Does snow and freezing temps harm your paint?

Rhudeboye

Rhudeboye

New member
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
372
Reaction score
0
Dilemma- 2 car garage, 3 car family

So I own a Porsche and a Lexus GS. My wife has a new Camry. Typically the Porsche shares the garage with the Cam as the lil lady will not be scrapping windows in the morning.

But lately, I'm getting tired of scrapping windows and sitting in an ice cold car. So heres my question.

If the Porsche goes out doors for he winter what damage might I be exposing the paint to if any. So far we've had no snow but we do get snow in MD but nothing crazy like VT.

Is a car cover a good solution or a bad idea?

What do non garage owners do?
 
Rhudeboye said:
Dilemma- 2 car garage, 3 car family

So I own a Porsche and a Lexus GS. My wife has a new Camry. Typically the Porsche shares the garage with the Cam as the lil lady will not be scrapping windows in the morning.

But lately, I'm getting tired of scrapping windows and sitting in an ice cold car. So heres my question.

If the Porsche goes out doors for he winter what damage might I be exposing the paint to if any. So far we've had no snow but we do get snow in MD but nothing crazy like VT.

Is a car cover a good solution or a bad idea?

What do non garage owners do?
Click to expand...

I can't believe that you would even consider leaving the PORSCHE outdoors....Anytime of the year!!!


:)

Bob
 
I don't have a garage, nor do I have a vehicle that I need to cover.

But, being in this business...I can tell you for sure that you will regret that. Whether you put a cover on or not, there will be problems come spring time.

Leaving snow and ice all over your paint would cause obvious problems...especially if you're going attempt to remove the snow and ice from time to time.

The main issue with the cover, is that if snow and ice collect, and there happens to be a windy day...that cover is probably going to slap around a bit and cause scratches and such.

Now see, my 99 Civic can sit outside, ha. The Porsche....I don't know about that one.
 
Leave the Porsche outside? Have you experienced a minor stroke recently? Seriously though, protect it well for the winter and the PCar will be just fine. Don't forget the harsh winter environments our cars are born in over there in Germany. I am not a fan of car covers,indoors or out. Maintain it properly like you probably do now and all will be well. My Porsche never cares want it looks like on the outside. All it wants is the water temp up to 180 and the gear box warmed up. Then it is ready to impress me with its awesomeness.
 
I have the same problem........My DD is a 04 MB E320 Sport and my other car is a 01 BMW Z3. I usually keep the Z3 in my half of the garage and my wife insists on keeping her car (08 PT Loser convertible) in the other half of the garage. I make sure I use a good sealant at least 6 times a year on the MB. I also make sure to either use a good carnuba liquid wax, or polymer spray wax after every wash (I wash once a week). I have done this for 3 years now and the paint/finish actually looks better than when I first got the car.
Here in Atlanta we dont get snow very often and the Winters are fairly mild, but Its common to get frost on the car overnight during Jan-Feb.......I dont recommend a cover. They can trap moisture, cause mildew, and scratch the finish.......Not to mention it gets real old taking the cover off and on all the time.
Check the neighborhood to see if someone is only using half of their garage and see if they will rent out the other half at a reasonable amount. My neighbor several doors down lets me use half of her garage sometimes. :xyxthumbs:
 
ssnobrakes said:
I have the same problem........ I use a good sealant at least 6 times a year on the MB. I also make sure to either use a good carnuba liquid wax, or polymer spray wax after every wash (I wash once a week). ..
I dont recommend a cover. They can trap moisture, cause mildew, and scratch the finish.......Not to mention it gets real old taking the cover off and on all the time.
Click to expand...

Nice tips. Very helpful. BTW the cover wont be coming on and off. It would stay till April as I dont drive the car in the winter. the tires have no stick in low temps.

Porsche Pilot said:
Leave the Porsche outside? Have you experienced a minor stroke recently? Seriously though, protect it well for the winter and the PCar will be just fine.
Click to expand...

LOL I both expected and understand the comments regarding my mental health. I've had the Porsche in the garage since I took ownership. Its never spent a single night out doors. My BMW was an 02 330 and though i liked it, it had its flaws and was simply a DD. I now have a very nice GS450. not to mention the car is about 30 degrees warmer in the garage w no frost.

Kristopher1129 said:
Leaving snow and ice all over your paint would cause obvious problems...especially if you're going attempt to remove the snow and ice from time to time.

The main issue with the cover, is that if snow and ice collect, and there happens to be a windy day...that cover is probably going to slap around a bit and cause scratches and such. .
Click to expand...

Scratches buff out. I assume they'll be light swirls. So The Flex will get a good work out come spring. Please elaborate on the "obvious problems". My dad has no garage and after 7 years of all 4 seasons, his car looks nice
 
Rhudeboye said:
Dilemma- 2 car garage, 3 car family

So I own a Porsche and a Lexus GS. My wife has a new Camry. Typically the Porsche shares the garage with the Cam as the lil lady will not be scrapping windows in the morning.

But lately, I'm getting tired of scrapping windows and sitting in an ice cold car. So heres my question.

If the Porsche goes out doors for he winter what damage might I be exposing the paint to if any. So far we've had no snow but we do get snow in MD but nothing crazy like VT.

Is a car cover a good solution or a bad idea?

What do non garage owners do?
Click to expand...

How about one of those car ports?

https://www.sheltersofamerica.com/products/productffe96b18cc5ed60ec21079c1a3284d52.jpg
 
Store the Porsche in one of those public storage places, inside. That's what I do with my Vette. It sits inside under an indoor cover all winter.
 
if I had the land. I think I would. But I dont have a spot for it. Plus I doubt our HOA wouldn't allow it.
 
As long as you have a quality sealant/wax on the paint, trim, glass, etc..., I would think you should be fine. I would be more concerned with the tires and battery from sitting so long.


I know its a Porsche, but it really isn't any different than the millions of cars that also sit outside in the winter and also have to drive on the harsh winter roads. Many of those cars probably aren't cared for very well either.


My truck is my Porsche and is outside 24/7, and the 10year old paint still looks really good. She's been covered in 1/4inch of ice before with no ill effects, and that was with 2month old MG Gold Class. I've got two coats of WGDGPS on her for this winter. She's in a parking lot 1/4mile away from my dorm covered in 4inches of snow, and is about to be covered with another 5inches tonight. That snow will stay there till Friday night when I need my truck.

Am I worried about my truck? A little, but I'm more concerned about the moron parked next to me hurting my paint than I am about snow and ice.
 
Rhudeboye said:
Scratches buff out. I assume they'll be light swirls. So The Flex will get a good work out come spring. Please elaborate on the "obvious problems". My dad has no garage and after 7 years of all 4 seasons, his car looks nice
Click to expand...

Obvious problems being ice forming, then melting and sliding down the paint, salt exposure, wind gusts, possible hail storms, etc.

I didn't make it up...there's obvious issues and risks to leaving your vehicle outside. I don't really think I need to elaborate much, ha. It's the reason people put their vehicles inside a garage.

It doesn't mean your vehicle is going to be damaged cause it's outside. The question was "Does snow and freezing temps harm your paint?". My answer is, yes...it can harm your paint for sure.

Temperature alone isn't going to harm your paint. Your battery, and possible tire rot are risks. But, leaving it outside, allowing snow/ice to develop, and removing the snow/ice can cause harm. It may be light scratches, or it may be deeper scratches. If it's light scratches...then yeah, polish it out and your good. Coming out of winter with light swirling and scratches would be the best results you can ask for IMO.

P.S. Not all scratches buff out.
 
Im with the other guys on here. I cant believe you would ever think about leaving your porsche outside in the winter. I mean since you can afford the car itself why can you afford to have it stored correctly?
 
Rhudeboye said:
Scratches buff out.
Click to expand...

Not all, not always.

Besides, that's a bad attitude to have when you consider that every time you have to buff out a scratch, you're removing paint. You can only remove so much before you'll be visiting the body shop.
 
I understand everyone here takes care of their car with passion but i think some people developed an obsession with the condition of their cars. Yes, i do love to keep my car clean all the time but never thought about it twice when keeping my 08 BMW and a brand new Infiniti outside all year long. After all it's a car and i'm sure it'll get more scratches by parking it for an hour at a Walmart parking lot than sitting outside everyday in the winter in front of my house. Unless you have a very expensive car which you plan on driving once a year for 10 miles i wouldn't worry about it.
 
kamils detail said:
I understand everyone here takes care of their car with passion but i think some people developed an obsession with the condition of their cars.
Click to expand...

LOL....keep tuned into the forum, cuz you aint seen nothing yet!
 
KneeDragr said:
Store the Porsche in one of those public storage places, inside. That's what I do with my Vette. It sits inside under an indoor cover all winter.
Click to expand...

This is what I would do if it were me. Well worth the money to give me the piece of mind knowing my car is safe in storage while also being able to park in a warm and cozy garage when the wind and snow are blowing.
 
Why not just cover the GS450 and in the morning remove the cover before starting it and letting it warm for 5 minutes? I understand that every time you come home to cover it it won't be clean, but you can probably mitigate scratches by just being careful with the cover.
The idea of storing the Porsche is a good one, and will not cost as much as a quality car cover would (3 months storage $90-$150, cover $150-$350).
Or you could just rotate the cars when the forecast is calling for more than you want to deal with in the morning to get the 450 ready to drive. And while the Porsche is outside you could keep it covered until ready to rotate cars again. I think it would be safe under a cover as long as you follow the recommendations for covers; that is, check underneath them weekly to make sure nothing bad is happening.
What a rough life a Porsche owner has.;PLOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top