Help me "Winterize" My Car

Here are a few thoughts:

1) Oil change with full synthetic Mobil 1 0W40
2) Lots of high quality washer fluid
3) Do you have all season tires now? If not, the perfomance tires are dangerous below about 40 degrees.
4) Ragg Topp treatment for the convertible
5) Good coat of wax on the car and wheels
6) Need an excellant battery and plugs
7) Check your tire pressures a lot
8) Get a battery maintainer, and plug the car in
9) Winter floor mats
10) Good wiper blades
11) Completed scheduled maintenance
12) Leather conditioner
13) Car cover, since you don't have a garage
14) A 4X4 for snowy days
15) Window scraper
16) Find a hand-car wash location
17) Tire chains

[djomlas]

Bill,
can you really use tire chains around our area?
also, for the battery maintainer, is it necessary to have since lets say you drive it every day? probably not

and winter floormats really do help, its nie to put fresh ones/clean ones in the spring, especially if they are nice clean green ones hehe

Originally Posted by djomlas

Bill,
can you really use tire chains around our area?
also, for the battery maintainer, is it necessary to have since lets say you drive it every day? probably not

and winter floormats really do help, its nie to put fresh ones/clean ones in the spring, especially if they are nice clean green ones hehe

DJ, not sure about the Snow Chains in the Chicago area. But I find it interesting that Porsche does sell them (for the 987). They fit tire size 235/50 R 17 and 255/40 R 18. Part number is 996 361 922 00.

[Franco]

Hi, Heated seats

[Perfectlap]

I recall MN Boxster posting a lengthy DIY on this subject.

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I recall MN Boxster posting a lengthy DIY on this subject.

PL, I think the post you are referring to is MNBoxster's excellent recommendations regarding Winter Storage...not winter driving.

[JCL12]

Originally Posted by djomlas

Bill,
can you really use tire chains around our area?
also, for the battery maintainer, is it necessary to have since lets say you drive it every day? probably not

and winter floormats really do help, its nie to put fresh ones/clean ones in the spring, especially if they are nice clean green ones hehe

Also, good call on the floormats and leather conditioner. I've actually been meaning to get leather conditioner to spruce up my seats. (I just armor-all'd most of the interior)

Any suggestions for decent, cheap floormats?

Originally Posted by JCL12

Also, good call on the floormats and leather conditioner. I've actually been meaning to get leather conditioner to spruce up my seats. (I just armor-all'd most of the interior)

Any suggestions for decent, cheap floormats?

JCL, throw that Armor-all away. Shame on you. You should use the leather conditioner from www.colorplus.com. For non leather surfaces, use Vinylex.

As for floormats Google the words "Hexomats" or "Weathertech" (spelling?). Or do a search, we have talked about these here before with some great feedback and recommendations.

[JCL12]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Here are a few thoughts:

1) Oil change with full synthetic Mobil 1 0W40
2) Lots of high quality washer fluid
3) Do you have all season tires now? If not, the perfomance tires are dangerous below about 40 degrees.
4) Ragg Topp treatment for the convertible
5) Good coat of wax on the car and wheels
6) Need an excellant battery and plugs
7) Check your tire pressures a lot
8) Get a battery maintainer, and plug the car in
9) Winter floor mats
10) Good wiper blades
11) Completed scheduled maintenance
12) Leather conditioner
13) Car cover, since you don't have a garage
14) A 4X4 for snowy days
15) Window scraper
16) Find a hand-car wash location
17) Tire chains

Some items of interest -

1) 0W-40? I was initially thinking 5W-30 is pretty standard around here. I assume 0W-40 holds up fine in the summer heat?

4) never heard of it - i'll definetly check it out

6) battery and plugs? sounds expensive? (I might be due for a new battery anyway)

13) I might be able to get a garage spot, but I am not too optimistic. Depending on my success there, I might be making a "recommend me a car cover post"

16) What do you mean by hand-wash car location? Are you reffering to a DIY carwash port or a place where workers do it for you?

Originally Posted by JCL12

Some items of interest -

1) 0W-40? I was initially thinking 5W-30 is pretty standard around here. I assume 0W-40 holds up fine in the summer heat?

4) never heard of it - i'll definetly check it out

6) battery and plugs? sounds expensive? (I might be due for a new battery anyway)

13) I might be able to get a garage spot, but I am not too optimistic. Depending on my success there, I might be making a "recommend me a car cover post"

16) What do you mean by hand-wash car location? Are you reffering to a DIY carwash port or a place where workers do it for you?

What I meant by #16 is that you need to get familiar with a good car wash location in your area that you can take the Boxster to in the winter. Preferably a place that washes the car by hand. Be carefull with the power-washer at the DIY, if you go that route.

[JCL12]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Be carefull with the power-washer at the DIY, if you go that route.

Out of curiosity, why?

Originally Posted by JCL12

Out of curiosity, why?

The pressure of the water jet. It can mess up the convertible top, for one reason. Another reason, are the side vent areas. People have even bent the cooling fins on their radiators with power washers.

[JCL12]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

The pressure of the water jet. It can mess up the convertible top, for one reason. Another reason, are the side vent areas. People have even bent the cooling fins on their radiators with power washers.

I am super-careful with the convertible top, but I didn't know about the cooling fins! I guess I should have been able to guess that