Boxsters in winter
Discussion
Hi All,
Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
funkyelise said:
Hi All,
Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
Hi bud, well done on the car!Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
Firstly I'd bet a penny to a pinch of s
t your car won't leak a drop. I had a '02 Boxster that I owned through two winters, it lived outside and never let in so much as a dribble no matter how bad the weather.I would be inclined to change the wheels through the winter, I think it would be fair to say that Porsche wheel paint quaility isn't the best in the world and salt really doesn't do them any favours! If you've a second set you won't worry so much about them getting a bit corroded.
I can't comment on your current tyres as I've no experience of them but,I did read that summer or "normal" tyres do lose grip and the ability to warm much more dramatically than specific winter tyres - I don't claim to be an expert though!!
Porsche actually recommend fitting 18's with winter tyres and the sizes are 235/40/18 and 265/40/18. I swop over to winters of this size on my Cayman S about this time every year and find it transforms the cars in cold and slippery conditions. The tyres I use are Vredestein Wintrac Extremes, but are not N-rated so not an option if you have an OPC warranty. S/H rims come up on eBay but make sure you purchase Boxster/Cayman rims as the offsets are different to the 911.
I picked up a second hand hardtop for my old Boxster, was great in the Winter.
Not a huge fan of covers outside, I've always ended up with scratches on the paint, even being really careful putting it on, slightest bit of dirt on the car can lead to scratches, plus you don't want water trapped on the car so it needs to be dried off before having the cover put on.
Felt like you owned two cars, a cayman Oct-March then when the hardtop came off a Boxster for the summer months. :-)
Not a huge fan of covers outside, I've always ended up with scratches on the paint, even being really careful putting it on, slightest bit of dirt on the car can lead to scratches, plus you don't want water trapped on the car so it needs to be dried off before having the cover put on.
Felt like you owned two cars, a cayman Oct-March then when the hardtop came off a Boxster for the summer months. :-)
Can't comment too much on the cover as mine lives in a garage, but I'd be interested to know your thoughts on winter tyres.
I normally don't take mine out if there is any chance of snow, but the one time I did get caught out, the Boxster on regular tyres was useless. The combination of fat rear tyres and rear wheel drive really is a bad one in the snow - other rear drive cars were able to go on for much longer than I was.
Winter tyres are a bit of an investment, but they are supposed to transform the Boxster in the snow.
I normally don't take mine out if there is any chance of snow, but the one time I did get caught out, the Boxster on regular tyres was useless. The combination of fat rear tyres and rear wheel drive really is a bad one in the snow - other rear drive cars were able to go on for much longer than I was.
Winter tyres are a bit of an investment, but they are supposed to transform the Boxster in the snow.
Ran Boxsters through 10 winters, Pilots are the best tyres rain or shine. Winter tyres depends on how much snow you get. The later hood is more than man enough for the job, but I were back in the market I'd get the hardtop for Nov - March if it were a daily driver. The only issue with the hardtop is a bright winters day, going topless with heated seats is very nice and getting the hardtop off will be a ballache.
Should be a sticky really:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
My winter wheels and tyres are at OPC East London and are for sale as I will be out of my car before Christmas.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
My winter wheels and tyres are at OPC East London and are for sale as I will be out of my car before Christmas.
Martian O said:
SalesManager said:
..Winter tyres depends on how much snow you get....
Winter tyres work better in lower temperatures (<7'c), it doesn't have to be snowing to recognise their benefit.funkyelise said:
Hi All,
Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
Buy the Porsche cover. Very good. But don't buy the Porsche cover you'll never use it. I have one that I've used maybe 6 times in 10 years. Never really with the car outside, but under a car port just to keep dust, bird mess, and water drip from the car port roof from getting on the car while I was away for a few weeks.Recently took the plunge into Boxster ownership – a Black 2005 Boxster S – and very pleased to have done so thus far! Proving to be a cracking car. Couple of bits of advice sought though please…
1. Car Cover. I’m used to convertible ownership and no stranger to sports car quirks and the odd bit of water finding its way to where it shouldn’t! (my last one was a Elise Mk1) but as it will live outside and is a second car, does anyone know of a decent car cover or shower cap for the Boxster? I’ve had a quote from Porsche of around £200 for a full one but was wondering if there were any cheaper alternatives out there?
2. Winter tyres. Are they worth it on the Boxster? It’s got the 19” Carrera alloys on it so I figure I have 3 options – 1. Keep these alloys all the time and swap the tyres so what brand do people recommend to fit onto this size of rim? I was having a look over the weekend at tyres & prices & couldn’t find many equivalent sized winter options (235/35/19 & 265/35/19). Or 2. Get a second set of alloys (possibly the std 18” ones) with tyres and swap wheel/tyre assemblies. If anyone does change them over, I’d be interested in any info please. And lastly 3. Keep the standard Michelin Pilot Sports on but as the car is new to me, how well do they behave in cold/greasy conditions?
Thanks all
Can't or shouldn't cover the car unless it is clean clean clean and dry.
Trouble is unless you have a garage it is not clean. It gets dusty.
My 02 Boxster lived outside in winter when I first got it and lives outside even today year round. The Turbo gets the covered car port.
No leaks. Top looks good. Keep it clean, free of bird mess. Away from trees/plants that shed sap or plant trash.
Buy proper winter tires.
Enjoy the car in the winter. It is a great car. Think of snow on the road as icing on the cake, so to speak.
I'm about to embark on my fourth Scandinavian winter for my '02 Boxster S.
It's kept in a subterranian garage which is dry but if cold enough, we will get freezing temperatures down there.
When I bought it, I knew I would use it for winter/snow driving so winter tyres have allways been a requirement for me standard fitment for the 18" are 225/40 front and 265/35 rear - and they work surprisingly well. My car came with the hardtop, which is a real pleasure for the heated screen and better visibility (not least because of the bigger window). Only other preparation is that I service my car in October, to make sure everything is fresh for the winter.
Use the car and enjoy it - it works as well in cold conditions as in the sun
CK
It's kept in a subterranian garage which is dry but if cold enough, we will get freezing temperatures down there.
When I bought it, I knew I would use it for winter/snow driving so winter tyres have allways been a requirement for me standard fitment for the 18" are 225/40 front and 265/35 rear - and they work surprisingly well. My car came with the hardtop, which is a real pleasure for the heated screen and better visibility (not least because of the bigger window). Only other preparation is that I service my car in October, to make sure everything is fresh for the winter.
Use the car and enjoy it - it works as well in cold conditions as in the sun
CK
Trev450 said:
Martian O said:
SalesManager said:
..Winter tyres depends on how much snow you get....
Winter tyres work better in lower temperatures (<7'c), it doesn't have to be snowing to recognise their benefit.Just to clarify I am NOT SLAGGING OFF WINTER TYRES for continual very cold weather use. I ran winter tyres for many years in Grenoble but no need for me in Sussex. The level of lateral grip and traction offered by Michelin PS2s on my Boxster at around 1 or 2 degrees was nothing short of staggering. The loss of grip was way less than the added reserve that I would impose myself in such conditions.
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 7th November 10:17
Hi all, and thanks very much for the replies.
I do intend to try to use it through the winter so sounds like a set of winters would be a good idea. What do you do about storing the summer wheels/tyres? And at what point do you look to change i.e. the weathers starting to turn certainly colder of late - would you be putting them on now? What are winter tyres like in 'normal' conditions & warmer temperatures?
I do intend to try to use it through the winter so sounds like a set of winters would be a good idea. What do you do about storing the summer wheels/tyres? And at what point do you look to change i.e. the weathers starting to turn certainly colder of late - would you be putting them on now? What are winter tyres like in 'normal' conditions & warmer temperatures?
nickfrog said:
Not at all. Grip/traction only STARTS progressively dropping when you cross the 7 deg barrier. The loss down to 2/3 deg is minimal, there's no fall off the cliff effect.
Just to clarify I am NOT SLAGGING OFF WINTER TYRES for continual very cold weather use. I ran winter tyres for many years in Grenoble but no need for me in Sussex. The level of lateral grip and traction offered by Michelin PS2s on my Boxster at around 1 or 2 degrees was nothing short of staggering. The loss of grip was way less than the added reserve that I would impose myself in such conditions.
That was my experience. Mich. Pilots are the best tyre ever IMHO.Just to clarify I am NOT SLAGGING OFF WINTER TYRES for continual very cold weather use. I ran winter tyres for many years in Grenoble but no need for me in Sussex. The level of lateral grip and traction offered by Michelin PS2s on my Boxster at around 1 or 2 degrees was nothing short of staggering. The loss of grip was way less than the added reserve that I would impose myself in such conditions.
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 7th November 10:17
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