gcfcos

Hello guys. Well I put the Cossie away in the garage for the winter again this year as usual. Wish I hadn't bothered now as it's caused more faults from being sat up than when I was using it! :-( it went away with a couple of faults I knew about, that list has now grown considerably! I've now got 3 oil leaks, a completely knackered battery, weird electrical faults, strange noise from the engine (think dry fan belts) poor brake pedal and hard to get into gear! It's the same every year, goes away with one or two known faults after the show season and come next time needs a few hundred pounds spending on it. I'm getting that fed up I'm considering putting it back into service as my daily driver as hardly had any problems when I was using it every day, but when it's laid up and used to go to a show something always goes wrong to or from a show! These cars really don't like being sat up. It's a saph Cossie 4x4 by the way

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

You need a trickle charger, did you leave it connected?

Martin

Staffi

iTrader: (1)

This is WHY they should be used, i never understand it myself tbh

opposite lock

iTrader: (3)

We are here only once I say. They are there to be used it is a taxi after all.....
I always use mine throughout the year with none of the above problems (2wd).
Often find it strange to think a car used in dry conditions during the winter is a no no. Can understand wet roads but even then your missing out

Staffi

iTrader: (1)

They go better too in the winter , cooler air

xr_craig

iTrader: (2)

I used mine all year round until I took it off the road now it's in bits all year round! I never had any issues using mine through winter even when used daily.

BRAMMER

iTrader: (23)

They do take some breaking back in, i know when i used to get back in mine come spring i hated the drive with a passion after driving newer cars all winter but a couple of days and it all comes back.

gcfcos

Yeah some good points there. Unfortunately my garage is a fair bit away from the flat with no electric so can't use trickle charger :-(

gcfcos

Also I've waxoyled the living death out of the car so should be ok in the winter but too much salt would prob kill it off lol. The way I look at it it's a 4 door family car. Though prob not quite as reliable and u can't park/leave it anywhere lol :-( I know an old boy (retired ex bt fleet mechanic) who has a saph cos and it's there only car! He uses it everyday in all weathers and goes on holiday in it too, it is totally standard though

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I used to use my saff all year round and used to go to morrisons in it too to do the weekly shop.

The worst thing you can do is leave the car standing.

gcfcos

Yeah very true. I've got a 7 month old kid so at least it has the 4 door practicality for that and a big enough boot for the shopping. To be fair it's very rare the family even get in the car, prob once or twice a month we all go out in the car together, I just use the car for going to work and back and for going on holiday and the odd day out as a family so should be ok

cossynut2

Agree with you there, on a cold dry Winters day I am sure you get an extra 10 bhp free of charge! I do keep my Saff in a garage and I do use it on dry days but lets face it rust is the biggest problem with cars. Mine is rust free after 20 years of owning it but that is down to looking after it and picking your times when it gets used.

The Youth.

iTrader: (1)

Don't understand that glenn my car has spent the last 11 years in its warm carpeted garage and in hibernation every winter, its surely better to keep an esc cos like that than use it in all weathers then watch the sills rot!
look at your own car if that had been correctly stored over winter for the last 10 years you wouldn't have had to weld it up!

steve

Harris.

But what is the point? you own the car but don't enjoy it??? I use mine for whatever I need it for, might be going to the shop ,to going to a show !!

I really cannot see the point .

Oil leaks will be a problem as the gaskets dry out , all the rubber cracks, and brakes bind.....

The Youth.

iTrader: (1)

But I do enjoy it! 6 months of the year I can drive it whenever I want, I just choose not to drive it over winter, I have my 100E to play with in the summer aswell so I have to share the driving of both, I don't get as much time to drive them as I would like tho as racing the sierra takes up a lot of weekends in the summer aswell.

steve

cossynut2

If you use your car throughout the Winter I dont care how often you wash it or clean it the dreaded rust will start to take a hold . Not only that but with the power mine makes it only does about 15 mpg if you are lucky and it would cost a fortune in Shell Optimax! My Car is my pride and joy but I like to keep it clean and I pick my days out in it during Winter to dry days. It gets properly driven every time I take it out and I enjoy it all year round.

gcfcos

Fair point on that one. My cossies no where near mint so don't mind using mine in all weathers, it's been waxoyled to buggery too lol

Harris.

Not if its fully wax oiled before winter . mine had no rust .

fatboy billy

Mine hibernates over winter as if I left it out and used it the weather would take it's toll on the bodywork and for me I wouldn't enjoy it as much if it was scabby but on the other hand on a dry winter day I'd bring it out

j6kyt

i disconnect the battery whenever im not using mine as i dont use it often ive done 8000 miles in 10 years

gcfcos

Cause I've never owned or been into show cars I find it hard to understand lol, I had mine parked up last winter after joining the Rsoc it seemed like it was the done thing but i was itching to drive mine all the time and wish it had been taxed on a nice sunny winters day so I could have taken it out. I'm gonna keep it taxed all year round this year, I won't take it out when the roads have been salted when it's wet or snowing lol but defo gonna get used over the winter. I can understand u guys with minters but the way I look at it u could croak it tomorrow and my Cossie is my main interest/hobby so I wanna enjoy it while I'm still here

Cosworth Lad

Hi pal can't get in gear or crunches it's the clutch cable had the same problem with mine but make sure to use a genuine one from ford it's like 7 quid difference but makes a lot of diff lol mines sorted now after years of headache lol

costina

iTrader: (1)

Never had a problem and mine only gets used 6 months of the year. Clocked up a massive 630 miles too

cossynut2

I think you have been lucky as the salt shit will take a hold on most cars.

gcfcos

Yeah I haven't done much more this year lol :-( prob around 500 in mine

Mr S1

iTrader: (2)

My S1 goes away for 6 months each winter - in a CarCoon, handbrake off, shitty set of winter rims, shut the garage door and say hello the following April.

Wouldn't dream of using the S1 in the winter. Got a C-Max as my everyday hack and I'd rather buy another car to use than take the RS out the garage if it came to it.