Apr 30, 2012 6:43:33 PM
- BeauCarreraS
- Junior
- Loc: living room , United States
- Posts: 69, Gallery
- Registered on: Apr 18, 2012
Apr 30, 2012 6:43:33 PM
Apr 30, 2012 7:30:04 PM
Apr 30, 2012 7:55:12 PM
Apr 30, 2012 7:57:22 PM
Send it over to my place, and I'd be happy to drive it for you - no charge.
Unless you have an exceptionally large living room, I would imagine it will be difficult to put real miles on it. I recommend you drive it outside.
In answer to your question though, I think that 30 minutes a week will be enough to keep it alive and well.
Apr 30, 2012 7:59:28 PM
Yes, in general how often should a new car like the 991 be driven. It's my own car yes. :)
because i have heard that you shouldnt let it sit for too long. or that weekend driving is not enough for these cars. for example, my 01 boxster (before it was totaled--and even now) just seems to drive better when we drive it everyday, if it sits for a few days it shows problems.
Apr 30, 2012 8:01:50 PM
hahahah funny :) i was considering just using it as a piece of art in my living room. :) but for now, i want to keep it mechanically in good shape so i was wondering how often and for how long it should be driven as to cause no problems...
i just saw that you said 30 minutes is enough. thanks :)
Apr 30, 2012 8:43:17 PM
BeauCarreraS:i just saw that you said 30 minutes is enough. thanks :)
I'd be inclined to say that 30 mins a week would be too marginal. Modern cars' electronics are sensitive to battery voltage and tend to throw a hissy fit it gets low. A 30 min drive would barely replace the energy you'd use to start the car and then maybe restart it to look at the scenery or after closing / opening a manual garage door.
A couple of weeks of that and you're likely to find the car not wanting to start at all one day and, if the 991 electronics are not a lot more stable than those of its predecessors, the low voltage may also result in warning lights lighting up on the dash.
However much time you manage to devote to your car, one long trip will be better than several short ones for the battery. Better still, connect it up to a trickle charger to keep the battery in good shape.
fritz
Apr 30, 2012 9:37:17 PM
Thanks Fritz, I will take it for an out-of-town trip every couple of months for like 2 or 3 days and would the short ones like lets say one per week for an hour sound ok?
I will look into the trickle charger--have any favorite brands and suggestions on where to buy that?
Apr 30, 2012 9:46:25 PM
BeauCarreraS:I will look into the trickle charger--have any favorite brands and suggestions on where to buy that?
I have a Swedish C-TEK, which appears to do the job. Many others also swear by it.
This would appear to be the USA version (110V instead of 230V mains voltage) of the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Ctek-Battery-Charger-Multi-56-158/dp/B000FQBWCY/ref=pd_sim_auto_1
fritz
May 1, 2012 12:48:05 AM
We are not guaranteed another day on this earth, so drive it any chance you get and be thankful you have the opportunity to drive something incredible!! Enjoy it and enjoy it often.
May 1, 2012 1:27:52 AM
May 1, 2012 4:27:58 AM
I'd say as much as you can as often as you can.
Keeping it mechanically in good shape is ultimately going to be down to how much care you put into in and about your regular maintenance of the car, not the fact that you use it less to preserve it.
May 1, 2012 6:13:37 AM
May 1, 2012 7:50:13 AM
Well what's your daily? I'd say drive it EVERY day!! A 911 has always meant to be driven. I does well in all conditions and climates and it's comfortable and safe to do so. Unless you carry 200kg of tools to work each day, i do not see why you couldn't drive it all week.
On the flip side you can store it easily for years with the right stuff. Trickle charger, new gasoline, a hoist to avoid flat spots on the tires etc etc.. But really, this isn't some rare classic! You could display it as art almost where you see it, but i really bet you that that will not give much satisfaction after a while. I would want to drive it everytime i see it for example and end up using it daily.
Also, think of F1 drivers like Mark Webber. He's so busy with the race season, i bet he only drives his GT2 RS a couple of times a year..
May 1, 2012 10:56:59 AM
Atzporsche:
Also, think of F1 drivers like Mark Webber. He's so busy with the race season, i bet he only drives his GT2 RS a couple of times a year..
there's a 2 year old GT2 RS on sale at OPC Bristol, it's 2 owner, and has done 600 miles!
May 1, 2012 11:15:22 AM
May 1, 2012 11:20:12 AM
I apologize for these remarks, but seriously, its a Porsche 911!!!! Drive it whenever you feel like it! It's not like we're talking about preserving some $200 million Ferrari.
If you don't feel like driving it, fine, let it sit, it's a 911 nothing will happen, these are the most reliable cars on Earth. If you're in the mood to drive it, go ahead and have fun, after all it is a Porsche.
May 1, 2012 1:05:09 PM
I can understand that limited available time, and dedication to particular activities can constrain your opportunity to put regular miles on a particular vehicle. I've been there myself...
Putting a trickle charger on it, and driving it enough to at least keep the gas fresh (30 minutes a week would probably suffice, especially if you don't generally keep the tank full, however, filling it partially and letting it sit for weeks on end will surely worsen the condition); and making sure that the engine gets fully up to temperature when you drive (I'm assuming that the 30 minutes are all at once; not multiple, very short hops on different days) probably keeps your car from any negative impact due to non-use.
Other than this, if the main reason for your concern is longevity, I don't think you have anything to worry about. If your real concern is resale, I'm sure you're neither hurting nor protecting your money in this approach. The first year of a present-day 911 will probably experience measurable depreciation regardless of the miles you rack up. We all know that they improve these babies a little each year, and that they make a heck of a lot of them anymore...
I imagine that you have already considered the depreciation you are likely to experience on your 991, and have compared that to the number of miles you are likely to put on it while it is in your ownership. I recommend that you not divide the later into the former and think about it; or much less banter it about among others, who's potentially simple, academic opinions of your judgement matter to you!
I also suspect that you own the car because you value it strongly on some reasonable, though emotional level(s) so I wouldn't criticize your purchase or usage in any way; but I do agree with others here that, whatever your reasons for not driving the car, you needn't feel that you are either shooting yourself in the foot, nor are you likely protecting any sort of investment here.
I salute you as you enjoy the ownership of a fabulous work of engineering, art, and technology. Rock on!
May 1, 2012 2:44:53 PM
May 1, 2012 2:58:51 PM
something is wrong if you have to try :) I drive a 911 for 5 years... every day, sun/rain/snow/ice by myself with kids... don't see why you have to force yourself to do it, I thought people buy cars to drive rather than post on the forum about them and then try to drive them
May 1, 2012 3:27:25 PM
May 1, 2012 3:29:31 PM
I don't see this as all that strange.
It may sound kind of weird to some on here, but I experience some social settings where driving an affluent marque can actually carry a negative connotation, even in a business setting. Some of my peers and clients see it as flashy, and begin to question my income and billing rate, driven by some amount of jealousy or other false impression.
I don't preoccupy myself with other people's opinions within my self security, but when sentiment affects business, utility comes into play.
Sometimes a Porsche denotes success and attracts more business, sometimes it shows excess and shocks people. It all depends on the audience. You wouldn't wear a tuxedo to the grocery store would you?
My time is also somewhat generally spoke for, so periodic pleasure drives are only occasional for me as well. Add to that the ownership of multiple cars, and you have a recipe for intentional use of the car in order to keep miles on it.
But for me, owning a car I love helps make the most of the limited opportunities!
May 1, 2012 3:34:05 PM
May 1, 2012 4:17:01 PM
May 1, 2012 5:02:09 PM
May 1, 2012 6:18:31 PM
BeauCarreraS:
I dont have too many opportunities during the week to drive this beauty, but I'm trying to make a point of driving it at least once a week for about 30 minutes, any recommendations?
One of my holiday dreams is to drive from one coast to the other in the USA in a great car exploring the real America - fancy lending me your 991?
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"