Want your input on cars that get driven 5k or less in a year

[rings_of_life]

Got my fiance a new car awhile back and i kept the car she had for a "beater" and as a result my audi doesnt get driven as much as it used to. so my question is what are some of you other guys doing for your cars while they are collecting dust so to speak?

Do you put any additive in the gas tank?

How often do you change the oil? If you put less than 5k on it a year do you still change it every 3 months or so?

any thing else you can think of, just throw it in there

[kzrsix]

Rings...looks like not many of us drive 'em less than 5K per year. I also live in the cold country and don't do anything special for the semi-stored a4. I may take it out for a spin when the streets are clear, but nothing special versus mechanicals. I get an annual oil change and don't put additional additives in the fuel tank. Thats about it.
jk

[EErie B6]

My B6 gets drive. About the same amount as yours. It might have seen 2,500 miles this summer. I have been changing the oil in the spring, and learning from last year my dead battery last year, when I don't plan to drive it for a while I'll be disconnecting the negative terminal.

No additives in the gas last year, but I'll probably put a double shot of stabil in there this year.

[rollerton]

I drive mine every day,...and still barely get to 5k. My commute is 1 mile to work.
Unfortunately it's all uphill to get home, and a ridiculous steep one at that, or I'd ride a bike more.
If it sat for 6 months or so then I'd consider an additive, but otherwise...try and keep the rodents away.

[Arclight]

A couple suggestions as mine is not a DD

1. Get a Battery Tender! my car sits hooked up for weeks at a time and it works out great. I attached the included pigtails to the battery and ran the lead up by the windshield wipers so I don't have to open the hood to hook it up.

2. Yes, a fuel addititive is key - every tank or so

3. Check your tire pressures frequently - tires drop 1lb per month

4. Take it our for short spins periodically to prevent the tires from flat-spotting and to get the juices flowing. When you start it after a long period of inactivity, turn the ignition key all the way forward without activating the starter. You will notice that the fuel guage needle moves to it's correct postion...this gives a chance for the fuel rail to pressurize and the car will start easier.

5. Make sure you have bug sticky traps around your car - insects, spiders, etc, are always looking for a new home.

GL!

[road_tripper]

you could always sell the audi and be free of your problem... if you're driving the beater it makes no sense (financially) to keep the rapidly-depreciating audi. Plus paying whatever insurance you're paying on it.

on the other hand, if you're hell-bent on keeping it, then driving it once a week up to temp for 30 minutes or so is probably best.

I think the fuel staibilizers and so on are for long-term storage; where you're not driving the car at all for months (years?) at a time.

You might try trolling a classic car forum for ideas; they've probably worked out the solution to this problem 50 years ago.

[Corrado_Guy]

All maintenance is stated for driven mileage or for time, if you don't put the mileage on the car then you maintain it by time. I barely put 4,000 kms on my car per year when I daily it and I change the oil 3 or 4 times a year with maybe 1,000 kms on it. Same with all of the fluids and the timing belt, when it doesn't make it with the mileage use the time. Mine doesn't sit a lot and it barely sees 300 plus kms out of a tank of fuel so I don't have to worry about fuel stabilizer or anything like that.

[rings_of_life]

I love it way to much to get rid of it. Its just nice to have a beater that way it can stay clean all the time and it keeps the miles low! Plus i love being able to get in it on a weekend when its nice and go crusing.

you could always sell the audi and be free of your problem... if you're driving the beater it makes no sense (financially) to keep the rapidly-depreciating audi. Plus paying whatever insurance you're paying on it.

on the other hand, if you're hell-bent on keeping it, then driving it once a week up to temp for 30 minutes or so is probably best.

I think the fuel staibilizers and so on are for long-term storage; where you're not driving the car at all for months (years?) at a time.

You might try trolling a classic car forum for ideas; they've probably worked out the solution to this problem 50 years ago.