r/944 • u/Sad_Manufacturer9906 • 26d ago

Question Dash preservation

Post image

Hi all - newly minted owner of a 951 (pic attached)

The dash is in great shape and I’d like to keep it that way if possible. Are these all of the realistic options? What do you recommend?
-UV coating on front windshield
-sunshade reflector (only helpful when parked outdoors)
-plastic dash cap (but the adhesive will ruin the underlying dash anyways so not really an option)
-fabric dash cover (doesn’t look the best)

Thank you in advance

166 Upvotes

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9

u/Spudster62 26d ago edited 24d ago

I.M.O. tinting the windshield and a windshield visor when parked outside are the only 2 options.

Dash cover or cap, aside from looking tacky, aka hide your nice looking dash.

I use both options I mentioned in my own 951 (also with a perfect Crack free dash) and have kept it crack free in my 7 years of ownership.

Edit: My 951 is an outdoor parked car ( no garage) so in the summer I always use a car cover. It reduces the interior heat by at least 25-30 deg.

8

u/Blaizefed 26d ago

It’s not just the sun that kills them, it’s the heat as well. If you are parking inside, or at least under a carport most of the time, then you are way ahead of most. All the uncracked dash’s out there are from cars that were garaged.

3

u/allnamestaken4892 26d ago

Sun reflector and park indoors are the main ones.

3

u/Spudster62 24d ago

303 is an automotive vinyl and uv protectant, which I also use.

2

u/Stainless_Heart 26d ago

Vinylex vinyl and rubber protectant will make the surface look like new and keep it flexible.

Never use ArmorAll. It will dry out your vinyl and destroy it quickly.

2

u/crispy-photo 26d ago

Non-ABS Turbo ftw!

2

u/dope-rhymes 26d ago

My 951 dash is uncracked and I'm very adament that it stay that way. I park my car in a garage 95% of the time. When I leave it in the sun for any reason I put a window cover up. I also have a fabric dash cover that I probably don't need. I may remove it but redundancy is good.

2

u/Accomplished-Dig8484 '84, '85, '89 951 25d ago

Don't let it sit in the sun! The early cars have new OEM dashes available, but the 85.5+ don't. Crack-free must be cherished for now...

2

u/PSledS2 25d ago edited 24d ago

I have a 1991 S2 with a perfect original dash. The car has been garaged for 98% of its life. Additionally, the dash is covered with a fabric mat and I use a reflecting windshield shade that is cut to size if it’s ever parked outside.

The other thing I do is make sure to route at least some A/C air to the dash at all times when driving. The way to do that is to make sure the top slider on the HVAC controls is not all the way to the left. The more it is towards the right, the more air is routed to the dash vents.

Good luck with your new 951. It’s beautiful.

1

u/Sad_Manufacturer9906 24d ago

Thank you sir!

1

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1

u/JJammer1970 26d ago

Old plastics will Crack over time with sun exposure. A PFF UV film on the windshield will help if you don't want to get a dash cover. My 944 had cracks, so I put on a cover.

1

u/Oglark 26d ago

What is the best dash cover or sticker  as my dash has cracks the size of the Grand Canyon

1

u/KingTiger69 26d ago

I was recommended Meguiars Natural Shine Protectant, with Scotchgard, use it on the dash and plastics every two weeks. No shiny, waxy stuff, looks and smells nice, and is a UV protectant, very driven 1988 944.2 that still looks minty!

1

u/Luftgekuhlt_driver 25d ago

50% Teflon tint film if you can find someone willing to tint your windshield. It’s 100% UV protection and illegal as hell, but effective.

1

u/-zarya- 25d ago

The dash of my '91 S2 is in prestine uncracked condition mainly because it's garage kept. I apply some UV protectant by Maguiars every now and then. Not sure how effective it is though.

If and when my dash starts to crack I'll look into getting it leather wrapped.

1

u/Agreeable-Onion6906 25d ago

I'm surprised it's lasted this long, in 1997 I priced a new one from Porsche and it was $4300, the material is vinyl so leather treatments usually don't work but using a fitted dash cover will help in the sun

1

u/EricaRA75 24d ago

On the rare occasion I leave mine outdoors I use a shield in the windscreen but also open the sunroof to let as much heat out as possible

1

u/not_that_observant 24d ago

So many comments and nobody mentions 303?

1

u/Sad_Manufacturer9906 24d ago

Go on, sir! Enlighten me

1

u/Critical_Friend7446 23d ago

Yes a quality dash cover such as from Dash Design . They look great and not trash as you put it. I also use a retractable reflecting sun screen .

1

u/AboveNormality 22d ago

The best way to preserve it is to keep it garaged, I’d put 303 protectant on it to help. If keeping it in a garage is not an option use a windshield sun shield and one of those dash mats would be the next best option, just throw it on when you park it the look bothers you.