Post a recent picture of your vehicle(s)

[clyde]

Originally Posted by JST

It really doesn't look 10 years old.

So, tell me how you keep a convertible that lives outside looking so nice.

[JST]

Originally Posted by clyde

So, tell me how you keep a convertible that lives outside looking so nice.

Car cover.

California car duster.

Swearing.

Rage at not having a garage.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by JST

Car cover.

California car duster.

Swearing.

Rage at not having a garage.

Some of that sounds like work. The Jaguar is gray, so it actually looks okay without being washed. Except it sits partly under a tree. Where birds like to sit and shit. I may try to push the Miata a few feet further forward so the Jaguar can be not under the tree, but then I'm not sure the lawn guys will be able to get to the backyard.

I am so glad these are some of the biggest problems in my life.

[JST]

Originally Posted by clyde

Some of that sounds like work. The Jaguar is gray, so it actually looks okay without being washed. Except it sits partly under a tree. Where birds like to sit and shit. I may try to push the Miata a few feet further forward so the Jaguar can be not under the tree, but then I'm not sure the lawn guys will be able to get to the backyard.

I am so glad these are some of the biggest problems in my life.

The thing about the cover is that it's not that much work as long as you cover the car shortly after you park it. If you cover it before it rains, you're fine. Tree schmutz can be dealt with using the car duster, which works surprisingly well. Bird shit is annoying, but I keep a small bottle of some sort of Meguiars product in the trunk along with a couple of towels, and that makes for an easy clean up when needed.

Or just leave it outside and don't worry about it.

[Sharp11]

When I had the Merc, it lived outside - if I left it un-driven for five days or more, mice began to nest in the engine compartment. It was one of the reasons I sold it.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by Sharp11

When I had the Merc, it lived outside - if I left it un-driven for five days or more, mice began to nest in the engine compartment. It was one of the reasons I sold it.

This is also a small concern of mine. I have seen small critters (chipmunks, mostly) scampering in the immediate vicinity of the Miata over the past few years. OTOH, I'm pretty sure one of them or a mouse died in the Miata the first winter I had it while it was parked in the garage. A couple critters have died in our garage over time, too. So, ultimately, I'm not sure that being garaged reduces the chances of critter infestation all that much.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by JST

The thing about the cover is that it's not that much work as long as you cover the car shortly after you park it. If you cover it before it rains, you're fine. Tree schmutz can be dealt with using the car duster, which works surprisingly well. Bird shit is annoying, but I keep a small bottle of some sort of Meguiars product in the trunk along with a couple of towels, and that makes for an easy clean up when needed.

Or just leave it outside and don't worry about it.

I'm probably going with that last one for now. But it feels so wrong.

[Sharp11]

Originally Posted by clyde

This is also a small concern of mine. I have seen small critters (chipmunks, mostly) scampering in the immediate vicinity of the Miata over the past few years. OTOH, I'm pretty sure one of them or a mouse died in the Miata the first winter I had it while it was parked in the garage. A couple critters have died in our garage over time, too. So, ultimately, I'm not sure that being garaged reduces the chances of critter infestation all that much.

I think that's true, it's more about not driving it. I was away awhile back and hadn't driven the always-garaged ZHP for ten days and sure enough - mice got into the engine compartment.

Our cats are no help - too well-fed and happy to be of any good use - though, with great pride, they are good at tracking the mice and pointing them out.

[John V]

Originally Posted by clyde

This is also a small concern of mine. I have seen small critters (chipmunks, mostly) scampering in the immediate vicinity of the Miata over the past few years. OTOH, I'm pretty sure one of them or a mouse died in the Miata the first winter I had it while it was parked in the garage. A couple critters have died in our garage over time, too. So, ultimately, I'm not sure that being garaged reduces the chances of critter infestation all that much.

It's much easier to trap mice in the garage before they get into the car than it is to trap them outside before they get into the car.

Last summer I didn't drive my truck for about three weeks and birds built a nest in between the bed and the cab

[clyde]

Originally Posted by Sharp11

I think that's true, it's more about not driving it. I was away awhile back and hadn't driven the always-garaged ZHP for ten days and sure enough - mice got into the engine compartment.

Our cats are no help - too well-fed and happy to be of any good use - though, with great pride, they are good at tracking the mice and pointing them out.

Teach the cats whose boss and make hem earn their keep. They should enjoy it.

Originally Posted by John V

It's much easier to trap mice in the garage before they get into the car than it is to trap them outside before they get into the car.

This is true. We probably should set some traps in the garage. At least we'd know where to look when we start smelling dead critters. Ugh.