Every year we put our cars away in the garage for the long, cold winter. Initially it's very depressing as you know you won't be driving the car for a solid few months. But as the first few weeks of storage pass by and some snow has fallen you begin to realize how necessary and even good storage season is.

First off, it keeps your car clean and rust free as it stays off the filthy, salty winter roads. It stays nice and dry in the garage As a result of this you're keeping miles off your S and saving them for those top down drives in the hot sun. Why rack up the mileage if the weather is far less than enjoyable? Instead of driving the car during the winter you're thinking about it. Or maybe working on it. Thinking about future mods you'd like to make or working on it as a winter project putting in those bits and pieces you finally have time for.

And while the S is away you're more than likely driving your winter beater which is nice to have as you've realized. It serves its purpose but you know it's not like driving the S. Driving characteristics are different, pedal feel, steering etc. You start longing for the S and it's sweet engine and gearbox. Fond memories come back to you. And you begin to fall in love with the car all over again when you take the cover off in the spring and take it out for that first drive making sure it's a long one. It's like you just bought the car again. And all that's left to look forward to is a lot of sunny summer days

If you are from an area that doesn't get snow or cold temperatures then you can't really relate

 

So you're telling there's places they salt roads? Doesn't that mess up ground water?

 

Yup that pretty much sums it up, that is a great summary of storage season. It definitely keeps our mileage low and saves the car for many more years to come, if nothing else.

In the winter season I enjoy driving my daily driver as it has all of the comforts and clearance I need to battle winter, I would hate driving the S2000 in winter. Storage season is the best time to work on the car, sometimes you convince yourself that it needs something done to it even if it really doesn't lol.

Counting down the days to the 2015 season.

 

They sure do salt the roads, and they use millions of tons of salt each winter. It does mess with the water situation for lakes and streams. The weather was so bad last year that they had a shortage of sand and salt for road use, they couldn't mine it fast enough, and the criminal element was finding ways to pilfer it, that's how bad it got. There are some eco-friendlier products but they are much more expensive.

I know in western Canada they use potash on the roads instead of salt, not sure how good or bad that is compared to salt.

 

Yes and no.

The chloride levels are usually what's important to keep track of. Generally the salty waters end up in streams, rivers and end up flushing out to the ocean. However it still does get into drinking water but the levels are usually below what the human taste bud can detect.

Eventually it will become a problem but they've been testing out alternate de-icing materials like beet juice, cheese brine, random stuff like that to reduce the total salt that's dropped on the roads.
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Back on topic, Storing the car is bittersweet like you mentioned. For me especially, considering I've not been able to drive it for more than a month a year.

 

I did live in Minnesota for a year and a half. That is a big reason I moved back to California as fast as I could. (plus taxes are lower believe it or not!)

Putting my S away in the winter means I am leaving on a 12 day trip or its raining. No salt on the roads here in this environmentally super sensitive state, just sand. Once the roads are clear its usually stays that way for a while.

Love driving top down in brisk weather. Fleece beanie skull cap, warm coat, maybe gloves, and the road beckons. I fall in love with the car again and again.

 

I can defiantly relate to this topic. I have been storing my summer toy for the past 10 years( boosted civic). I recently got my s2000 this summer, so this is my first time putting it away for storage. I miss it terribly, but I know by storing it I will prolong its life and keep it rust free. We have crazy amounts of salt on our roads ever winter.

Here is a picture of my winter car, just to give you guys a idea of how much salt they put on our roads...I feel really bad for my winter car gah...

 

I live in California so storage isn't necessary. The only problem I have with winter is the low temperature and I always tend to keep the top up. It is just too cold for convertible sometimes, but I always have the urge to go top down and then end up putting it back up in the middle.

Dang, so many Canadian here...I am one too!

 

Why do you think,ocean water is salted ???

 

Hate to be a spoiler. Storage in AZ for winter.

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Winter in AZ = top down = lots of fun!