By Andy Gregory
1 year ago
Why you shouldn't wrap your car up for winter
Heritage Parts Centre's Andy Gregory explains why winter hibernation for sports cars should be a thing of the past…
For many of us, September has always represented a 'line in the sand' moment where we concede summer has finished and autumn has arrived.
Traditionally in the world of automotive, it's when the summer-long programme of car shows and events draws to a close, as the longer nights draw in and temperatures begin to fall. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we should put our Porsche shaped hobbies on hold.
Traditionally in the world of automotive, it's when the summer-long programme of car shows and events draws to a close, as the longer nights draw in and temperatures begin to fall. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we should put our Porsche shaped hobbies on hold.
Of course, some may take the opportunity to carry out much needed maintenance or restoration work as the nights draw in (and I know a great place for replacement 911 panels - use code '9WERKS10' at the checkout) but for others if your car is working, then use it! Porsche didn’t design these vehicles to only be used for six months of the year. For some enthusiasts around the world, British winter weather is pretty much summertime, so the Porsche would have to come out or risk being purely ornamental. A recent 9WERKS roadtrip to Norway highlighted this very fact, where some 50 Porsches took on one of the world's best driving roads with six feet of snow piled either side!
I absolutely appreciate they put nasty stuff on our roads in the wintertime, and not for a second am I suggesting you drive your '72 RS though a snowdrift or leave your Sport Classic on the drive over Christmas, but for the rest of us, there will be sunny, albeit cold days ahead and we should take full advantage. We got locked in our homes for six months not too long ago, so we should embrace the freedom – even if it means we need to break out the jet wash and sponge after a session behind the wheel. If you’re precious of your paintwork then PPF or ceramic coating maybe something to consider if you haven’t already gone down that route.
Is there anything that should be done on top of regular servicing? Not really, just some extra vigilance really. If you’re running semi-slicks you may want to invest in some more suitable footwear, but jokes aside, the colder, moist weather is likely to sneak into those slightly perished ball joint or CV boots and tuck into anything vaguely metallic for a winter snack. A glance over your MOT advisories would be a good place to start, alternatively your regular specialist workshop will no doubt produce a job list to tackle if you feel an end of summer spend up would settle your nerves.
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If you have suffered from water ingress before, then expect another test of your seals should you chose to drive in the rainy season: whilst it may be glorious sunshine when you leave the house, its unlikely to stay that way for the duration of your trip. The good news is many Porsche aperture rubbers are a simple fix, even for the mechanically challenged. Plastic membranes behind the door panels of the older cars is another nice DIY job for a weekend, and doesn’t even have to be neat, as it’ll never be seen again!
While the traditional show season naturally occurs when our climate is at its finest, the joy of driving these cars remains the same – in fact perhaps even greater with the roads less attractive to motorcyclists and middle-aged men in lycra, and with the heater on inside, it could almost be summer if the sun is shining! If you’re happy with headlights on the dark mornings and equally dim evenings the colder, denser air will even reward you with a horsepower or two to help keep you moving along at pace.
Beyond driving for fun, what can you get up to? There’s a surprising amount still scheduled for the off-peak Porsche driver. 9WERKS will be running a winter programme of events including technical seminars and private evenings, plus there's monthly get-togethers organised by clubs and smaller groups too. Christmas naturally encourages charity, and the car community is typically keen to embrace it. Heritage Parts Centre organise an annual ‘Santa Cruise’ if you fancy dressing up in red, complete with white beard and taking a drive out in the Sussex countryside (the suits are even provided!) The teddy bear run is another popular, lighthearted drive out for owners looking to give something back to the community.
But what about mileage, I hear you cry… well, what about it?! Cars, especially those of age, have a canny habit of breaking when they don’t get used, and is the few hundred miles saved over the winter season going to repay you enough come that point of resale, compared to the remedial work required from storage-induced oil leaks, squeaks and electric woes? Probably not…
What value do you place on missed experiences, and the people you never met? The Porsche ownership experience is so diverse: a casual cars and coffee, a track day, racing on ice, it’s all on offer this winter if your driving calendar has 12 months, not six!
Andy Gregory