All seasons Boxster ?
Discussion
Hi all
Looking for some advice as to whether or not a Boxster can be used all year round given the past years winters we've had.
Currently drive a Z3 M coupe and a Shogun Pinin for the winter , have taken a deposit on the BMW with the aim to get down just one car .
I live on a side road which it a bit of an incline that the coupe would not stand a chance of getting up even with the lightest snow, would a Boxster ( or early Cayman) stand more chance with the mid engine and traction aids ?
If so then which models tend to give the best reliabilty i.e Least chance of any unexpected big bills ?
Any advice welcome .
Thanks
Steve
Looking for some advice as to whether or not a Boxster can be used all year round given the past years winters we've had.
Currently drive a Z3 M coupe and a Shogun Pinin for the winter , have taken a deposit on the BMW with the aim to get down just one car .
I live on a side road which it a bit of an incline that the coupe would not stand a chance of getting up even with the lightest snow, would a Boxster ( or early Cayman) stand more chance with the mid engine and traction aids ?
If so then which models tend to give the best reliabilty i.e Least chance of any unexpected big bills ?
Any advice welcome .
Thanks
Steve
The mid engined layout of the Cayman/Boxster won't give you much if any benefit in the snow or icy conditions. If, however, you fit a set of winter tyres as I do, you will get just about anywhere, ground clearance permitting.
The Gen 2 cars are the ones to go for if the budget will stretch as they have a later engine which is proving to be much more robust than the former one.
The Gen 2 cars are the ones to go for if the budget will stretch as they have a later engine which is proving to be much more robust than the former one.
Proper winter tires is a must.
The Boxster will be just fine in the winter.
There are some cautions...
Avoid parking under, near or too close to downwind of trees. They shed limbs at all times but particularly in the winter. You do not want to find a limb has fallen onto your car.
If the weather is freezing the side windows may be frozen and will not lower when the door handle is pulled and the door opened. My experience is this is relatively harmless upon the opening the door but closing the door with the window still fully raised causes the window to smash against the top rail and while in my experience the window does not break it sounds like it shatters into a thousand pieces.
So, pay attention and if the window does not drop when you pull on the handle and open the door open the door gently and once in the car try to lower the window with the lower button concurrent with gently pushing the window down. My experience is this will break the window free of its icy chains and the window will lower just fine now when the door handle is opened.
Keep in mind if there is a lot of snow on the top of the car as you drive this will melt and if you stop before it is all gone the water will run down on the side glass and could refreeze if the weather is cold enough.
Be sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with proper window wash fluid that will not freeze or harm the car's paint, rubber window seals, etc.
When the roads got clear I'd take the car to a DIY car wash with heated water and use the rinse setting of the wash wand to rinse the car of whatever it collected. I'd use the warm water to thaw the icy slush that accumulated in the wheel wells and in the radiator ducts.
No need to use soap or the brush. You must want to remove the salt and remove any accumulation of snow/ice from the car. Plenty of time come nice weather to give the car a thorough cleaning, including a thorough rinse of its under carriage and a good cabin cleaning.
Oh, when you park the car any icy/slush in the wheel wells will partially melt and drip water onto the brake hardware. If the car sits outside in cold enough weather this water will freeze the brakes, not only the pads/rotors but possibly the emergency brake. No big deal but when you move the car off note the brakes may be frozen and be gentle. Also, once underway use the brakes a few times enough to warm them, dry them, and remove any rust. Avoid if at all possible any full stop until after you have used the brakes a few times. I failed to do this with my VW Golf and an emergency stop from speed caused the pads/rust to transfer pad material to the rotors which had them pulsing under very mild braking from then on.
The Boxster will be just fine in the winter.
There are some cautions...
Avoid parking under, near or too close to downwind of trees. They shed limbs at all times but particularly in the winter. You do not want to find a limb has fallen onto your car.
If the weather is freezing the side windows may be frozen and will not lower when the door handle is pulled and the door opened. My experience is this is relatively harmless upon the opening the door but closing the door with the window still fully raised causes the window to smash against the top rail and while in my experience the window does not break it sounds like it shatters into a thousand pieces.
So, pay attention and if the window does not drop when you pull on the handle and open the door open the door gently and once in the car try to lower the window with the lower button concurrent with gently pushing the window down. My experience is this will break the window free of its icy chains and the window will lower just fine now when the door handle is opened.
Keep in mind if there is a lot of snow on the top of the car as you drive this will melt and if you stop before it is all gone the water will run down on the side glass and could refreeze if the weather is cold enough.
Be sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with proper window wash fluid that will not freeze or harm the car's paint, rubber window seals, etc.
When the roads got clear I'd take the car to a DIY car wash with heated water and use the rinse setting of the wash wand to rinse the car of whatever it collected. I'd use the warm water to thaw the icy slush that accumulated in the wheel wells and in the radiator ducts.
No need to use soap or the brush. You must want to remove the salt and remove any accumulation of snow/ice from the car. Plenty of time come nice weather to give the car a thorough cleaning, including a thorough rinse of its under carriage and a good cabin cleaning.
Oh, when you park the car any icy/slush in the wheel wells will partially melt and drip water onto the brake hardware. If the car sits outside in cold enough weather this water will freeze the brakes, not only the pads/rotors but possibly the emergency brake. No big deal but when you move the car off note the brakes may be frozen and be gentle. Also, once underway use the brakes a few times enough to warm them, dry them, and remove any rust. Avoid if at all possible any full stop until after you have used the brakes a few times. I failed to do this with my VW Golf and an emergency stop from speed caused the pads/rust to transfer pad material to the rotors which had them pulsing under very mild braking from then on.
Buy a snotter for the winter is my advice. Something front wheel drive with skinny tyres..like an Aygo/107/C1 etc.
Then drive the Box for the nine months of the year it's superb at...
987 is a better car than my 986. But the 986 is still damn, damn good. Mine has been owned from new and still brings me the greatest of pleasure eleven years on...
Then drive the Box for the nine months of the year it's superb at...
987 is a better car than my 986. But the 986 is still damn, damn good. Mine has been owned from new and still brings me the greatest of pleasure eleven years on...
FarQue said:
Carl_Docklands said:
The Boxster is useless on Summer Tyres even on a low incline and is transformed on Winters.
Boxsters are superb cars but dire on snow. Winter tyres all the way if you're on snow.
Carl_Docklands said:
Yep, Boxing Day 2010, I had three neighbours sitting on the boot for traction and two blokes pushing me up the drive. I purchased my winter wheel and tyre set for the following year
Been there and done that. 
But my fix is a Vectra. The winter tyres solution does work very well, however. 
My Cayman on a snowy day. Could not get out of this;
Its not a great picture, but that is a very mild inclinde and it was totally stuck. Had to do some diggin' maaaan.
They were summer tyres. So yes, you can use them nearly all year round - except when it snows. Frost is a pain too as the windows freeze up. A roof cover will stop that.
If its a boxster, get a hard top. Keeps them warmer in winter and protects the cloth hood if you are keeping it outside.
Its not a great picture, but that is a very mild inclinde and it was totally stuck. Had to do some diggin' maaaan.
They were summer tyres. So yes, you can use them nearly all year round - except when it snows. Frost is a pain too as the windows freeze up. A roof cover will stop that.
If its a boxster, get a hard top. Keeps them warmer in winter and protects the cloth hood if you are keeping it outside.
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