to garage or not

[Budgie]

Not quite as the title says but what do the good folk on here think , would do .I have my convertible tucked away In a dry garage but have been hankering for a two or four door for some time now and have been to see one or two [but sadly didn't turn out quite as advertised ! ].The problem is although I have plenty of room on my drive I do not have a spare garage to pop them in as one has my tourer in and the other has two motorbikes in them. So would it be such a problem to buy one and leave it outside to the elements [I'd love a traveler but this would definitely require garaging for obvious reasons.]I know that some of you use your moggy as a daily runner so this probably wouldn't concern you but just trying to justify my purchase in a strange way really. !

[Chris Williams]

Maybe the cheapest way of (partly) protecting a saloon is do as I do with mine,I bought a tailored car cover for my 4 door saloon,it seems to have kept the car as no worse off as being in a garage,although it wasn't cheap at £160.Thoroughly recommended though,you'll find them advertised in minor matters!

[ManyMinors]

I have a saloon and a convertible and have done for many years. Both are in good condition. The convertible has never required any welding repairs underneath due to regularly rustproofing. Both live outside all year round and both are used most days.
I've never had any sort of cover.....

[bmcecosse]

You could always put it in a tent and blow damp air over it...... Unless it's an everyday 'runner' - Minors really do need to be at least under a good car port, and much better in a ventilated garage ideally attached to the house for some warmth. Unless you get MUCH better weather than I do up here in Ecosseland! ?

[les]

I see what you did there Roy!!

[Monty-4]

If the car is washed of salt and dirt and the drainage holes are clear it should never rust... right?

[bmcecosse]

Aye right!!

[midget]

You could always put it in a tent and blow damp air over it...... Unless it's an everyday 'runner' - Minors really do need to be at least under a good car port, and much better in a ventilated garage ideally attached to the house for some warmth. Unless you get MUCH better weather than I do up here in Ecosseland! ?

Machine Mart "Instant Temporary Garage". They sometimes have time limited VAT free deals on these.
I got this one for £350 odd. Best to have hard standing to erect on, but can be mounted on earth.

Storage at the moment for me, but I plan to use as "body shop" later.[frame][/frame]

[amgrave]

How are the Machine Mart Instant Temporary Garage fixed to the ground John?

[midget]

Anchor stakes in the corners, we bought extra ones off ebay. Supplied ratchet straps run in a loop across the top ridge at both ends. We used extra ones as a precaution in other places. We also placed concrete blocks(left over from a previous project) around the footings to deter neighbours cats from entry, and to fill gaps due to uneven ground.
Will be interesting to see how long it will last. I have found that MM stuff is bottom market stuff, and not for serious use.
Even though we did this ourselves, from start to finish--laying proper concrete base etc it is not cheap with not much change out of £900 to complete.
Doing a good job for now though. Will eventually build proper garage on this base I think.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
That seems cheap to include what appears to be a double concrete base, I take it you laid the base yourselves using a cement mixer?
Best wishes,
Mike.

[midget]

No, too old for that now. 4.5 metres load of premix was the most expensive bit, then some 1 ton bags of rubble,ballast etc.
Hire of a small dumper truck, and steel mesh reinforcing sheets all adds up. We borrowed shuttering for a drink.

[Blaketon]

This looks an interesting idea - http://www.gazebox.net/. Another longshot is do you have enough height for a Minor above another? If so, you could put one of these in the garage - http://www.hamercarlift.com/. I would not advise leaving the car outside in the elements.