Launch!

Porsche spring has sprung at last.

Checking back in my records, I see that the first day out of the cave last spring was March 28, 2024. Three weeks late this year thanks to that snowfall a couple of weeks back! The last few days have had the street sweepers out in force, and with an Easter weekend of rain in the forecast, the roads will be nice and clean for some driving days next week. Might have to take a day off work!

After work today, the sun was shining brightly on a cool afternoon, and I decided it was time to fire up the Boxster and break cover for the first time this year. Just a quick warm up run to check all systems, blow the cobwebs off, and put a grin on my face heading into the 4-day break from the grind.

'Red' went away super clean in November, so there was barely a mark on her when I opened the garage door - just a very fine, light coat of dust from the long sleep. I shall invest in a cover for next year for sure. I disconnected the battery tender (reading full charge), plunked myself down into the driver's seat, and rolled out into the sunshine in neutral. I didn't fire up the 4.0 litre mill right away though as it's best to start up and warm up while driving, not idling, and I had a couple more prep things to do.

I pulled the cloths from the twin exhausts, and gathered up the now-dried-out dryer sheets from the cabin, frunk and trunk. Stopping at each corner, I bled air out from the tires back down to 33 psi cold pressures. I fitted my new sunglasses holder to the passenger visor, and plugged in the new switch for the USB connection in the centre armrest, allowing me to power it off when not in use.

A quick wipe of the dash with a microfibre and it's time. I twist the 'key' and the flat six instantly barks into life. Like instantly. No cranking, no milliseconds of nervousness saying "Will it? Won't it?" After 143 days without turning over, the unmistakable growl of the 718 at cold idle immediately fills my ears. After about 15 seconds the RPMs drop and I clutch in, engage first gear, clutch out, and head off for a short cruise to check all systems.

Steering? Check. Throttle? Check. Brakes? Check.

Nothing untoward. Just a murmuring, burbling mechanical symphony as I tool along the countryside roads close to home. Warmed up, I drop a couple of gears and tip into the gas pedal just a little and let the revs climb just to feel it, and hear the growl turn to a howl. So good.

Grin? Check.

Let the games begin!

~ Luke