a pretty good base - that you feel totally confident at 45-50.
I would also add that 3/4 of my miles are highway miles. I rarely start my vehicles without driving at least long enough to warm them up well so there's less condensation issues. Even when going down to the highway to get the mail, I'll drive a loop down to the lake and around a bit so everything comes up to temp.
I would also add that 3/4 of my miles are highway miles. I rarely start my vehicles without driving at least long enough to warm them up well so there's less condensation issues. Even when going down to the highway to get the mail, I'll drive a loop down to the lake and around a bit so everything comes up to temp.
Last edited by cdynaco; Jun 14, 2011 at 04:38 PM.
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Joined: April 21, 2011
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Driving the car for a lifetime is as important as owning the car for a lifetime. Builds life experience vs simply parking it and saying you owned it. I already have several great adventures/experiences with #901. You're only here for a flicker, life can be turned upside down (or end) in an instant. Go have fun and build some memories and maintain your car, and it will last a lifetime! IMO
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Joined: March 30, 2010
Posts: 106
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From: Littleton, CO
[/QUOTE]
ADVICE TO KEEP IT FOREVER:
Garage it. Do not drive in the rain or snow. Do the maintenance. Watch out as it gets over 10 years old for rubber and other age wear. Keep a sharp eye out for any problems and fix them. If all your things are perfect, go ahead and floor it and take hard corners. That's why you bought it.
.
That being said, I have other cars and trucks to make my preservation projects reality.
You need to do the best you can with what you have available to you.[/QUOTE]
My car has seen rain (and one snow storm, but not for long). My parents live on a dirt road, so it gets it's share of dings and paint chips. BUT, I clean it pretty regularly, and after every rainstorm, or trip to mom and dad's.....I plan on having it around till I let one of the kids (or grandkids, should I get them) take over. It'll need more work to make it perfect than some others, but sure as shootin' I'll have had my fun with it....
ADVICE TO KEEP IT FOREVER:
Garage it. Do not drive in the rain or snow. Do the maintenance. Watch out as it gets over 10 years old for rubber and other age wear. Keep a sharp eye out for any problems and fix them. If all your things are perfect, go ahead and floor it and take hard corners. That's why you bought it.
.
That being said, I have other cars and trucks to make my preservation projects reality.
You need to do the best you can with what you have available to you.[/QUOTE]
My car has seen rain (and one snow storm, but not for long). My parents live on a dirt road, so it gets it's share of dings and paint chips. BUT, I clean it pretty regularly, and after every rainstorm, or trip to mom and dad's.....I plan on having it around till I let one of the kids (or grandkids, should I get them) take over. It'll need more work to make it perfect than some others, but sure as shootin' I'll have had my fun with it....
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Joined: May 25, 2005
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From: Skopje, Macedonia
I replace things that looks like it's beginning to wear. Keep fresh oil in her and good gas. I take a look under the hood at every fill up to see if everything is ok and no animals living under there. I keep it clean and once every three months or so I put her on a lift and look for anything abnormal. While she up there I take a moment to spray her down with simple green and a medium pressure hose. I wax it and clay it as needed.
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