How do you guys who take your cars off the road for winter, cope without your cars ?

Mines been at the garage after Cambelt, waiting for a part.
I had to go and visit it yesterday afternoon.

Looking all forlorn.

Due back in 10 days, I can't wait

I took mine off the road at the start of 2018. At the end of 2019, I decided to make a start on my project. Since then, it's either been off the road, running in or between garages. I finally drove it home last Friday and immediately decommissioned it for winter

Just before I read your post, I received an email saying my newly ordered spot weld drill bits will be arriving tonight and near jumped for joy. I will cope with the seperation anxiety over the winter by transforming the interior into something that, hopefully, will be something truly special in time for the spring

Mine has been in the garage for the last 4 years awaiting a full strip down and re-build.
until I have finished doing the extension and renovations on the house, the wife has banned me from touching it!
I started the extension 3 years ago and I reckon it should all be done by Christmas next year.
So I suppose I haven't missed it because I've been too busy (and the fact it is out of sight under the cover)
2024 it begins.

Paul ive got a camera setup in the garage so I can admire the coupé no matter where I am

Although I don’t drive the Coop so much in winter I still take it out when the weather is half decent. I have a garage which helps me keep the car safe over the really bad weather. Mind you regardless of the conditions I shall be driving the beastie down to Carlisle

Well, I was without the use of the Coupe for 5 years until I was able to do the necessary work on it. Didn't miss it as much as I expected, but that's probably because I had so much else to do!

Now, it's facing the first winter when I could be using it but will probably only take it out when the weather is reasonable. Only because I will have to clean it up and dry it off once it's back in the garage, if the weather is bad!

Luckily its home is nice and dry and airy and stays reasonably warm even if it's perishing outside. It lives at one end of the barn with plenty of room and I can do some maintenance / cleaning whenever I like! Takes the edge off not driving it .....

Coupe at home ...

If you haven't driven it in snow, you haven't driven it. In my opinion.

Bit of topic but my coup was brilliant in the snow, decision to allow everyone home after snow storm was delayed meaning many couldn't get home, I had a 40 mile round trip to pick stepson from school in 4inches of snow. Despite abandoned cars everywhere and terrible drivers, roads closed etc the coup never missed a beat, even up very steep hills,google EggardonHill.

Yes I’ve found the same the times I had to drive in snow. I put it down to the big lump over the front wheels. Never had winter tyres either.

I have to agree; the coupe is excellent in snow - particularly with winter tyres - but that's provided the snow isn't so deep that it's above the bottom of the sump. At that point, it gets a bit difficult...

It's first winter it went to Skye in temperatures so cold - -20C was reported - that the sea froze as the tide went out. The only issues were getting stuck in a flat carpark with deep snow, and the anti-lock braking deciding it didn't like the cold.

Agree, no problem in snow, driven past many struggling vehicles

Sorry if I took this off topic, but in answer to the original question: don't take it off road. Drive it through the winter. Drive it through the snow. I can't wait to try mine in it. I've had such fun in totally inappropriate vehicles in snow in the past. The most surprising was a Honda Beat - mid-engined tiny vehicle with tiny engine that brought me home through a snowstorm in 2003 that stopped all the local traffic on the main roads. It skipped down the side roads with aplomb.

It works off road, too, to an extent, but it does rather depend on the tyres... I used to take mine around the fields and farm tracks when I was paragliding

It's back !

Now sitting on the drive, gently oozing oil onto the tarmac.

Weather a bit miserable today.
But tomorrow there will be a heatwave and I'll be out and about !

What was the part it was waiting for?

Hello Simon

The correct reason coolant hose.
Turbo one delivered first.

I have photos of all removed parts if anyone is interested

What's oozing Paul?

It's either power, or gear box oil.

I've always dribbled.

I've understood you have a good relationship with your garage Paul, especially when you've entrusted them with belt change - forgive me for sounding surprised that they didn't ascertain the leak location

Looking at the front, do you dribble on the right side or left? lol

Hello Simon

Yes, off gear box and not on my priority list.
It's a drip only.
Barry at the garage monitors it.

I dribble in the middle

Smashing drive this morning in the beating sun, with the non operating AC turned up to max.
To cap it all, drove half a mile with P reg Portofino 20v alongside!