Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Oh dear. Weather got the better of me today and I bumped my Boxster

I just slowed to a............slowed to a...........stop? Nope, slowed to a crawl. Either that or the landrover with tow bar reversed in to me.
He asked if I wanted to swap insurance details - - yup I laughed. Is he really serious that he's going to claim for a 50p tow bar cover off my insurance???? Hehe. I declined. I now have a small hole in my bumper and just a corner broke off the number plate. No great shakes really.

Funny thing is that later on in the day, it got to the stage where in automatic mode, I could stop entirely at a junction, foot on brake, in 1st (or D), and because the brakes don't apply to the back wheels very well, the back driven wheels would grip the road and the front wheels would still be locked - net result, there is no stopping the car at all, even from a standstill !!!
Only way around that was to get into neutral, or apply the handbrake to stop the back wheels from gaining traction. Others with less road experience, please note.

Everyone - please be very careful. At least no-one was hurt. It's only a car, just a Porsche, my baby......all injured....

Sorry to hear that mate, hopefully it won't be too costly to sort out.

What an odd scenario, I'll take the 4S out and see if I have the same problem.

I'll try and repair first - it doesn't look too bad. If not, does anyone know of an Arena Red Boxster with a rear-end smash??

You might not have the same problem with a 4-wheel drive. The Boxster only drives the back wheels, so unless you have more power going to the back than the front, it (probably) shouldn't happen. However, do let me know.

Tough luck Graham. Bumper repairs not too expensive. Or you could just get another bumper from the scrapers & paint it.

I think that's pretty much standard behaviour for a RWD auto in the snow or ice, you touch the brakes gently enough to lock the fronts but the rears keep on turning and the car can start sliding sideways if there is a gradient. You need to be able to feel when this happens and brake harder so the rears stop too or simply knock it into neutral.

I had to collect a customers big V8 Jag auto when it snowed two weeks ago and he had exactly the same problem on his driveway coming out of the garage

sorry to hear about your bump, hope it doesn't cost too much to repair

and you were telling someone yesterday to drive there porsche HARD, sorry to hear so makes me even more determined to leave mine where it is.

and i thought it was me my boxster was doing the same i now have small scrape under my number plate were i could not stop and hit the kerb and i am sure after a few other slides yesterday i will be having the wheels refurbished wonder if i can send my local council the bill or get a deduction on my council tax? maxium speed i have done in last few days is 15mph so i have been using the manual side and using mainly second gear using lots of fuel but what option do you have in this weather.

Bad luck Graham, horrible sensation that you're braking but the car is still moving. We got our first lot of snow yesterday and I didn't make it a mile to my first job before I decided I'll turn back and cancel Just not worth driving on this ice especially if it's in your pride and joy.
Sure you'll get it fixed soon

Andy

Don't blame the council for the snow. If they'd bought enough grit for this winter you wouldn't want to pay your council tax. Mine goes best in 5th in snow at not much more than tick over. Around 20 mph. To corner apply throttle. Brakes don't work you have to plan ahead! Best bet is to use public transport or buy a Landrover. My 944 is one of the worst snow mobiles I've owned. My Aunts Seat Arosa auto runs rings round it in this weather. She was afraid to get it out & asked me. Couldn't get it to skid at all on the ice. Set off like a summers day. My 944 sat motionless for about a minute with the wheels turning at tick over until it started to grip! Tyres on the Arosa are about one third the width of the 944. Left the '44 snowbound & used the train since. Drifting is fun but it's bound to end in tears.

Those Land Rover tow ball covers are 99p, not 50p.

I bet he didn't realise that. I'm glad we didn't swap addresses now !!