Store it or take it?

[94Bluvet]

Hi all,

Well, I'm leaving sunny New Mexico for England this summer. I know the topic has been covered several times but first, I'd like to know your suggestions on storing Bluvet for a two year period and second, has anyone taken a Corvette to England and would they advise it?

Thanks!

 

[rrubel]

Have you ever driven in England? Or, better question, have you ever driven a car that's built for the wrong side of the road? I've done both, though not in the same country, and I'll be the first to say that you should store it (or leave it with a trusted friend). It's *EXTREMELY* difficult to see traffic when you're sitting on the absolute far left, and in a country like England where passing is a requirement you're just asking for a head-on...

Also, petrol is $$$$$ and repair parts are few and far between.

My suggestion - store it, and get a turbo-diesel Audi A3 or similar while you're over there. Are you PCS'ing, or going for personal reasons?
[RICHR]

 

[NC2Stay]

...has anyone taken a Corvette to England and would they advise it?

This was a few years back, but a friend I had over here on a 2 year assignment bought a Camaro and took it back with him. I visited him in England a few times, and driving in that thing on the wrong side of the road was VERY SCAREY. Not to mention that many of the secondary roads in England are quite narrow.

Bob

 

[6 Shooter]

What do you think about letting 1 of us take care of it for you?

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[1stC3Vette]

Have you ever driven in England? Or, better question, have you ever driven a car that's built for the wrong side of the road? I've done both, though not in the same country, and I'll be the first to say that you should store it (or leave it with a trusted friend). It's *EXTREMELY* difficult to see traffic when you're sitting on the absolute far left, and in a country like England where passing is a requirement you're just asking for a head-on...

Also, petrol is $$$$$ and repair parts are few and far between.

My suggestion - store it, and get a turbo-diesel Audi A3 or similar while you're over there. Are you PCS'ing, or going for personal reasons?
[RICHR]

I agree. I just came back from England and found it hard enough to get used to the steering wheel being on the other side. Gas is extremely expensive.

Good luck,
Dino

 

[94Bluvet]

Thanks so much. I was pretty much leaning towards storage and you guys help sew that up. Yes, it's a PCS and sorry, I already have a taker for storing it!

 

[Vettelt193]

Thanks so much. I was pretty much leaning towards storage and you guys help sew that up. Yes, it's a PCS and sorry, I already have a taker for storing it!

make sure they drive the car, get it up to temperature and shift through the gears... in reality, once a week is best. the other option is to really 'store' the car, and prep it to not be driven. good luck regardless.

 

[74bigblock]

Yeah... store that sucker!!!

 

[PLRX]

Orders

Store it, you will have the lock, buy insurance...
a family member will use it, will race it, may brake it...
a friend will not care about it, like you, but you...
if you leave it with anyone, you will drive yourself crazy wondering how is your "baby" doing, you will call weekly, others (non-corvette owners) will not understand your obssesion...we will

Again...STORE YOUR BABY!

I tell you this...I'm a Marine, I was deployed to Okinawa from Jun-Dec 2002 and I would call my wife and there were two standard questions
#1 How are you babe? - Good, - I love you, then...
#2 How is the vette? (Once I did ask this one first, she hanged up :L )


Have fun in England, is a "very fast" country

 

[94Bluvet]

Wow, great info from everyone. I'm storing it in Pennsylvania and have several options. Has anyone ever heard of this place?


http://www.bradysbend.com/

 

[rrubel]

You won't be sorry you stored it...

Where are you PCS'ing to?
[RICHR]

 

[94Bluvet]

RAF Mildenhall. I hear it's a great assignment.

 

[koolaid117]

Um, not to be nosy, but what is PCS? :confused

 

[PLRX]

Permanent Change of Station orders (military)

 

[Vettelt193]

You won't be sorry you stored it...

[RICHR]

I have to disagree. When a car sits for an extended period, you will probably have problems with many things. I have had experience with a C4 sitting for an extended period (year or more) and it wasn't a fun one. Plan on not only storage costs, but full fluid changes twice... once before going in, once right after. If anything rusts, corrodes, or you get rats or anything else, you will have problems there too. You have to realize that nothing is going to move on the car for a looong time. the brakes won't be pumped, the power steering will just sit in one spot, the wheel bearings won't move... the tires will sit in the same spot (plan on new ones from flat-spotting). It is really hard on machinery to not run for that long.

In all honesty, unless you are really attached to the car, I think it would be vastly cheaper to sell it and buy another in 2 years, or find someone that you trust to take it out once a week to keep it running. Just be careful of the whole situation, it is a rough one

 

[koolaid117]

Permanent Change of Station orders (military)

Thanks!! You learn something new everyday!!

 

[rrubel]

Haven't been to Mildenhall, but I'm told it's a really nice location. I spent time in Harrowgate (MHS) and another location I can't mention . England is great because it's green almost year-round.

VetteLT193, if you're going to actually store the car, yes there are procedures you need to follow - including putting the car on jackstands to keep the tires from flatspotting, and putting a stabilizer in the fuel tank. IIRC, all that's been discussed in detail in earlier threads.

[RICHR]

 

[Vettelt193]

VetteLT193, if you're going to actually store the car, yes there are procedures you need to follow - including putting the car on jackstands to keep the tires from flatspotting, and putting a stabilizer in the fuel tank. IIRC, all that's been discussed in detail in earlier threads.

[RICHR]

you shouldn't store a car on jack-stands, especially a C4. The 'correct' way is to get a second set of wheels and tires and store the car on them. even with that, tires that are stored off the car for 2 years + however old they are now may not be good to drive on anyway, so you will probably want a new set after storage.

I am just trying to tell the downside of storing... not only will the car continue to go down in value over the next 2 years on top of storage and insurance costs, but it will most likely have other stuff that needs to be fixed too. If we were talking about a '67, a car that is going up in value, and a rare car to get your hands on anyway, the pit-falls of storing weigh in less.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Am I the only one who says bring it to England? I love driving Thunder in England. The English are courteous drivers and give you extra room when they see you on the wrong side of the car. There are several American car clubs in the UK and you can order parts from the US to your FPO/APO and have them here in 2 days.

You get to buy your gas on base at US prices and you get GAS STAMPS when you travel. I cross Europe in the Vette at least 2 times a year and I pay the Local price for gas.

On the HoverSpeed it is only ½ hour to France and the pleasure of driving a Vette in Europe is second to none. Watch for Tom Falconer’s C6 write up in Corvette Fever. The poor lad had to spend days driving a C6 around Europe.

The roads are great, the country side is gorgeous and the people are fun.

I have to go to the track now. I will post some photos of Thunder in France when I get home.

IMHO you would be an F***ing Idiot if you not to bring the car.:W:W:W

 

[94Bluvet]

Wow, am I getting what I asked for or what! Please keep them coming , I really appreciate everyones input.