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Do you drive in the rain (have rust anxiety)?

MrCostington

I keep my classic in the underground carpark and check the weather forecast before going out in order to keep the dreaded rust at bay. Yet I see all sorts of classics being driven in bad rain (possibly got caught out?), and I see a Beetle parked up every time I go to a certain place come rain or shine, so that owner drives in the rain.

This Sunday my owners club are having a run to Wicklow and it looks like it could be pretty wet, in two minds about it now, having said I'll go a few weeks back.

So, what are your views on it?

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_ptashek_

I drive all my cars regardless of weather as they're stored in a climate controlled garage where rust has almost zero chance of forming.

The restored one is laid up over winter when there's chance of salt on the roads, but that's about all the special treatment it gets.

All are heavily protected with wax etc. in exposed spots or box sections.

MrCostington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118707972#Comment_118707972

Nice :) I'm the same, I drove into work this morning, and on Sunday used it to recycle an old CRT TV for a friend, as my boot was the biggest of all available cars.

LIGHTNING

Well my classics sit outside in the rain so yeah I take them out in the wet!

Conway635

Mine is a 1957 Ford 100E, so not an everyday driver, but I like to use it most weekends for local running around. I try to make it "earn its keep" by using it for local running around that I would be doing in any case. I live in rural Westmeath, so the back roads are ideal round here for a car whose comfortable cruising speed is 40 MPH, but I have to be wary of potholes!

If it's very wet I've leave it in the garage, but I won't sweat it if I'm caught out in a shower.

Certainly for me, the fun is in driving it rather than having it.

Steve

antodeco

Typically I'll try and avoid the rain as much as I can. I've been caught out in it a few times though. I think that's stands to me though as 2 of mine (1976 and 1980) are in fairly decent nick. Saying that need a good detailer who does classic cars in Dublin!

w124man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118667784#Comment_118667784

Yeah that was me! I posted it first on the Club Forum and I was asked to rewrite it for the Club Gazette.

I'm going to the Concours competition again this year and I'll be judging the Club Class, same as last year. The standard of prep on these cars is astonishing!

Issue was December last

Henry Ford III

I avoid driving my MKII Escort in wet conditions tbh. The car isn't rusty and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

MrCostington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118664486#Comment_118664486

I vaguely remember something about a trip from Ireland to judge a concurs, that was you? Sure I just know you as w124man here :), so would not have made the connection. not What issue was it, Jan?

Thinkingaboutit

I drive in the rain. If an area of rust is properly repaired (which is the difficulty), it'll never be an issue, particularly when parked afterwards under cover or in a garage.

w124man

I was going to bring the 300SE and I'm kinda glad its cancelled. The weather is rough today!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118662225#Comment_118662225

Did you not read your last (but one) Gazette? I wrote an article on the concours competition

MrCostington

Oh, you're in the club too? In my C123. You have a few, yes? what were you going to take?

w124man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118653120#Comment_118653120

Yes it was, wasn't it! What car were you going to come in?

MrCostington

Thanks for all the replies, I will try to relax a bit more about it :)

The run on Sunday was posponed this morning due to weather!

PsychoPete

If you owned a convertible then I could understand people being a bit more protective over the car but if its a normal classic then just drive on, no point keeping them locked away

kadman

Whats the point in having them, if you cant drive them in the rain.

MrCostington

Thanks guys, I guess I should be less anxious about it, I guess we have to be, living here in Ireland.

PsychoPete

I very much believe cars are built to be driven and enjoyed. Whether its a modern daily or classic you should be cleaning the underneath of the car every so often anyway

w124man

Mine are all rust proofed so I dont have an issue. I have an attachment for powerwashing the underside of the car so it cleans any muck or salt off. I once had to drive from Limogues to Bourgueil in France in absolutely torrential rain, three solid hours with 30 year old wipers on a 300SE!

Ryano87

Lol I used to be the exact same. Got my mgb GT resprayed in 2010 and have gone through 3 out door carcoons since!

For me it depends on the car. My mg is in long term storage now and as a result I get little to no time I'm it but I don't like to see it left out on the rain as it will rust!

Im currently daily driving an 86 mark 2 GTI golf. It lives outside and is driven in all conditions... And it's liberating not to be worrying about the weather! A good coat of polish and ensuring to clean the underneath/arches properly and apart from that I drive it on.

From now on I'll just enjoy my classics and not worry about the weather.. I think opening them up on a dry day is as good as anything for preserving them

whisky_galore

What I can't understand is lads spending a fortune on a classic and then letting it sit outside the house to rot away.

Tazio

Good question... I personally try to avoid bad weather in my classics; but have been caught out over the years. It's not so much the rain/wet that bothers me. I live rural and the roads are generally covered in slurry / muck around here. This stuff is not good in hidden areas of the car left for long periods imo.