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RandallNeighbour · 03-24-2008, 08:56 AM

Ah, the strategic parking process. I've employed it with every new car I've purchased and yet, someone decides to find my car and park within millimeters of it just to prove they can do it.

End spots are best because one side is protected for sure... but one must be VERY careful with the rims we have on our cars not to curb rash them... and yours are especially expensive to replace or repair!

As far as the stalling goes, I must admit it still happens to me now and then and it's embarrassing.

That comment reminded me to comment on clutch use in case you don't know what I did not know before Porsche ownership:

The clutch should not be depressed unless you are actively changing gears. This means that your foot should be off it when you are sitting at a traffic light. Same goes for coasting to a stop or down a steep hill ... don't depress the clutch while you brake to a stop. It's best to depress clutch, put tranny in neutral, release clutch, and brake simultaneously to a stop.

Only depressing the clutch when actively changing gears keeps the clutch from wearing out prematurely, and you really want to practice it because a clutch will cost you plenty $800-$1200 minimum for parts and dropping your tranny to get to the clutch parts.

The flip side of this practice is an increased potential for stalling at red lights and pissing off people behind you who believe the first person at the light MUST jackrabbit into the intersection the millisecond the light turns green.

I typically watch the traffic patterns and the opposite light and remain alert at lights when I'm driving the boxster so I can get it in gear, give it a tad more fuel than normal to eliminate stalling, and keep people from honking at me or worse... rear ending me because I didn't get out of their way fast enough.

BTW, brake pads are much cheaper and easier to replace than a clutch, so downshifting is not recommended by many Boxster owners who've paid for a clutch replacement prematurely!

Just some thoughts ... if you knew all this, please forgive me. Just thought it would be good to pass along what I've learned thus far in Porsche ownership!

03-24-2008, 08:56 AM	#39
RandallNeighbour Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 7,243	Ah, the strategic parking process. I've employed it with every new car I've purchased and yet, someone decides to find my car and park within millimeters of it just to prove they can do it. End spots are best because one side is protected for sure... but one must be VERY careful with the rims we have on our cars not to curb rash them... and yours are especially expensive to replace or repair! As far as the stalling goes, I must admit it still happens to me now and then and it's embarrassing. That comment reminded me to comment on clutch use in case you don't know what I did not know before Porsche ownership: The clutch should not be depressed unless you are actively changing gears. This means that your foot should be off it when you are sitting at a traffic light. Same goes for coasting to a stop or down a steep hill ... don't depress the clutch while you brake to a stop. It's best to depress clutch, put tranny in neutral, release clutch, and brake simultaneously to a stop. Only depressing the clutch when actively changing gears keeps the clutch from wearing out prematurely, and you really want to practice it because a clutch will cost you plenty $800-$1200 minimum for parts and dropping your tranny to get to the clutch parts. The flip side of this practice is an increased potential for stalling at red lights and pissing off people behind you who believe the first person at the light MUST jackrabbit into the intersection the millisecond the light turns green. I typically watch the traffic patterns and the opposite light and remain alert at lights when I'm driving the boxster so I can get it in gear, give it a tad more fuel than normal to eliminate stalling, and keep people from honking at me or worse... rear ending me because I didn't get out of their way fast enough. BTW, brake pads are much cheaper and easier to replace than a clutch, so downshifting is not recommended by many Boxster owners who've paid for a clutch replacement prematurely! Just some thoughts ... if you knew all this, please forgive me. Just thought it would be good to pass along what I've learned thus far in Porsche ownership!