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Can You Trust an Old 911? Fire Risk, Winter Storage, and the Best $100K Air-Cooled Porsche

Can You Trust an Old 911? Fire Risk, Winter Storage, and the Best $100K Air-Cooled Porsche

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About this episode

Exploring the nuances of owning an air-cooled Porsche, Will and Derek tackle listener questions about reliability, fire risks, and winter storage tips. They share personal anecdotes about their experiences with various models, emphasizing the importance of maintenance and preparation for long trips. The duo also discusses the best air-cooled Porsche to own under $100K, with the 993 and G-body models coming up as favorites. Their friendly banter and shared passion for Porsche ownership make for an engaging and informative episode.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

PPI

"...it's all about getting a PPI if you were to do a fly-by and drive, especially if you're bringing your child."

A PPI is a check-up for a car you want to buy. A mechanic looks at it closely to find any problems that you might not see just by looking at it or taking it for a short drive.

Term

air-cooled

"But on an air-cooled side, I absolutely do think they're reliable to drive to the middle of nowhere. I have. I've brought my kids."

Air-cooled means the engine stays cool by using air instead of liquid. This type of engine is often found in older cars like some Porsches and is known for being simple and reliable.

Part

wheel bearing

"because a wheel bearing can go. You might not hear it, but you start to feel it."

A wheel bearing helps your car's wheels turn smoothly. If it gets worn out, you might feel strange vibrations or noises while driving, which can be dangerous.

Term

carbureted motor

"because I'm going to talk about my 72. I have a carbureted motor and not much else."

A carbureted motor mixes air and fuel using a device called a carburetor. This was how most cars worked before modern fuel injection systems became popular.

Car

air-cooled Porsches

"...I have done tens of thousands of miles in air-cooled Porsches on road trips,..."

Air-cooled Porsches are cars made by Porsche that don't use water to cool their engines. Instead, they rely on air, which gives them a unique sound and feel when driving.

Term

fuel lines

"...it's because I think the fuel lines are a little bit of a risky proposition sometimes in the older cars where they haven't been sorted..."

Fuel lines are pipes that carry fuel from the gas tank to the engine. In older cars, these pipes can wear out and cause problems, like leaks or fires.

Term

carbureted car

"The things that can go wrong, especially in a carbureted car, I mean, you're dealing with fuel."

A carbureted car is one that uses a device called a carburetor to mix air and fuel so the engine can run. These cars can have problems because they are older and the parts can get stuck.

Car

Porsche 356

"I remember with my 356, if it sat for any length of time, I would worry that the floats would get stuck..."

The Porsche 356 is an old sports car that was made a long time ago. It's popular among collectors because it's light and fun to drive.

Term

floats

"I would worry that the floats would get stuck, and I'd be backing out of my garage..."

Floats are parts inside a carburetor that help control how much fuel is in the engine. If they get stuck, it can cause too much fuel to flow, making the car hard to start.

Term

ethanol

"...with the ethanol and the fuel, it would keep the float open and the carbs would flood..."

Ethanol is a kind of alcohol that is mixed with gasoline to help cars run better and create less pollution. However, older cars might have problems with it because their fuel systems weren't made for it.

Term

carburetors

"...the float open and the carbs would flood, and all of a sudden you'd have a stream of fuel..."

Carburetors are parts in older cars that mix gas and air to help the engine run. Newer cars usually use a different system called fuel injection.

Car

Porsche 911

"...u address the best practices for winterizing your 911 or preparing it for long-term storage?"

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around for a long time. It's known for being fun to drive and is often talked about because people want to know how to take care of it, especially when storing it for winter or a long time.

Term

flat-spotted tires

"...they do get flat-spotted a little bit for sitting for many months in the cold. So I might over-inflate them a couple PSI, but nothing too huge."

Flat-spotted tires happen when a car is parked for a long time, and the part of the tire touching the ground gets flat. This can make the car shake when you start driving it again.

Term

PSI

"...I might over-inflate them a couple PSI, but nothing too huge. I'll make sure that before I put the car away,"

PSI means pounds per square inch, which is how we measure the pressure in tires. Keeping the right PSI helps the tires work well and keeps you safe while driving.

Term

battery tender

"And then finally, I always have my cars on tenders. And I keep the batteries up to date..."

A battery tender is a tool that helps keep a car's battery charged when the car isn't being used often. It makes sure the battery doesn't run out of power.

Car

Porsche Boxster

"especially for my 981 Boxster, which if the battery goes dead, you can't get into the front trunk very easily..."

The Porsche 981 Boxster is a type of sports car that you can drive with the top down. It's known for being fun to drive and has a powerful engine.

Term

cold start

"...if a car sits for a long time and you do a cold start, there is a period of time where the oil is not flowing, right?"

A cold start happens when you start your car after it has been sitting for a while and is cold. This can be bad for the engine because the oil isn't warm enough to flow well and protect the engine parts.

Term

viscosity

"...the viscosity has to change and you have to get it in every nook and cranny in the motor."

Viscosity is how thick or thin a liquid is. For engine oil, it means how easily it flows. When oil is cold, it’s thicker and doesn’t flow as well, which can be bad for the engine.

Term

suspension

"The suspension doesn't, it just doesn't feel right."

The suspension is the part of the car that helps it ride smoothly and stay stable on the road. It includes things like springs and shock absorbers.

Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"... air-cooled car that will pair well with my 991.2 GT3 PDK for under $100,000? So I wonder if that's th..."

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a super-fast version of the regular 911, built for people who love racing and driving really fast. It's lighter and has special features that make it handle better on the track, which is why car lovers often talk about it.

Car

F-body

"I would probably say to get an F-body, a good F-body, you probably aren't going to get it under 100. Good being the operative word."

The F-body is a type of car made by Chevrolet and Pontiac, specifically the Camaro and Firebird models. They are popular for their sporty look and performance.

Term

PDK

"You can have your GT3 for fun, fast PDK work."

PDK is a type of automatic transmission used in Porsches that helps the car change gears quickly and smoothly.

Concept

G-body

"It's not as much physical work though as the G-bodies. And so just like the pedal action and the steering action on those older cars is going to require more effort."

G-body cars are a type of vehicle made by General Motors that were popular in the late 70s and early 80s. They are known for being fun to drive but can be a bit harder to handle than newer cars.

Car

Porsche 944

"...ay and I drove by a random house and they have a 944 turbo in the yard from, I think it was like an 8..."

The Porsche 944 is a classic sports car from the 1980s and 1990s that many people enjoy driving. It's known for being fun to handle and is usually cheaper than other Porsches, making it a popular choice for those who want a classic car.

Term

paint job

"a while and I'm like, dude, I mean, it needs a paint job. There's rust."

A 'paint job' is when a car is repainted to make it look nicer or to fix damage. It's important for keeping the car in good shape.

Term

rust

"There's rust. I mean, there's no way I should have bought this car."

Rust is when metal gets damaged and turns flaky or brown because of moisture. It's bad for cars because it can make them weaker.

Term

paint to sample

"Uh, usually they only have so many spaces that they're willing to do that and they open up their back catalog of colors that you can paint your Porsche in. Um, and then there's actually a tier above that."

Paint to sample means you can pick a special color for your car that isn't normally available. It's a way to make your car unique, but it can be very expensive.

Car

Porsche Carrera T

"...have played with that before when I specced a 992 Carrera T. So I think if you're in the thick of it, you st..."

The Porsche Carrera GT is a very rare and super-fast car made in the early 2000s. It's famous for its powerful engine and is often talked about because it's a dream car for many car enthusiasts.

Term

Safari

"So, you know, it made sense to Safari and SC when it was low 30s. When they're trading at 70, like that's a tough proposition to rip into that car."

Safari is a way to modify cars, especially Porsches, to make them better for off-road driving while still looking cool. It's like giving a sporty car some rugged features.

Car

Porsche Cayenne

"I actually think, listen, you can Safari a Cayenne all day long and they're cool. So they look really badass if you do it right, for sure."

The Porsche Cayenne is a fancy SUV that can go off-road and is fun to drive. It's well-liked for its powerful performance and stylish design.

Car

Porsche 718

"...this afternoon, I'm going to be going out and taking a 718 stick for a test drive because I want to see how that four-cylinder is with a stick compared to my 981."

The Porsche 718 is a type of sports car made by Porsche. It has a mid-engine design, meaning the engine is located in the middle of the car, which helps it handle better on the road. It comes with a four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged, giving it good power while being more efficient with fuel.

Car

Porsche 981

"...compared to my 981. So those kind of things are good because it gives us a lot of experience that we can talk on..."

The Porsche 981 is the model name for a specific generation of Porsche sports cars, including the Boxster and Cayman, made between 2012 and 2016. It features better performance and handling than earlier versions.

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