Oceanfron Ownership

I have a beautiful oceanfront location. The house is modest, but I expect to change that in the next year or two. I'm just about smack-dab on the Oregon/Calif. border, and the weather can be harsh--think 'rain-forest with wintertime howling winds and pouring rain' kind of harsh.
I want a Ferrari. I can afford a Ferrari. Tommy Lasorda said: "I bleed Dodger blue". Fine. I bleed Rossa Corsa, some Grigio, and a bit of yellow...
I'm thinking '00, maybe '01 360 (or maybe 456M GTA , if my wife prevails). But I don't want to destroy the car with salt/rust.
I can dehumidify the garage for moisture; I can heat for temperature; but, (and the question is...) How do I deal with salt air? Am I alone with this problem? (Wait...I can see it now: "He's got a problem living on the oceanfront?"...)
I've searched the archives as best I can and I don't see this question addressed. If I'm an inept archive searcher, I will stand corrected/admonished, especially if I am guided to the proper thread!

 

The modern cars (456 on, at least) have alloy bodies, so no rust problem.

If you keep it in the garage at night, it should be fine. Go for it!

 

Thanks, Don,
I'm aware of the alloy bodys, and that's got me encouraged to the point that I'm even thinking about it at all. If I lived inland, I'd probably be thinking something with carburetors! But even the alloy bodied cars must have a pile of expensive ferrous metal parts on the motor, body mountings, hinges, etc.
You're in Portland--not exactly the Gobi!--are you, or do you know of anyone dealing with these issues? Thanks!

 

Keith, I live just down the coast from you(relatively) and my experience is that when I lived right in town and only a stones throw from the ocean and salt laden wind, cars would rust quickly if not really protected, ie climate controled garage and regular washing after exposure.
I now live about 1/2 mile inland, on top of the first coastal ridge and the issue is primarily mitigated. I think you are smart to stay away from vintage stuff but with the newer cars you should be ok if you spend the extra time to be as preventative as possible (think lots of waxing, cleaning up to after every drive during certain seasons etc).
Ultimately, the newer models should be just like any other newer car and with care should ok. You might have to spend more on maintanance though, but believe me, it is so worth it. Good luck.

 

Get the 360 it's mostly aluminum. Regular washing and putting a cover on it will prevent anything noticeable. FWIW, when you go for a drive head inland as the coastal drives will wreak havoc with all the sea jizz

 

John & Srfcty,
Thanks, guys--I was kind of hoping to hear from you both, particularly you, John, since you are geographically close (130 miles or so?) to me. Any thoughts on the type of garage door that might be best? Any humidity level/air temp. maximums/minimums? Hmmmm...am I sounding like an over-analyzing neophyte?!

 

Well its understandable, as the cars are a big investment for most of us. Since I am 300' up and inland there are a lot of trees between me and the surf. I can hear it, and feel it(!), during storm season but do not get any salt spray this far up. My garage doors faces east and the garage is not heated but remains very even and tight. If you are right on the beach I would face doors away and build the garage deep. You might, space available, even think of a double system we once had where there is a full carport in front of the garage so you can, under cover spray off and dry the cars before putting them away. That way you do not get salt and road debris tracked into the garage. For most situations this is not necessary but it would be great if you are in a high salt/wind area. My doors are wood, but fit is more important than composition.

 

Keith....

That's my first name as well....your parents had good taste....heh.

Anyways, I buy a lot of cars from Vancouver, BC, as well as the island.....Porsche's mainly (zinc plated bodies)......and I don't consider what concerns you to be an issue at all in regards to where you live.......it's a temperate climate you've got compared to the east coast....and that's what I think makes it easy on the cars.

 

Keith-

No worries with the "modern" f-cars; just look at pics from last weeks Crystal Cove or Yard House events in Southern Cal section- it was raining and there still were some amazing cars. These events are on the coast, and I'd guess that at least 20% of the cars (all driven there) are stored close to the coast. Then there's all the Malibu (coastal) folks with f-cars and I would not be afraid to buy one of those cars after a proper PPI.

Wash you car frequently to keep salt spray from staying on finish, and you'll be fine. Enjoy and don't worry- just watch for black ice!

Regards,

Eric

 

I have several older, carb cars, and I spend quite a bit of time on the Oregon coast. No rust problems.

To be honest, I drive my cars quite a bit, and I'm not all that meticulous about washing them and keeping them clean, but still no problems.

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Eric, yes, coastal area and all but n. cal/s. or. get 2 to 3 times the rain, and much higher humidity year around so a bit more care needs to be taken the farther north you go. The area where Keith lives is also very windy, making the salt issue much of a problem.

Don, cool pic. How do you find short trips in the boxer to be? Definiteley a car on my wish list.

 

It's not bad at all. Driving in heavy stop and go traffic isn't great, but otherwise it's fine. Last night my son and I took it to the supermarket and loaded up three very large pumpkins in the front!

I usually leave the spare tire in the garage, or this would be impossible.

 

Don, that should have been a pic for the "things you've hauled in your fcar" thread!

 

Don, I have a rock just like that one offshore in your pic. When I saw it, I thought for a moment that it had been taken near me. Alas, I don't have a car like that one. All I've got is the stupid rock...sniff, whimper

 

OK, it was fun talking about the weather, now get out there and buy a Ferrari already!!

 

You know the reputation Alfas have for rusting.

I was living in Brigantine Beach (literally an island off Atlantic City) when I bought my Alfa Spider back in '79. I didn't have a climate controlled garage -- or any garage at all for a couple of years.

What I did have was undercoating and plenty of it. Not just factory undercoating, but a dealer thing -- about the consistency of tar.

I still have that car. It has a couple of spots of body rust around some dings, but otherwise is fine. Okay, after the first three years it moved into a garage. At night (outside during the day). But it didn't see a climate controlled garage until it was more than a decade old.

Corrosion of electrical components only became significant when I stopped driving it regularly.

So my advice would be get it undercoated, get a bottle of touch-up paint for dings, and drive it often.

Oh, and don't leave the top off at dusk. I left the Alfa parked with the top down in Atlantic City once: a polluted mist rolled in and settled as a sticky residue on the exposed vinyl upholstery, and the sun the next day baked it brown.