Drove my Boxster in the snow again.

[ekam]

I've seen more Porsches with IMS than with rust.

[southernstar]

ekam, the same rust proofing process has been used on all Porsches since, if I am not mistaken, 1975. Yes, as all panels are galvanized inside and out after assembly, the seams are also galvanized. It is a process that is also used by VW and it is why they are able to offer a 12 year, unlimited mileage anti-rust perforation warranty. While very efffective, it is far from perfect and, with the passage of time, many 911's from the late 70's and 80's are now showing rust perforation around the windshield, torsion bar covers, front valance, etc. In addition to the ravaages of time, exposure to salt and water will dramatically increase both the risk and extent of corrosion. In the short term, even stone chips are more apt to develop into rust blemishes if exposed to salt water.

This is to say nothing of the impact of the salt on mechanicals/suspension components, etc. Anyone who has worked on a car from Arizona (or which has never seen salt and seldom seen rain) will tell you how much easier it is to remove bolts, etc. The problem is, you guessed it, corrosion.

I don't know how many Porsche's you have seen with IMS problems (and I assume the number and percentage is small), but I can guarantee that there will be some corrosion, even if it has not yet perforated the metal, on any 986 Boxster that has been driven regularly in salt and snow.

Brad

[MConte05]

I am amazed at how rust free any Porsche I've looked at is. Even the bolts never are rusted together. Hence I have zero worries about driving the car year round, as it was intended. These are not rare, special cars. Drive em hard and long, put them away wet, it'll still start up and look just as good the next day.

I had a good amount of fun drifting my Boxster around in the freak snow storm St. Louis got over the weekend. Then got home, and took out my rally car for a spin.

[ProjectM96]

Yeah I have been driving my car year round in rain, salt, snow, heat.

When I do regular maintenance or when I replaced my exhaust system with a performance exhaust, there was no rust down there. However, I did notice that the screw on the air filer hose clamp(connecting to airbox) in the engine compartment had a spec of rust and I was greatly disappointed.

[CoBeerToad]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

However, I did notice that the screw on the air filer hose clamp(connecting to airbox) in the engine compartment had a spec of rust and I was greatly disappointed.

That's why I'm keeping my car parked until March-ish.

[kk2002s]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

Yeah I have been driving my car year round in rain, salt, snow, heat.

+1
My first Pcar, my first winter with it. I bought it to drive every day that make sense. Life is to short and this car make my daily drive something to look forward to. Getting home and putting it in the garage for the night is depressing enough. To do it for a season. I don't know how you guys can do it

[southernstar]

IMO they are an appropriate winter ride in all but deep snow (such as we are getting today in Southern Ontario), but only with a separate set of rims with snows and preferably the factory hard top. I have a BMW X3 with the sport package and a separate set of rims and snows for the ugly stuff. Frankly, it is plenty of fun in the white stuff and much safer than the Boxster could ever be.

To me convertibles are meant to be good weather cars and like my sailboat, I hate putting my Porsche away for the season, but it makes spring all that much more sweet!

Brad

[Bmod986]

Snow storm in jersey today. I am going to try and get some people for a snow shoot. Hopefully I get the out there before there is too much snow to drive through.