DON’T SKIMP ON A NEW BATTERY

It’s mid winter, and the most likely time your Porsche’s battery will start flagging, struggling to start the engine. Time to reach for the battery charger? Don’t bother, we say: if the battery is good it won’t need charging, and if it’s at the end of its life, it won’t hold the charge for long, so invest in a new one. Hearing how it powers the starter at top speed is worth the money alone.

How much? An “official” Porsche 70amp battery for a gen 1 997-model 911 is £187.69 including the acid pack and VAT. But Hertfordshire-based specialist JZM recommends the Bosch Silver Top S3 priced at £151, reckoning that this, supplied with a three-year warranty, tends to last longer than the Porsche item.