Please help a newbie-Winter in New Jersey
11-03-2010, 02:23 AM
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Please help a newbie-Winter in New Jersey
Hello, since I'm a new Porsche owner (4 days as of this post!), I plan to regularly start my beauty ('87 928 S4 auto- absolutely amazing condition!) and drive her when roads are clear and dry throughout this winter. Will I need winter tires or can I gingerly use the performance tires on dry, clear roads? The plans are for cruising semi-regularly on nice weekends/week nights and some trips to/from work which is only 5 miles from home(3 of which are highway). My regular vehicle is a Pathfinder so that will be used all other times when the weather/ roads are inhospitable here. Please give me feedback as I am very concerned that I might be planning to do the wrong thing.
Thanks,
Matt
Thanks,
Matt
11-03-2010, 03:22 AM
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How snowy does it get in New Jersey? Have ice on the roads at all? That will probably determine your answer.
I've never been through there in the winter though, so I can't comment.
Congratulations on the car.
I've never been through there in the winter though, so I can't comment.
Congratulations on the car.
11-03-2010, 04:05 AM
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I live in Jersey City, and my 930 comes out to play usually at least once per month over the winter. So long as the roads are dry and clean, you'll be fine. If you are running summer tires, you will need to be careful because the tread compound may not stick very well in sub-freezing temps.
Some people park them all winter, but I say use it as much as you can.
Some people park them all winter, but I say use it as much as you can.
11-03-2010, 06:21 AM
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Hey Matt,
Welcome and Congrats! Sounds like a sweet car.
I drive my car all year here in NJ. You'll have no problem driving it at least once a month, maybe more. The residual road salt/sand is of course the big problem if you don't plan to drive on actual snow. But that's usually gone within a few days after the bad weather.
The temps will be fine most of the time in the day and I've never had a problem. My rule: If the snow isn't deep enough to hit the spoiler, I'm taking the 928.
Check out 'Projekt 928' if you can find it. In there you'll see the testing they did on the 928 in all kinds of conditions all over the world. Once you see that, you'll never question the 928 again.
One thing about the short trips (under about 20 minutes or so). While the car may seem to be fully warmed up on the temp gauge, you still aren't really completely warming up the oil until you've driven for a while. That can actually be bad for the engine, maybe worse than not starting it at all. Take the long way to work so you get the oil fully warmed up. You'll know when the oil pressure is about midway (2-3 bar). Then the engine and oil are fully warmed. I don't even rev my car past about 2500 until this is the case. The 928 loves to be driven. All the time.
Oh, and also---
This thread....
Welcome and Congrats! Sounds like a sweet car.
I drive my car all year here in NJ. You'll have no problem driving it at least once a month, maybe more. The residual road salt/sand is of course the big problem if you don't plan to drive on actual snow. But that's usually gone within a few days after the bad weather.
The temps will be fine most of the time in the day and I've never had a problem. My rule: If the snow isn't deep enough to hit the spoiler, I'm taking the 928.
Check out 'Projekt 928' if you can find it. In there you'll see the testing they did on the 928 in all kinds of conditions all over the world. Once you see that, you'll never question the 928 again.
One thing about the short trips (under about 20 minutes or so). While the car may seem to be fully warmed up on the temp gauge, you still aren't really completely warming up the oil until you've driven for a while. That can actually be bad for the engine, maybe worse than not starting it at all. Take the long way to work so you get the oil fully warmed up. You'll know when the oil pressure is about midway (2-3 bar). Then the engine and oil are fully warmed. I don't even rev my car past about 2500 until this is the case. The 928 loves to be driven. All the time.
Oh, and also---
This thread....
11-03-2010, 07:59 AM
#6
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is worthless ..............
Congrats. on the car! Use it as much as you can, even in the winter.
Congrats. on the car! Use it as much as you can, even in the winter.
Last edited by WyattsRide; 11-03-2010 at 09:56 AM.
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11-03-2010, 08:09 AM
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Pictures.....
Andrew beat me to it!
As others mentioned, watch the tires! Performance tires can be downright scary in cold temperatures.
IMHO the drive back and forth to work may not be long enough to completely warm up the car which will leave moisture in the exhaust. I know my GT takes at least 10 minutes for full warm up. Maybe consider taking the long way to and from work when you take the 928.
Andrew beat me to it!
As others mentioned, watch the tires! Performance tires can be downright scary in cold temperatures.
IMHO the drive back and forth to work may not be long enough to completely warm up the car which will leave moisture in the exhaust. I know my GT takes at least 10 minutes for full warm up. Maybe consider taking the long way to and from work when you take the 928.
11-03-2010, 08:30 AM
#9
Feel free to drive it as long as the roads are clear. My car gets driven all year round if the weather's OK.
Just like others have said - Take the long way to work to let the car warm up fully.
Where are you in Central NJ?
Just like others have said - Take the long way to work to let the car warm up fully.
Where are you in Central NJ?
11-03-2010, 10:29 AM
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Thank you!
WOW! Thanks for all the feedback- I took her this morning to get the windows tinted and, because we were cold last night, I warmed her up for @ 15 minutes and drove her @ 15 altogether. I will definitely not be on the road with the residual salt down nor with white covering. I took it easy today as I'm aware of the performance tire issue on cold ground so all in all, it was a smooth ride. I am in Somerset just south of New Brunswick and I work on Route 1 for my fellow Jersey brethrens' questions.
I uploaded the prior owner's pics he sent to me.
I uploaded the prior owner's pics he sent to me.
Last edited by Matt F.; 12-31-2011 at 01:30 AM.
11-03-2010, 11:04 AM
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Very nice!!
I like.
BTW- check your owner's manual re: warming up. It says to pretty much start it and go. Sitting with the car idling isn't very good for the car either (was news to me too). Just get in and drive, but take it easy until it's fully warm.
It's funny, somerset is only considered 'central Jersey' to northerners.
Down here on the shore we go by geographic distance, not population centers. It's all good though. Look for a GTG in the spring down the shore, we're going to have a 'wake your shark' GTG and tech session around March or April.
Enjoy!!
OH, and one more thing in case you haven't been lurking around here. If you're planning to drive on Route 1 in the am, make sure to tap the brakes ALOT and watch your rearview when you stop. These cars are notorious for getting hit in that big round a$$ at lights. When we stop we're below the eye line of most cars and drivers tend not to notice we've stopped until too late (something about looking like we're going 100mph even when the car is sitting still). I always tap them and watch the rearview, allow extra room so I can ooch up or even bail out if someone is approaching without paying attention. YMMV.
I like.
BTW- check your owner's manual re: warming up. It says to pretty much start it and go. Sitting with the car idling isn't very good for the car either (was news to me too). Just get in and drive, but take it easy until it's fully warm.
It's funny, somerset is only considered 'central Jersey' to northerners.
Down here on the shore we go by geographic distance, not population centers. It's all good though. Look for a GTG in the spring down the shore, we're going to have a 'wake your shark' GTG and tech session around March or April.
Enjoy!!
OH, and one more thing in case you haven't been lurking around here. If you're planning to drive on Route 1 in the am, make sure to tap the brakes ALOT and watch your rearview when you stop. These cars are notorious for getting hit in that big round a$$ at lights. When we stop we're below the eye line of most cars and drivers tend not to notice we've stopped until too late (something about looking like we're going 100mph even when the car is sitting still
). I always tap them and watch the rearview, allow extra room so I can ooch up or even bail out if someone is approaching without paying attention. YMMV.
11-03-2010, 11:31 AM
#13
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You are going to get salt (run off from plowed drifts) on that beautiful car!! The road will be dry and around the corner will be crap running across the road, sometimes a trickle, sometimes a stream; the smallest grade causes a crossing. I'm just pulling your paranoid chain. May the roads be dry for you.
11-03-2010, 11:49 AM
#14
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You are going to get salt (run off from plowed drifts) on that beautiful car!! The road will be dry and around the corner will be crap running across the road, sometimes a trickle, sometimes a stream; the smallest grade causes a crossing. I'm just pulling your paranoid chain. May the roads be dry for you.
Steve's arch-enemy!
