Hi all,

The ground hog seems to have been good to us this winter here in New England. Thinking of pulling the cover off this weekend, putting the tires back down to a normal pressure and easing her out of the garage for a wake up ride.
Not sure how to search the forum for this answer, but what's your go to process steps for ensuring a smooth wake up? Anyone do anything drastic like nothing over 4000 RPMs for the first 10 miles? Oil change before 50 miles? Even if had one before put to bed?
No revving the engine for the first day or two? Or just PUNCH IT BABY!
2014 XKR, 45K or so miles

Thank you,
GR

 

Drive nice until at full operating temperature, then Bust it Loose.
If you changed oil in the past year and haven't put 10,000 miles on it since, an oil change is lunacy.
Make DAMN sure the Top is Down.

 

This year My '09 XK Coupe was outside and uncovered all winter. I had the yearly oil change after 5,000 miles last December, and have driven it about 1,000 over the colder months. I don't drive it when the weather is messy, as can be the case in our downstate NY winters. I did not need a battery maintainer to keep it running, and have had no problems starting it, even when the temperature was below 20º F. The car has not suffered any ill effects. I do not see the need for storage, as so many of you do. I bought the car, not as a show piece or as an investment, to be perseved and protected, but rather to drive and enjoy, all seasons, and have put 6,000 miles on it since I first acquired it in November of 2017. I do however have a beater car, for the grocery runs, and when I need to transport my family. This year a few road trips are planned, perhaps a bit south and west.
I'll keep you posted.

 

Unfortunately, the roads here in NH are still in rough shape between frost heaves, pot holes, and sand. I still have a foot of snow in my yard.
I think I'll wait a couple of more weeks before I wake mine up.
My awaking process goes as follows:

• Call the insurance company and put the car back on the road
• Disconnect the battery maintainer
• Take the cover off and remove the drier sheets disbursed throughout the car
• Adjust the tire pressure
• Start the car and make sure everything looks and sounds right
• I changed the oil before I put it away, If I didn't, I'd check the oil
• Back it down the driveway
• The nearest road that has a speed limit over 40 MPH is 8 miles away. I think that is plenty of miles to get it get all it's juices flowing properly
• Wait impatiently for the next nice day to take it out and put the top down

 

Ah, dryer sheets, never think about that. Car still smells ...leatherific. Never seen a mouse in the house or garage. Luck I guess, as no cats. But other than musty smells what else are the dryer sheets for again and where placed?
I also don't crack my windows. Garage under. Stays at a constant 45-50 degrees in the winter I'd imagine. Patience...no doubt. Wish I had that all year round weather like some, but yeah, sand, salt, holes, just makes you feel like "this ain't Beverly Hills."

 

Mice don't care for them. Used to be that we used mothballs. Now I just scatter the mothballs outside under the perimeter of the car and throw a few dryer sheets in the floor of the car, cause I don't like the smell of mothballs either:-)

 

Oh yay;
It was 60+ f yesterday, the sun was out, the grass is mostly green, the trees all have buds.......

This morning it's 33 f, six inches of heavy wet snow on the lawn, the streets are all soaked but no accumulation on any pavement.
weeeeeeeeeee

 

Those 40 MPH roads can, at times, be the most fun.

 

Convertible season has been in full swing for several weeks here. Soon it will be too hot...

 

Same here - heading down to Dallas tomorrow to look at an '07, '09, and '10 - crossing fingers I'm able to get a droptop in my life again!

 

I had a rodent issue with them chewing on the soy insulated wires on my Subaru. This is from before I had an actual garage and had to park it outside. After doing a bit of research a few friends suggested this stuff.


And between being able to park inside, and using that, I’ve had no more chewed up wires. And while potpourri isn’t my favorite smell, it’s way better then the small of defeat as you take your car in limp mode to the dealer.

 

I put the dryer sheets randomly throughout the interior of the car including the trunk. I started using the dryer sheet to keep spiders out of my boat. I heard they were also good to repel rodents, so I use them in the car as well. I also have a Cool Whip container that I filled with moth ***** and punched holes in the top that I keep on the garage floor under the engine. No rodent problems so far, but since I never had a problem before, there is no proof that these things actually work.

As far as 40 MPH roads are concerned, I'd much rather drive the back roads over highways any day.

 

Around here the highways are the only place you CAN open her up otherwise you'd lose a tire in a pothole you didn't see coming up. I really should move to Scotland.
Top doesn't come down until at least 68 F and sunny. I've seen other guys say -5C is their lowest willing temp for the convertible. Curious what this group's limit is to drop the top, so may post a new thread.

 

I was out today for a short ride to fill the tank. Unfortunately I made an appointment a few weeks ago with my dealer for the annual oil change and NYS inspection. I also had them ready up a new battery although my 5 year old one appears OK. The disappointment is today it was 60 and sunny and tomorrow it will be 45*F and rain . Maybe a little sleet but mostly cold rain. So I have an 80 mile drive to the dealer and my bride is coming to look at a few cars. Got a fairly booked up month so this was the only time for the drive. Golf league starts in 2 weeks besides the normal rounds with the guys on Mondays and Fridays. I'll get a reading on my old battery but my guess is I could get another year out of it but what the hell , I'll just replace it.

 

Well not a fun day yesterday. As I mentioned I had to head up to my dealer for my annual service . Started out as a cloudy day with temps at 34*F with projected snow/rain by around 3:00pm. Did the 80 mile drive in the usual 1 1/2 hours at speeds of 60-75 mph on nice roads. Ride was enjoyable but still fickled with the battery readings. Seems that while idling or low speeds the voltage was at 13.5 and 14.2 on deceleration. Then on the open road at 60 mph it read 12.7 volts . So no problem but commented to the dealer. They had my new battery ready with the test sheet available and it read 12.75 volts at 969 cc amps. So they gave me a XF loaner and we took of for some shopping and visits in Albany. Oh I also asked them to test my 5 year old battery . So 2 hours later got a call that everything was OK except they couldn't shut off the Service Required light and mentioned there was a software update to do this. Said it would be done in a 1/2 hour so I said go ahead. The net was I came back to pick up the car and it just started to snow. Did the paper work and the results of my old battery was it was considered good and rated at 80% at 12.62 volts and 780 cca . Paid the bill and took off as the snow was really coming down. By the way oil was 0W-20 magic Castrol stuff again. The ride home was interesting to say the least. Temp was 33*F and snowing and windy all the way home. About 20 minutes from home it was raining. As for the battery readings they stayed the same as my way up with 13.5 V at idle and low speeds and 12.7v at 60-70 mph speeds. I don't know if I have a potential problem or if this modern charging system is doing what it's designed for. Oh and they reset the BMS and verified all systems were OK based on the multi-point check. So I am where I am and will need to get the car washed today . Enjoy the ride . Oh by the way weather predictions to day is 67*F as opposed to 33*F yesterday.

 

I pulled my cat out of winter storage about 2 weeks ago here in upstate NY. After unpacking and battery installation etc., I let the car idle for about 5 minutes before I did anything, then went straight to check the tire pressure (which held well this winter). Took her easy around town for a bit on the first day, but all in all running great now with no issues. I did have my oil changed late last year and haven't heard or read that it's critical to change oil after a winter slumber.

 

So very jealous! Still hovering around 0C here. And freezing rain tomorrow... I need to move.

 

I couldn't wait any longer. I put the insurance back on the car, adjusted the tire pressure, disconnected the battery maintainer, set up the new back-up camera and took it for a short drive today. Though we still have snow in the yard, the car just wanted to come out of hibernation. Tomorrow it is suppose to get into the 60's so I might even put the top down and go for a longer ride.

 

Well took the car out two weeks ago on a nice day and prepped it for a Ferrari Club Spring Fever Rally in NJ and a second rally with the PA and NJ AMOC Club the week after. Had it plugged in on the CTEK for the winter, checked oil levels, air pressure. I had started her up on occasion during the winter months. Later got her shampooed and vacuumed, used a detailing wax. Both rallies were great covered about 80-100 miles each in Eastern PA region. First around Easton and the other around Valley Forge. Hitting the two lane country roads and local highways. Here are a couple of photos from each.

Also attended a book signing at the Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Huntington NY for Long Island Author Joe Limongelli, titled 'My E-Type and Me'.

 

Sooo Pretty! Love the Alfa! What a nice way to waste a day.