I have a 2002 Jetta which I absolutely love. I am the second owner and it has only 73,000 mi on it. My driving needs are very limited - I use the car for trips less than 10 mi for 95% of my trips and once in a while go on a road trip of 200 mi or so.
This summer my employer is sending me overseas for two years, and I cannot take my car with me. However, my employer will pay for specialized car storage (they will start the car once a month and will roll it several feet to keep the tires round).
I am torn on whether I should sell my beloved Jetta or store it until I return. My argument for selling is that the car is old and will only get older. My argument for keeping it is that I’d get $4,000 or so for it now, but I won’t be able to buy that good of an old used car for $4,000 when I get back. Again, my usage is super low but I do need a car (the area where I live is served by public transport, but not 100%).
So, what do you think? Would a 13 yrs old Jetta survive storage? Will a 15 yrs old Jetta still be a good car when I return, considering if it has such low mileage (72k)? I have changed the time belt once - are there any other major expenses coming my way?
“I have a 2002 Jetta which I absolutely love” - OP
Close your eyes. Now repeat the above statement over and over twenty times. You have your answer, Grasshopper.
Two years will pass quickly. And you’ll then return to your beloved friend.
Before you go, add some Stabile to the gas tank and fill it. Get everything up to date. And get the email of the specialty shop that will keep it running for you. Open up a communication with them, and touch base with them regularly.
Sure. I’ve got a car that’s been in storage for more than 15 years now. I had to move it last summer to give workers access for garage upgrades. Started on the first try, ran like a top. Storage is not hard on cars as long as you do it right.
Put sta-bil in the gas tank, change the oil 10 miles or so before you store it, and storage won’t hurt it any.
If there’s a service you’ll be provided that will do the common sense stuff to keep it well cared for in storage, I’d keep it. Then you’ll be driving the very same Jetta again to the places you visit upon your return.
I think this is a good routine for a stored vehicle.
Someone to start the engine, idle for a few minutes, then drive it around the block once a week.
Store inside a completely dry & unheated building, and out of direct sunlight.
A longer drive, including some speeds in the 40-50 mpg range – 15 minutes or so – once a month.
If you love it, keep it. That’s almost always the right answer, and especially true as your employer will pay for the storage. At this point the age of the car is much less of a factor in its value than its mileage and condition. Two years one way or the other just isn’t very significant, and this particular car is worth more to you than to anyone else. Because you love it.
starting it periodically without recharging the battery will only result in a dead battery. Have them connect a trickle charger and leave it connected. The cord is long enough that they could move the car a few feet.
The one below is $20 and I used if for a car that was not used for about a year.
I would keep the car. There are different opinions on how to store it. The most important thing IMO is to treat the fuel with a fuel stabilizer. Since it is likely ethanol fuel I’d recommend a stabilizer recommended for “marine” motors. This way the ethanol will be treated and the fuel will be stabilized. Fuel that is not stabilized with degrade over 2 years and can be a significant problem when you return the car to regular service.
Next, have the car washed and waxed and clean up the interior too. Critters, mice and rats, can nest in a car that sits unused. Where you park it makes a difference. If you keep it in an old barn for instance, mice should be expected and a plan to deal with them needs to be considered.
As for starting the car periodically. Starting a car and then just letting it idle for a few minutes isn’t really helpful. Moisture builds up in the exhaust system that isn’t burned off and can cause rust for instance. I think starting a car is helpful if you get in out on the road for 10 to 20 miles. This way the bearings, transmission, differential, brakes, all get used a bit so they get lubricated and parts don’t get “frozen” together. Then just park the car again for another 4 months or so.
When parked using a “battery tender” type of charger is a good idea. Otherwise simply pull off the negative battery cable and move it aside so it can’t come in contact with the battery terminal.
Yeah I would keep it. People on out of country assignments though still tend to come back home from time to time for funerals, weddings, business, and other events so I’d keep it and drive it on those occasions.
Before putting it in storage, use up the tank of gas, then add a double dose of Stabil and a fresh tank of name-brand gas. I’d use a battery tender and park it somewhere out of the weather.
I’m with the ‘‘keep it’’ consortium .
My 79 is ‘‘stored’’ on the side of the front driveway and gets driven a whopping twice a year.
– has STA-BIL in both tanks.
has a grand total of 71k miles on it.
last put in new gas about…two years ago !
Since it’s stored outside I have covers on the tires to guard against UV degradation and a solar trickle charger laying on the dash .
Starts right up and off I go to the rental for yard work.
“My 79 is ‘‘stored’’ on the side of the front driveway and gets driven a whopping twice a year.”
I had my 86 Riviera parked in the driveway outside my third garage stall continuously. The house next door was being sold and the realtor came over and hassled my wife about the car parked in the driveway-did it have current plates etc. Thought it was affecting his ability to sell the house. I cleaned the stall out and moved it inside just to be nice. This is the same guy that years ago used to own a hardware store and as a kid I’d like to go in and look around at all the hardware. He watched me like a hawk like I was going to steal something from him. He’s dead now, not of my doing.
Interesting story @Bing . In this area (northern Calif) you can park your car in you own driveway (on your own property) as long as you like, and it doesn’t have to have any plates at all. It doesn’t matter whether the plates are current or expired. Unless you park it off your property and on the street, then it has to have currently registered plates.
If a car parked in your own driveway is an eyesore though the city can – and will – send someone on the city staff out to point out that fact, and tell you that you have 10 days to clean up the neighborhood visual eyesore. Which would mean in the case of a car, temporarily moving it, cleaning all the debris underneath, parking and washing it, leaving it exactly in the same place it was.
Still, it’s good of you to be a good neighbor, and be considerate of your neighbor’s interest in getting the best price for his property, and making a temporary modification to the parking spot. Good for you!
George, in good old Minnysoder, the plates have to be up to date if the car is parked outside, even if on private property. Just the way it is. I have a neighbor across our street who’s an absolute nutcase about this. He forced our next door neighbor to sell off her late husband’s beloved Mustang II becuase she couldn’t afford to catch up with the tab fees. I’ve never quite forgiven the annoying little “bleep” for doing that to her. There was no reason for him to do that. It wasn’t an eyesore or anything. That car sitting there did’t bother me one bit.
How long ago was the timing belt job done? If it’s been a number of years the point could be made that it may need to be replaced before the car goes into storage.
Odds are nothing will happen but there’s always the possibility of an aged belt deciding to give up without warning. It would be tragic if it decided to snap during one of those monthly startups.
Just some food for thought.
"He watched me like a hawk like I was going to steal something from him. He’s dead now, not of my doing.
Glad you cleared that up, thinking you may have committed murder over suspected shoplifting and an eyesore car."
Just to set the record straight there was about 50 years between the two events. The one when I was about 12 and the other when I was about 60. And the car was not an eyesore. It was waxed and polished with current plates and fully drive-able and insured and no rust, just an extra car, but a classic Riviera.
