Hi guys,

This winter has really been a bad one, and since this is the first winter I ran my 8, I definitely want to store it for the next winter. Unless, God-willingly I transfer to our head office in Cali for work this year; next winter I want to store my 8 and run a beater for those few months cuz even with snow tires and traction control, I don't feel that my car is steady in a snow storm at anything above 30km/h, plus it get so dirty and is more accident-prone with dangerous road conditions and other drivers who are not paying attention to the dangerous road conditions!

So here are my questions for you guys that store your 8's for the winter already:

1) I would be storing my 8 most likely late November and taking it out in mid-April again, so that's approx. four and a half months that my 8 will be in storage....so insurance-wise, do you guys switch to fire and theft and run liability on your beaters? Also, unless we move to a house with a second garage, I might have to store the car on an unused spot of the driveway....will fire and theft cover that as well; meaning even though it won't be in the garage, as long as it's on the driveway with a car cover and on your property and not moved?

2) For those of you guys that store it outside....I was thinking of buying the OEM RX-8 car cover from Mazda and keep it covered all those four and a half months. What do you guys do?

3) How much gas do you guys leave in it and do you start it up every week and let it run and heat up for a bit?

Thanks for all your help and advice. God Bless you guys!

Ben.

 

HA!

"Store it" like this

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V

 

Mine is stored in an indoor, unheated garage. I parked it on a blue tarp (to keep condensation out as the garage simply has wooden slats on the floor) and covered with a car cover. Aside from that, washed + full gas tank before storing + disconnect the battery. No need to start it.

That's it! Definitely switch the insurance unless you enjoy paying more. I would never store it outside in a Canadian winter. With the salt and humidity, kiss your underbody goodbye. For extreme days, the cold winds and freezing temps might give you seized/oxidized (rusty) parts. Of course this is worst case scenario, but honestly, don't cheap out on storage after paying so much for a nice car.

There's also nothing wrong with driving it in winter. I'd drive it instead of storing it outside; at least it won't seize. Unless of course you have a fiberglass bodykit (guilty) then it'll shatter so park it. Otherwise, just drive it!

 

Hmm, I see you point....I got the car rust-proofed when I bought it last November, and what about putting the Mazda RX-8 OEM car cover on it and storing it outside, will that do any justice with the weekly start-ups? I don't have a body kit, my car is stock!

 

It would help prevent the engine and such from seizing, but there's still the suspension, brakes, etc. So it helps some but not 100%.

I'd just drive it or opt for some indoor storage.

 

I tried to store mine the first winter I got it... I lasted about 4 days with it stored... I couldn't not drive it. I've now had it on the road for the last 4 winters.

 

Lol, I hear you man....however, when your nice car is going through a rough snow-storm (plus the fact that it's not meant to handle well through the snow) and it looks like it's been to the Arctic and back....storing it for those few months is starting to look really good!

So all your advices are:

1) Store it ONLY if you have a garage (car cover won't do you much justice as other parts would seize even if you started it once a week).

2) Drive it if you don't have a garage.

Correct?

 

Pretty much, yes. You can also rent winter storage from someone if you don't have a garage and don't want to drive it.

 

That about sums it up.

You can't "store" a car outside. As the rest of the folks mentioned, the car is still exposed to the elements and defeats the purpose of "storing" it.

Gotta have a garage or an indoor place of some sorts to keep the car safe from the elements.
Cover it up, make sure the tank is full, and disconnect the battery.
You don't have to touch it until the next season.

The new season is fast approaching and I'll be going under the car to get the oil drained and the plugs changed ready for the new season!

 

I store mine here:

www.autovaultcanada.com/

They do everything for me and it is close to my house and all they have in there are exotic sports cars......I just took collision of my insurance i pay like 25 bucks per month

 

I dont drive my 2007 rx8 because it is to nice a car to get stone chips and salt all over it.
I store mine in the driveway and just clean of the snow after a big dump.
When we get nice days during the winter months I take it for a good run just to keep everything moving and satisfy the craving.
These rotary engines produce even more power with the cold dry air.
The canadian climate really sucks if you own a sports car.

 

I drive it!

 

I store it in the garage every night and then drive it to work every day.

 

stop using a depreciating asset? No thanks.

 

I store mine in a insulated garage. The temp in there is usually 10-15 degrees warmer than outside. Make sure the tank is full and put a gasoline stabalizer in the tank so that it starts a little easier the first time. Put the tire pressure up to about 38psi (don't forget to let the air out before the first drive) to avoid flat spots. Using a battery tender is a little easier than taking the battery completely out. I wouldn't suggest starting the enigine until you r ready to take it out again. The most wear and tear occurs during cold starts.

 

Where you store it depends on your purpose for storing it. If it is to keep it completely away from the elements and you have the luxury of a garage then indoor storage works fine. If your purpose is to keep some clueless dickwad from running into it on an icy road and to keep it away from salt/chips, outside is OK too. Because I have no other option I store my 2004 outside---full fuel tank, oil change, washed, under custom outdoor car cover---start and run it to full warm every 5~6 weeks and voila........with another oil change and a wash it is ready to go at the first sign of spring. I have had no issues with rusting/seizing doing this and yes, I do get snow where I live.

 

I drive it and love it!!!!

 

Dude, I'm liking your answer cuz I don't have the luxury of a garage either, and you're the only one whose said that so far! Anyone else with stories of storing our car outside for the winter?

 

One more comment on the 'store outdoors = rusting and seizing'........while my car was on the lift late last summer to have new Potenzas fitted I inspected the underbody area........still looks new.