Car Storeage Dilema

Andy H · 1 Nov 2002, 10:11 (Ref:419194)

Ok would appreicate some advice on the following situation:

My job is relocating me from the UK to Canada for 2 years from January. I currently own a 1989 Toyota MR2 (c90,000 miles) which has been with me for several years and still is in good condition for its age and in regular use as a main car.

I'm loathe to sell it as i need it until literally the day before i go, doubt i'd get much for selling it anyway and probably would struggle to find a car as nice when i come back.

Hence what do i do with it for 2 years that incurs me the minimum cost and makes sure the thing doesnt seize up or rot while i'm away. And is this a viable thing to do?

I have sympathetic relatives who could keep it garaged and would probably use it is a second car to keep it ticking over but the concern is this would mean insurance, servicing, road tax etc etc which all adds up. Is there an alternative?

Any suggestions and help much appreciated
Regards
Andy

Wrex · 1 Nov 2002, 10:28 (Ref:419207)

Andy, I have my WRX 'garaged' at different homes for the last 2 years. I just brought it home today

I looked into storage, but it was expensive and in the end no guarantee anyway. Let the relo's look after it.

Make sure they drive it though, I've purchased 2 new battery's for a car thats done 750k's in the last 2 years

Andy H · 1 Nov 2002, 10:35 (Ref:419212)

It's the option i have in mind at the moment although it's still gonna cost:

- 2 years road tax c£300
- 4 services @ £100-£200 each minimum (would it be a false econonmy not to have it serviced at the recommended intervals, 6 months, even if its hardly being used?)
- 2 years insurance £?? (would need to be insured by a relative as i wont be uk resident and cant insure it - would some sort of classic insurance be cheaper than insuring it as a second car?)

Help anyone?!

Wrex · 1 Nov 2002, 10:43 (Ref:419213)

I looked at this also. Even during storage, I would still have has to pay the $2,000 insurance. And in Australia anyway, if you de-register a car, its a very painful and expensive exercise to re-register it.

The only thing you might save is the servicing.

You really have to look at the value of the car, what it's going to cost you to keep it, and decide - Do I really want to keep it at that cost?

Hope this helps

JR Ewing · 1 Nov 2002, 11:43 (Ref:419247)

You don't need to run it if you prepare it properly first - servicing would be a waste of time.
Any reputable insurance broker could provide cheap storage (theft) cover for you as well.
If, when you come back, you give it a major overhaul and have to spend a couple of bob, you would have saved that several times over in all likelihood by savings on tax, insurance, servciing etc.

Andy H · 1 Nov 2002, 11:53 (Ref:419258)

Thanks JR I had been wondering if this was a viable option.

What does proper preparation consist of? bear in mind i have neither the experience or inclination to do the preparation myself - is it something a mainstream dealer could do/should be trusted with? or does it require a specialist??

josvandeperre · 1 Nov 2002, 12:08 (Ref:419268)

Today your car is worth about £ 2000 - when you return it might be worth £ 1000 - meanwhile you may well have spent £ 1000 at least - do these figures make sense ?

Andy H · 1 Nov 2002, 12:14 (Ref:419273)

Yeh the figures make sense jos - i'm just trying to see if i can balance the figues to avoid the pain in the butt of having to sell the thing before i go

Maisie · 1 Nov 2002, 13:48 (Ref:419371)

Why not PM Bella - I believe her family have something to do with car storage.

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