Does anyone store their mazdaspeed 3 for the winter?

[ms2dt]

This is going to be the first winter for my 2008.5 MS3 and I'm planning on storing it in my garage for the winter months (Montreal Min. 4-5 months). I need to know what should be done before I store it, what needs to be done, if anything, while it's stored and what to do before I take it out of storage.

So, if you have stored your MS3 for the winter, I'd like to know what you've done.

 

[turtleman321]

i plan on storing mine. im going to do the following

wash and wax
change the oil
top off the gas tank
ad a gas stabilizer
park on a tarp
use a car cover
dont use the ebrake

and hopefully drive it around the block once a month or so

 

[ms2dt]

i plan on storing mine. im going to do the following

wash and wax
change the oil
top off the gas tank
ad a gas stabilizer
park on a tarp
use a car cover
dont use the ebrake

and hopefully drive it around the block once a month or so

thanks, is there anything you have to do for the tires?

 

[MS Pro Codriver]

Rebuild the motor and gearbox.

 

[ms2dt]

Rebuild the motor and gearbox.

WHAT?

 

[MS Pro Codriver]

Hope this pic works. Rebuild most everything.

 

[montrealms3]

I live in Montreal as well. Have the car clean, change the oil, fill the gas tank and add stabilizer to it, put a trickle charger on the battery and let it sit there . . . Cover it if you have a cover. Basically all that was already said, except, living in Montreal, I know you should not drive it around the block . . . too much salt, gravel and sand.

Some people put them on blocks (or jack stands) for the winter but I never have and haven't ever had problems with flat spotting tires. With that said, I have not stored my MS3 yet and fear that the bridgestones may be more prone to flat spotting if left for the winter, so stands may be a good idea . . .

 

[AllLostThings]

I did the first year I had it but my winter car went under so now I have to drive it in the snow. I pretty much left it as is. I'd just start it up once a week or so and let it warm up. Roll back and forth to avoid flat spots and it was good to go in the spring.

 

[mattj3636]

when you put it back on the road, do a complete oil and engine flush out

 

[MTuning]

its probably not long enough to worry but get it off the tires.

 

[///M Compact]

Just get some winter wheels/tires and drive the thing. It's not like it's a Z8 or GT3. My MS3 hits the road as long as the front spoiler doesn't act like a snowplow; such is the life of a commuter sled...

 

[zim]

why store it unless you're doing work to the car or rebuilding something? kind of a silly idea for a $20k car that'll be worth nothing in 10 years.

 

[03.5-dc-speed]

storing it is dumb! if you appreciate and love your car then youll drive it. how would you feel if you were stuck in storage for 4 months!

 

[mattj3636]

id feel used

"so they only want me for good weather huh? not all year long? huh just using me for the good weather huh... yeah eff that, im gonna smudge my engine up with old and get flat spots on my feet!"

 

[imac]

im gonna keep mine garaged for the winter just because my old car is still plugging and i might as well put the s*** miles on that one while i still can. winters in NY aren't Canadian winters, but they still suck, and i'd get a lot of salt and dirt up in it. i remember what my celica looked like when i swapped the motor... soooooo much corrosion compared to the donor car from SC. i'd rather not have that happen to the mazda until my other car craps out on me.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I refuse to make payments on a car and not drive it. Besides, it is an economy micro grocery getter, doesnt deserve storage nor the cost of operating two vehicles.
Do it if you can I guess??

 

[ms2dt]

storing it is dumb! if you appreciate and love your car then youll drive it. how would you feel if you were stuck in storage for 4 months!

Alright, listen, first, the car is worth more north of the boarder (31k + taxes), and our winters are tough, last year we got more than 15 feet of snow. We use alot of salt on our roads(salt = corrosion). I have a winter car('92 Accord) , so I'm gonna use it. Not only that, our drivers here in montreal are crazy (about 95% of them are stupid) and don't know how to drive in the winter, so I'd rather keep the MS3 in the garage safe from them and salt. True, if I didn't have a winter car, I'd bite the bullit and drive it.

All I'm looking for is for advice on what to do to store it...

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

If you can afford it that is great. We have the same winter drivers here in Michigan as well, STUPID!

 

[mrghana]

i will be storing mine because this is what happened last winter

 

[mattj3636]

i think they have winter driving courses you could take