Is there an in between stage for storing your car and driving it through the winter months?

Last year I did not follow all the storage rules/suggestions that I've read on many of the winter storage threads. First off I went ahead and installed my winter tires and wheels. I didn't remove my battery because I have a boomrang tracking device in my car and it draws power from the battery. My plan was only to drive my Z on clear days when the roads were free of salt and snow. Unfortunately we got a lot of snow in the GTA last year. So I found myself starting my car about once every two weeks. Once I started it I went for a good drive, usually about 45 minutes and this included highway driving. I would then proceed to wash my car that way no salt was left on the vehicle. This year, I've gone ahead and just got an oil change and swapped my summer wheels and tires for my winter wheel package. I will be moving in a few months and will have to drive my car to my new house. My plan this year was to start my car at least once a month and take it for a good drive that way I don't have any moisture build up in the exhaust and engine. Can anyone offer any other suggestions for a guy who can't quite commit to a full on winter care storage regime?


Thanks for your suggestions

 

your plan on driving it periodically seems like a waste of time and energy. you'd be better off just storing her all winter if you're not using your z as a all-year-round vehicle and only driving her once a month, then immediately washing her and putting her back in storage.

the only benefit to this would be to keep your battery (and boomerang) active, but only driving her once a month (and having the alarm draw power in the meantime) will degrade your battery and it'll probably discharge anyways sooner or later.

 

I am asleep until May. Let her rest...

 

this is the only car i have...and my DD, so i ll drive it all year around.

 

Mine is stored away but can come out if the weather is clear and I choose to . I use a Automatic Battery Charger to make sure my security system and Battery stays charged.

 

lol this makes me laugh.

We dont drive Ferraris, these are $50k sportscars.

Drive it as much as you want, wash it 2x a week especially after a really snowy/salty trek.

Storage in my mind isnt really necessary.

MAYBE if you had a NISMO 350z, you could justify it due to the rarity of the car...

I take off all my external "mods" before winter and pop em all back on after.

I love driving with my Blizzacks in the winter in my Z - I feel more Canadian haha

 

^here we go again...

You do know that Gonein60sec's and Mapleleaf have much more WHP then the NA guys.. and they have a considerable amount of money invested..

I personally never drove my z while salt was on the roads.. but that was my own choice.
Everyone is different...

Now, lets not turn this into a debate....

OP,
I would invest in a auto trickle charger, it should help to prolong the life of your batt.

 

that 1 snowfall we had, next mornin in aurora i given it a go to my college (seneca) which is 10-15 mins tops drive, it was pretty scarry i must admit, a slight tap on the throttle would have my back end spin which was prettttty fun i have to say. But this was due to me having bald tires in the back which are summers only lol. im sure good tires like blizzaks will help alot vs my crap tires. But then again, im storing mine when the real snow hits and taking it out once it starts to melt.

Good luck w ur decision. and i think shinobi has a point too, cars are made to be driven, the only fact that could stop me driving in winter is having 08/07 year of the 350 right before the 370 or of course the nismo ed.

 

^^^ or you don't want to be a snow plow say for example if your car is lowered with a body kit...

i have a daily commuter car (06 rolla), so for me it doesn't make much sense for me to drive the Z in the winter. now i get to save $$$ on insurance during the winter months.

 

me 2

 

I think we're agreeing without realizing it.

I'm saying if you drive a relatively "stock" Z then - just drive it

If you've got a twin turbo kit on it and 10000000 different exterior mods, store it ... and buy a beater.

I loved it on clubsi when Civic SI drivers would store their cars and buy a winter beater which was like $5k less than their car and drive that in the winter :P

haaahaha to each his own

 

Oh yeah totally agreed...My bad.. i could have worded my reply differently

 

i still gonna drive mine over the winter, its gotta be fun this yr ....

 

I dunno how you guys can wash your cars in the winter. Even at the coin op, it's too damn cold for me, and I'll never take my baby to that automated crap. If I had a heated indoor, drained and sealed place to wash mine, I'd consider wintering it.

 

usually wash the car inside my shop

 

FREE CAR WASHES AT ED'S SHOP

 

sure, i give u guys the space just make sure u bring your own soap n water

 

365-day-a-year D.D.!
____________________________________________________________ ______________
'O4 Touring Coupe. Flawless AT. NO feathering. NO oil-consumption issue. NO PROBLEMO!

 

Haha, yea, that would do

 

too true... putting a 10k car into storage and buyiing a 5k beater just doesn't make sense