how hard do you drive?

[porscheguy]

I have a 1999 porsche boxster auto with 57700 miles and was wondering how hard you could drive the car w/o messing things up. I usually go too about 3000 rpm from a stop when driving.i really want to take it to about 4000 every time but i dont realy want problems with it. what do you all drive them to/ whad do you all think?

[QporscheQ]

It’s a Porsche, it’s not going to break so long as you keep it well maintained and the engine is all warmed up. Drive hard (but still safe) and enjoy . . . repeat if necessary.

[AUDIOGUY]

I agree with Qporsche... defintely more confident with the car after its reached
operating temp. Normally, I am somewhat nice to first gear... I shift around 4 to 4500 k rpm and then really second and third gear 4500 to 6500 rpm normally...
not floored but into the throttle decently. I try not to hit the rev limiter too much, but sometimes it happens. Proper maintenance and knowing how to drive a car to its potential but not beating on it will go a long way. I have driven my last 2 Bmw's in the same fashion with no major mechanical problems at all. It seems that the car appreciated being driven that way as much as I enjoyed driving it.

Happy driving,
Joe
01S
Triple Black

[deliriousga]

It's better to drive your P-car at the higher rpms than to stay low in the 3K range. K keep it under 3K until it's at the 195F temp, but once it's there I keep the gears low and stay in the 4-5K range when cruising. Try it for awhile and you'll notice how much smoother it drives and it will stop making all of those annoying clicking and sticky valve noises at idle. (Btw, you should keep the rpms low until warmed up because the oil does not flow well at lower temps The engine is not well lubed until warm.)

There was a great article in the February, 2005 Panorama called "Falling In Love With A Porsche" that explains the differences in performance depending on how you drive it regularly. It's a re-print from 1971, but still pertains to todays P-car engines.

[Adam]

My engine see's 7,000 rpm several times on each outing. I use my boxster much more for fun than transportation. Driving the car nice and easy just wouldn't be prudent. The engine has actually seen 8,000+ rpms a couple times(doh!) thanks to over zealous shifting on my part but I've never heard so much as a whimper come out of it. The flat 6 engine seems to be able to handle hard driving with the best of them from my experience. I wouldn't worry about damaging it because it can probably take more than you can dish at it. Just be sure to it is warm before you flog it hard as the other guys said.

[limoncello]

Around town - I warm it up, then drive normally.
I agree with delerious - Euro cars in general like the rpms better than American cars. Mid range rpm's won't hurt a thing. I cruise on the interstates around town at 4,000 and everything sounds fine. If I get on open road between towns I'll drop it into 5th at hit cruise. (75 mph or higher).
And yes, it goes close to redline sometime during each outing - it's a Porsche. Running it up smoothly does the car and me a lot of good.
The Owner's Manual says not to run under 2,000 (or was it 2,500?) in any gear other than first. Low RPM=bad, don't lug it.

[tailofdragoneater]

We all work hard to get what we want in life to enjoy.Drive that car how ever you feel like.If you like to put your foot, down do it.I like to cruise with my children and I love the many curves in the mountains where I live.I drive it hard and don't worry about repairs until they are needed.Thats how I feel about it.Yes you do feel great driving a car like this.But it sure feels really good hitting a curve and getting out of it, with your foot to the floor at 6000+RPMs
Enjoy your cars my friends.

[steven]

I drive mine like i stole it! (havn't had it for too long though)

Only problem i have had was when i over reved it once. I went from 6th to 2nd (instead of 4th, i was just getting used to it) and it overreved bug time. Luckily i didn't let the clutch out fully to do any serious damage, but it still hit a high rev past the rev limit.

I got tappet noise immediately thereafter. (Boxsters have hydrolic tappets, can't adjust them. They are comprised of oil and a ball, thus use clean oil in your car!).

The noise did not go away until the next morning, after it cooled down (thank god!). It has not come back since.