If you don’t need to use your car....

[PuzzledObserver]

I would normally drive most days of the week. Although I routinely wfh (it is my base), I also normally go out for meetings and events, as well as shopping and leisure.

My work locked down the week before the national lockdown and since then I have driven precisely twice, both times to the big supermarket.

Although I can’t get a supermarket delivery slot for love nor money, I have found a couple of local businesses which deliver, so can now get a lot of basics without going to the big supermarket. I probably only need to go once a fortnight, and it’s a 2.5 mile drive each way.

Is my car going to be OK being used that little?

I could avoid driving altogether by using the small local shops and going on foot, but that would mean going in a shop more often, so probably better to continue with the one big shop once a fortnight, and use deliveries to top up in between.

I hadn't used mine for a week and the battery died - it was close to the end anyway and not using it for a week sent it over the edge.

We've both taken our cars out once or twice a week.. I've done the groceries once a week. And once a week I've had to shop for my nan.. Can't do at same time as buying limits. But hers is normally a tesco express shop as she has main meals delivered.

DH although he's off work he's had to go in and volunteer an odd couple of times but that's it.

I had a decent motorway run today taking dsc home

I have a 1964 Morris Minor. Haven't driven it for about 3 years, took the cover off today and put the key in and he started first time!

Diesels definitely suffer more for not being run, ours is usually given a long run about once a week, you are not supposed to use then for just short journeys but now I can't see when we are going to take it on a long run again, I don't know if it is best to just not use it and just use my small petrol car which rarely goes anywhere more than a couple of miles anyway. We will only need the large diesel when the tip opens again.,

We will have to get a new battery for the diesel anyway before we can use it properly again for caravanning, battery was dead yesterday but who knows when that will be

I have a car and in normal circumstances only use it once a fortnight or so although I do drive maybe 40 miles or so then. It's a pretty old car sad I have never had any issues.

I have a company car. We have been asked, to take essential journeys only, but to try and use it at least once every 10 days to 2 weeks for an essential journey. Even if it's a run to the supermarket.

We were told leaving it running on the drive wasnt helpful.

I take my diesel the long way back from work once a week because the engine clearly did not like being left idle for 2 weeks when we were in isolation.

DHs car is petrol and doesn't seem to play up when left undriven so we're talking about declaring it off road and just using mine.

We have a diesel VW van, it needs to be driven, and not just short trips. We're surprised the battery isn't dead everytime we get in. We've been going out once a week as part of doing our shopping but driving to a supermarket further away - we also do this because they have better vegetarian selections and the queues outside haven't been so big to be fair.

LMBoston what a good idea. Well done.

One of our cars hasn’t moved for 5 weeks (we were SI before lockdown), I hadn’t even thought about it! It has recently had a new battery so should be ok?
The other one has only been the 2 miles to the pharmacy. It’s diesel so should probably take it somewhere to clear the engine.

My car doesn't like constant short trips, so we're trying to take it on a longer motorway trip to a bigger supermarket once a fortnight or so. Definitely essential as if the battery gets too low (lower than won't start) the alarm starts playing silly buggers and going off for no reason!

We think mine might have a power drain "somewhere" so will try to get it investigated as soon as we can.

Not sure about DH's. It's newer so probably uses more electricity (old cars are much better for power drains) but diesel so really not great for short trips! Fortunately his occasional commute to work can be down the motorway at the moment (not in normal times as up to 4 times as long!)

I’ve just realised I am being thick. DH is still going to work 3 days a week, 15 mins each way. He can just take mine once a week.