Exended work from home...what to do with the Viper?

[cdover73]

I may be leaving soon to go overseas on a 3 year work assignment in Abu Dhabi and wondering what I need to do with my car while I'm gone. I don't want to leave it in my garage for that long without it being ran periodically. Plus I live in the country and have to say there would be a rat concern as well. I would hate to come back and open the door to a pile of rat nests.

I have been considering a couple options. I have a friend that I trust enough to leave it with. They have an empty bay in their climate controlled garage and offered to let me leave it there. I know it wouldn't be abused as they are an older couple. I would also be okay with them using it from time to time so it could be ran and the battery kept conditioned.

The other option is I have a high school friend whose family owns a very large lubricant supply company (Smitty's Supply - Super S lubricants) and is an avid car collector. They have over 40 Barrett Jackson condition cars in their home garages/showrooms. His uncle also built a new showroom in town where he keeps about 50 more. I'm sure I could go talk to him and let me store it in the new showroom, maybe even for a fee. He has a full time mechanic that tends to all the cars and runs them as required.

There may be other options, but I guess my main question is am I on the right track, or would it be okay to leave it in my garage for 3 years?

Thanks,

 

[Elleby13]

can you take it with you? three years is a long time.

 

[ViperJeff]

That's not a bad idea, selling there just might be easier if you decide not to bring it back.

 

[gb66gth]

Leave it with either, preferably the people who would drive it occasionally.

 

[Free2go]

You can park it under this big Pecan tree I got out back, if the other two options don't pan out.

 

[ViperJeff]

Well. At least I would have a shop to park it in.

Given the choices, I would go with the second option

 

[broomrider]

Hmmmmmm, maybe some trustworthy, honored friends could babysit

 

[Bonkers]

The question for me is do you particularly love this specifc
Viper? If so then you have two options - winterize it and throw
a dust cover over, or, like you mentioned, let the family friend
babysit. Im not a particular fan of the babysit method with
something as personally valuable as the viper - in the rare
chance of something bad happening, its hard to forgive. With
a storage company you can be ********** forever, sue the snot
out of everyone, and have zero affect on your homelife.

If you are not in love with this particular car then you might
just want to sell and buy another - then you have no costs or
potiental issues to worry about.

 

[SAABseanSCANIA]

I'd personally get a couple shipment quotes to UAE. I know they have agent services in Dubai that do that sort of work for people.

I lived there (Dubai, not AD) not too many years ago and was told anything American muscle sells fast and high by some people who did American imports (American expats, not locals). I'd assume it's still the case. Abu Dhabi is most likely the same if not better nowadays as well. You'll be there 1 weekend and be kicking yourself that you don't have a toy with you; car culture is big over there, you'll really enjoy it. Having a toy will also allow you to meet some locals easier and something to do on weekends when the glitz and glam wears off. I didn't have anything of mine there (wasn't there long enough), but I met up with ex-pats who did and I was definitely jealous even in my short time. They were all on long term assignments like you're considering.

Just something to consider.

 

[98RedGTS]

It would really be best to sell the car if you can't take it with you unless you are thinking the value of Vipers may start to climb (a debatable topic). With that said, I'm currently doing the babysit routine for a friend of mine with two of his vehicles while he is out of the country (only 1.5 years though). He keeps them insured and the registration up to date and I take both of them for a short drive every 2 weeks to keep things in good shape. They are left on a battery maintainer when not driven. He and I are real good friends so the trust factor is solid. It can be a viable option but you and your friend need to sit down and hash out the "what if's".

 

[SAABseanSCANIA]

It would really be best to sell the car if you can't take it with you unless you are thinking the value of Vipers may start to climb (a debatable topic). With that said, I'm currently doing the babysit routine for a friend of mine with two of his vehicles while he is out of the country (only 1.5 years though). He keeps them insured and the registration up to date and I take both of them for a short drive every 2 weeks to keep things in good shape. They are left on a battery maintainer when not driven. He and I are real good friends so the trust factor is solid. It can be a viable option but you and your friend need to sit down and hash out the "what if's".

OP this is exactly what I did with my vehicle when I was overseas. I just gave my friend the keys. It was the easiest option for the short length of time (like the above) that I knew would be best for the car mechanically. I wanted him to drive it and he did. It was mint when I got back. But again, it was a short time, and I was all over the place too between Asia and the Middle East. If I were to be camped in one spot for 3 solid years I would have looked into having my own vehicle with me or selling it. Again, if in Abu Dhabi, I'd bring it.

But trust is the key factor there. Trust, and a bank account that you know can make a wrong....... a right.