Hello!

Long story short, I'll be out of the states for 4 years. Going to Japanland to do my overseas tour... couldn't ask for a better assignment However, I don't wanna let go of my S... it's my first sports car and I've babied the crap out of it, and I just don't wanna sell it. So basically, I am having my father store and take care of it in Utah. Now, here's the question. Since I will be gone for 4 years, I want to know how is the best way to store a vehicle for that long. My gut feeling tells me that leaving a vehicle for 4 years without running it at all just doesn't sound like the best idea. I was thinking maybe get a nice climate controlled storage unit (Gov pays for 1 car to be in storage while I'm gone ) and have my dad store the car in the winter, then take it out during the spring through the summer time to take on weekend cruises and such, basically just be a weekend car for the season. OR... I could just put the car on scissor jacks and let it sit in a storage unit for 4 years... What do you guys think?

 

I think sell it and buy another babied one when you get back in FOUR years.

Good luck.

 

climate controlled would be great!

Use this outline as your roapmap: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/246...or-the-winter/

 

My deployments were not as long, only 10 month at a time. I think your plan is a good one. It is nice to run the car every month or so especially > 20 minutes to let things warm up properly. Your dad should take care of it unlike what your brother would do.
I would try to keep the top up for as much as possible when parked. Give your dad some good stuff to put on it: Raggtopp. Give it multi coats of Nu Finish and carnauba wax to top it off.

Keep it especially if its paid for. USAA will give you a reduced rate for this kind of thing.

Okinawa, Yokohama, or Atsugi?

 

Going to Kadena AB (I'm a KC135 boom operator). RedCelica thanks for that link, I'll be sure to print that out and leave it in the car when my dad picks up the car It'll be in a storage unit until the spring time here (Wichita KS), then my dad will pick it up and drive it to Utah. It's got fresh fluids (including coolant), car cover, and will be hooked up on a battery tender, freshly washed and waxed, and will even have Billman's TCT installed before I leave. Although I'm wondering if I should reflash the ECU to stock (Flashpro)... I'm not sure if the elevation change will affect the Gernby eTune or not.

 

I wouldn't let it sit for 4 years, way too long. Let your dad take it out periodically, you got the right idea.

 

I've been stationed over here at NAF Atsugi for nearly 3 years now. I have kept my S stored in a climate controlled building back home and keep it stored year round, except for the 2-3 weeks I make it home every year for leave. Haven't had any problems at all and very year the car is minty fresh. I would definitely keep it, especially if it's paid for. My understanding was that the storage facilities the military pays for (atleast in washington) like to go and start the vehicle and roll it forwards and backwards. That's why I elected to keep mine back home as I would rather have the peace of mind of family that cares about it keeping an eye on it for me, and I def didn't want it to be started unless it was going to be driven father than just forward and backward. I look forward to getting back to my S in Feb!

 

Yeah that is exactly why I wanted my dad to pick up the car and have it stored near him instead of putting it in a gov. mass storage facility. Who knows what they're doing to the cars there lol. I've heard horror stories of them losing cars, or damage and such. If I pay for a storage unit out of pocket while I'm overseas, I will be reimbursed up to the cost the government pays for a vehicle to be in one of their contracted facilities (It's ridiculous, like $300 a month) when I return to the states. I can get a nice climate controlled unit for like, less than half that lol. I'm not sure if I'll make it back to the states on leave every year, but my dad will cruise around in it on the weekends during the summer on those crazy Utah canyon roads 4 years is a long time... better start looking for a JDM racecar to drive while I'm down there

 

Haha don't worry. They're pretty numerous. And cheap. And the r32 GT-R are able to be brought back now as they are starting to hit the 25-year mark. Sucks I don't know what the car scene on Okinawa is , but it's insane up here in Tokyo. I'll have to look into that storage bill reimbursement since I've been paying mine out of pocket for 3 years lol.

 

Why don'T you take the S with you? With the current yen rate the emissions test is quite a bit cheaper. You only need to change to JDM headlights to get it to pass JCI. UpGarage carries them and so do the auctions. I love having my USDM here every minute (except when we are buried in snow- she sits in storage for the winter up here in Misawa)