I'm getting my car tomorrow morning!

[RandallNeighbour]

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!

[LoveBunny]

Ahh, I know I'm going to have a heart attack if I scrape up these wheels. I got a tire/wheel warranty, but it does not cover if I'm a bonehead and tear them up parking. I'm trying to get used to how the passenger side mirror angles down when the car is in reverse. As annoying as it is when I am backing up in a normal situation, I think it might really be a good thing for paralell parking.

My friend's dad used to baby his 928 and always parked it on an end spot at work. One day somebody side swiped it. so I guess you can never be too careful.

I thought it was probably best to not keep the clutch depressed like you say, but thanks for clarifying it. It's been years since I owned a car with a manual transmission, but I do seem to recall my dad telling me that when I had one.

I guess it's good that I've only stalled it once so far. Years ago I had a 944. When I had a migraine one day I got my friend to drive it. She killed it five times before she finally got it rolling.

[angman]

Congrats on the car Lovebunny!

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

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.

Randall, are you sure about this. I thought putting the car in neutral while coming to a stop is a complete no no. I think technically its illegal to have the car in neutral whehn on the road here in Vancouver, BC (I could be wrong since my drivers written exam was done over 16 years ago). Being in neutral is dangerous as you won't be in gear if you need to avoid accelerate to avoid an accident etc. I rode a few motorcycles before as well and its even more imortant to be in gear on a bike as you never want to be rear ended by an idiot driver behind you.

Does holding the clutch in actually wear it down? I thought it only wears when you let it slip during engagement of a gear.

[LoveBunny]

I never heard about it being illegal to have your car in neutral while on the road, but it could be some law I don't know about. My mom keeps telling me it's illegal to drive barefoot, but I do it all the time. BTW, it is impossible to drive this car in heels, just in case any of you were considering trying.