Sputnik

Hey guys,
I am just wondering...while reading some car sale ads I noticed it is being mentioned as a positive fact that "the car has been never driven in rain". It could be avident to many of you but would you please explain what wrong with driving the car in rain..Is it because the paint will suffer?

Craig W.

The rain does, in fact, remove paint given enough time. To wit, there is not really a color called "artic silver" from the factory. Artic Silver cars are simply cars of another color that were driven extensively in the rain. The rain then removed the paint, leaving behind the shiny metal for all the world to see.

That is why the Pacific Northwest has the highest concentration of artic silver cars in the contiguous United States.

993Widebody

It is because people are sick in the head and think that the most over-engineered car in the world cannot get wet.

Phil

[quote]Originally posted by 993Widebody:
<strong>It is because people are sick in the head and think that the most over-engineered car in the world cannot get wet.</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Allen

When a car is driven in the rain and then parked in the sun, the paint can develop "rain spots". This is especially true in areas of the country that have higher levels of acid rain. Unfortunately, my car has plenty of these spots, and they are very difficult to get rid of...3M hand Glaze doesn't even touch them. So, I guess if a car "has never been driven in the rain", then it would never be subject to develop rain spots.

Speedraser

I try to avoid the rain when possible, but I don't get too upset when I get caught. The two reasons are: 1) acid rain is truly nasty, and does etch into the paint (the acid stays behind after the water evaporates), leaving the marks behind (even with good wax); 2) my 993 is black -- 'nuff said.

I DO get upset when I get caught in the rain for one reason; it's almost always within 24 hours of washing the car. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

When the car does get rained on, I do make a point to wash it as soon as possible -- to get the acid off. In some parts of the country, this is important, unfortunately.

993Racer

it is because the car that won most of its historic races in the rain, should be driven in the rain that we comment on this subject.

Nice if it hasnt been driven in the rain but one is crazy not to drive it in the rain... ever notice those wipers that are the same as the 917 on your 911?
d

Randy M

Us oregonians argue that you should drive your 993 in the rain because......well we dont have a choice do we?

User 4621

Of course, out here in the hills the rain probably has far fewer contaminants than the tap water. The worst water spots I ever got was from a sprinkler system that misted water on my car in a parking lot. By the time I got home it was totally covered with spots. Nothing short of a clay bar would get rid of them.

Bins

It maybe because the wipers are not capable of working when wet

MJBird993

Here in NC we have some very serious acid rain problems, but as it turned out, I test drove my car in the rain, occasionally drove it in the rain on trips, spent a weekend at the track in the rain, and when I later delivered it to its happy new home in Hotlanta, drove most of the way there in the rain. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

I think the secret is to keep the (acid) rain from drying on the car, thereby eliminating the spotting. Worked for me...

Michael

ex-964
ex-993
current: Z06

Christer

I am getting worried now.

I never see any 'rain spots' on my Guards Red 964. I wash it every 2 weeks or so and stays under a heavy duty outdoor cover most of the time.

Do I not see any spots because my paintwork is already so bad...?

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by Allen:
<strong>When a car is driven in the rain and then parked in the sun, the paint can develop "rain spots". This is especially true in areas of the country that have higher levels of acid rain. Unfortunately, my car has plenty of these spots, and they are very difficult to get rid of...3M hand Glaze doesn't even touch them. So, I guess if a car "has never been driven in the rain", then it would never be subject to develop rain spots.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Allen, there's plenty of hope for your paint woes. I have 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, and while it's good for what it's intended for, removing etched spots in the clearcoat isn't it! You'll probably need to use an abrasive and an orbital polisher. Everything I know about car care I learned at <a href="http://www.autopia.org" target="_blank">www.autopia.org</a> - the Rennlist equivalent for detailing.

(Note for the gallery that I lurked on Autopia for dozens of hours, reading ALL the back archives, before I bored anyone with a question).

Anyway, it took me a while to plunk down the cash for an orbital polisher (the ubiquitous Porter-Cable), but boy howdy was I happy with the results. Using the PC with a microfiber bonnet also makes waxing go a LOT faster.

Burnham

I tend to have far more important things to worry about than rain on the car....it only annoys me straight after washing it.

Maybe we dont have as bad acid rain this side of the Atlantic, but with an average of 300 rainly days a year what can we do?!

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

JPS

Echo most of the comments.

Not driving in the rain is more of a matter of health for me. Seeing my baby dirty literally causes me physical pain. I'm considering seeking a specialist, but Dr. Porsche has a long waiting list...

Also, rain dirt tends to stay on more, so it is more difficult to get off without putting in the dreaded microscratches I have spent hours learning how to (mostly) avoid.

This is my first winter with my first Porsche. I'm sure I'll have to get over it. If you have been keeping tabs on California weather lately, it has been raining to proportions of Ark building, and I haven't driven her since last week. Given current withdrawal (sp?) pains, and the forecast for continued rain all week, I'm likely going to have to learn to get over it or accept a gnawing pang in my intestines as the dirt sits there for a few days.

I know intellectually the rain won't actually hurt it as long as the washing is frequent, but that just doesn't help me.

Anyone know a good Porsche-owner psychiatrist?