Living in rainy Seattle, winter all the way. It doesn't get all that hot here, no hail, tornado's, summer zombie attacks, etc.
If you could only keep your car garaged during winter or during summer, what would you choose?
- Thread starter Saikou
- Start date
I used to live in a condo for a few years, so car always parked in underground garage, and I don't feel like I experienced the increased rust.
The theory makes sense, but I am not sure how much difference it really makes.
Kestas
Staff member
I always try to park facing north, to minimize dash exposure to the sun.
I’d pick summer, the snow melt off my truck floods out my garage.
Winter because it takes a lot of work to get all the snow and/or ice off in the morning. I don't even get frost on it in the garage and it's not heated or insulated, just protected from the elements.
I clean the snow and ice off my wife's Hyundai which is much less work than my truck and uses less fuel to idle warming up.
I've always parked the daily drivers outside because I have two "nice" cars parked in the garage.
I have a lot of trees - too many in fact - so it is rare the cars get sunshine during the day. The downside to that is all the mess that trees make. Pollen, leaves, seeds, etc. Trees are filthy.
Five days a week, though, I am parked in the lot at work, in blinding sunshine.
I have a lot of trees - too many in fact - so it is rare the cars get sunshine during the day. The downside to that is all the mess that trees make. Pollen, leaves, seeds, etc. Trees are filthy.
Five days a week, though, I am parked in the lot at work, in blinding sunshine.
Cars don't really care about low temps unless the oil has the wrong viscosity or if the coolant freezes. Car manufacturers test their cars in all kinds of climates from the desert to the north pole. I'd refer to keep the sun off my car. Luckily, my car sits 3 levels below ground level and the temps vary between 40*F and 75*F, and no sun!
Winter 100%. I'm fortunate that both of mine are garaged, and it's nice in the summer being able to leave the top off my Wrangler so I don't have to switch back and forth and can just leave it in the garage on rainy days. With that said I hate when vehicles or equipment have to sit outside in the winter. Here that usually means no matter what you try to do mice and other rodents will find their way in.
I live in a rural area, but have mouse traps in both my sheds and my garage. I usually get at least 1 or 2 mice per day, and it's been that way since living here for a few years now.
I live in a rural area, but have mouse traps in both my sheds and my garage. I usually get at least 1 or 2 mice per day, and it's been that way since living here for a few years now.
We don't really have winter where I live, but we do have hot and rainy summers, so I pick summer. My primary concern is sun damage, so the cars are in the garage as often as possible and parked in shaded spots when possible if not at home.
Why do you have to choose?
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
In case you want to fill it with junk part time
Summer for sure. Anyone who can park their car in any type of shade is lucky 10 months out of the year. The sun just bakes our vehicles otherwise.
Our winter lasts about 2 days.
Our winter lasts about 2 days.
Winter for 6 consecutive months. Followed immediately by summer for another 6 consecutive months.
If it’s your daily driver then it will always be outside during the day so no advantage in the garage during the summer. Winter certainly makes the most sense.
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