Im leaving the country, what should I do about my 348?

Its starting to get a bit to cold here in EU(Im a girl I know!) and I must go back to Australia for the better weather to work in, but my 348 will stay.

I dont have many opitions, I can let the car sit. Or I can send my girlfriend in just to start it up. No way in hell she will be driving it

Its a catch 22 if I let her take it around the block.......... it could be for the worse ;(

Whats the best from my choices? Totally sit for 2-3months of have it started every week for 10mins say? I heard sometimes it better to have a totally rest then just to be started.

I know both arnt good for the car, one thing I have noticed the more I drive it the better it goes......

Thanks guys in advanced.

 

Doesn't Australia have some law that if you own a car overseas for more than 2 years that you get to import it to Australia duty free??

Seems like easy money to do that as it should make your car half the price of others there.

 

Very true, but maybe I should have made myself more clear. I will be coming back. I only spend about 10months of the year in EU and then 2months in Australia. While I would rather have the car in Australia, I have more time for it in EU.

I want to keep the car in its best condition. I dont want to come back with some problems........

 

Right. I was just thinking it would be easy money to sell her in Australia and buy her replacement at half-price back in the EU.

 

I dont think I can get another 348 in EU as in good condition as this one. It took me far to long to find a clean one. If I was to look back at the second best buy I had, I will would be a huge loss to me to make money on something that I love.

I was thinking about buying another one and doing what you are saying, you can make some very good money from it!

 

Keep the car in the garage for 2 or 3 months WITHOUT starting it....

 

Thats what I reckon also. Disconnect the battery and leave it sit. It should start up when you get back. When you get back to it after 3 months or whenever. Start her up, let her warm up to operating temps, then go put some fresh fuel in it. Then drive the bad boy.

 

Pap,
Letting it sit is better than his girlfriend starting it up weekly? Why is that? I would have thought the opposite.

 

Well.........everyone has different opinions. Some guys will tell you to start it daily or weekly. Ive left many cars sit for months on end and then restart it without any problems. Except for stale fuel. But that will happen anyways over the 1st few weeks, being started or not. When the car is started everytime........it would pay to let it get to operating temp everytime so that the engine oil does not condensate. That means starting the car and letting it idle for at least 15-20mins each time for the oil to start getting to its opertating temp to stop condensation in the engine. Id rather let it sit, and then restart in 2-3months time. BUT-This is a Ferrari!!! So there may be issues when left untouched for 2 or 3 months. Bloody Ferrar's!

 

Would putting it on jackstands be prudents so the tires don't flat spot?

Gene

 

Unload the shocks but don't let the wheels hang.

 

I don't drive her in winter aswell, I use a trickle loader for the battery. Alarm siren when low battery level.

My mechanic told me:
- tires 3.0 bar
- start her every 3/4 weeks let it run till the fan start to work
- push her a bit forward/backward to avoid flat spots.

 

I store my cars for 5 months (Wisconsin) and if the max tire psi is say 44lbs, then I blow them up to a good 40psi, stabilizer in a full gas tank, put it away totally washed and charge the battery every 2.5 - 3 months. Works like a charm never any problems in 12 years.

 

It all depends what your girlfriend looks like. If she's cute DON'T let her drive it. She'll have every Don Juan following her back to the garage. If she's not then let her drive it until it gets to operating temp. then park it.

 

Thanks guys. I will turn the battery off(is this the same thing as disconneting it?") and wont start it for the whole time.

and Rivee my girlfriends 22 and a bit of a hottie so I better not let her drive it around the block(IN THE SNOW!!)

 

Yeah man, its the same.
Pics please......

 

here's a rear!
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Looks like trouble to me

 

Very very nice rear!! She is gorgeous. Any more......

 

Thats enough pic's for now, she'd kill me if she knew I posted it.

 

Looks great!!
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She sure does.

 

nice. Yeah, agreed, do not let her around the car unattended, or worse leave her with the keys! Go ahead and post some more pics of her... we won't tell her, promise!
gordon

 

More pics, more pics!!!

 

Ive been meaning to get her in a mini skirt and taking some real nice shots of her and the 348 but the problem we always have is that my car is not at my house(I live in a flat) so we have to drive about 6kms to get there. We always seem to forget the camera and its never like, just go down stairs to take a few shots. One day I promise to post some more.