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This year I’ve bought a 997.2 GT3 and put around 2,000 miles on the clock. I know these cars are built to be driven, but I’m just not going to drive it over winter – I don’t do track days and the Cup 2 tyres just don’t perform as well in temperatures below 5°C. I’ve not stored a car for a long period of time before, so mechanically what do I need to consider before, during and immediately after storing it?
Steve Stronach
If you’re storing your car for a long period of time, there are indeed three stages to consider: before, during and after. Before storage, make sure the car is nice and clean so no road salt or chemicals can eat into the paint or alloys. Likewise, make sure the car is nice and dry so there is no wetness or moisture on the brake discs, which can cause corrosion. You can also over-inflate your tyres to prevent flat spots developing over time. During storage, definitely get your battery on trickle charge to maintain its health. Following storage, do the basic safety checks such as lights and levels, and readjust tyre pressures before heading out. Depending on how long it’s been stored, a fluid change would not do any harm, such as fresh brake fluid and an oil and filter change.