Sales debate
Does a car’s location really affect its condition?
Browse the classifieds, particularly for a classic 911, and it won’t be long before you come across the phrase “dry state car,” which essentially claims the car to be rust free by virtue of the fact it’s enjoyed the majority of its existence in a climate with very little rain, notably California, and so there’s no salt evident on roads and, thus, the chassis.
If you’re buying ‘sight unseen’ (always a risky business but it does happen, believe us), comments like this certainly help paint a picture of what you can expect from the state of the car mechanically, but what truth is there in the term? Does the location of a car really affect its condition? And if so, is there a premium on cars based in areas with a better climate?
“Cars that live by the sea or up north certainly do suffer more,” says Jamie Tyler at Paragon Porsche, an independent specialist based in the south of the UK. “Corrosion to brakes and surfaces under the car are worse than cars down here. The trouble is most modern cars have protective undertrays covering all the brake hoses for example, and typically being two-year service intervals they don’t come off that often. So, wax oiling and protecting under this is vital. That’s why it’s important to exercise cars regularly and get heat into everything.”
Tyler’s comments are echoed by Anthony Pozner at Hendon Way Motors, who says cars stationed nearer to the coast can suffer more due to the enhanced presence of salt in the local atmosphere. So is a hot, dry climate the perfect place for a 911 to reside? As it goes, Jamie Tyler says such a climate isn’t without problems of its own. “Hot climates also have an effect on rubber seals, and this goes for models both new and old,” he says. “Paint can also fade too, though the good thing is paintwork can be protected nowadays with ceramic coatings.”
Both our experts point to the need to rigorously inspect any 911 before you buy it, regardless of where it’s from. “You might find a car from an area that has salt on the roads for more months of the year that’s meticulously and responsibly maintained to combat the environment it lives in, which is generally better than buying a car from a supposedly friendlier climate or region that’s been neglected,” says Pozner.
It seems the region from which a 911 is based in should be noted, but this certainly should not be a deal breaker in any decisions you reach in regards to buying the car or not.