Temporary garage for winter

[Tango]

I have a question for those in northern climates. I have been away for the forum for a while, working in a distant city and now moved there. Sadly, my old 2-1/2 car garage is gone and i have a normal sized 2 car garage. Right now my spider and my wife's car have claim on the garage for the winter. I am thinking of buying one of those heavy duty plastic / steel tub framed temporary garages. They are common in eastern Ontario and Quebec for the winter. My instinct is to leave the Fiat in the regular garage, but I can't convince myself that sitting in a freezing wooden structure with a concrete floor is much different from being tucked away in a strong plastic one on rock hard frozen pea gravel. I've been spoiled for almost twenty years to be able to remotely open the garage door in blizzards and just drive on in -- although my old garage was somewhat heated. Any thoughts on whether the temp garage tightly closed up would be any different for the Fiat?

[Nitrate]

I think I would be a bit more concerned with animals making their way into the plastic garage. RB

[mscafide]

I agree, I think critters will like to reside and nest in something protected and stationary.

A car that comes and goes I think would be less desirable.

[Tango]

Good points. I hadnt thought of that. the house next door is overrun with cats. I do use a lot of mothballs in my winterizing plan with good results so far against mice.

[RRoller123]

A few traps does the trick just fine. No need to worry about mice problems.

[GeorgeT]

I would be somewhat concerned about moisture and mold in an unventilated plastic "garage".

[baltobernie]

Maybe as a last resort, but I've had success in advertising in a local free newspaper. You know, the kind that are inside merchant's front doors. If you let the person know you won't be in and out regularly, your chances improve. Alternatively, attend a local car show (any kind) and ask around. Gearheads often have a spot in their barn along side their own winterized cars.

[KandJinmaine]

I used to have a "temp garage" that I parked the Fiat and a '62 Nova in. The paint on the Nova is original in fair shape, but not after three years in the temp. The Fiat did fine in it, the paint on it being a very worn respray. I believe it did get a bit of cat spray on it, cat was in there looking for the mice!!!
Fast forward a few years and I have built the Garagmahal. I keep the boat, the Nova, the Fiat and two ATV's in there. Yesterday while in line at the drive through at McD's, the Fiat overheated ( that's another story, loose fuse) and when I went to get into the trunk to get a rag and some tools I found a half eaten roll of paper towels. The little bastards will get anywhere they want to be.
I do not believe that it matters much if the "garage" is made of metal, wood or plastic. The mice will come. One thing I have been using is a sandwich bag full of cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil. There are commecercial products that are basically the same thing, but the cotton balls work just as well. Just poke a couple of small holes in the bag to let the scent out.
Lots of people here in Maine use the temps and more than a few old car guys have told me that you want to put something on the ground for the car to sit on, like plywood, to help prevent moisture and rust on the underbody.
Good luck,
Jeff

[MikeLee57]

If it's not climate controlled, not sure you are gaining much. Good outdoor rated covers and plenty of the the of poison that makes them go outside for water to die works best. They sell it in 5 gl pails at TSC. I store 8 cars in my factory warehouse covered. we keep this poison spraad all over the building. Never have any mice inside the building

[Tango]

Thanks all. For now the Fiat wins. It is in the real garage.