Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

How many people take their car off the road for the winter? I run my 924 and 944 through the winter, but I was going to take the 928 off the road for the winter. I can't do it. The thought of her out there and not driving her would be torture. Maybe if the 944 was still on the road? I might do it?

What are other peoples thoughts?

I've never Winter stored until this year. Hoping to have a garage in a couple of weeks but anything could happen. I just spent too much on the beast to have it rust away. Still clean as a whistle underneath. The cost of petrel a bit part of the decision. But sell it I can't. Drove it last Sunday morning & it's just incredible that a 24 year old car can go & handle so well. It is just massive fun like a 7 but safe & practical.

Good point J.J. money is getting tight. My wife can't work anymore and has never recieved a penny from the low flying vectra episode 3 years ago. I put in the petrol I can afford and use it until it runs out. I imagine the weather is going to get pretty bad up here this winter, so the traction control on the Insignia should come in handy. Maybe I'll be forced to stop using her.

Mine is garaged up at the moment, but missing driving it around. Seriously thinking of putting the tax back on, and taking going for a spin on any available dry days....

Mine's in the garage for the first time. My intention was to leave it there until next Spring, so it's been in there two weeks tomorrow - which I now realise is two weeks too long... hence the 'withdrawal symptoms' post.

Modern garages are too small, and because I have a bench at one end with the tumble dryer and beer fridge underneath it getting the Porsche in is a squeeze - the nose is right up to the garage front door, and there's only just enough room to get the beer fridge door open.... so I guess that's enough then .

The Porsche is still taxed and MOT'd, so next week I'll look at getting it insured. Wafting around in a 525i automatic estate just isn't the same...... nice for a winter runabout though - and very useful. I won't be getting rid of either car, we really need a useful estate actually, and for some strange reason I always wanted a 5-series estate.

Is it a good idea to run the engine once a week while stored?

To answer your question, yes. If it's not been done recently, it's also an idea to replace the oil and filter. Check all fluid levels are topped up as well. If you can't get the car off the ground with axle stands, it's worth putting 2 - 3 psi more in the tyres and moving the car's position in the garage, if possible, to prevent flat spotting the tyres. If you've got electricity in the garage, might be worth you buying a trickle charger to keep the battery at it's optimum.

Ideally if you haven't SORN the car, if you get a good dry day and not to much salt has been put down, take the car a good drive and get it up to operating temperature.

Ben

I have a 1981 924 which I use all year round. It's ok in bad weather, not too much power and relatively skinny tyres. Last winter, it was the only car to drive right up to the front door at work, everybody else got stuck at the bottom of the car park. Mind you, that could be to do with driving styles (takes a modest bow)

I give it a thorough clean in the spring to get all the salt and grime off the underside. The value of my car is really low and it is worth more to me to be able to use it to get to work than to keep it in a garage.

Cautionary Tale

many many years ago, Ford 1.3 Fiesta, stopped being used, put away for winter as I had another bigger car (Saab) I came to sell it 9 months later.

I hadn't changed out the oil and it had corroded the bearings in the engine, went into storage as a sweet car, came out a rattle box of bones.

So if you are going to winter store, give her fresh oil at the very least and disconnect the battery.

There's always some good dry days in the winter to give it a blast as long as you avoid salt on the road. Tho most of the time it will stay in the garege and do the little jobs you dont have time for in the summer. It's also best to drive it than just run the engine, tho if you cant take it out it's better than nowt.