What's your OTHER ride ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

bull27 · 06-15-2006, 08:00 AM

I typically have my GF's car to drive in the winter if it is bad out (Saab 9-3), great car. I think I will be doing the same thing as you this winter. I was looking on ebay, and personally I am going to try and find a Audi A4, or maybe a Nissan Maxima. You can get those relatively cheap with somewhat high miles.

dennizxxx · 06-15-2006, 08:08 AM

My second car is a beat-up Kia Sephia

i use it during winters here in boston, and for the usuall errands...etc...

Although it is on its last legs, and is dangferously close to being a money pit... I am def. looking for something with 4WD but just waiting for the right car to come along...especially since I have the entire summer, fall and even part of winter to look for a car...

dennizxxx · 06-15-2006, 08:11 AM

NICKCATS..

how about a Subaru, i think a nice 99 - 2000 model with high miles might run around your budget....

Plus it's great for harsh winters and has a decent fuel economy.

Marc Gelefsky · 06-15-2006, 08:13 AM

I usually have a company car but 5K can get you into an older Audi A4 Quattro.
Great winter car.
I used to have an S4.

porscheracer · 06-15-2006, 08:18 AM

You have to be kidding...winterize a Porsche?!?! it sounds so girlie.
I drive my 996 Turbo in the winter and my Boxster S in the summer. Dude don't limit your self and enjoy your car. your car will outlast you by 100 years.
Germany makes Chicago weather like Florida.

:dance:

Marc Gelefsky · 06-15-2006, 08:19 AM

[QUOTE=porscheracer]You have to be kidding...winterize a Porsche?!?! it sounds so girlie.
I drive my 996 Turbo in the winter and my Boxster S in the summer. Dude don't limit your self and enjoy your car. your car will outlast you by 100 years.
Germany makes Chicago weather like Florida.
QUOTE]

True, I drove a 951 with Blizzaks or Dunlop Winter Sports for 9 winters!

denverpete · 06-15-2006, 08:28 AM

I have an SUV for the really bad snow days. Otherwise, my Boxster is a year round driver. Yeah, you have to worry about salt, sand, and god knows what else. But, it's just a freakin car. Take care of it - sure - but also drive it.

I seriously considered buying an old Jeep CJ for my beater. Instead, I went to Ebay and found a set of Snows with Rims for $500.00 plus $200.00 in shipping. The tires were practically new and the rims were in pretty good shape. So, for $700.00 I have two sets of rims and two sets of tires. Compare that to $5000.00 for a beater which I have to maintain, insure, hope doesn't break, and find a place to park.....

Oh yeah, you should expect a post by someone from California stating that Porsches, and Boxsters in particular, shouldn't be driven in snow. Which I sort of agree with. Californians with Porsches shouldn't drive in snow....

NickCats · 06-15-2006, 08:32 AM

denverpete, I am from San Diego, so not quite sure what I am supposed to do now

NickCats · 06-15-2006, 08:22 AM

porscheracer, I agree. I would just hate to expose the car to the salt and all. Plus, I would definitely need new tires, mine would suck in the snow. So then I would need another set of wheels, much easier to switch. And would rather have the hard top in the winter, so it makes more sense to buy another car...

tqtran · 06-19-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCats

I would just hate to expose the car to the salt

Aluminum can't rust you know?.....

NickCats · 06-19-2006, 08:10 AM

creseida, sound advice. Before the Box I had a 924S ( daily driver ) and Jeep Cherokee ( winter ). When I got the 924 I ignored the Jeep and first snow fall sure enough a. battery was dead on the Jeep and b. tires were very low. Driving the rear wheel drive front engine 924 in the snow was something I never want to try again !!!

tqtran, not so much worried about the rust, more worried about sliding with non-winter tires and cleaning the salt crud off my black paint... I know it probably won't hurt it but black is hard enough to keep looking nice in the summer

blue2000s · 06-15-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennizxxx

NICKCATS..

how about a Subaru, i think a nice 99 - 2000 model with high miles might run around your budget....

Plus it's great for harsh winters and has a decent fuel economy.

I've got a 97 Impreza Outback Sport with some suspension mods. It's surprisingly fun to drive and actually has excellent grip wet or dry with a set of WRX wheels and tires. I'd highly recommend the Subaru route. It's easily within your budget.

rdancd816 · 06-15-2006, 02:46 PM

When the snow gets too deep I have an Escape, but about 90% of the time the Boxster is fine in snow...I do use Blizzak's. Having driven a Mustang in Colorado winters the Box is great. Most of the time the Mustang was undrivable in even 1" deep snow if it is slick and cold. The car wouldn't turn. One day I had to drive it backwards home from a gas station because I could not get it up a small incline. The Boxster's balance and clutch sensitivity make it an OK winter car (not great). Good judgement on road conditions still prevails! But I couldn't park the Boxster for the whole winter!

deliriousga · 06-15-2006, 03:03 PM

Our other baby on the Blue Ridge Parkway two weeks ago. :dance:

rdancd816 · 06-15-2006, 03:20 PM

Every time I see a 928 I visualize Tom Cruise coining the phrase, "Porsche, there is No substittute!" in Risky Business. Sweet ride!

blue2000s · 06-15-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdancd816

When the snow gets too deep I have an Escape, but about 90% of the time the Boxster is fine in snow...I do use Blizzak's. Having driven a Mustang in Colorado winters the Box is great. Most of the time the Mustang was undrivable in even 1" deep snow if it is slick and cold. The car wouldn't turn. One day I had to drive it backwards home from a gas station because I could not get it up a small incline. The Boxster's balance and clutch sensitivity make it an OK winter car (not great). Good judgement on road conditions still prevails! But I couldn't park the Boxster for the whole winter!

The sand here is hell on our paint jobs and windshields (but at least it's not salt). Are you doing anything to keep the paint from getting chipped up while driving in the winter?

MNBoxster · 06-15-2006, 08:49 PM

Hi,

My Daily Driver - '95 Honda Passport LX
Wife's Daily Driver - '04 Jaguar S-Type Sport
Fun Car #1 - '99 Boxster - 2nd Owner - 25k mi.
Fun Car #2 - '85 Lotus Turbo Esprit - 1 0wner, 35k mi.
Fun Car #3 - '72 Datsun 240Z - 1 Owner, 23k mi.
Fun Car #4 - '90 Proform Formula Vee - 1 Owner approx. 4-5k mi. (no Odo - Track/Auto-X only)

rdancd816 · 06-16-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

The sand here is hell on our paint jobs and windshields (but at least it's not salt). Are you doing anything to keep the paint from getting chipped up while driving in the winter?

Frankly I try to avoid the freeways when sand is applied. (especially C-470) But the car came with a Porsche mask and I use it on occasion in the Winter/Spring to avoid chips. I guess I have been lucky as I really haven't picked up too many so far. I've only done a couple "touch-ups" on the front. The other menace out here are the legions of gravel trucks spraying the roadways with stones! I hate those guys!

NickCats · 06-15-2006, 08:16 AM

Cool, didn't think about an A4. I was looking at an old BMW 5 or 7 series. Can pick up a pretty decent one, high miles, for under $5k. I'll add Audi to my list. Would be nice to have 4WD.

slogans7 · 06-15-2006, 08:32 AM

I have a '99 Sob 9-3 (repair bills precipitated the new name), but my main ride outside of the Box is my Vespa LX150. Perfect for local errands, fun as hell and 70mpg.

What is "winter?"