Discussion
I'm just walking away from a dealer where I was looking at a Targa- £17,500, the rear deck was wet from the roof leaking, the blind mechanism was bust, trim was missing all over the place, no service book (mislaid), knob missing from the dash, scratches down the flanks. Are they intending on fixing any of this? No, price reflects the condition.
I'm really looking forward to picking it up tomorrow - just calling round to get insurance now.
My reasoning was that the silver 996.1 cab had become a known quantity - I've (hopefully!) got a pretty accurate picture of what is required to get it to A1 condition.
That couldn't be said of the Targa, and that whole experience was pretty off-putting, I spent two hours travelling to view a car that I would absolutely not buy.
I'll put a few pictures up and record what it takes to get the silver car where it needs to be if there's any interest?
My reasoning was that the silver 996.1 cab had become a known quantity - I've (hopefully!) got a pretty accurate picture of what is required to get it to A1 condition.
That couldn't be said of the Targa, and that whole experience was pretty off-putting, I spent two hours travelling to view a car that I would absolutely not buy.
I'll put a few pictures up and record what it takes to get the silver car where it needs to be if there's any interest?
Well, the first day of 911 ownership is proving interesting.
I set out at half six this morning for Precision Porsche, mainly down the A22.
Thoughts varied from "what's that noise" when going over speed bumps (more on that later) to making vroom-vroom noises and enjoying the way that a physically small car can take more advantage of the road than a larger one can (my other car is a Volvo estate).
Speaking of which, the 911 is slower and brakes worse than the Volvo - which is also when on song quite a bit louder. Quite different cars though.
Anyway - 911 lighter sockets, who knew? They are apparently European standard, and the majority of lighter socket to USB chargers are American standard, which is smaller and therefore they fall out. If anyone has a recco for a decent one of these that doesn't fall out please let me know.
Got to Precision and when the shutter came out at least a million quids worth of 911's reversed out in front of me, I took this to be a good sign.
Peter and Mark both seem to really know their stuff, and they've kept me informed of what they've found as they go through the car.
That said, I wish they'd found rather less - I'm now looking at £5,533.05 when I pick the car up.
The breakdown is (large stuff) four new control arms, four new shocks, topmounts and related gubbins all round, exhaust gaskets and clamps, new rad, new condenser, new aircon pipes. Oh, and adjusting the handbrake bite-point, which is doubtless where the majority of the cost comes from.
I'm going to be over-budget for the 911 project after this, only by £33.05, but there we go.
This has been a learning experience, I'm still happy with the car, I'll be happier still when I've got it back and everything is fixed, and I'm very glad I got a good price from the chap I bought the car from.
I set out at half six this morning for Precision Porsche, mainly down the A22.
Thoughts varied from "what's that noise" when going over speed bumps (more on that later) to making vroom-vroom noises and enjoying the way that a physically small car can take more advantage of the road than a larger one can (my other car is a Volvo estate).
Speaking of which, the 911 is slower and brakes worse than the Volvo - which is also when on song quite a bit louder. Quite different cars though.
Anyway - 911 lighter sockets, who knew? They are apparently European standard, and the majority of lighter socket to USB chargers are American standard, which is smaller and therefore they fall out. If anyone has a recco for a decent one of these that doesn't fall out please let me know.
Got to Precision and when the shutter came out at least a million quids worth of 911's reversed out in front of me, I took this to be a good sign.
Peter and Mark both seem to really know their stuff, and they've kept me informed of what they've found as they go through the car.
That said, I wish they'd found rather less - I'm now looking at £5,533.05 when I pick the car up.
The breakdown is (large stuff) four new control arms, four new shocks, topmounts and related gubbins all round, exhaust gaskets and clamps, new rad, new condenser, new aircon pipes. Oh, and adjusting the handbrake bite-point, which is doubtless where the majority of the cost comes from.
I'm going to be over-budget for the 911 project after this, only by £33.05, but there we go.
This has been a learning experience, I'm still happy with the car, I'll be happier still when I've got it back and everything is fixed, and I'm very glad I got a good price from the chap I bought the car from.
I did share the PPI with Precision- however, they inspected the brake lines and the ARB, both of which BSG marked for replacement and said that in their opinion these parts were fine and to leave them as-is.
I have a good feeling about them - I trust what they are telling me, and if in their opinion he engine mounts need changing then I am happy for them to be changed.
That's a fairly minor part of the overall bill- the control arms are significant on their own, then with labour figured in they get really quite expensive. That's what was going "graunch/graunch" over speed bumps as you said.
I have a good feeling about them - I trust what they are telling me, and if in their opinion he engine mounts need changing then I am happy for them to be changed.
That's a fairly minor part of the overall bill- the control arms are significant on their own, then with labour figured in they get really quite expensive. That's what was going "graunch/graunch" over speed bumps as you said.
Also (and forgive my naivety here), what would others in this thread have done in this situation - taken the "to-do" list and provided it alongside the parts to a third party/DIY?
I've been taking the view that if the car needs the work I may as well get it done, and the sooner its done the sooner I can enjoy the car, but I won't deny that the costs incurred so far are a touch on the high side.
That said, I spent years attending to all the issues that my 850R had when I bought it, and spent a lot more money in the end, it's just that with the Porsche it's all coming at once.
I've been taking the view that if the car needs the work I may as well get it done, and the sooner its done the sooner I can enjoy the car, but I won't deny that the costs incurred so far are a touch on the high side.
That said, I spent years attending to all the issues that my 850R had when I bought it, and spent a lot more money in the end, it's just that with the Porsche it's all coming at once.
I agree about the power delivery- the Porsche has immediate urge that increases linearly- the Volvo has a very poor response off boost, and the boost threshold is high. Once on boost however you get all the power very quickly.
The Porsche feels (and likely is) faster most of the time, the Volvo feels faster when you get t fully spooled in the second half of the rev range.
The Porsche feels (and likely is) faster most of the time, the Volvo feels faster when you get t fully spooled in the second half of the rev range.
This is the upgrade part to the American standard lighter: http://www.suncoastparts.com/product/PK9X6LIGHTER....
I've asked Precision if they can source one and if so how much to do so and fit it- once that's done I can use any current charger.
If anyone knows a source for those over here in Europe please let me know.
I've asked Precision if they can source one and if so how much to do so and fit it- once that's done I can use any current charger.
If anyone knows a source for those over here in Europe please let me know.
I am still looking, but only every now and again, and more to maintain familiarity with the market for these cars.
I'm genuinely excited to get my 911 back, i don't begrudge it the money - I could very easily have spent £15,000 on a car that then needed the same work, the way I am looking at it is that I did buy a £15,000 car - one that was in A1 condition. It's just been two payments rather than one...
And this way at least I know everything is done and can get on with enjoying it.
I'm genuinely excited to get my 911 back, i don't begrudge it the money - I could very easily have spent £15,000 on a car that then needed the same work, the way I am looking at it is that I did buy a £15,000 car - one that was in A1 condition. It's just been two payments rather than one...
And this way at least I know everything is done and can get on with enjoying it.
Thrilling update: I ordered the American spec fag lighter, at least that is a "fit and done" part.
In other news I can pick the car up next week - it'll have to be Friday as I'm in the US until then (which has made getting that fag lighter more straightforward).
Now I've only driven the car for a few hours but I'm struggling a little with the wheel position- I'm 6'2" and the wheel rests on my left leg, which makes left turns with a lot of lock a problem.
As I see it the options are to fit an extender-boss to the wheel to get it closer too me and a little higher, or to opt for the centre console delete - the latter means moving the heated seat buttons to the upper part of the centre console.
Does anyone have another option which I've not thought of/has moved buttons around and can chime in on how hard it is/has deleted their lower centre console and have achieved leg room joy through going that route?
In other news I can pick the car up next week - it'll have to be Friday as I'm in the US until then (which has made getting that fag lighter more straightforward).
Now I've only driven the car for a few hours but I'm struggling a little with the wheel position- I'm 6'2" and the wheel rests on my left leg, which makes left turns with a lot of lock a problem.
As I see it the options are to fit an extender-boss to the wheel to get it closer too me and a little higher, or to opt for the centre console delete - the latter means moving the heated seat buttons to the upper part of the centre console.
Does anyone have another option which I've not thought of/has moved buttons around and can chime in on how hard it is/has deleted their lower centre console and have achieved leg room joy through going that route?
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