Anyone park their F-car outside in Texas?

Dear All…Long story, short: I live in a 100+ yr old house WITHOUT a garage, and since it is in a historic district, I've concluded that the biddies on the commission will not let me have the garage I want, and my wife & I refuse to cave and build it with their limitations.

We've explored other options - move, no Ferrari, car condo, etc. - and the one doomsday scenario I come back to is to just say, F*** it!, park the Fezza in the back yard!

Our back yard is fully fenced (6 - 8" high wooden fence), has a concrete parking pad, a Shelter Logic portable garage that I use to keep tree crap off my Porsche & provide some measure of protection against sub-crazy sized hail. Our back yard has a couple each mature elms and pecans, which keeps it relatively cool. However, this is Texas, and I know the second I pull the trigger, we're gonna have a repeat of Summer 2011.

2011 North American heat wave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My big fear is all that Ferrari leather shrinking like George Costanza's frightened turtle, and Ferrari plastic parts turning to goo. Am I being too much of a worry wart? Does anyone here park their Prancing Pony outside in the Texas heat? Are there options to keep my wished-for Ferrari in climate-controlled comfort that I may not have thought about? Thank you, in advance, for any advice…T

 

Thanks. I am worried about Texas' weather being a drag on it and me. I already have every weather app imaginable on my phone, in case I have to run home & move the Porsche under cover ahead of a hail storm. A car port would offer protection from above, and sides would be protected by house/fences. I'll have to check with the busy bodies. I suspect the answer is it'll be a pain if they deem it's a permanent structure/visible from a public street.

I treat the leather in my Porsche about five or six times per year, Meguiars Leather Conditioner (switching over to Leatherique when this bottle runs out) + Griot for rubber/vinyl, in the hopes that it'll do some good, and as an offering to appease the gods of car care. My real worry is the heat, given Ferrari's rep with plastic, leather, etc....T

 

That's encouraging, since Dallas is reasonably dry, but that's coming from someone who used to live in Memphis, TX, which is very humid. I've seen more threads on sticky 430/360 buttons than sticky 456M/575M threads, so that may need to go into my calculus, especially as I do really want a V12. Thanks for the thoughts....T

 

Didn't think about the insurance angle. I'll have to look into that w/ our carrier.

The car storage places I've seen in DFW are either far from where I live, northwest of Dallas, so that it'd be a chore to get up early on the weekend, drive to the location, take car out, enjoy a good ride, put it back, drive back home. If anyone can recommend a car storage place that I may have missed, I'd really appreciate it….T

 

Thanks, Rob. With a metal roofed car port, I would guess that would protect from all but the craziest weather Texas can dish out. Plus, it'd keep tree related detritus off the car. Direct sunlight is really not an issue, since trees are leafed out in summer, and it's cool in winter when the trees are bare. I'll def check to see if a car port qualifies as a permanent structure and hence what level of issues I'll have with the local HLC.

Yeah, I have worried about wild life issues. Apart from squirrels, have only seen the occasional possum in the back yard. I suspect that if suggested leaving the dog - she's a terrier - outside to guard my car, I would be the one sleeping out back.

Thanks again, for the thoughts….T

 

Hi Jim…Saw them. As you say, web site is info poor. Also have seen this place, on-line.

Frequently Asked Questions | Dallas Car Storage

It likewise seems to be down in FW, so a good ways away….T

 

Agreed. That'd be my pref too, but I'm not willing to move from a paid-for house, in a neighborhood/city my wife & I otherwise love, and sacrifice a 10 min commute (if I walk) to work. Not to mention, give the HLC satisfaction. Hence, my seeking advice on a Plan B....T