981 GTS First Thoughts (and quirks)

[Raymondo981]

Hi All,
I went for an easy drive today expecting sunny 2 degree centigrade weather, but typical British (and Yorkshire) Weather yielded snow! Even though I wasn't pushing the car, it was obvious to tell it is a very special car. The attention to detail on the interior is phenomenal. Roll on summer for some proper driving.

The quirks:
1) When I got home, I noted all four lights had condensation. Looking on the net, I've found lots of article saying it's "normal" due to them being vented for rears, but not the fronts.

2) Driving back when the snow was coming down, the front left parking sensor went off, went off repeatedly and loudly. At first I thought it was someone using their horn as it was that loud and then spotted the sensor red warning on the nav screen! It would stop and a few seconds later it would start up again. At a set of lights, I got out to wipe the front and it did stop, but so did the snowfall. Does this sound normal?

Ray

 

[Twinfan]

Both totally normal.

Headlight and rear light clusters are vented so condensation forms from time to time. Unless it stays and doesn't clear, indicating blocked vents, you can safely ignore it. My 981 and 718 which live/lived outside have both had it happen with no adverse effects as they always clear.

The front sensors can be a bit of pain if you get bug splats, spiders, snow etc on them and they will trigger when crawling from time to time. You can switch them off using a button in the overhead console(? from memory) if you don't really need them or only use them for parking.

 

[Raymondo981]

Many thanks for the quick response. I'll check a little later in the garage to see if the lights cleared up.

That's a good idea on the sensors and switching them off unless parking. I'd totally forgotten about that as there's so many buttons, but in a good way. It's refreshing to have analogue buttons again on a car.

 

[Twinfan]

No worries, and glad I could help.

Yep, the old-skool interior of the 981 and 718 is a huge plus to me over the touchscreen stuff of EVs and modern cars like the 992. Which is why I suspect my 718 GT4 is a lifetime keeper, which I suspected it might be when I specced it up to the hilt! Glad I did to be honest []

 

[Porschaholic]

I was reading the Porsche owners handbook for my 987 and it actually says that the rear park sensors my not work correctly in certain conditions including snow, highly reflective surfaces and sound absorbing materials.

 

[Raymondo981]

I totally agree, they almost have a slight yesteryear feel to them inside which is refreshing. My 981 GTS may be a lifetime keeper as it’s like new. Though I suspect in a few years I’ll probably go for a 718 GT4 like you and have it for the rest of my days.

 

[Raymondo981]

I’ve seen a post similar online regarding the misting of lights. I guess I need to read the manuals in the absence of summer driving []

Fair play to Porsche as how many other manufacturers would state this in their manuals?

 

[Scrounger]

My front sensors go off when the rain water falls over the sensor when i come to a stop!

Dan

 

[Wollemi]

Welcome to the world of Porsche

I hope we will see you at a Region 7 event before too long, it always good to see new members.

Graham

 

[Raymondo981]

Many thanks Graham

It‘a been long overdue, but so glad I’ve finally done it. I totally get the passion and love people have for these great cars.

Looking forward to meeting up and going for a drive. I‘m assuming the drives start up again in the spring?

 

[Wollemi]

…………..

Looking forward to meeting up and going for a drive. I‘m assuming the drives start up again in the spring?

Generally there are more drives from April onwards. There’s still a club night every Wednesday, numbers might fall off a bit in the winter, and not everyone arrives in a Porsche, but all are welcome. There‘s no good reason why there couldn’t be some drives out before then if we have a bit of sunshine.

 

[Raymondo981]

I've just looked at the car in the garage and 3 of the 4 lights have totally cleared. The rear drivers one still has some condensation about 24 hours after yesterdays drive. It has cleared up by about 90%, but a small amount of condensation is still there.

Would this suggest a vent is blocked?

 

[Twinfan]

If a vent was blocked it wouldn't clear at all I'd say, so all looks normal to me. Is that corner of the car in the coldest corner of the garage by any chance i.e. there hasn't been enough warmth near it to completely clear it?

 

[Raymondo981]

That is correct. I'd say the driver side of the garage door is probably the most exposed as the passenger side is next to a next to a 8' fence and therefore more "insulation".

 

[Twinfan]

There you go then, it seems all is well.

I think my LEDs are currently frozen on the inside...

 

[Scrounger]