How "anal" are you with respect to keeping the 993 clean?
03-04-2013, 09:57 PM
#46
Rennlist Member
Probably strapping the snowboard to the roof, and head up the hill on Friday. Will it be dirty enough to justify a wash it over the weekend???
(If the cars could talk, what would it be like to line up the ~150K milers with the ~50K (or fewer) milers, turn out the lights in the lot/warehouse and come back the next day?)
(If the cars could talk, what would it be like to line up the ~150K milers with the ~50K (or fewer) milers, turn out the lights in the lot/warehouse and come back the next day?)
Everyone comes at the ownership thing with a slightly different approach and philosophy. I have wanted to own this car since I got interested in German cars when I bought my first VW 14 years ago. Before that, I just wasn't that into cars because I had no money and was in a band and could barely pay rent and eat.
Since I now have a few bucks lying around, I love that I can own and drive the 993 every day. I am just not a collector who has multiple cars so I don't spend much time worrying about resale value and keeping up appearances.
I just relish driving the car. I love how the car looks regardless of how clean it is. It is such a beautiful form and functional design. I feel connected to it when I fold myself in every morning even if the drive is mundane over terrible pavement surrounded by distracted drivers. It feels special to own this car.
On the other hand, I would rather work on the car than clean it any day of the week. Cleaning it just makes it stand out more in the city which brings unwanted attention, covetous curiosity, thieving interest and vandalism.
I remember being so impressed by my friend's dad's old 911 as a kid. It was worn looking, the interior was kind of tattered, it smelled like oil, it was loud and it looked well used. That is something that stuck with me. Those experiences as a kid are pretty influential.
Dirty or clean, show car or go car, this is my favorite car I have ever owned.
--Michael
03-04-2013, 09:59 PM
#47
Race Director
I drive the 993 about thirty miles every two to three months. The rest of the time it is comfortably resting in an A/C garage. Every time it goes out it gets a two hour clean job. I love to see that baby sparkle clean. I wax it every three months with Zymol Concours Glaze.
03-04-2013, 10:15 PM
#48
Rennlist Member
I'm guilty of washing the car every time significant dirt appears on the rear lower quarter panel (behind the rear wheels) which in Seattle (lots of rain) means about twice/week. Wash it by hand with warm water and a chamois. Very careful to keep re-dipping the chamois into the water to "wash out" any dirt from it in order to not scratch the paint.
In addition, I do a coat of wax at least once/month. In warmer weather, probably about every 2 weeks.
In addition, I do a coat of wax at least once/month. In warmer weather, probably about every 2 weeks.
You are "crazy" IMO.
Craig
03-04-2013, 10:16 PM
#49
Rennlist Member
Sadly, I do have concours experience in my resume via my good friends who were multiple event and annual Zone 8 winners in FULL concours (read: underbody and everything) with............a 924?!?!? Yep, a new 924 bought in '80, pretty much disassembled, and driven all around AZ/So Cal through the '80s piling up the trophies. Was hilarious for them to out-point (granted, some points were from driving 2-300 miles) the mega-restored 356 crowd. For extra kicks, it was their DE/time trial and autocross car for a couple of years until they got a 914. Which became a "6", and was also concoursed.
03-04-2013, 10:21 PM
#50
Rennlist Member
I drive the 993 about thirty miles every two to three months. The rest of the time it is comfortably resting in an A/C garage. Every time it goes out it gets a two hour clean job. I love to see that baby sparkle clean. I wax it every three months with Zymol Concours Glaze.
you and I have significantly differing philosophies regarding 993 use.
to each their own.
but my way is better
03-04-2013, 10:29 PM
#52
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I originally posted my questions to you all simply as a point of interest (to me). In fact, every one of you has missed the clear unarguable economic issue of regular washes/waxes.
With a fresh coat of wax, the coefficient of friction of the car decreases by approx. .001%. At 60 mph or so, that translates to an improvement of approx. .001% which at $4/gallon and 18 mpg and 8000 miles/year, results in a savings of approx. $2.50/year. At my current billable hourly rate of $150/hour, that is just under .02 hours of labor/year. So this puts a premium on how much labor one should be willing to put into keeping the car clean and waxed. As my technique, (5 minutes/wash, 35 min/wax) is probably one of the more efficient ones (vs. those of you who posed an unbelievable 12 hours (!) to go over the car once), I assert I am one of the only sane ones posting in response to this question. Those of you who don't wash/wax at all, are a bit more cost effective than me, but I still win when it comes re-sale time. The freshness of the paint translates to at least a couple hundred $/car.
With a fresh coat of wax, the coefficient of friction of the car decreases by approx. .001%. At 60 mph or so, that translates to an improvement of approx. .001% which at $4/gallon and 18 mpg and 8000 miles/year, results in a savings of approx. $2.50/year. At my current billable hourly rate of $150/hour, that is just under .02 hours of labor/year. So this puts a premium on how much labor one should be willing to put into keeping the car clean and waxed. As my technique, (5 minutes/wash, 35 min/wax) is probably one of the more efficient ones (vs. those of you who posed an unbelievable 12 hours (!) to go over the car once), I assert I am one of the only sane ones posting in response to this question. Those of you who don't wash/wax at all, are a bit more cost effective than me, but I still win when it comes re-sale time. The freshness of the paint translates to at least a couple hundred $/car.
03-04-2013, 11:02 PM
#53
Rennlist Member
Guess I am in the dubious class of being able to say: I've never cleaned my car. Well, properly at least.
I should add that I've only owned her a little over a month and don't really count the quick hose off at the local car wash.
But,
That said,
Now that my 1st oil change and brake job are complete (by yours truly , no less), the detail is firmly within my sights. Weather is 60's and sunny for the next few days in Plano Texas and I have amassed enough detailing supplies to start my own detail shop I think!
Can't wait. Now just need to x out a few hours in my schedule...
I should add that I've only owned her a little over a month and don't really count the quick hose off at the local car wash.
But,
That said,
Now that my 1st oil change and brake job are complete (by yours truly , no less), the detail is firmly within my sights. Weather is 60's and sunny for the next few days in Plano Texas and I have amassed enough detailing supplies to start my own detail shop I think!
Can't wait. Now just need to x out a few hours in my schedule...
03-04-2013, 11:21 PM
#54
I originally posted my questions to you all simply as a point of interest (to me). In fact, every one of you has missed the clear unarguable economic issue of regular washes/waxes.
With a fresh coat of wax, the coefficient of friction of the car decreases by approx. .001%. At 60 mph or so, that translates to an improvement of approx. .001% which at $4/gallon and 18 mpg and 8000 miles/year, results in a savings of approx. $2.50/year. At my current billable hourly rate of $150/hour, that is just under .02 hours of labor/year. So this puts a premium on how much labor one should be willing to put into keeping the car clean and waxed. As my technique, (5 minutes/wash, 35 min/wax) is probably one of the more efficient ones (vs. those of you who posed an unbelievable 12 hours (!) to go over the car once), I assert I am one of the only sane ones posting in response to this question. Those of you who don't wash/wax at all, are a bit more cost effective than me, but I still win when it comes re-sale time. The freshness of the paint translates to at least a couple hundred $/car.
With a fresh coat of wax, the coefficient of friction of the car decreases by approx. .001%. At 60 mph or so, that translates to an improvement of approx. .001% which at $4/gallon and 18 mpg and 8000 miles/year, results in a savings of approx. $2.50/year. At my current billable hourly rate of $150/hour, that is just under .02 hours of labor/year. So this puts a premium on how much labor one should be willing to put into keeping the car clean and waxed. As my technique, (5 minutes/wash, 35 min/wax) is probably one of the more efficient ones (vs. those of you who posed an unbelievable 12 hours (!) to go over the car once), I assert I am one of the only sane ones posting in response to this question. Those of you who don't wash/wax at all, are a bit more cost effective than me, but I still win when it comes re-sale time. The freshness of the paint translates to at least a couple hundred $/car.
03-04-2013, 11:43 PM
#56
Race Director
Poor car means that the mechanical bits are probably not benefitting from such meager use.
perhaps the true issue here is my grammar.
It should read:
Sad. Poor car.
my apologies for the confusion
03-04-2013, 11:52 PM
#57
Rennlist Member
no dullard, the car is not sad. I think its sad that someone owns what is a nice driving car, and doesn't drive it. Even a 993 cab is a nice car for a summer evening drive of more than 30 miles.
Poor car means that the mechanical bits are probably not benefitting from such meager use.
perhaps the true issue here is my grammar.
It should read:
Sad. Poor car.
my apologies for the confusion
Poor car means that the mechanical bits are probably not benefitting from such meager use.
perhaps the true issue here is my grammar.
It should read:
Sad. Poor car.
my apologies for the confusion
Dullard, indeed.
03-04-2013, 11:53 PM
#58
Rennlist Member
I drive the 993 about thirty miles every two to three months. The rest of the time it is comfortably resting in an A/C garage. Every time it goes out it gets a two hour clean job. I love to see that baby sparkle clean. I wax it every three months with Zymol Concours Glaze.
If you drive it 30 miles every three months = 120 miles/ year
You wax it every three months = 4x / yr
That equates to waxing the car every thirty miles you drive it.
That's an awful lot of waxing / mile.
My Midnight blue coupe gets washed after almost every drive as putting a cover on a dirty car is not a good idea.
The silver cab is much more forgiving when dusty/dirty.
Regards,
.
Last edited by Cemoto; 03-05-2013 at 12:24 AM.
03-05-2013, 10:22 AM
#60
Race Director
Now you're worried about "mechanical bits" and calling the car poor? Next thing you know, you'll be naming your car. Should you doubt this, remember that you posted on more than one occasion about how you couldn't see the benefits of membership, and now...you're a member.
Dullard, indeed.
Dullard, indeed.
As for membership, although I owe you no explanation, another member gifted me a two year membership.