Do Porsches melt in the rain?

cashflyer · 11-29-2005, 07:58 AM

So many for-sale ads I see, and so many owners I talk to make a point of saying that their P-car is "never driven in the rain."

So my question is WHY??
(If you drive a cab with a rotted top, you are excused)

Personally, I never take my car out when:
...there is any chance of precipitation in ANY form,
...the UV index is above 5,
...the pavement is too hot, or too cold,
...any birds are around,
or when it's dark.

And I never, ever actually start the engine for fear of possible wear to the mechanicals. It is always trailered around in an environmentally sealed chamber, and the whole procession is guarded by ex-secret service agents.

masraum · 11-29-2005, 08:00 AM

I drove my '88 targa everyday in Houston for almost 4 years. I drove in floods and storms, I kept the mud and crud out of the cracks.

Yes, when it rained really hard and the wind blew the right direction the passenger's side floor board would gradually fill with water. It ran great when I sold it.

masraum · 11-29-2005, 08:02 AM

I suppose that if I lived in California I might be able to say that even if I drove every day. How or why you could or would do that anywhere on the east coast is a mystery to me.

legion · 11-29-2005, 08:02 AM

I didn't drive my 951 in the rain for a while.

That is, until I replaced:

The sun roof seal.
The seals around the the rear lights.
The seals around the front turn signals.

I recently discovered (while driving in the rain) that I need a new rear hatch seal.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

The only thing that keeps me from driving my 86 in the rain is the leaky roof.

After all, it does rain and even snow in Germany, doesn't it?

Randy

Hugh R · 11-29-2005, 08:24 AM

My Targa top leaks. I don't mind getting caught in the rain, but if its raining when I get up or know its going to rain today, I'll take the Mazda with ABS, airbags, and doesn't leak. Also too much stop and go in LA, especially when it rains, that's when the automatic is nice.

kaisen · 11-29-2005, 08:29 AM

I've had several cars that never saw a drop of rain. The cars were much cleaner, especially the underside. If you are going to own a 'toy' and have other cars in the family to drive when it is inclement, you can keep them out of the elements. Driving a sports car in the rain isn't all that fun anyway.

E

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Haha! My maniac self loves driving the P car in the rain! The level of adhesion is soo much lower you can ride the car on the edge at ordinary speeds - I love it.

Where I live and the roads I drive, the trouble with driving in rain is increased chance of collisions, not neccisarly bad for the car(aside from getting wet, which it would anyway as I wash it). The rain wets the roads down, so there is not as much dust trouble. Cleaner for me to drive in rain then not. (I live off of unpaved road). Problem is, I see other driver's in the ditch, etc. So I realy have to stay alert for a driver that isn't, and is goign to foul up.

I work within walking/running distance of home, so I only drive once or twice a week, so I realy do not have much rain experience, but grab what I can.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kaisen
Driving a sports car in the rain isn't all that fun anyway.

E

Have to throw the BS flag on this one, E. Like Hugh says, if I wake up and it's rainy outside, I leave the p-car in the garage. If however, I just happen to get caught out in the rain, that's an entirely different issue. I really DO enjoy driving in the rain.

Must have something to do with being "amphibious", eh, Hugh?

Randy

NICKG · 11-29-2005, 08:45 AM

wow, i drove my 914 everyday in the snow, rain whatever here in nj.. then 2 years later the rear wheel broke free from the rot...drove my 928s4 everyday till i sold it..they rust...trust me, drove my 944(s) and 924 (s) everyday and they rusted too...drive my cab everyday now...a word of advice, for snow, don't drive a 944...they suck the 924 is great in snow with 4 snows, 911's suck in snpow(the front wheels lock up immediatly ...trust me) 914's are actually decent in snow, but you freeze you behind off...

NICKG · 11-29-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcecale
Have to throw the BS flag on this one, E. Like Hugh says, if I wake up and it's rainy outside, I leave the p-car in the garage. If however, I just happen to get caught out in the rain, that's an entirely different issue. I really DO enjoy driving in the rain.

Must have something to do with being "amphibious", eh, Hugh?

Randy

that is funny,,, when it rains in California, people don't know what to do and can't drive...they crash into everyone else....kinda like when the south gets a small snow storm or ice.....

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

My 911 doesn't have side windows, the rear windows are Lexan, and there are 2" holes drilled in the quarter windows for ventilation. I have 23mm front torsion bars and 33mm rears, with shocks valved to match and appropriate sway bars. It weighs less than 2100lbs and is as low as I could reasonably get it. I run -3.75 degrees of camber in the rear, -2.5 in the front. I removed all of the the heating, insulation, and even the ebrake stuff to save weight.

Overall, not a very good rain-day car.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-29-2005, 09:18 AM

My old 911T was a blast as a daily driver, funnest car that I have ever driven in the snow. I washed it often and didn't worry about it, it already had some rust anyway. Solberg style powerslides are only a jab of the throttle away.

gatotom · 11-29-2005, 09:55 AM

Thru the 60's and 70's I drove my p-cars daily, winter,summer,spring and fall. My latest p-car has the privilege to not have to be driven daily, so it doesn't but I still take it out in the rain and snow. Contrary to popular belief a 911 with studless snow tires is a blast to drive in the snow, kinda like a snowmobile. I have never had the front wheels lock up thou the defroster system really sucks, it takes awhile to warm the car up but once it gets to temp. no problems. I have put massive miles on p-cars in the mountains of the west.

My current 911 used to leak bad around the windshield on rain driving. That problem was fixed 2 months ago when the windshield was replaced with a new gasket , amazing what a new rubber gasket can do.

Yes, most drivers out there can't drive in the rain or snow, just not alot of skill out there. My technique is to get away from the pack and leave it behind me. In some conditions and places that can be a real challenge but I trust my ability and have the best tires for the weather at all times and if I get stuck without the right setup, I am down to the speed limit or below. All my cars have 2 sets of tires and rims, summer and winter.

IMHO, dumb stuff happens to dumb people, prepare your car and your skills and you will be miles ahead of the dumb people.

Hugh R · 11-29-2005, 09:58 AM

Must have something to do with being "amphibious", eh, Hugh?

Absolutely Randy. And using the right tool for the job.

930addict · 930addict's Garage

I drove my 930 cab in the rain. I didn't have any problems with it. I don't understand why some people make such a big deal about it. I mean it's a car - it's meant to be driven.

MysticAlpaca · 11-29-2005, 10:13 AM

I don't typically drive my Targa on rainy days because I have a Cooper S as a daily driver and yes the targa leaks a little, however...coming home from a local Pelican group drive I drove over Stevens Pass in the rain with the TOP OFF!! woohoo! It was very fun, as long as I stayed above 50 to 60 mph (keep in mind it's a mountain pass) I stayed dry and just had some nice cool misting on my face, very fun. On the east side of the pass is was sunny and clear if you were wondering why the top was off...

Eventually it stated really pouring and we were getting close to town and under about 40mph I started to get very wet so i pulled off the road and popped on the targa roof.

--bill

Jims5543 · 11-29-2005, 10:25 AM

I left the Targa home today because it was going to be grey and rainy all day. I try not to drive it in the rain but the world does not end if it does. I live in Florida its impossible to predict the weather here.

I do not enjoy driving either of my sports cars in the rain. Drivers are stupid and the chances of me getting hit by an idiot are multiplied.

I especially do not like driving now until christmas because I notice everyone drives VERY aggressive during December and are much more inconsiderate of others around them. I will usually drive the Dodge truck this next month with an occasional P-car or RX-7 outing.

bivenator · 11-29-2005, 11:23 AM

true statement jim, about the agressive driving in Dec. My tires don't give me much confidence in the rain, but it is fun to slide the ass end around on the wet. if i were to sell my car it would probably include the line "never dirven in the summer" too damn hot here

yellowline · 11-29-2005, 12:17 PM

I can see the acid rain, bad drivers, or unsuitable tires arguments, but that's about it as to why not to drive a street Porsche in the rain.

My 944 sits outside in the weather (I do have a garage for it this winter though), gets driven in rain, light snow, occasionally on dirt roads, many times on bad roads, etc. It gets its punishments, I guess.