Hey everybody,

I will be heading to Germany to work for 6-9 months, and I am very concerned about how this time will affect my car. I have already arranged for my Dad to store it at his place (in the garage) and drive it every week or so.

I am wodering if anybody has experience with this? Things I should know about/avoid. How often should my dad take it out? How far should he drive it? Should he be 'opening it up'? What do I do about insurance?

I appreciate your help.

Chris
2000 A4 1.8TQMS APR'd (Silver)

 

1. Obviously you'll want to keep the car insured, against risk of loss (fire, theft, etc.) if it isn't to be driven at all, and against liability if your Dad or anyone else will be driving it occasionally.

2. Some people on this forum (like NYC residents) use their cars less, year in and year out, than what you're proposing will occur with yours over a 6 - 9 month period. So stop worrying about it. This topic seems to come up all the time, as if letting a car sit in a garage for a few months will somehow "damage" it. It won't. About the only thing you need to worry about it is the battery going dead on you, which is no biggie even if it happens (but make sure you know your radio security code). Taking it out for a drive every 2 -3 weeks will avoid even that from happening.

3. Ideally, if the car is going to be driven and not simply left to sit (which would be fine too) while you're away, it should be driven at least to the point that it's had a chance to completely warm up. So that means more than just around the block. Once every few weeks should be fine. Hell, I have an old Saab that I let sit outside in my driveway from December until May -- through the dead of a Northeast US winter. Other than needing a battery charge, it ran fine, as good as the last time I drove it, as soon as it started up.

4. Assuming you'd otherwise be putting about 1,000 miles/month on your car, why do you think that NOT putting the wear and tear of 6,000 to 9,000 miles on your car would be a bad thing?<p>Rick
99.5 A4 1.8TQMS silver/onyx
97 A6Q Wagon black/taupe

 

6-9 months is not really that long for a car to sit. Major preperations do not need to be made unless the car it truly going to sit for more than a year.

I think I heard that a low mileage car should be driven every two weeks for 20-30 minutes. However there is not need to "open it up". You basically want to circulate the fluids, heat up the exhaust system, let the suspension (including tires) move around, run the HVAC, and make sure no vermin (mice, etc.) have set up house in Casa Del Audi.

Don't worry about it unless your Dad loves driving your Audi the way my dad does. I think if I had him baby sitting my car, he would put more miles on than I do!

Definetly keep your insurance intact, I suppose you could cut down the mileage to lower your rate but it is probably more trouble than it is worth. Also, here in MD, if you cancel your insurance without turning in your tags, they fine the crap out of you.

 

Get a Battery Pal and keep a trickle charge on her. They are made for (seasonal) boat batteries.

 

has the capability of deactivating the engine when u know ur not going to drive it for a while.