[Mandalay]

I have a dilemma. We are in the process of clearing out our garage to house my new MINI (coming home to me on Thursday). A friend came round yesterday and said that in their opnion they wouldn't put a new car in the garage because in the winter when the car is damp and wet, by putting in into the garage where there is no freeflowing air, rust and rot will set in. What's everyone's opnion on this?

I want to keep my car secure (although I live on a farily safe road) and thought my MINI would be better off in the garage rather than left on the drive.

[Martin L]

So would you rather leave your car out in the elements or at least give it a chance to be in a reasonably stable enviroment It's a modern car which is galvanised against rust, it's not some MG

Garage it. The least it'll do is save you scraping off the frost during the winter
Your insurance will be cheaper if you keep it in the garage then on the drive too

[Lorri]

I agree with Martin... strange thing for your friend to say Ours is always garaged... can't bear to think of it outside every night.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

If security and freedom from damage is important garage it at every opportunity.

To keep the rot at bay and keep the crome looking good, garage it every time it comes home dry and leave it outside when it's already wet. It's that easy!

Tigger.

[minisoopercooper]

yep - mine is garaged too. even had to rent a 2nd garage for my Austin A35 so the MINI isnt outside.

There are such things as vandals who might target your car because it,s nice and new - and most garages arent that air tight so they do get some air.

[mini_moto]

Garage doors dont exactly provide an airtight seal anyway, so I'd say theres plenty of circulated air in most garages.


Putting your car in the garage also saves you hoarding junk that never gets used

[Lorri]

Quote: Originally Posted by minisoopercooper

There are such things as vandals who might target your car because it,s nice and new - and most garages arent that air tight so they do get some air.

Blows a gale under our garage door lol

[Lorri]

Quote: Originally Posted by mini_moto

Putting your car in the garage also saves you hoarding junk that never gets used

Too right mini_moto, so many garages are full of junk & the cars are left on the street/ pavement

[Snotta]

I wish I had the luxury of a garage to house my mini....I'd always put it away!
My poor litle car has to suffer the elements and fend off any would be vandals, out on a dark street every night....alone and scared ! It sure is brave!!

[laura f]

Quote: Originally Posted by Snotta

I wish I had the luxury of a garage to house my mini....I'd always put it away!
My poor litle car has to suffer the elements and fend off any would be vandals, out on a dark street every night....alone and scared ! It sure is brave!!

Same here, but we have a cat in the street that guards the car.....

[stryder]

I don't know what the warranty is in the UK, but MINI changed 2004 (maybe '03?) and newer cars to have a 12 year rust perforation warranty in the US. If they thought the cars would rust out quickly, I think they wouldn't be so eager to cover them for so long.

The garage is better and more controlled, and as others have said, its not like the car is painted with house paint, its protected for rust and corrosion.

[dinger]

If you've got a garage I would use it. and here's some reasons why.........

1...Keeps harmful uv rays at bay when your MINI is not in use.
2...It stops the birds using your MINI for target practice.
3...You beat Jack Frost on icy mornings.
4...Your MINI keeps cleaner for longer.
5...Keeps your MINI away from thieveing toe rags.
6...It keeps D.I.Y at bay.as you cant to your tools because the car is in the garage.

[andyupnorth]

Interestingly I had a next door neighbour who worked for Volvo and in their trials they found the worst thing you could do was put a wet car into a warm garage. The resultant humid conditions provide the perfect recipe for corrosion to occur. Now this was research they carried out in Northern Europe, obviously in places such as Oz where extremely strong sunlight may be a factor you may have to make a different call.

[Snotta]

Quote: Originally Posted by villa mini

Same here, but we have a cat in the street that guards the car.....

Phew! We've got several of those in our street - should be ok then!

[MiniSMan]

definitly the garage im lucky enough to have a garage in my apt complex to house my Mini its the first time in my life i ever garaged a car and something about the Mini had to make me garage when i got it . I am so obbseesed with it that i never drive it in the rain .I have only driven it in the rain twice since i had it and i have had it for 5 months now plus the Mini will never see snow i kept my trusty Honda Civic hatch for the bad weather

[SupeRub]

Quote: Originally Posted by villa mini

Same here, but we have a cat in the street that guards the car.....

Same Here too, but they like to leave footprints all over the roof and bonnet every second nite

Seriously, If I had a garage I would most def keep my MINI locked up each and every nite.

Rub

[Mandalay]

Thanks a lot for all your replies everyone. Looks like we're going to have to work hard to get the garage cleared out of junk before Thursday. Oh, I feel a skip hire coming on.
'Mr Mandalay' also wants to house his Triumph motorbike in the garage, so we won't have any room for anything like junk and diy equipment anyway
Hope my cat beefs himself up to become a MINI guard cat

[R1]

I've had more trouble in the past with cars left in a garage over the winter than on the drive so my MINI stays on the drive.

As someone once said to me on the subject of cars left outside, "When did you last see a car with a rusty roof?"

If you buy a new Ford, it's probably allready spent 1 year sat in a field before you got it!!

My garage is for the motorbikes which, unlike cars, tend to dissolve if left outside for longer than a week!!!!

I may get a cover to protect it from UV rays though.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mandalay

Thanks a lot for all your replies everyone. Looks like we're going to have to work hard to get the garage cleared out of junk before Thursday. Oh, I feel a skip hire coming on.
'Mr Mandalay' also wants to house his Triumph motorbike in the garage, so we won't have any room for anything like junk and diy equipment anyway
Hope my cat beefs himself up to become a MINI guard cat

Cool

Samantha, the Cooper, shares her garage with a Triumph Sprint 900 and a Triumph Daytona 1200SE.

You would not believe the scale of clearout that occured in our garage during the month before Samantha arrived. It occured to me "Why store all this worthless junk in the garage and have a priceless Cooper sitting out in the rain?" No contest really...

Tigger

[EMZ]

I would keep my 'Daisy' in the garage if I could but my hubby keeps his MZ motorbike in there
He keeps it in there to protect it and I agree to keep it in there simply because it's an MZ and I don't want to be associated with it
Mind you I suppose it will do Daisy's flowers good to be out in the rain