Boxster Winter Storage

6316 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by RussellHodgson, Dec 16, 2017

Gallatin

Discussion Starter · Dec 13, 2017

I have a few questions for those who have experience storing their cars in the winter. I have not stored a car before. When I had my 911 4S I had winter tires and drove it all year. I did not buy winter tires this year so I plan on keeping the 718 in the garage. I bought a Porsche Charge-omat Pro for the battery and have a car cover. I keep reading about flat spots on the tires. Can I avoid this by simply moving the car every so often? Is it better to just over inflate tires? If we have a winter like last year I will be able to take the car out to drive it once in a while throughout the winter, which may solve the potential tire issue. Is there anything else I should be considering going into the winter storage season? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

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TEST DRyVer

· #2 · Dec 13, 2017

I have an easy fix: Move to AZ! Problem solved... ???
I ran into the same dilemma when I lived in Detroit. I never did this, but my buddy would put his car up on Jack stands for the winter. That's a fairly inexpensive fix. If that's not something you plan to do, I would definitely way overinflate the tires. We do that in the car business for vehicles that are likely to sit for 6+ months at a time. Seems to work, but we do that in AZ summers, not sure if that would be as beneficial in PA winters. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in... good luck either way. I hope you have something entertaining to drive in the winter.

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RsZk

· #3 · Dec 13, 2017

Flat spotting tires during storage is real. That happened to my 911 until I was proactive and hyper inflated the tires and also put padding underneath the rubber. You can go budget and use carpet underlay or carpet itself or get some of the purpose built stuff at a high price. After that, some fuel stabilizer and full tank of fuel and breathable cover and your good to go.

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Gallatin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 14, 2017

TEST DRyVer said:
I have an easy fix: Move to AZ! Problem solved... ???
I ran into the same dilemma when I lived in Detroit. I never did this, but my buddy would put his car up on Jack stands for the winter. That's a fairly inexpensive fix. If that's not something you plan to do, I would definitely way overinflate the tires. We do that in the car business for vehicles that are likely to sit for 6+ months at a time. Seems to work, but we do that in AZ summers, not sure if that would be as beneficial in PA winters. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in... good luck either way. I hope you have something entertaining to drive in the winter.

I do make it to Arizona in March usually to catch some spring training games. Alas, only a temporary respite from the cold PA springs. I do have a Macan S as my daily so it's not all doom and gloom for the winter. I do, however, think that I may regret not getting winter tires for the Boxster.

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photonscience

· #5 · Dec 14, 2017

Watch out for little critters. Mice like to nest in cars and can eat at the wiring. Cats, shotguns and mothballs seem to work.

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RussellHodgson

· #6 · Dec 14, 2017

Gallatin said:
I do make it to Arizona in March usually to catch some spring training games. Alas, only a temporary respite from the cold PA springs. I do have a Macan S as my daily so it's not all doom and gloom for the winter. I do, however, think that I may regret not getting winter tires for the Boxster.

It is not too late to get winter tires.

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trusted

· #7 · Dec 14, 2017

photonscience said:
Watch out for little critters. Mice like to nest in cars and can eat at the wiring. Cats, shotguns and mothballs seem to work.

Or just put it in a sealed bubble.

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Gallatin

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 15, 2017

trusted said:
Or just put it in a sealed bubble.

You forgot the link to Amazon.com. I want the bubble!!!

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TEST DRyVer

· #9 · Dec 15, 2017

photonscience said:
Watch out for little critters. Mice like to nest in cars and can eat at the wiring. Cats, shotguns and mothballs seem to work.

Funny you should say that. I was busy with a guest the other day at the Porsche Dealership. Everytime I walked by a fellow colleague of mine, his head was in in the front trunk of a 911 Cab in the MIDDLE OF THE SHOWROOM! I finally had a minute to stop and ask him what the **** he was doing. It turned out that a mouse had crawled into the trunk of a brand new 911! How's that possible??? This is a 2 year old Porsche Dealership! It looks like a car museum! It's a stunningly beautiful showroom that's nearly spotless! I live in Arizona, our winter (if you can call it that) is mid 70's during the day, and maybe early 50's at night. Most importantly, it's a busy place! Also, the 911 that the mouse crawled in is right next to reception desk. Ballsy little bugger... Anyway, if a mouse can crawl in your car where I work, they can crawl in anywhere.

Kudos on the Macan S to keep your winters exciting! Good choices on the cars you choose to keep in your garage. ???

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Cinnamon

· #10 · Dec 15, 2017 (Edited)

In my experience in the cold winters here in the inland NW, it's the higher-performance tires that pick up the flat spots. And it takes just a week or so of no driving (unheated attached garage) for them to form. Putting down soft matting or carpet with foam backing sounds like a useful thing to try. On the other hand, it's no big deal -- when next driven the car will feel like the wheels are out of balance for about the first 5 miles, and beyond that at some point you'll realize you haven't noticed the jiggling for a while! Like you I will likely have some opportunities to drive my Cayman during the cold season, a reasonably good idea that will help keep things in running order, seems to me. I also got the charger as I was concerned about any constant small current draw while parked a month or so as we fly away to warmer climes...

No desire to draw the battery down.

Doug

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