Racer's Lounge - 6 Weeks Left.....

Until I put the Trans Am back in storage. It feels like I hardly drive my car.. Last year I put on 773 miles, this year I think I'm at like 600 miles....

Car has 50,8xx miles.. But I like storing it.. Keeps it out of the elements and keeps the miles off

^^^ X2.LOL I'm feeling the pain also but I rarely drive her. I've prolly put less then 1000 the last few years. It's been stuck in between 28,000 to 29,000 miles.lmao

mine was in storage for all of summer until 3 weeks ago, i put 800 miles on it with a road trip and then its been sitting since. ive got 45xxx on her. last year i think i put 600 if that. i lost my storage spot tho this year so i gotta start looking.

^^^ X2.LOL I'm feeling the pain also but I rarely drive her. I've prolly put less then 1000 the last few years. It's been stuck in between 28,000 to 29,000 miles.lmao
Since 2006 (when I first started storing the car) I've put on maybe 10,000 miles on the car.. That is an average of ~2,000 miles per year... And dropping

Psh, I drive mine 365 days a year and still only has 96,000. Though there are times where I wish I had a DD I probably would if I lived up north.

well you guys will probably have your cars looking perfect and running like new for many many years.


i however daily drive mine and i always have long trips. i couldnt imagine caging my car

up for months at a time, i bought it to get me from A to B and occasionally
(pfft occasionally XD) haul ass.

ive put over 7k-10k miles on it since may when i got it.

guess my car will be rundown before yours but yours will be worth alot more $$$.

Nice cars btw

Since 2006 (when I first started storing the car) I've put on maybe 10,000 miles on the car.. That is an average of ~2,000 miles per year... And dropping

Same hear, once I got to putting her away. The mileage started to decrease not sure if it's because of the mods/modding. One things for sure though, the wifey is starting to get more and more vocal each year. About the insuarance being reinstated for a few months and the ride just sitting more and more.lmao:bang:

Psh, I drive mine 365 days a year and still only has 96,000. Though there are times where I wish I had a DD I probably would if I lived up north.
I don't want to drive mine year round.. I could if I want to but I choose not to... I have no squeaks or rattles... NOW with the exception of my drivers side front seat.. it jsut started to squeak like 1 week ago lol.. Have to track that squeak down.. Other than that, my car is sound and quite

well you guys will probably have your cars looking perfect and running like new for many many years.


i however daily drive mine and i always have long trips. i couldnt imagine caging my car

up for months at a time, i bought it to get me from A to B and occasionally
(pfft occasionally XD) haul ass.

ive put over 7k-10k miles on it since may when i got it.

guess my car will be rundown before yours but yours will be worth alot more $$$.

Nice cars btw
Yup my paint is immaculate.. Shiny, smooth, wet looking with depth... I just KBBd my car.. still worth a pretty penny....

I know the caged up feeling all to well. Especially deep into winter on them days that seem actually ok to drive on. And yah see someone else in there whip and your like dam... But I tell my self I have to stay strong gotta perservere.lmao

Yup my paint is immaculate.. Shiny, smooth, wet looking with depth... I just KBBd my car.. still worth a pretty penny....


i bet, imagine what it will be worth in ten years:D

I know the caged up feeling all to well. Especially deep into winter on them days that seem actually ok to drive on. And yah see someone else in there whip and your like dam... But I tell my self I have to stay strong gotta perservere.lmao


kinda makes me wonder what will happen with all the roadsalt ill run into constantly running from NC to VA and back this winter- and future winters.

wow, this will be my first winter with the car. 0.o bring it snowstorms!

I don't mind storing mine half the year. I actually get sick of driving the manual by the end of summer/early fall. Getting some new stuff next winter to make it fun again for next year.

damn that sucks. Since my car originally came from a warm climate and is rust free, i stored it every winter while i was up north, but now that i'm back in florida, i don't have to. hell i'll probably start driving mine more as the car shows start up again. i went to a monthly one tonight in downtown fort myers. a 10th anniv. trans am parked next to me :)

I usually put ~ 5k mi a year on it and it's currently at 134,1xx. I love seeing people's jaws drop when they ask me the mileage and i tell them and then their next question is "how much was the paintjob?" i get more funny looks when i tell them that ~ 60-70% of the car is original paint. the fenders, doors, mirrors, quarter panels, and hatch/spoiler have never been repainted to my knowledge.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff279/pdennis93/generic%20photos/100_2246.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff279/pdennis93/generic%20photos/100_2231.jpg

Already racked up 4000 miles since April. We'll see how much more before December (or first snow)

seems lately ive been doing more track miles then street miles

I drove mine a whopping 220 miles this year! Sometimes I wonder why bother keeping it, I could probably get some good coin out of it if I wanted to. A lot of people looking for low mileage SOM WS6's. 18k miles!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q97/BrntWS6/000_0005.jpg

These cars are meant to be driven people. You only live once. Drive it. Heck I drive mine in every opportunity unless it's it's icy roads or snowing. Rain or shine, she is driven.

These cars are meant to be driven people. You only live once. Drive it. Heck I drive mine in every opportunity unless it's it's icy roads or snowing. Rain or shine, she is driven.

ARE YOU CRAZY? Don't you know it will melt?

ARE YOU CRAZY? Don't you know it will melt?

HA! I have teh !melt mod.:nod:

Daily driver here, 208k miles. Honestly though if I lived up North I wouldn't drive it in the winter. I drove it up last winter for Christmas, wasn't too happy at the rust that showed up on my subframe connectors and sway bars. I wouldn't want 7 years so far of work turn to rust.

Gonna rent a car this December.:lol:

6 weeks? Why put a date on storing your car? Wait until it snows, then store it, that's what I do! No sense cutting off potential driving time for no reason.

Just passed 30k on my '99. I drive it almost every day during the warm months, but my commute is only 5 miles. So I barely do 1k a year at this point.

Dope

These cars are meant to be driven people. You only live once. Drive it. Heck I drive mine in every opportunity unless it's it's icy roads or snowing. Rain or shine, she is driven.
Why drive it through the elements when I can avoid it?

Avoid crazy people, keep miles off and avoid the elements seems like a good idea to me

6 weeks? Why put a date on storing your car? Wait until it snows, then store it, that's what I do! No sense cutting off potential driving time for no reason.
In IL, it rains jsut about every other day in October.. The weather gets colder, conditions get crappier.. why drive it when I can avoid all that, keep it in the garage, keep miles off and lessen my chances of someone plowing into it?

Seems like a good idea to me........

I wouldn't have even took storage insurance off it for that little of milage. When I lived in MI I would drive it when there was no salt on the roads.

Why don't you drive it more other than because of, "teh kraziez" and a little rain?

I wouldn't have even took storage insurance off it for that little of milage. When I lived in MI I would drive it when there was no salt on the roads.

Why don't you drive it more other than because of, "teh kraziez" and a little rain?
Don't have the time with my work schedule and my son

I'm putting mine away early so I can start on the cam swap while it's still decently warm out :P

Why drive it through the elements when I can avoid it?]

because we can.

there is no reason to put a toy through elements 'just because.' i have a truck for daily driving. when i work, i sometimes have to go to very bad areas, park in dirt lots, broken pavement, 4 inch deep mud, through floods, snow, etc. people think i should take my lowered, 28K mile trans am through all that shit 'just because its meant to be driven???'

i drive and enjoy her PLENTY when on track, passing vetts, porsches, ricers, and even an audi R8 last time.

i will never sell her, but in 20-30 years, when the 'meant to be driven' cars are wrecked or rotted into the ground, mine will still be in pristine condition, safe, warm and dry in a garage.

You had to bring this topic up and remind me it's almost time to put it away. I finally got mine out a few weeks ago and have about 500 miles on it this year. I'll be lucky to get another 300 miles and a trip to the track before it's back into storage.

i wish my uncle would store his 01 z28 every winter.. he bought it brand new in 2001 and has put over 100k miles on it DD it through PA winters and salt.. lets jus say teh car has some serious undercarage rust, rusted strut towers and rusted frame rails..

I just turned over 9900 miles last week. I've put about 2000 miles on her in 4 to 5 years. Selling it now cause I never drive it. Going to do a lsx/notch build.

FWIW this is why i stored my car when i was up in indiana.

Here's a pic of my 95's underbody with ~ 131k as of 2010.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff279/pdennis93/generic%20photos/100_1475.jpg

and a pic of a 97 V6 camaro from up in northern indiana with roughly the same mileage.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff279/pdennis93/generic%20photos/97camaro049.jpg

notice the difference? rust sucks ass. They use way too much salt up on the roads in northern illinois/indiana

Mines been daily driven since the original owner bought it in 01. Just shy of 114k on the clock, no rust. It never even left oklahoma until I bought it and took it to dallas a few times.

some of you guys are crazy.

600 miles a year? What is the point of even having the car at all?

I'm all for not exposing the car to conditions which will definitely damage the car (snow / salt / offroading /etc) but really, these cars aren't collectors items. Even if they were - you'd want all original <20k miles.

Cars are not good investments - there are much better things to do with the money.


I drive my car from the time the roads are salt free until it starts getting too cold to be safe. Honestly, I bought the car to drive and have fun with - if you aren't doing that what is the point? It's my DD for all the time. If I had the opportunity I wouldn't drive it when I knew it was going to rain a lot (just because it's no fun to have to baby it everywhere) but if it get's rained on, so what? The only thing that does is make it dirty!

I drive it 7-8k a year and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm at 109k right now. The car has never seen a winter in it's life and won't as long as I own it, but when the weather is decent she gets driven like crazy. Underbody is in perfect shape with basically 0 rust. I wash / wax it regularly and take care of the paint, it actually doesn't melt in the rain!

I'd sell it no doubt if I was driving it less <1000 miles a year on a consistent basis. Heck - I'd probably sell it if I was doing less than 3000 miles a year. I put over 1000 miles on it in a week this summer

But, you are right - I won't be driving this car in 30 years. I plan on moving on to something better within the next year actually. It's an fbody - it's almost impossible to beat bang for the buck but it isn't the end all be all that some people seem to think it is.

Mines been daily driven since the original owner bought it in 01. Just shy of 114k on the clock, no rust. It never even left oklahoma until I bought it and took it to dallas a few times.

yeah, where it was driven makes all the difference. mine was a hawaii, north carolina (saw one dusting of snow), and florida car. it was also not very close to the coast in FL so it didn't get all the bad salt air. After i had it for a year or so i moved to arizona and then a couple years later back to indiana. it spent 4 years up there but i only got a slight bit of road salt dust on it once and when i got home i was wiping down everything i could reach and it rained really good the next day and washed the rest of the road salt away so the day after that i was at the car wash getting the full wash w/ underbody spray, lol. I'm paranoid about rust because my last car, a 1993 tbird SC, had a 18 inch rust hole in the rocker panel when it was only 8 years old :eek: it was hidden under the ground effects and i didn't see it until around a year or so after i bought it.

Even when i stored my car up there i was still averaging 4k mi a year though.

I don't prep mine for storage until the final weekend of October, so that's 8 more weeks for me.

These cars are meant to be driven people.

Cars are meant to be used any way that their owners' see fit. It's neither right nor wrong to store or not store them; it's simply a personal decision.

Having said that, I never feel bad about keeping my '98 Z caged up most of the time. It's only purpose is to look good for an occasional car show and stay as perfect as possibile for as long as possibile. And I'm really not missing out on any fun, because my daily driver is an '02 Z28.

Most of us that are in this hobby for many years end up with more than one car, so it only makes sense to spare the ones you like the most from foul weather that will destroy them. If I drove my Nova year-round, it would be a rust bucket within 4 years in my climate.

Cars are meant to be used any way that their owners' see fit. It's neither right nor wrong to store or not store them; it's simply a personal decision.

Having said that, I never feel bad about keeping my '98 Z caged up most of the time. It's only purpose is to look good for an occasional car show and stay as perfect as possibile for as long as possibile. And I'm really not missing out on any fun, because my daily driver is an '02 Z28.

Most of us that are in this hobby for many years end up with more than one car, so it only makes sense to spare the ones you like the most from foul weather that will destroy them. If I drove my Nova year-round, it would be a rust bucket within 4 years in my climate.

exactly. i can guarantee ive had more fun and enjoyment in one day at NJMP then anyone has had in a week of just going back and forth to work or picking up a gallon of milk.

Jonas, you bastard! The Blue Devil will beat the brakes off this pampered-ass Red Evil! You got a lane this weekend!

Mine will get driven as late as possible, before the first snow; then it's put up for the winter, just like the previous owners did. I don't like it sitting for long periods of time, yet it only gets used on nice days. I try to keep a balance between keeping the car nice/low miles yet enjoy the heck out of it at least once a week or so.

I don't drive mine inthe winter either, but I don't care if it sees rain or not. Even driving it from April to Oct, or so, I still put 10k miles a year on it.

I bought it 4 years ago with 65k, I just hit 111k the other day.

I'll probalby drive it more this year, my winter car only gets like 16mpg, at these prices and the 330 miles/week I do, it's going to be really expensive driving that thing.

I used to worry about mileso nthe Formula, but not anymore. I bought it to drive it, and it's not going to have much collector status, it's neither super clean, low mileage, or very rare (as Formulas go). It's just a car.

And no singling anyone out, I just use this number as an example, but 220 miles a year?? That seems like it'd worse for the car than getting driven more. Cars hate to just sit, in my experience that's when you start to have problems with them, when you don't drive them enough. Or at least here in New England anyway.

Kinda like a friend of mine...he has a gorgeous Hawk convertible with some nice mods...only around 32k miles, and he's had it prob 8 years now. Only puts on a few hundred a year at this point.

And no singling anyone out, I just use this number as an example, but 220 miles a year?? That seems like it'd worse for the car than getting driven more. Cars hate to just sit, in my experience that's when you start to have problems with them, when you don't drive them enough. Or at least here in New England anyway.

My '98 has only been seeing about 200-300 miles per year lately. The car currently has 16k miles and is trouble free.

It's all about knowing how to properly store and care for them. If you just park the car in your driveway for 4 years and forget about it, then yeah you'll have some potential issues to deal with.

I have many processes I go through; I don't start the engine unless I plan to take it for a long enough drive to get things fully warmed up (usually every 4-8 weeks during the on-season). When I take it for a drive, I give it some highway time as well, to allow the shocks and tires a full range of heat and activity. I make sure to run the A/C system for a period of time during each drive, to keep seals lubricated. I keep Stabil in the gas at all times, to avoid stale gas and sludge build-up on the injectors (car starts within 2 cranks, always, even after 4+ months of winter storage). I keep a moisture barrier under the car to prevent condensation on the undercarrige as the garage warms in the spring. I use a moisture absorbing product in the interior to keep it fresh when not in use (interior smells as brand new as it did in 1998). I also have a regular routine for addressing battery and fluid maintenance.

Yes, the car is still aging, but it's certainly holding up MUCH better than a daily driver in every regard. ;)

That sounds like a lot of work.....

That sounds like a lot of work.....

x2, whole lot of work just to not drive a car.

With living in Ohio, I have to deal with storing my car every winter. At times I wish I lived down south so I could drive my car more.

i don't mean to sound like a dick . . . why own something your not actually gonna use? a car is meant to be driven and lets be honest these aren't ferrari enzo's. i love my camaro jusr as much as the op loves his T/A (can't go wrong ever with a red and black combo :D) which is why i drive it so much. i'm lucky and have no snow where i live which i do agree with you guys on, i'll never drive mine in snow . . . but we do have rain like everyother place and rain or shine i'll drive my car. unless you guys are planning to sell your cars i don't understand why you'd barely drive the car.

lets be honest these aren't ferrari enzo's. .


I completely agree - seems like some people here think they are the end all but they aren't very desirable to most people. I see these cars having very to little collector value - I feel like only the rarest ones will have any at all. Even cars with collector car value ARE NOT good investments.

These cars are great bang for the buck - but that only matters if you drive them!

That sounds like a lot of work.....
I do the same things that Ryan does.. Trust is, it isn't a lot of work at all.

I would drive my car more if I lived out west or in the south...

why own something your not actually gonna use?

Well, there is a difference between limited use and never using it at all. I know some people that have cars that literally never get driven....I'm talking 15 years without being moved. That isn't something I'd be interested in doing myself, but it's their personal choice and they have reasons that matter to them.

Mine is a limited use situation, where the car is driven several times every on-season. I see no reason to drive this car in the rain, or as general transportation when I have other cars for that. I also have another limited use car, and I alternate my time between the two.

I completely agree - seems like some people here think they are the end all but they aren't very desirable to most people.

I think the problem is that too many of you are worried about what other people think. ;)

I don't buy cars as finanical investments for which I hope to profit in the future. Cars are my hobby, not a means of income now or later. I really don't care what their long term collector value is or isn't. I do what I do for myself and no one else; I get enjoyment from owning a show quality 4th gen and it makes me feel good to keep it that way.

I do the same things that Ryan does.. Trust is, it isn't a lot of work at all.

:nod: It sounds like a lot when you write it all down, but it's really no big deal to do.

I think the problem is that too many of you are worried about what other people think. ;)

I don't buy cars as finanical investments for which I hope to profit in the future. Cars are my hobby, not a means of income now or later. I really don't care what their long term collector value is or isn't. I do what I do for myself and no one else; I get enjoyment from owning a show quality 4th gen and it makes me feel good to keep it that way.



All truth.

If it makes you happy to have a 98 Camaro Show car (and you are obviously in a position where it can be) then by all means go for it.

Personally, it doesn't make sense to me. But the cars I like and how I blow money on them doesn't make sense to a lot of people but as long as you are doing it because it is what YOU like - then by all means have a ball.

But the cars I like and how I blow money on them doesn't make sense to a lot of people but as long as you are doing it because it is what YOU like - then by all means have a ball.

:nod: I agree completely. This is really what it all comes down to, because no matter what you spend your money on, there will always be someone who thinks it's silly.

Well, there is a difference between limited use and never using it at all. I know some people that have cars that literally never get driven....I'm talking 15 years without being moved. That isn't something I'd be interested in doing myself, but it's their personal choice and they have reasons that matter to them.

Mine is a limited use situation, where the car is driven several times every on-season. I see no reason to drive this car in the rain, or as general transportation when I have other cars for that. I also have another limited use car, and I alternate my time between the two.
I do sometimes forget how fortunate I am to have nice drivable weather year round. Tbh my car was seeing 20k a year but since I've gotten with my gf I barely put 10k on in the year we've been dating . . . we drive her little Sentra everywhere lol

That car of yours Jonas is sooooo nice. If you ever think about selling it you better let me know. I think I've put about 500 miles on my car in the last two weeks and half of that time I've spent at work in Vegas.

That car of yours Jonas is sooooo nice. If you ever think about selling it you better let me know. I think I've put about 500 miles on my car in the last two weeks and half of that time I've spent at work in Vegas.
Thanks Will... I know you were drooling over it when you picked up the TTMs from me ;)

And to be honest... I've thought about selling it.. I hardly drive the car... Since I started storing the car back in 2006, as of today, I've put on 9,350 miles on the car.. That's an average of ~1,869 miles/year and dropping!

Z stays in our garage April-October, and offsite storage unit during the winter. Has gotten caught in rain 3x in 10 years out of nowhere. Hasn't seen salt since Sept 01. Dunno about before that.

66,600 on it Sept 01 when purchased. As it sits, 74,500ish. Most of them were 07-09. Car probably has 350-400 miles this year so far and won't see much more than that. Pretty bored of it now but it's fun to drive on occasion.

Yes that's 7900 miles in 2 weeks shy of 10 years.

Are you guys worried about hoses rotten from sitting all winter long or do you fore it up every week?

I do sometimes forget how fortunate I am to have nice drivable weather year round.

Yep. My cars would probably see twice as much mileage yearly if I lived in a place where 4-5 months weren't lost to nasty weather.

Are you guys worried about hoses rotten from sitting all winter long or do you fore it up every week?

My hoses are from '98. I treat them annually with 303 protectant. They are still as soft and flexible as they should be, with no leaks. I don't know how long they will last, but at this point they seem to have a LONG life still ahead. ;)

Driving past my old house this morning and saw my 75 year old ex neighbor out doing yard work so I turned around and went back to visit. He's been a car guy all his life and still has the 1966 GTO vert that he bought new for his fiance as an engagement gift. The car has 6456 miles on it and the wife a few more. Most of the miles were put on in the 60's and the car is still showroom new. That's storing a car!

:nod: I agree completely. This is really what it all comes down to, because no matter what you spend your money on, there will always be someone who thinks it's silly.

X3:nod: