Hey guys!

I recently just picked up an 07 Limited with only 4500 miles for $15,000 over the weekend. I live in Michigan so I'm looking to store it til April. However, I'm a bit torn. Should I try and find a location with climate control during these winter months? I have a nice cover but just curious if I should try and find something heated or not. They appear to be hard to find for drive up access!

 

Ive been storing cars in my back garage no heat for over 30 yrs all differant cars never had a problem ! Just make sure you have something for those mice !!!!! They use to love my vette !!!! Got one of those really loud noise makers for mice & small rodents keeps them out & me & the dog too !!! Goood luck & nice buy !!!

 

It's definitely driving me insane watching my new Crossfire sit in my driveway, collecting snow and ice in 17 degree Michigan weather as I wait for the seller to send me back the title that he accidentally forgot to sign. As soon as it has plates, it's going into hiding until April.

However, I don't really understand the concept of storing a vehicle if it's gonna be in the same temperatures as it would be outside. My cover comes today so that will keep the snow and rain away. So what is storing it going to accomplish? Ensure it won't be stolen? That's why I'd rather just find a place that keeps the temperature at 60 degrees or something and do that.

There is one place here that has climate controlled storage with a keypad locks and such but it's a big warehouse with about 50 other cars in it. Granted I'm sure everyone else there wants their cars kept safe but if I'm gonna pay $100 a month, I'd prefer something private.

 

Why wait til Spring? Just get some snow tires or decent all seasons and drive it now!

 

I also live in michigan, and have stored my crossfire since the start of november. Its stored in my pole barn with a cover over it. Its not heated, and the car has been just fine like that for the last two winters. My 07 has never seen snow or salt roads. With it being in pole barn i'm able to go out and start it once a month and let it run, and if needed put a batter tender on it. I"m not so worried about it being heated, just so theres no weather on the car. :-)

 

The main enemies of metal are moisture and salt. In combination they will eat your car slowly.
Keeping it dry and free of salt is good.

The cold is really not so much of a problem, keep the battery charged, some gas additive in the tank, pump up the tires to 40 psi or move the car a foot or so every month to prevent flat spots on the tires.
If you have critter problems take some defensive measures and you should be OK.
I start my car every month and run it for 30 minutes, garage door open of course.

 

When you have time, post some pics.

 

Just make sure not to pull it into a climate controlled garage until it is VERY clean. There is a lot of salt on the roads right now, even when they are dry, and it gets into anything with condensation or slight moisture on it, and when you have salt and water, as 180 said, it makes for rust, and when you add heat, it greatly speeds up the reaction.

One of our engineers at work keeps his garage about 55 during the winter, bought a new Acura and in under 2 complete winters, he had serious rust because of pulling in wet and salty and the heat exacerbated the situation.....

 

Thanks for all the tips guys!

I drove from Chicago on NYE which was 55 degrees and pouring rain so that took care of any salt that was on the road when I drove it.

The heated warehouse that I found actually has a wash bay where you can wash your car whenever you like. I was thinking I'd drive it there (15 min drive) and then spend an hour or two washing it so that any salt underneath the car is gone. Also, it wasn't very hot in there so maybe "climate controlled" just meant not freezing.

I planned on going to start the car and drive it around the warehouse (sounds stupid but at least it's moving) just to keep it fresh and the tires from getting flat spots. Apart from that, I was going to do Stabil and a fuel tank of premium.

Since it's a professional establishment, should I still take precautions against mice and such?

I'll get some pictures for you guys this weekend when it's all washed and at its new home! I still can't believe the deal. 2007 Limited with only 4,500 miles on it. One owner. Infinity Sound System. Only $15,500. Still can't believe I got my dream car... I'm only 22 but I absolutely adored this car when it came out. Now that I graduated from college (MSU!), I knew I had to have one and made it happen.

 

Buy a cheap sprinkler with a little bit of pressure that lies flat and low and put it on a hose under the car to really get that salt off the undercarriage....

 

I also live in West Michigan,(Fennville,) bought my 05 limited a year ago August with 6,780 miles.
This will be my second winter, in storage,( my garage, next to the house.)
I had no problem last winter, this year I added a battery tender, a custom cover and mouse traps under the car.
PS my garage is not heated, I start the car once a month for 30 minutes or so, and put the insurance on vacation,( I think we pay $65.00 for comprehensive from November until April.)
Good Luck

 

I purchased my roaster just before last winter and had to store car outside, I live in an apartment complex no garage. After reading hours of information about storing a car I purchased a very good fleece lined cover that breaths and tie wrapped it to my weels so it wouldn't blow in the wind and rub the paint. I used stabill and filled the gas tank, flushed the radiator and made sure it was properly protected with antifreeze. Put about 5 lbs of extra air in the tires, washed and waxed car and put several containers of baking soda in car to absorb moister.Stuffed a steal wool pad in exhaust to keep out mice and chipmunks. because its a roadster i gently brushed the snow off cover to keep down the weight on ragtop. April 1st the weather was nice here in upstate N.Y. uncovered car , it started 1st turn of the key , let it idle, checked hoses for leaks a drove it gently for about 10 miles. The car was immaculate , absolutely no problems.A good cover is the key and securing cover so it doesn't rub. Did the same this year, looking forward to spring

 

Another great option for winter storage is a car jacket. Google it. It will cost you about $125 if memory serves me right. The good thing about the car jacket is that it's like a sleeping bag for your car. You litterally drive your car onto it, fold the top over it and zip it up all the way around the car. This keeps the critters out.

The jacket comes with some "dry sweep" to absorb moisture while it is sealed up. Put one pan of it under the car, and one pan of it inside the car. Leave the windows cracked a little too.

Of course, you can leave the zipper unzipped a tiny bit so you can run the power cord in for your trickle charger on the battery.

My car jacket has kept my Crossfire critter-free for three winters now.

Oh yeah, before I forget, go to the hardware store (Home Depot or some such) and buy some of that pink foam insulation - not the fiberglass stuff you put in your attic, the stiff styrofoam-like sheets that are about 2 to 3 inches thick. Buy 1/2 of a sheet and have them cut it into four 2 foot by 2 foot squares. You'll put those under the tires when you park it. The easiest way to do it is to drive the car onto the car jacket almost all the way, get out, stick the styrofoam "boards" under the front edges of the tires and then drive up onto them. This, along with putting a few extra pound of pressure in the tires will help them not to develop flat spots over the winter. The alternative is jacking the car up, and that's a pain in the rump. Plus I'm worried that I'll damage the car somehow having it on jack stands all winter. (I know, that's a weird unreasonable fear, but so be it.)

 

I read some where if your storing your car best not to start it & let it idleonce a month. Better just to start it once when ready to use it ! This way you dont have all those dry cold starts on the engine !

 

I have heard the same thing, if you start it, you let in moisture, and then not driving it to burn the moisture out, it can be harmful. Only what I have heard, and I can not remember where I heard it

 

I'm hoping that we will get some more warm spurts in February and March so that I can actually get it outside to move around. I'm not a fan of just letting it idle either so I'd like to get some movement.

I'm hoping my title will be here today so I can get it registered, plated, and in its new home tonight. I'll get some pictures after I get it in there!

I'll also get those squares of styrofoam. Good call! I worked in hardware for 7 years and it's amazing what you can do when you think outside the box. :P

 

Happy that you are so happy. When I was 22 I bought my 1st little red sports car..........a 69 Mach 1. I remember how happy I was then. The love of cars NEVER goes away. Here I am 42 years later, still drive'n a little red sports car.......a 2004 limited. Hard to image what you'll be drive'n in 42 years! Have Fun!!!

 

The only fear you should have is you exhaust tips rotting out....lol

 

I keep a heater going in my shop where I store my cars during winterr. It's just nicer to hang out there with them and wait for those little breaks in the weather and roads when I can drive until spring. Go for the climate control, maybe your car doesn't need it but you will appreicate it.

 

Same here.....heated and maintained at 60 degrees all winter.
Always ready to go out for a drive when the snow is either frozen or gone.