Finbox

Forecast for next week looks nice, I might be able to take the car out of hibernation!-)

It's still very cold, but the sun is a bit higher and stronger... I'm getting an itch to get the Boxster out, but it will still be two month at least before I can take the car with it's summer tires out of storage.

Today I've charged the battery. Like I wrote here, I can't charge the battery in the car in the carage and the car is parked for roughly six months. I've removed the battery and charge it every few months in my basement. The battery is new 95Ah AGM Yuasa and what I've noticed now with the CTEK is that there is very little discharge. It takes a very short time after for full charge when I connect the charger. Based on this, next winter I'll probably just disconnect the battery and leave it in the car for the winter.

The 718 battery is a bit bigger than my sons motorbike battery.

I looked at mine in the garage where it will remain at minimum 4+ months more...  I've actually avoided these forums a bit so I don't get too frustrated.

It's -8c currently and roads are icy. The ramp leading to the garage is deadly. This is why I don't put winter tires on the car and try to drive it during winter, here far north the weather is just too extreme.

5 hours ago, ATM said:

Do you stand in the froot?

I did yes, and had my son helping me taking the battery off my hands. It seems that the battery weight is 26kg, no wonder it felt a bit heavy.

Battery removed, cover put on and insurance in winter mode (no driving, but covers otherwise). It was not exactly fun to remove the battery, it's more complicated on these than on my previous 987.2. It's also 95Ah so heavy as hell. However, now it's done.

It was -3 this morning and cars outside had frozen windows, so it was most likely the right moment to winterize the car. Never the best day for a car enthusiast, though.

PS. I put a plastic bike tire level on the bonnet latch.

Had it properly washed, put 3bar into the tires and filled the tank. The season is now over, forecast is for nearly -10 night temperatures and first snow. I will be a long winter again before I can take the car out of hibernation.

I can't use a trickle charger in my otherwise good garage. I was a bit hesitant about removing the battery from a 718, but the local OPC service team advised me that it's ok. It's the same as it was with my 987.2, window stops and time needs to be set, otherwise it's fine. I'll store the battery in my workshop and will charge it a few times during the winter.

I had an autumn service for my car, oil and brake fluids. It's only a year and 5000km from the last service, but with the multiple track days this summer I just want to have the service for peace of mind. The track check does not like old brake fluids anyway.

Now I just have to decide when to put the car away for winter. Maybe next week, I'll maybe get to enjoy a few nice dark evening drives.

Finnish Porsche club organized an event. We took a ferry to Estornia (2hrs), had a fantastic drive on great roads. Agenda was to see Estonian manor culture. Nice to get to know so many new genuinely nice people. 

I will join on these in the future too.

Got the MOT done on the car, here they require it every two years for this age cars.

I will still have the oil and brake fluids changed before I put the car away for winter.

Had the new front tires also installed. I have to admit that I've had the Porsche crests on the wheels pointing in which ever direction from the previous owner and I've never gotten around to fix them. The tire shop guys clearly new the right way, as every crest is now pointing at the valve. Small thing, but somehow made me quite happy.

I had a puncture today, left rear with a nail in it. Car warned me at -0,4bar, it was losing pressure fast. Luckily I was near the tire shop I use, and even more luckily they had my previously ordered PS4S's in just yesteday. However, the fronts were not N0 -rated. Ended up getting the new rears installed and I will wait for the N0-tires to come in next week. 

I think this was one of the very last roof down drives this season, the season is so short here.

This was long time due, but treated the rubber seals with a silicone stick. My windows and roof kept some noise as the seals were dry, now with 10min work they are quiet.

Here is me at the Ahvenisto track last week!

Took it to the track again, this was the last local Porsche club track day this year. I've done three track days this year and I think 3-4 is what I can realistically achieve in a year with my hectic schedule. 

The track was Ahvenisto Race Circuit, google it up if you like. Very cool 50 year old track, build close to downtown so all cars were checked for noise. It's a narrow track with steel walls just a meter from the track edge, quite exciting. Good elevation changes too, the track actually goes over the track at one point!-)

I usually do 15-20min stints, but today I did one longer over 30min stint and learnt what it feels when tires are overheated... I knew my tires were worn, now the rears are down to wearmarks. They would maybe be good for one more dry track day, but autumn is coming and I want to play it safe so I have PS4's ordered.

Took it for another track day! It's amazing how the car is comfortable and easy to drive in the city, fun in the backroads and then the same car is very fast and capable on the track. Had good day and improved from the last time on the same track. Once I went full throttle a bit early and lost the back, but the german engineer hiding somewhere inside the engine bay corrected it before I could do anything.

Well, something I learnt today. About a month ago I replaced the probably original wiper blades with some nice Bosch Aerotwin blades. They never wiped very well, and now I noticed that they simply did not bend enough for the very curvy windshield. I was able to return them, and paid 3x more for OEM parts. They work perfectly.

Had recently the Carplay activated and now got an Ottocast wireless Carplay dongle. Super happy with this setup now.

I joined a local Porsche club track day today. It was great fun, the car is so confidence inspiring to drive. It is also very fast.

As usual for the spring, a lot of things with the car too. I put in a new battery last week, Yuasa 9019. The car had it's original six year old battery and I wanted the added security of having a new one. I also had the navigation and Carplay activated, not really interested in the Navi as such, but having Carplay is great. Tomorrow it's full valet and wax for the car. I also need to book new tires (definitely PS4's), maybe after the next track day.

Went for a good drive and then washed it. It's such a fun car to drive! Drove with the PDK in manual, sport mode, SPASM on/off depending on the road surface. The car is unbelievably capable!

I've already booked local Porsche club track day in early May, that way I can really test the car to its.. no, to my limits.

I had the battery out of the car for 4-5 months two last winters with myt 987.2, and never had any issues with electronics due to that. The only things that happen are the side window stops, need to calibrate (1min job) and the PSM warning, which goes away by driving 30m. 

So, I bought a 718S. It's a 2017 car that my colleague has had since 2020 so I know the car well and also know it's kept well serviced. It's specced a bit like the later T-versions, it has SC, PTV and SPASM, so go fast -options. Apart from that it doesn't have many options, Bose, rear parking sensons and cruise. Like my previous 987.2, this is also going to be my fun car for the weekends, so this kind of drivers spec works well for me. Power difference from my base 987.2 to this is insane, the turbo just pulls relentlessly. 

The weather here is still wintery, I just managed to drive the car to my own carage last week, but it's not really possible to take it out for a drive yet. Maybe next week, easter weekend.

Here is a picture of the car late last year when I went for a test drive with my son:

I bought one used last summer for around 500gbp, it was fairly worn and I considered having it redone, but ended up selling the car. The PDK models all seem to have the round airbag which fits the Sport Desing wheel too. I changed the wheel myself, it was not difficult at all.

Put the battery in the car, started it and let it run for a while. The new owner will come and pick it up next week, I think I'm going to miss it a bit, 987.2's will be well regarded classics.

Well, today I've sold my 987.2. I've had it for two years, and actually had planned to keep it longer. However, my colleague was selling his very nice 718S and I had first refusual for that... and could not refuse. I'll stay on the forum, but will bow out of the 987.2 topics and move to the 718 side of things. 

Now that my car is in hibernation, it's time to think all sort of upgrades.  Just sent an email to Royal Steering Wheel if they could redo my Sport Design wheel in alcantara. I bought the wheel used this summer, and it must have done 3x more miles than my car and it also smells strognly of some perfume. Let's see what they say, I'm most worried about shipping things back and forth from an EU country.

The smelly wheel: