Two weeks into winter storage and I am losing my mind!! | FerrariChat

Two weeks into winter storage and I am losing my mind!!

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by SlickMurphy, Dec 20, 2005.

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  1. SlickMurphy

    SlickMurphy Formula Junior

    Aug 18, 2004
    275
    Essex
    Full Name:
    David
    My 77' 308 has been laid up for only 2 weeks here in CT and it seems like a damn eternity. I have read ALL of the threads about properly winterizing and storing the car for the long cold winter here in CT and frankly, I don't like it. We have had off and on snow with some seriously heavy sanding and salting that has not washed off of the road. The sand has slowly made it's way to the sides of the road but the salt is still present on most of the roadways. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the future forecast to indicate some rain or showers to minimize the salt on the roads.

    My question is, will the salt REALLY do alot of damage to the car if it is dry and not moistened? Aren't the wheel wheels fiberglass? I would rather not wash it after the exposure to salt since the water hitting the salt NOT washed off would form the foundation for electrolysis and future rust. Also, I would have to drive the car AFTER it is washed to get the water out of the nooks and crannies in the car to prevent water sitting which could be worse than the salt exposure itself. I have to remind myself that this is not an appreciating vintage Ferrari but a depreciating classic that I paid $25k for. I do love the car DEARLY and would like to preserve it's life as long as possible, but I miss the screaming engine every single minute I am not flogging it and winter storage is beginning to seem like a waste of my short life.

    David
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,418
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    SHHHHHH.....it IS appreciating....look around the market and see how many you find! That is Step 1....they get rare in the marketplace.....

    I say the salt WILL damage it, but I take mine surfing to the beach all the time.....

    Hop a plane, come on down for the Holidays, we'll drink a bunch of Booker's and you can keep the batteries charged in my two....they are sitting out at the Ranch with the tractors......
     
  3. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    David, you should do what us Noo Yorkers do - drive the car all year around. Unless there are snow drifts and we see cars sliding off the road, our cars are out on the road.

    I'm getting a Gallardo soon, and I can assure you it ain't going to be sitting in my garage from Jan - April.

    Don't rob yourself of the pleasure of driving these exotics. Wash 'em. Take care of 'em. But enjoy 'em. You only live once.

    Take your cue from these guys:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40519

    Best.
     
  4. Dino Martini

    Dino Martini F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2004
    4,619
    Calgary Alberta
    Full Name:
    Martin
  5. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jun 2, 2004
    2,669
    Essex, UK
    Full Name:
    Andy M
    Sure, dry salt won't harm your car but add a little water and you will be off to the races. No need to wash your car or get it wet to achieve this - a small amount of condensation will create the conditions. Ferrari has never been known for its rust proofing programme - and your car was built before they even thought of the programme!
    I do a fair amount of sea fishing here in the UK and you soon learn to rinse everything as soon as possible in fresh water.

    I sympathise with your plight but unless you have a bone dry, de-humidified garage to store the car between trips I would hang on until at least the next big downpour.
     
  6. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
  7. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,302
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    I feel your pain but pre '84 308's rust pretty easy. My cars have been sitting in the garage for about 3 weeks and I feel your pain.

    Dave
     
  8. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,619
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    Yes, salt destroys cars from the inside/underside. In fact if I had a Ferrari sharing the garage with a salt-encrusted daily driver, I might get one of those "carcoon" things to isolate it from the salt water you're probably depositing in the garage from your other car. Salt residue will accelerate corrosion the next time the car sees any moisture.

    I posted on this in another thread - used to live in Cleveland and Chicago, where my cars' door bottoms were perforated with rust and the front and lower sides got sand-blasted by gritty water from the road - pinpricks of rust all over. The floorpans actually rusted out of my MGB. I bought lots of cheap cars - used Civics and Sentras - to sacrifice to the winter, and kept my nicer car for the other seasons. It somehow made it bearable to pull into the garage and see my 'baby' clean and shiny in the next bay.

    And BigTex is right - I don't think your car is depreciating, especially if you keep it well.

    Or move to California...
     
  9. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    #9 aleventhal, Dec 20, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I will let you know in a year or two - my 400i is driven in all weather (just put 4 snows on it) - my philosophy is that unlike my Boxer, a 400 (or your 308) is pretty replaceable - if it disolves from the salt, just make it a parts car for the next one!

    First two pics are with the snow tires - covered and sand and salt last weekend - third pic is with the TRXs during the first snow of the season - boy the suck in bad weather!

    Alex

    Dino #10704
    365bb #18265
    400i #049773
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  10. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,619
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    Great photo of the 400i outside.

    I have a different opinion, though. Philosophically, I view the Boxer and 308 as special cars that we ought to try to preserve. Apart from the Boxer being more expensive, I don't see much difference between letting either car rust away as a winter driver - especially when you can have more fun in a Jeep.

    OTOH, I guess we can always use more rusty 400i hulks for parts. :(
     
  11. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Well I *DO* agree that the Boxer and 308 are both more special than the 400 - so I guess we are both cool with my use of the big brown fiat :)

    When I put the boxer above the 308 vis-a-vis replacablility I was only speaking of rarity - not value OR "specialness" - I just meant that there were only 387 365BBs built, versus thousands of 308s - so while i figure i can replace my 400 if/when it rusts out, finding another 365BB would not be as easy - not a value thing, just availability. Hope you did not take offense.

    Finally - I am having GREAT fun with the 400i on blizzaks - more than a jeep, IMHO, and certainly more than my wife's very capable audi allroad or my old 04 audi a8l - this is the most fun i have ever had with a daily driver - and really, to me, the driving is what these cars are about. If it rusts, I can repair it or throw it away, depending how bad it gets - will the world mourn the loss of one poop brown 400i? I don't think so. :) Anyway, for once and for all we will learn how long these cars really last if used AS CARS - and that is good in the interest of science. :)

    Alex
     

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