Hwo Do Collectors Maintain Their Cars?
12-17-2017, 07:11 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Hwo Do Collectors Maintain Their Cars?
So I'm looking at my car (C7 Z06) here in Iowa (now put away for the winter) and a question comes to mind:
How do people with high end cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti), or collectors with a number of cars maintain their cars when they know the cars aren't or can't be driven a lot?
Do they have car covers for all of their cars? Do they buy/use gas stabilizers by the case and/or change out the gas tank every year? Do they change out the rubber every 3-5 years to prevent the tires from drying out and speed de-rating?
My car is sitting under a cover in a heated garage cleaned and waxed on a trickle charger with tires pumped up to 40 psi and Stabil in the tank. Is that what all of these other guys all do?
How do people with high end cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti), or collectors with a number of cars maintain their cars when they know the cars aren't or can't be driven a lot?
Do they have car covers for all of their cars? Do they buy/use gas stabilizers by the case and/or change out the gas tank every year? Do they change out the rubber every 3-5 years to prevent the tires from drying out and speed de-rating?
My car is sitting under a cover in a heated garage cleaned and waxed on a trickle charger with tires pumped up to 40 psi and Stabil in the tank. Is that what all of these other guys all do?
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Mark Ca (01-31-2018)
12-18-2017, 12:51 AM
#3
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
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I can tell you. In Silicon Valley in the area my detail shop is in, they have people come in. We do several collections for people who are on a company prospectus.. It is not unusual to run into someone maintaining the mechanicals. Most understand the cars need to be driven once in awhile.
The lesser financially endowed, so to speak, will deliver their cars to my shop so it is driven every few months. In several instances I will go and pick them up.
it is a mix, depending on the owner.
The lesser financially endowed, so to speak, will deliver their cars to my shop so it is driven every few months. In several instances I will go and pick them up.
it is a mix, depending on the owner.
12-18-2017, 08:36 AM
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thanks for the responses.
Looking at my car sitting in the garage, it just seemed like an interesting situation for someone that might have 4-5 or maybe even 10 cars, none of which get driven maybe less than a thousand miles a year. More than that, and I would agree that professional services are required because the scope of the job would have expanded into a full time job.
Follow-up: other than detailing, do collectors worry about gas stabilization and rubber degradation?
Looking at my car sitting in the garage, it just seemed like an interesting situation for someone that might have 4-5 or maybe even 10 cars, none of which get driven maybe less than a thousand miles a year. More than that, and I would agree that professional services are required because the scope of the job would have expanded into a full time job.
Follow-up: other than detailing, do collectors worry about gas stabilization and rubber degradation?
12-25-2017, 12:32 PM
#5
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Thanks for the responses.
Looking at my car sitting in the garage, it just seemed like an interesting situation for someone that might have 4-5 or maybe even 10 cars, none of which get driven maybe less than a thousand miles a year. More than that, and I would agree that professional services are required because the scope of the job would have expanded into a full time job.
Follow-up: other than detailing, do collectors worry about gas stabilization and rubber degradation?
Looking at my car sitting in the garage, it just seemed like an interesting situation for someone that might have 4-5 or maybe even 10 cars, none of which get driven maybe less than a thousand miles a year. More than that, and I would agree that professional services are required because the scope of the job would have expanded into a full time job.
Follow-up: other than detailing, do collectors worry about gas stabilization and rubber degradation?
Fluid changes occupy a lot of time. Battery tenders are a must, especially for newer cars that keep complex systems alive. I've never used fuel stabilizers in any of my cars and never had fuel degradation issues.
Modern radials don't seem to flatspot like the old bias ply did, but I try to drive them as often as possible. A maintenance log for each car is mandatory. I have friends with large collections. They have too many to drive regularly, so fuel stabilizers are necessary.