Ever put your pony in a stable?

[Grabber07GT]

I just bought my '07 GT about 2 months ago. I recently found out that there's a pretty good chance that I'll be moving to Aruba for 2.5 years for work. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY don't want to sell my car so I figured that I'd put it in storage. It'll be nice to have a paid off car with about 2k miles on it when I move back. Now, my dad has volunteered to stop by once a month or so and start it up and maybe drive it around the block to keep all of the fluids from going bad. (He very excitedly volunteered, I might add). Is there anything else that I might need to consider when putting a vehicle in storage for a long period of time? I realize that it's not necessarily the best financial decision to put the car in storage, but DEAR GOD do I love that car... Any help or insight that you all can offer is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Warlok]

Aruba?

Wow you must have a cool job. I have only heard of Aruba, Im not really sure where it is. Do you need an assistant? lol !

As far as storing your car goes. nobody here will have a problem understanding how you feel about your 07 GT. I have had mine for 4 months, and have about 7.500 all fun miles on it.

If your Dad will on a regular basis like at least once a month, take the car for a drive on the highway for at least 20 miles at speed to warm everything up and maintain the battery the car should be fine. A longer trip even better so you can keep the tank full of gas all the time having Dad put fresh gas in as he burns some out.

This is all of the top of my head, Im no expert on storing a car, but your Dad will own his own GT before you get back from Aruba! You may need to keep on him some to remember YOUR GT !

Seriously, as long as you have your Dad who you can trust with out question to take care of business and drive the car as I described I cant see you having a problem. But he needs to take it on the highway, and be sure its warmed up compleatly or you risk damage to the exhuast system from condensation.

Good luck, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

 

[Grabber07GT]

Thanks for the info, Warlok. My dad's a huge car nut, so I imagine he'll take pretty good care of it. I was just hoping to get a few ideas that neither of us may have thought of. As for the job, I just got lucky. My company does consulting for refineries, chemical plants, and the like. There's a refinery in Aruba where I'll be working. I know, it seems odd that there's a huge refinery on a tropical island. Don't feel bad about not knowing where it is. I had NO idea until I looked it up. Here are a couple of links I found to pass some time in case of immense boredom.

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/aw.htm

http://arubagirl.typepad.com/photos/aruba/dsc_0021_1.html

 

[xbone]

Sell it now and get an 09 Boss when you come back. Maybe by then they will have a stronger driveline.

 

[JTGrant]

Make sure that you change the oil in car ASAP after you return. Warlok is right, but I would have him go by there at least twice a month if not more. Also you may what to get a battery "maintance" charger. I would try and keep a full tank of fuel out of it though, just in case it is left in there too long and then you have a full tank of bad gas. I would also recommend some type of stabilzer to but in the fuel through the storage time. Good luck working in Aruba!

 

[JTGrant]

Sell it now and get an 09 Boss when you come back. Maybe by then they will have a stronger driveline.

Never mind what I just posted. I like Xbone's idea.

 

[hethj7]

I'd personally sell it too, but if your set on keeping it, I'd research a little more about how to properly prepare a car for long term storage. You'll probaly find varying opinions on how to do this, so I'd spend some time researching other sites so that you're making an informed decision.

 

[Grabber07GT]

I should be able to sock away quite a bit of cash while I'm gone, so I think I'm just gonna beef this one up like a mofo when I get back. I was thinkin: JLT CAI, 4.10's, Cams, Long Tubes and H pipe, clutch, flywheel, driveshaft, 6 speed, and the list goes on and on...

 

[kooldawg6]

Why not take your car to Aruba? Years ago MM&FF had an article about a Mustang Club on the island. The picture had several dozen Stangs in it.
I went to Aruba back in March of '00. I loved it!!!!! I know when I was there the refinery was Coastal. Is it still Coastal? The only bad thing over there was at the time I was there the gas was over $4/gallon($1.25/liter). Good thing the island is relatively small.

 

[Grabber07GT]

I thought about taking it. I just don't like all the salt water in the air. Also, I'll be living in some bungalow or something near the refinery, which now belongs to Valero. I read something about how most of the crime on the island (which isn't too much) is near the refinery. If anyone's car is getting broken into, it's the Grabber Orange one with Loudmouth exhaust. Haha. I don't have to pay rent and the company's paying me to move and they're paying per diem, so I should have some money to store it. I dunno. It's my 5th Mustang and BY FAR my favorite. I REALLY, REALLY love the car, but it'll probably cost me about $5,000 over the course of 2.5 years to pay for storage. So, I guess I'm still debating. I do love the idea of being the only owner that the car will ever have. Call me a romantic...hahaha.

 

[Grabber07GT]

Kooldawg6: this is a little off topic, but did you live near the refinery? Was there much to do on that end of the island or did you just catch a cab to the tourist side? How'd you get to work? They're still working on the contract and stuff for my job, so I really don't have a lot of details about the logistics of living there. Just wondering how easy it was to get around (and find a cool place to party).

P.S. Stangnet friggin rocks!!!!!!!!!


:SNSign:

 

[Hoboattacker]

If you just want to store it and have nobody start it up, disconnect the battery and drain ALL of the fluids. Especially the anti-freeze (a nice big hole in the block would be a great welcome home present huh?).

If you aren't really "storing" it, just have somebody drive it for 30 minutes or so to warm it up and get the fluids moving. Make the person who is driving it pay for any maintenance (oil, tire rotation, gas, etc...)

 

[Schlitz-420]

I cannot tell where you live now but make sure you take temperature and humidity into consideration as well. When storing my boat for the winter i found cold weather had a negative effect on a variety of different on-board components (leather, fit and finish). I always used heated storage to avoid this (and heat almost doubled storage costs).

 

[stanmckinney]

Unless your car is something really rare, I would just sell it. I believe you will be many dollars ahead in the long run. Save your money and buy a really great car when you get back. Maybe the GT500 will be available for less than sticker by then!!

 

[tr7driver]

You might want to check the prices there. It could pay you to ship it there, enjoy it while you are there and sell it off when you come home. I had a friend in College from Ecuador in the 1970’s that paid for education buy buying a US muscle car at the start of the school year, driving it home and selling it. I think the tax treatment of used cars was quite favorable there at the time.

This could bankroll the Boss?

 

[Grabber07GT]

Thanks for all the info. Right now, I'm living in Houston, TX so cold weather is not really an issue. (It's Christmas time and we're wearing shorts). Plus, I would probably opt for climate controlled storage to protect the leather. I don't know. It seems like it's gonna run me anywhere from $200 - $500 per month, which would make it financially stupid to keep. I'll probably just sell it. Maybe I'll move back home and join the dark side with a Z06. Who knows. I just like having the only Grabber Orange GT that I've seen on the road in Houston. Of course, that's not really a very good reason to pay through the nose to keep it. Ah well. To all who have replied, thank you very much! Merry Christmas.

 

[wht-v6-vert]

If you don't sell that car you are going to take a horrible financial beating. Cars depreciate and deteriorate over time no matter what you do to them. What would a brand new, zero mile 2004 Mustang be worth today? Not much more than one that has been driven, and it would probably have mechanical problems related to storage. Cars are like produce, they are perishable.

I once spent a lot of money on a ten year old Cadillac Allante with 10k miles, and found that all sorts of stuff needed to be fixed just because it was old.

 

[Grabber07GT]

Yeah, I think I've decided to see if my folks wouldn't mind just keeping it at their house. If I can't do that, then I'll sell it. They probably won't have anywhere to put it. My dad's Monte Carlo project is in the garage. He's got a '68 Camaro shell, rear end, and engine also in the garage, and another '68 Camaro in the back yard. (Ya I know, we're the most redneck Mexican family you'll ever meet). I'm gonna take a hit no matter what I do. I guess selling it would minimize my losses. Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[kooldawg6]

I just visited for a week. Never lived there.

 

[blackonblack06]

Dude...I am telling you from experience. Being that I am military, I have been all over the world, and shipping a car is comparitively not that expensive. Compared to the pay I make, and the mad dough you will make on per diem for 2.5 years, I say TAKE THE CAR. Insure the car and take it with you.(many insurance companies insure worldwide) When you get off work, you will have a ball cruisin hot chicks in Aruba in your Stang or whatever. Crime and vandalism can occur anywhere, and if it happens then that is what insurance is for. Also, $H!^ HAPPENS so don't let some statistic ruin the fun you can have if you just took it with you. Even if you sell it you might take a hit because it is so new and depreciation after the sale is probably still now in effect anyways. Additionally, there are products to electronically protect vehicles in tropical islands from salt pollution. I have the one that was installed on my 05 Stang in Hawaii from the dealership. I removed in when I traded it is for an 06. PM me for details if interested.

In Hawaii there were stories of rampant crime and vehicular vandalism. I had qa 2005 Ford Mustang convertible and never had problems whatsoever even on the non-touristy side.

I would research the current crime demographic of Houston compared to Aruba and the results might surprise you. Additionally, when you are there, you will regret not having the Stang with you when you are overlooking the beutiful sunset or desolate road that would otherwise be an enticing drive for any Mustang lover. Sorry this story is so long....I write books!
Good luck and God Bless