2nd 911 as Salt Car?

RKC · 11:15 AM

My Targa is summer only due to low mileage & salty streets. Anyone using an SC or 3.2 coupe as a salt car and keeping their cab/targa for summer only? Any worries over such a plan? Would some thinner snow tires make most days OK (can use the my wife's truck for real snow and I take public transportation to work). Thinking of staying with a 3.2 just cause I know my way around the engine now.

Kind of woke up to the idea of a $15k 911 for a winter car today as I drove a Hertz Ford Focus into work (I rent from Union Station on the winter days/weekends I absolutely need a 2nd car). Could just rent a single storage shed and switch them out fall/spring.

No hills to climb here Illinois, and streets are always passable within 24 hours of a storm...

Brilliant idea? Crazy?

stomachmonkey · 12-11-2008, 11:15 AM

I'd ask how many asshat SUV drivers would you have to worry about plowing into you/

I notice they have this air of invincibility in the snow and usually end up catywompuss.

RKC · 12-11-2008, 11:16 AM

Yeah, no airbags or ABS, is a worry too....problem is I miss the 911 4-5 months of the year, and driving a beat up, even rusty one would be kind of subversive fun....

gtc · gtc's Garage

Do it! Get a beater Carrera and drive it into the ground.

Tishabet · 12-11-2008, 02:17 PM

Get a 944.... you can find them with airbags and ABS. Mine handles the Boston snow and salt just fine, and much cheaper than a second 911.

Plus, of course, the 944 is a vastly superior car.

masraum · 12-11-2008, 02:50 PM

I think a 911 with good tires and a careful driver would be great. You can drive darn near anything in the snow if you're smart about it. I think a 911 would be good considering the weight over the rear. Just put good tires on both ends and I suspect you'll be good to go.

masraum · 12-11-2008, 02:51 PM

A 944 probably would be cheaper and easier to drive, but then it's not a 911.

Porsche_monkey · 12-11-2008, 03:59 PM

I just bought a 90 C4 for that very purpose.

billybek · billybek's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

I just bought a 90 C4 for that very purpose.

Cool, how is it working out??

Christien · Christien's Garage

I think it's an awesome idea, if you don't mind driving a $15K 911 into the ground. And I don't mean that sarcastically. Another option might be a 1st gen boxster - similar price range, but better heat, heated seats, traction control, airbags, less rust issues, etc. But I hear what you're saying about a familiar engine to work on, rather than paying to get things fixed.

edit: if I had $15K to put towards a 2ndary fun winter car, it'd be a boxster.

rammstein · 12-11-2008, 05:47 PM

I drove the 944 in the snow a few times and the inherent balance of the car helped immensely. With some snows it would be downright fun. But the again, you are talking daily driver... how about a used WRX?

stomachmonkey · 12-11-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

...I think a 911 would be good considering the weight over the rear....

Actually the engine is aft of the wheels which makes things a bit pendulum like.

Kinda like when people put weight in the trunk at the far end of the car instead of farther in over the wheels. Actually makes things a bit worse once it starts wagging.

In a 911 it may be better to put weight in the back seats.

aigel · aigel's Garage

15k is 964 territory these days! You can even get a C4! If you find a car that is mechanically good but has minor cosmetic flaws, that would make the ultimate winter 911!

George

aigel · aigel's Garage

The 964 will be a great engine transplant donor down the line when you roll it in a snow bank or after the chassis is rusted to bits. D

George

livi · 12-11-2008, 10:59 PM

Purposefully driving a lovely old 911 in the salt, leaving it open for attacks from the tin worm just makes me want to cry. Its abusive and it will hurt its feelings. They are human too, you know. Please, just pick any American junk car during winter and save the darling German Fraulein for the salt free season.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Driving 15k into the ground? You do that when you buy a 2 year old Honda.

notfarnow · 04:54 AM

I love the idea.

As much as I admire beautiful and impeccably maintained 911s, I have a real soft spot for beaters and bastards.

If... no, when... I get a 911 I will be FAR more likely to get one that is rough enough to drive year-round. There's something about seeing the 911 silouette under a foot of snow that just weakens me.

I've actually thought about this A LOT, and here's what I imagine for my 911 beater:
- Coupe, no sunroof (I know, tall order but I hate the thought of leaks)
- Black, but really any color other than white will do, because white shows the rust SO much worse
- Studded winter tires on steelies. Fuchs are nice but steelies mean business
- Ski rack. I haven't skied since grade 11, but I think I'd start.
- Rust Check, Ziebart or Krown rustproofing every fall, then touched up a couple times over the winter (you can buy rust check formula by the gallon)
- Carrera, I'd really prefer a 3.2
- 84-87 with the "wife deterrent" 915

Speaking of REALLY cool winter cars... when I lived in Montreal there was a robin egg blue MGA Coupe that I'd see downtown in the winter, on studded winter tires with a little luggage rack on the trunk. You could see the black rustproofing along the seams and door bottoms, so the owner was obviously very serious about using this car as a winter beater. It was SOO cool... among all the generic sedans and SUVs, every now and then you'd see the gorgeous profile of an MGA. I never, ever saw that car in the summer.

One bleak, snowy afternoon I stood by the art gallery on St Catherines for 20-30 minutes, as snow blanketed the car, hoping that the owner would come out so I could chat with him. I got too cold and gave up.

And now that I think of it, when I was in Montreal last January to buy my Benz, I saw two (count 'em... TWO!!) 911s driving out in the snow when I was driving into town at almost 2am. Sure looked like fun

Paul K · Paul K's Garage

RKC:

I know it's a long way from home, but John Walker had a blue 964 Carrera 4 coupe for sale which looked like the perfect candidate.

www.johnwalkersworkshop.com
206 789 6800
7613 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle WA 98103

Might want to call John and see?

Cheers,

Paul.

SLO-BOB · 12-12-2008, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

I just bought a 90 C4 for that very purpose.

Sounds like a great choice. All wheel drive and real heat! I would think the body is more rust resistant than previous models as well.

onewhippedpuppy · 12-12-2008, 05:45 AM

You guys do realize that 911s don't shatter like glass when driven in the snow, right?

When I had my '70 911T, it was my daily driver. As in, only car. In 6" of snow on all season tires it was awesome. With the weight over the rear wheels, the traction was endless. Steering was equal parts throttle and the front wheels, but a LOT of fun. The only thing that would have stopped that car was being high-centered. If you don't drive your 911 in the snow, you're missing out on an entire new experience.