Everyone is probably aware of all the new condos that are being built and of course they pretty much all have underground parking. Its sure nice to get into a warm car during our cold winters.

So as the condo market has been growing more and more my question is how many of you have been living in a condo with underground or even a heated garage and for how long? Have you guys/gals been experiencing more corrosion than if it was parked in a cold garage?

This is pretty much my situation right now where this will be the first winter that I will have heated underground parking. I know that warm garages are more humid which all contributes to rust.

I always try to keep my cars clean especially during the winter.

Any experiences out there?

 

The biggest thing you want to make sure of is that you're washing the undercarriage of your car as often as you can in winter. I had a heated garage at my shack before I sold it, and I just tried to keep everything as clean as I could. (my current garage isn't heated, and I actually prefer this in some ways)

You are definitely going to see a lot of the suspension components and such get corroded, but it's just surface corrosion... the components are all very durable.

 

For what it is worth, I've been through 3 winters and my underside is pretty good. In the day I mainly parked in underground parking when I was at work. Again only rust on suspension parts but all S2000s have that. I have an undercoat for my underside though.

In any case, I have no signs of rust anywhere and after a wax, I can put it side by side with a newer S with the same colour and you can't really tell the difference in colour.

I'd say drive it, and hose her down and you'll be good in the winter.

 

How do you wash the undercarriage? Just goto a car wash and spray the bottom? or is there a better way I am unaware of?

 

^there are some washes that have a undercarriate wash.... there is one on 114th in the SE
right when u enter it sprays the underneath

 

Go to a wand-wash type place and spray it with the high pressure water... it's pretty easy. Avoid drive-thru car washes in the S2000...

 

Do you have a driveway and an oscillating garden sprinkler? I know a guy who used that method to clean the bottom of his 4x4 after a weekend of off-roading. He'd just let it go for an hour, then move it to another spot... Lather, rinse repeat.

Ah... Of course then I look at the first post and realize its a condo that you're talking about. Never mind. Jeez, stress must be getting to me!