Vehicles Left Standing

beccauk

Thanks for the help. I was under the impression that cars that stand for long periods of time have no end of expensive problems, but it seems that's not actually the case.

I'll see what I can do to get the most value out of it as possible.

EdGasket

I've seen plenty of 'landmarks' parked up on dealer lots that don't sell for months. Some have excessively rusty discs now which look like they will need replacing. Also seen dealer using high-powered charger and\or bump starting the car round the back while the customer is at the front.

Strider590

sacsquacco wrote: »

That is a nice low mileage Fiesta in my opinion, and an excellent grands worth for any young drivers first car .The car has no idea of its age and its 43 thousand miles away from the time it rolled off the Spanish production line. It wont have rusted any more than if it was rolling around the salty wet UK streets. They only thing I can think of which deteriate with age by doing nothing is the battery and possible if very long term the rubber seals in brake cylinders/calipers. Bargain at 1k despite being 12 years old.

In my opinion it'd be one to avoid, as I would assume it had been given the bare minimum of servicing, likely every 12k miles or every 3 years on average........

High levels of humidity building up in the engine block and the exhaust system.
Oil being contaminated with unburnt fuel due to almost always being run at a cold start fuel ratio and not having gotten up to temp to burn this off.
Sounds like it's been left outside and having not been run it'll have a slightly higher level of corrosion on the underside.
If the brake fluid has never been changed, there could issues with brake pipes rotting from the inside out.

I wouldn't risk it, I probably would have done many years ago before I understood more about cars.

[Deleted User]

Strider590 wrote: »

In my opinion it'd be one to avoid, as I would assume it had been given the bare minimum of servicing, likely every 12k miles or every 3 years on average........

High levels of humidity building up in the engine block and the exhaust system.
Oil being contaminated with unburnt fuel due to almost always being run at a cold start fuel ratio and not having gotten up to temp to burn this off.
Sounds like it's been left outside and having not been run it'll have a slightly higher level of corrosion on the underside.
If the brake fluid has never been changed, there could issues with brake pipes rotting from the inside out.

I wouldn't risk it, I probably would have done many years ago before I understood more about cars.

Depends if you need a cheap car to get from A to B. We don't all have the luxury to splash out £10K on a new eurobox or £££ a month on a finance/hire deal.

AdrianC

Deleted_User wrote: »

Depends if you need a cheap car to get from A to B. We don't all have the luxury to splash out £10K on a new eurobox or £££ a month on a finance/hire deal.

The question isn't whether a grand's-worth of 13yo Fiesta is better value than a new leasemobile.

The question is whether a 13yo Fiesta that's probably never been up to full temperature and hasn't turned a wheel in over a year is a good bet or not.

It might prove to be utterly reliable. It might prove to be an utterly infuriating money-pit and basically just scrap-in-waiting.

Strider590

Deleted_User wrote: »

Depends if you need a cheap car to get from A to B. We don't all have the luxury to splash out £10K on a new eurobox or £££ a month on a finance/hire deal.

Mine is worth maybe £500-£900 and 12+ years old, sooooo.

turbadiesel

Leaving your focus for 3-5 weeks, I would park in gear and handbrake off. Leave it with a full tank of fuel to prevent condensation in the tank. I'd disconnect the battery, just remember this will de-activate your alarm! When you get back, give it a good long run let the battery recharge and make sure you have your radio code to hand! Also exercise the brakes and check all your electricals and run the A/C hot and cold for as long as you can, cabin filters can start to whiff if they are not used, due to bacteria build up. I used to work 2 weeks away always left it in gear and handbrake off. Also make sure you'd don't leave any rubbish in the car as it will stink when you get back.... it has been done

Strider590

Disconnect battery is good advice, if you don't want to do this, you can drastically reduce battery drain by not setting the alarm, but you'll have to find out how.

This ^^ isn't always simple, on my car I have to close the drivers door, open the rear passenger door, reach in, lock the drivers door and then shut the passenger door, all without using the key (so important not to lock keys inside car). I pretty much always lock my car this way, nobody is ever going to try to steal it and all the alarm does is increase the frequency of having to buy a new car battery.

[Deleted User]

Strider590 wrote: »

Mine is worth maybe £500-£900 and 12+ years old, sooooo.

???

My current car is nearly 15 years old and was bought for £400 2 years ago. Soooo?

AdrianC

19yo, and £350 a month ago.

Sooooooooooooooooo...?