Winter Usage/Storage - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

NJkayaker · 11-06-2007, 12:41 PM

I shouldn't drive it even if I am going to take it out and really drive it?

I am not talking about just turning it on and letting it sit (even I know that is bad). I am thinking once (twice?) a week turning it on driving it around the neighborhood to warm it up and then taking it out and running it ten miles out and ten back at highway speeds.

I was thinking that this would keep the battery in shape, move everything around, get fluids moving and burn off the "bad" stuff. Maybe I am wrong. thanks for the help and any clarification.

djomlas · 11-06-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJkayaker

I shouldn't drive it even if I am going to take it out and really drive it?

I am not talking about just turning it on and letting it sit (even I know that is bad). I am thinking once (twice?) a week turning it on driving it around the neighborhood to warm it up and then taking it out and running it ten miles out and ten back at highway speeds.

I was thinking that this would keep the battery in shape, move everything around, get fluids moving and burn off the "bad" stuff. Maybe I am wrong. thanks for the help and any clarification.

that seems like a bigger PITA than jsut simply prepping it for winter storage.

NJkayaker · 11-06-2007, 01:04 PM

Yeah, but then I get to drive it..

In any case, gives me something to think about. Thanks for the help.

Any other opinios would be welcome. Maybe it will stay warm all winter

drburton · 11-06-2007, 01:06 PM

Store it and don't start it.

The process to get it ready 'seems' bad, but it is really very easy once you have done it.

Also, if you feel lazy many Porsche dealers offer a 'hibernation' package and they do it all for you. Then you just park it and hook it up to the battery maintainer.

mdex · 11-06-2007, 01:21 PM

Just put some snows on and drive it all winter... with a good set of snows the cars are very good in the winter, and if its really crappy out just leave it home that day!

Just be sure to spray the salt off the car a few times a week.

rick3000 · 11-06-2007, 01:33 PM

I agree the winter storage preparation and stuff can be overwhelming and ridiculous, but if your going to store the car you might as well do it properly.

I am just going to drive mine all winter, and if you can commit to driving it once a week then do that.
But driving it once a week or more should consist of at least 30-ish miles. Don't say you will drive then, never drive it, that will hurt the car.
You are probably better off just storing it because you may not get good driving days every week and you will need all-season or snows to driving in 40 degree or lower weather.
Just my $0.02!

Perfectlap · 11-06-2007, 01:35 PM

back in January we had a 70 degree day. And guess who was driving with the top down? ME.
I put on Snow tires after Thanksgiving and then go back to to summers tires in May. I only drive the car on weekends really.

11-06-2007, 03:23 PM

Don't drive the Boxster during the winter, instead, drive around like this:

tombea · 11-06-2007, 04:28 PM

Unless the weather is so bad where you live that you can't drive it during the winter, I would not store it. Taking the car out once a week for a nice drive will not harm the car any more than taking it out on a daily basis. You need to bring the car up to temperature, however, and drive it. If you store it you lose any chance of driving it on that rare winter day that it is warm enough to go top down( with heater and heated seat naturally).

JCL12 · 11-06-2007, 04:42 PM

Since I have no garage, I plan on driving mine through the winter. Winter storage really does seem like a PITA and made the decision much easier. I won't use it any more than once per week or so, and I have no plans to drive it in the snow or when the roads were recently salted - not that the salt matters that much.

Fortunately, I have all seasons so once a weekish I'll turn her on and give her 20 or so miles.

pauldee · 11-06-2007, 05:15 PM

I'm in the garage storage camp - all I do is cover the car and maintain the battery. A couple of times last winter I got the itch to "exercise", but here in Pennsylvania they dump rocks and slag and other stuff on the road for traction, and I picked up an alarming number of stone chips just one time out. So, I'll be patient this year and wait until the rain has washed away the beasties.