Proper Care of a Low Use Car

As of May 8th, I will be moving to a new office that is 1.55 miles away from my house if I drive, and even shorter if I walk. It makes absolutely no sense to drive to work, much less drive the 996. As such, my 996 will now be relegated to very low usage on the weekend. As some of you know, I am contemplating selling it. If I do not sell it, do you have any tips for ensuring that my car is not damaged by the low usage? Until now, I had been driving the car every day rain, sun or snow. Until at operating temperature, I kept the car below 4K. Once at operating temperature, I tried to push the car to the extent I was able whenever possible. What should my new routine involve? Thanks in advance, TD

Change your route and drive away a few miles then return No, seriously, I know your area of town and that would NOT be a good idea! I am sure you would be just fine driving it on the weekends. Now if it was me.....I would use my lunchbreak for trips up and down the parkway Still one of my favorite drives in the area.

That's funny Dell, I have a five mile commute and often take random detours to extend it. Of oourse with my hours, I usually miss traffic around here anyway.

^ hehe, i know that feeling. TD in DC: there really shouldn't be anything else you need to do. My car has been parked for the last three weeks and often stays parked for weeks at a time (until this ****ty weather improves). All you really should do is move the car around a bit and check air in the tires to make sure you don't flat them IMO (After about three weeks my pressures are all screwy and need 2 be adjusted). Also, it hasn't been a problem for me yet but you might want to unplug ur battery/put it on a trickle charger. And while its sitting there...dress it up with some nice performance goodies so that those occasional drives are even more fun EDIT: anychance u could PM/post some pics of ur car? Targa's are rarer than Jesus around hear and i havn't seen one in ages. cheers.

Todd, I was in a similar situation when I had both my 944 and Boxster. I found myself going out late at night when the wife and kids were all a sleep so that I could just get driving time in both cars. I litterally felt guilty having 2 awesome cars and not getting to drive them. That is why I decided to sell both and get the 996. It was hard to keep up with both vehicles when neither of them were driven during the week and I only had the weekend to drive both cars, spend time with my wife and kids. At least your wife is more understanding when it comes down to track time and I am sure that is why you are keeping the 944 but I would hate for you to sell your Targa. Come to think of it, it was you that gave me the idea to buy my 996. It was at a Tech sesion and we were discussing why you sold your Boxster. Good luck and I know it is a tough decision.

TD, We closed our local office and my commute is ten steps from the bedroom to the office. I have to drive a company car when going to customers. Nonetheless, I have no intention of selling Paulina (probably ever). I drive it at least once every three days to make sure tires and belts are healthy. When I travel out of town I plug the battery maintainer in. I stopped locking the doors in the garage in case of unforeseen battery failure. I drive our Yukon even less (only for bike and ski outings). When the battery maintainer isn't on the P-Car, it's on the Yukon. When I do drive the car it's all that much nicer...

I'll drive it around for you.

Last week, I drove my p-car after leaving it in the garage for a couple of weeks. I was a bit alarmed that my key fob did not unlock the doors. After opening the door with the key itself and driving it around for a few miles, I suppose the rechargable battery in the key fob was recharged and I've been fine since. So in my limited experience, I suppose you may need to recharge your key fob if you don't drive your car for a while. Other than that, I'm not aware of any other problems.

It's supposed to do that after 5 days. You just have to unlock the door with the key once afterwards.

rechargeable batteries in the key fob???

Speaking of the key fob, mine has never worked since purchasing the car approx one month ago. The red light on the key blinks when I press the button as it should, but I notice the red light on the dash is always out. Any thoughts on what I would need to replace? I assume that dash light should come on, fuse?

Christ man, start your own thread or search!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks.

1. 996 stop response to remote after siting for 5 days, to save batt. 2. no re-chargeable batt. in your key, unlike bmw or mb.

ok, i'll shut up and read the owners's manual. sorry for the misinformation.

If you drive it at least once every 2 wks, the only thing I'd do is to keep the battery charged. Check tire pressure every month. If you don't drive it beyond a month, definitely get some fuel stablizer, put out rat baits, leave some moisture absorber packs and cover it from dust.

I'll take a different angle on the advice and focus less on the proper care schedule and more on driving routine. I've lived within blocks of where I work for 10 years. I know what you're going through, you wonder if it's worth keeping a car that you don't drive everyday. It's just sitting there, depreciating. Well, I had to completely change my mentality. My miles aren't put on ever in obligation, they are 100% (okay 95%) purely play miles. Further, because I don't put on any commuting miles, I force myelf not to have a second thought about taking my car on a long vacation. Two long vacations in one year? Sure why not. Okay, so 80% of your miles for the year will be from one month. Don't stress. If you still end up aroun 5-10K / year, it's all the same. Hey, how many people have the opportunity to take thier Porsche on a long road trip vacation every year and still have fairly low miles? For instance, I'm taking my $150K Turbo S Cabriolet on a road trip to LA next month. It'll almost double the miles. That's okay. They'll still be relatively low. In short, look at this as an opportunity to drive in ways most people force themselves not to.

Gee I feel sorry for you guys. I live in a country with just 4m people and in my city..yes city there is a population of 154000. Its a large city. I live 20k from the office and when I feel like taking the Porsche to the office I have a choice of routes where I can travel at any speed I choose. If there is more than two cars waiting at the one set of lights I experience road rage. I live 5mins drive from a race track which is available at least one day a week for 'testing'. It costs just $50 to use the track all day.

Thanks all for the advice to this point. I will be driving the car "at least" once a week. My main concern is the RMS, which many have told me, including at least two Porsche factory mechanics, can start seeping with non-usage. Apparently, the seal shrinks a little, oil starts to get past it, and once it does, it is hard to stop the seepage. The best prevention is to drive the car. I also do not want to start developing that gunk in the oil filler tube (and carbon, etc . . . ). So, in my weekly drives, what can I do to best care for the car. Is it a function of time, RPM, engine load, varying the load, etc . . . . Assuming that my drive will be purely for pleasure and for "exercising" the car, what would be the best ritual to use . . . Thanks, TD Stuart, I have been to New Zealand and enjoyed myself tremendously. I would also like to be 5 minutes away from the track. I must say, though, that there are worse fates in life than living and working in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC. Also, although I do have to drive a ways to get there, we have tons of world class tracks in the area, including VIR, Watkins Glen, Mid Ohio, Summit Point, LRP, etc . . . so don't pity me too much. TD

And you also get to sleep with sheep.

Stuart .......If it wasn't for the fact that in NZ you drive on the wrong side of the road I would move in a heart beat....

Point taken. Life is good anywhere in a Porsche.