Care & Feeding Of A Garage Queen

[MNICEBOX]

Don't forget about your brake fluid which is very hygroscopic (water absorbent). In your humid climate you don't want to go more than 24 months (regardless of mileage) without a complete brake fluid change. Moisture in your brake fluid can contribute to rusted/frozen calipers if left in there for long periods. Some people even do a change at 12 month intervals in less humid climes (those with a lot of track work). I've been doing mine every 24 months for the last 10 years. When I pulled the pads and rotors off this year for 1st time replacement (62k miles) , the calipers/pistons/seals looked almost as good as new.

[mistermac99]

Maybe it's because I'm new to Boxster ownership, but since I got mine last August, I have racked up over 5k. I know the new may wear off later on, but I drive it to work a couple times per week, and every chance I get on the weekend when it's not raining.
From my experience, two things deteriorate faster when not in use, cars and homes. If left sitting, they will develop leaks, cracks, etc. Maybe it's the lack of love?

[ExRallyXer]

Originally Posted by mistermac99

Maybe it's because I'm new to Boxster ownership, but since I got mine last August, I have racked up over 5k. I know the new may wear off later on, but I drive it to work a couple times per week, and every chance I get on the weekend when it's not raining.

^^I'm with mistermac on this one. Purchased my 2000 986 on 03/06/13 with 63K on the clock, and she reads 70,200 as of this morning. Meanwhile, my Defender hasn't even gone through half a tank of diesel since then.

[husker boxster]

When I bought my Cayman Sport in Dec, she had 7400 mi on her. 6 mo later the odometer reads 12500. Punkin gets about 4K mi a yr, too. I like driving my Porsches.

[SeanZ4]

mountainman.... that is one pretty picture!

[fusionist]

I too clock very few miles annually on the box. 22k in 10 years. For anyone with a family a Boxster is not a primary car, or even a secondary car. It's just a toy. My Porsche dealer told me most Boxsters and 911s bought from the dealership are not used heavily as daily drivers.

The battery charger is a must!

[rp17]

Originally Posted by fusionist

My Porsche dealer told me most Boxsters and 911s bought from the dealership are not used heavily as daily drivers.

The battery charger is a must!

That is sooo true. Dealeship also recommends that you drive the car OFTEN long enough for it to come up to temp. I've heard in some cases that you could have your warranty denied pending on what fails if its not being driven. What that was, can't remember.

Don't want to beat you low mileage guys up but If I had all those mods Danger has on my car, I would drive the snap crackle and pop out of that car everywhere. Saving all those miles for the next guy?

I tell people all the time, buying a used boxster is different from other cars. They usually sit and are barely driven, lives in a garage, usually never driven in snow, (go figure it snows in germany) and always polished with a diaper. PPI still recommended.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Porsche Chick

The steering wheel was actually furry ). Any other ideas?

That's when its car capsule time.

CarCapsule Bubble Covers - Storage Solutions for Cars, Trucks & Bikes at ****************************************

[patssle]

Then you go to the SCCA event (mostly Japanese and American sports car). These guys haven't shaved in days and probably did not shower that morning, their jeans must have at least one oil stain per pant leg and they are probably hung over. but they drive the wheels off what they can manage to buy. The gaps in the time sheets might be down to tenths of a second down to sixth place. And if its its Autox you'll be lucky to get in six laps because the turn out is so much higher than the Porsche event.

The Porsche club of Texas doesn't even do autox anymore because there's not enough interest. I have to do it with the Houston BMW club which is full of BMW, Minis, Miatas, and the random Viper, Porsche, Subaru, Mazda 3, S2000, MR2, and others.

Then there's the SCCA but getting 2 of 3 runs in after an entire day because 150 people show up doesn't sound like fun/ROI.

[Perfectlap]

yeah its bad news all around for track and autocross. Many auto insurance carriers have been sending out 'clarifications' that any track or competitive (which would include Autox) driving events are not covered. Which of course the track day insurance people have seized upon to jack up day rates drastically.

And the autocross fees in this economy can certainly add up. While this is still far and away the most cost effective way to learn the fundamentals of car-tossing, $50 fees might be tough to swallow when that's what it costs to fill your tank for the week. And it is indeed a long day for less than 10 runs. Although I think that compels you to be a more focused driver and teaches you to adjust quickly.

[Porsche Chick]

Originally Posted by patssle

The Porsche club of Texas doesn't even do autox anymore because there's not enough interest. I have to do it with the Houston BMW club which is full of BMW, Minis, Miatas, and the random Viper, Porsche, Subaru, Mazda 3, S2000, MR2, and others.

Then there's the SCCA but getting 2 of 3 runs in after an entire day because 150 people show up doesn't sound like fun/ROI.

Yes, from our PCA chapter, there are almost no participants. And yes, they are the driving shoe and driving glove type. Yuck.

Fine with me, we get more runs in. I am not the fastest, not even close, but I'm pretty sure I enjoy it the most.

[Porsche Chick]

Well, I do drive it, but admittedly not enough.

Because I'm not a misanthrope, I generally go out with other people, which means taking the DD. Almost all the time.

I think this is the REAL reason middle-aged people get Porsches; no more school shuttling. Otherwise, it's just too impractical.