Rental Cars > Personal Cars
 

It has recently dawned on me that one of my cars has been sitting in the garage for 2 weeks and has not been moved.

I figure I drive rental cars much more than my personal car, about 4 or 5 of the 7 days per week and my personal car 1 or maybe on a good week 2 days per week (when home often others do the driving).

I am sure you are all in the same boat - and Stimpy you don't count.... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

My car has sat in the garage since Sept 5th and will for another week.

I've put less than 20,000 miles on it in 63 months; of that 9,500 of that was commuting from L.A. to S.D roughly 3X a week during a six month stretch back in 1999.

Actually I get concerned about my car when I don't drive it for long periods as I've heard thats not good for it either. I must qualify this as saying, I don't know squat about the mechanics of a car.

Driving it once a week isn't bad, as long as you go farther than the 7/11 up the street. You should try to go at least 10-12 miles without shutting it off--this will get any condensation out of the exhaust system and other places. This will also help keep the battery topped off, will help keep the various gaskets & seals moist, and will keep other important stuff well lubricated.

If I was gone more than 2 weeks, I'd arrange for someone I trusted to take it for a (figurative) spin every week or two, for the above reason.

I've been renting cars more for out-of-town trips, as I've figured 200 mile or more saves my non-profit budget some money, saves the mileage on my car, and I can get a 1/2 Southwest credit http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif .

JP

[This message has been edited by j379pa (edited 09-30-2003).]

My rental car is my personal car. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I live next to a Park and Ride and work downtown. I take a bus everywhere I need to go. When I need a car, I just run down to SEA and grab a Volvo S80 from Hertz. Between insurance, tabs, license, and just monthly payments, considering I need a car once a month, if that, paying Hertz $100 a day saves me a bundle.