What's everyone doing with their cars?

[ScarfLadysBag]

Just idly wondering this. We haven't been using ours at all. Both WFH and we've had food delivered. DH has been taking them both out once a week for a spin up and down the dual carriageway as he doesn't want the brakes seizing, etc. but I was thinking that's probably not an 'essential journey'. But given he just goes from house to driveway to car and back, I can't imagine it'll upset anyone.

Or will it?

Short journeys, or start up and tick over, are bad for the engine and exhaust, as they cause moisture and condensation and the car does not get hot enough to boil it away. At least drive it long enough to reach normal temperature.

You can charge the battery with a battery charger. Once a month is probably enough.

We're taking ours out on a good run once a week, after mine died at the shops (end of the day) and I hadn't taken my phone with me and ended up walking to a hotel to borrow a phone to get hold of DH. He's making sure his car is still running ok in case he gets the call that his terminally dad has passed as they live a few hours away and he wants to know he can just get in his car and have it start first time if he needs it.

I go out once a week for my click and collect order and that's it. About 20 mins each way

I take mine out once a week, quick 20 to 30 minute drive locally to keep the battery okay. 2 of my family have both had flat bettered, one could be jumped, the other couldn't. It's definitely a good thing taking the car out to keep it charged

Car tyres can also ' flatten ' out if stood for a long time. Try to at least move them now and again . But agree just starting a car and not having a journey is also not good long term.

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I have to charge my car battery quite regularly anyway as it doesn’t charge properly . Last time I took it out was 4 weeks ago . I have a click and collect to get next week so will charge it before .

We do the (keyworker) school pick up in the car each day, that keeps it running. Also the occasional trip to a bigger supermarket

My car which has been going to the shops once a week died this week from a flat battery. Of course my husbands shitty little hatchback with 150,000 miles on the clock started first time despite languishing on the driveway untouched for two months

So now my car will be going for a good run at least once a week!

We haven’t been going to the supermarket so car was left for 7 weeks. The alarm went off and the battery was too dead to recognise the key. Eventually we sorted it and had to push start the car.

It’s not only the car that hasn’t been out, but not having driven for 7 weeks is a bit weird. You sort of think, do I remember how to drive? I think it’s essential to take the car for a run once a week, to keep the car moving and people in practice at driving.

Yeah my battery died last week ... don’t forget to drive every day ideally

I honestly think I've forgotten how to drive

Mine is parked on the road and hasn't moved in eight weeks. I've no idea if it will even start!

My car hasn’t been driven since mid-March. It’s electric, so I imagine that the battery charge is just trickling away gradually and I’ll need to plug it in again before I try to go anywhere. I haven’t had an electric car for long, so I don’t have a clue really!

I’m concerned about this thing about pumping the brakes. Does that apply to all cars? If my brakes fail, my next journey is likely to be a very short one - straight into the wall across the street!

I use a car to get shopping every week or ten days or so and alternate which one I use. Mine today. My husband's is kept plugged in when it's not been used to stop the battery going flat.

We have 3 cars and only 1 driver currently going out, I think my car has done less than 100 miles this year, first I was unwell, worked for a bit then on a long holiday and now in lockdown. DH drives his car a few times a week as he is a key worker who has to be on site sometimes and he is doing all the food shopping and other errands. DD was using the other car to get to a place to run but has stopped, so now that car only goes out if DD or DH go on a grandparent check. I think mine will need at least a new battery when I eventually get let out again. I don’t want to go out on an unnecessary drive and I am not running it on the drive to pollute the neighbourhood.

Battery chargers are lot cheaper than new batteries. If you park you car on your drive or in a garage, it might be worth considering.

Just remember to unplug it before driving off.

We have 2 cars that we didn't use for a few weeks. One was ok and the other had a flat battery.

I drive mine once a week on a decent run. I don't overly use the radio, heater/air con, lights (which can drain battery).
Husband also drives his once a week.

After 30 years of driving a manual I got my first automatic last year. Even a year later every instinct in my body is to drive with a gear stick or both feet on every journey - still. I reckon I would always remember how to drive a manual, but automatic still requires my full concentration to remember there's no stick or clutch! Therefore, driving it once a week is essential, in case I forget.

I'm using a solar powered trickle charger, as I don't have a garage to use a normal one. Car started fine last week after not being run since lockdown started, so would highly recommend them. Got mine from Halfords for £25.

Tuck your left foot back against the seat. That's what DH taught me to do and it is effective.

I only drive autos now so I don't find it a problem any more.

I take mine to the shops a few times a week.
I reset my mile-o-meter at the start of each month and last month drove less than 10 miles. It's a bit gutting that petrol prices are so low and I've still got half a tank so no excuse to benefit from it 😉

If you have a petrol car you can get away with running it in the driveway. If you have a diesel you need to get the engine hot unfortunately, so need to take it for a drive.

We have a petrol and have run it for a few mins here and there but I also have been to 3 antenatal appts which give it a good enough run.

My husband took his out once and mine get used at most once a week to go to the shop so probably no more than a mile round trip.

We don't use our cars, although DH has gone out to do two big-ish shops - mainly to get the heavy stuff as we live within walking distance of the shops so can pick up a lot of the other stuff as and when we need it. So he's used one car.

I haven't used mine at all, although I have gone out for a couple of 15 minute drives to give it a run out and will do so this weekend too. I get onto a 60mph road for about 3 minutes which gives it a bit of a blast.

If you go on holiday for two weeks you leave your car idle in the airport car park for a fortnight so I am comfortable with it sitting around for two weeks. After that I think it's good to drive it around the block even if it's not within the guidelines.

I'm not keen with just leaving it running in the driveway and polluting the atmosphere, even though I saw Which? had recommended that. But in any event my car is a hybrid and I think it would just turn itself off if I left it switched on.