Yeah I don't get it either..

I get cars may get a bit more beat up in the harsh elements.. But then again I don't understand why folks buy a 911 and then drive it only 2000 miles a year.. Some folks like to save it and make it pristine for the next guy who owns it or figure they will get an extra couple of thousand for their efforts in babying it..

And yeah on the salt near the beach.. Used to own old VW' bugs back in the day.. and they would rust out in a couple of years.. but I've not seen that on a modern car that I've had that is treated reasonably (i.e .wash once a month or so).. Even when I lived in a icey/snowy region for a couple of years, I tried to hose off the under body occasionally.. Never really had any issues with later model cars...

 

I can't speak for the OP, but I live in the snow belt, we hold the snowfall record, and the roads are **** to begin with. So if the roads are clear and dry and not too cold for the tires I'll take the 911 out to play, otherwise I have better cars to deal with the winter - G wagon. Do whatever floats your boat, and I guess it's wasted money if you have to drive a winter beater, I don't, so me not driving the Porsche on crappy days, weeks at a time, hardly matters to me.

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Even if a car depreciates doesn't mean you should take care of it less. Even though they are cars, they are tools as well and this type of car is best used in good weather, therefore visit it regularly and make sure to keep the electronics in good order.

 

Not there just yet but will be soon with my 996, I have maybe one more month of drive time, sign me up for the ACH. Same here, first winter with the car and I used to live in South FL so I haven't forgot the joy of driving any day of the year.

 

Some years ago there was a story about a swiss billionaire that bought a Maseratti MC12 Versione Competizione. This was Maseratti's answer to the Enzo Ferrari. They produced 55 cars (only 50 were for public sale) and they cost 600K Euros at the time. It seems that this guy's car was ready for delivery in the winter. There was alot of snow on the ground and when he was driving it home, he decided that it would be a good time to take it on a racetrack that he passed on his way. Well, after a lap or two, the car skidded and the rear of the car hit the retaining wall. He got out of the car and saw that the metal was pushed up against the rear tire. So he pull the metal away from the tire and went back on the track to do more laps. I guess that's one of the definitions of F--- you money.

 

I'm surprised by all of the winter storage "hate" in this thread. For as long as there's been sports cars, owners have been storing them for winter in the colder climates.

I've been storing my "toy cars" every winter for as long as I've owned them. In New England, the roads can be dangerous, salted to hell and the plows tear up the road leaving tons of broken asphalt and curbs, etc in the road. I will never subject any of my toys to this, not because they couldn't handle it with the right tires, paint protection, constant cleaning, etc. It's just not worth it, I've got two other all wheel drive vehicles for winter work. I park my toys for winter for the same reason I put away my flip flops and break out the boots, pick the right tool for the job!

I can't imagine trying to push through a foot of snow in my Sports Design Pkg front fascia, haha.

Don't worry about me getting enough use out of my toys, when they're driven, they're driven hard and enjoyed to their fullest extent. My cars always look pristine when they're sold or traded and typically have low miles, but that doesn't mean they were not enjoyed .

 

Because it is the internet, and if you drive it differently than the other guy you are doing it wrong.

 

I think I understand there are different ways people enjoy their cars. When I bought mine, the dealer said "just drive it". He said he had a client that bought a GT3 and 4 years later sold it with 400 miles and half of those miles were back and forth for services. I have put on 4000 fun miles this summer. It has fulfilled the intended role of a special car always 1 - 2 weeks from a hand wash & wax, to drive on roads of my choosing, in weather of my choosing, in traffic of my choosing, on my own schedule. I would actually rather drive my SUV otherwise, but that's just me.

Ispain, I like the idea of renting a Porsche on vacation in Florida. My family would like that too.

Sizzle, The cover is a BMW cover I bought for a 135i. I traded in the car for the 911, washed the cover and think it fits fine. I clayed, sealed and waxed the car before covering.

Gripster, I don't think I'll want to drive the car untill April. Something to really look forward to.

 

I used to store my cars in the winter too but there is no point to do so in Colorado. We have over 300 days of sunshine. Yes, we do get snow but it melts the next day and within a couple of days later, everything is completely dry. This week is a good example, we expect rain today and snow tomorrow but by the end of the week, it's completely dry and sunny. These cars are too many fun to drive, not worth storing for the winter.

 

Well I guess, only if it's not your DD and you've got others. I intend to use/keep it as my main car ... I've got an SUV that my wife drives and it's family vehicle too. I think too (again with all due respect) that 911's are very capable jack of all trades car...not a useless super car in inclement weather / winter that some ferraris or Lamborghinis are...

 

Of course it is a very capable car all year around, nobody is disputing it. But living in Upstate NY where we measure our snowfall in feet, my G Wagon is a better tool for the job. On the flip-side I take the 911 to the track instead of the truck. So if the weather is nasty there is really no point for me taking the Porsche over the Wagon.

 

what salt ? where do you guys live that its winter already ?

are porsches extra prone to rust or something, none of the other cars i drive/have driven have ever rusted

 

We must be long lost relatives, I feel exactly the same and our cars could be brothers I believe yours is metallic black and mine is regular black. OT, but do you have more pics of your car, mine is still waiting for its boat in Emden, it will help pass the time

At this rate, my car might be shipped to my house when it arrives at the dealer, arrggh

 

The op wrote "saddest day of the year", which is clearly self-imposed and for reasons best known to him.

No one here was suggesting using the car as a snowplow (plough).
The question was around the rationale behind locking it away for 5 months of the year - Salt, rust, stones, handling etc?

Some folks literally will not drive their car in the rain, let alone the snow.

It's not "hate" Blackspeed, it was just a question which has now been answered...

 

the only thing on a 911 (built since 2008) that I've seen rust/corrode are the clamps that hold on the exhaust tips...had 'em replaced for about $150 a few yrs back when I had the 997.1. Other than that, you should be golden.