To respray a 996tt (or not to respray)? That is the question

To respray a 996tt (or not to respray)? That is the question

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911tt

Original Poster:

13 posts

87 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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My 996tt has good to very good paintwork for the year with the usual stone-chips on the frontal areas plus many abnormal (if small to very small) stone-chips in many other places due to meeting a gritting lorry coming the other way with nowhere for me to hide, a year ago. These blemishes, although only visible close up, and mostly only to me, bug me quite a lot as the car is generally excellent. Due to very low rectification expenses over the past few years my budget will stand a respray - even one of those arm and leg resprays that leaves the car in factory door condition with no traces of it having been done (I am reliably told by people who've used the company I'm thinking of).

Opinion is divided: a couple of fellow owners think it should be left as original as possible and others say go for it (and get it wrapped afterwards).

Originality or perfection?

g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Keep it original and enjoy driving it. A respray will only make you more precious and you won't get your money back.

IknowJoseph

542 posts

139 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Spend the money on a ferry to France, plus petrol, and call it patina smile

SRT Hellcat

7,017 posts

216 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Honestly if it really bugs you get it done. It is your car and your money. Whatever makes you feel good smile

IceBoy

2,443 posts

220 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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I've got to agree with SRT on this one, my 996 C2 coupe had stone chips and needed a general front end respray...once done the car looks like new and if feels more special to drive...

...all IMO.

IceBoy

harleywilma

517 posts

242 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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Only original once....

Twinfan

10,125 posts

103 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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harleywilma said:
Only original once....
This for me. If it's not chipped down to the bare metal, and therefore likely to start rusting, I'd leave it alone. Original condition can't be re-gained in the future.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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For me it would be a respray as long as its a very good one. Original condition is only worth having if its mint imo.

mjk1

230 posts

225 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Original for me, hate none matching front end as is usually the case after a respray. Also next time the cars driven it will start picking up stone chips anyway. I've seen cars where the additional thickness of paint has caused the doors to contact the wings as they open. Always look for original paint when buying second hand.

shantybeater

1,192 posts

168 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Respray for me, don't understand this whole 'original' paintwork thing, original paintwork after 15 years looks ste, if its to prove no crash damage take some photos beforehand to prove what you did.

It will look a million times better and improve the enjoyment...

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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mjk1 said:
Original for me, hate none matching front end as is usually the case after a respray. Also next time the cars driven it will start picking up stone chips anyway. I've seen cars where the additional thickness of paint has caused the doors to contact the wings as they open. Always look for original paint when buying second hand.
He is talking about painting the whole car not just the front end ao no paint matching issue.

How much paint must have been put on the car you are talking about to make a door meet wings? Thats nonsensical or had a poir crash damage repair.

Your last sentence is just quite ridiculous.

YoungMD

326 posts

119 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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If the car is old enough it would have always had a respray, paint is like tyres, needs replacing after a while. Original engine I can understand that but original paint, well next it will be original wiper blades.

pkoc

126 posts

199 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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If you find a really good recommended car sprayer, with the right gear, they can colour match very easily. I has some work done last summer on my 996t. Basically I had the front bumper, rear bumper (scratched when reversing and didn't see an ultra low wall - think I Embarrassed my kids and myself with my expletives in front of the kids footie team!), new lacquer on the front right wing as it had started to get water between the paint, and a stone chip on each rear 3 quarter. Also had the mirrors respray end. All the small grazes and tiny chops on the bonnet and tiny chips on the doors I left.

Essentially, I had the chips and scratches done that wound me up each time I was cleaning the car. Now it looks awesome and I am very happy with it. It cost me a pretty penny, but worth it to keep it looking fairly immaculate but honest.

medieval

1,499 posts

210 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Mine comes back from a full respect next week as welll. It had got to the point where the small niggles in the paint were just too many to bear and it was beginning to grate .

Can't wait to be honest to get it back but ocean blue does show every mark even if it is one of the best colours to have

SRT Hellcat

7,017 posts

216 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Ocean Blue Metallic is my number one favourite Porsche blue of all time. An awesome colour

medieval

1,499 posts

210 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Thank you sir

NickCW

295 posts

129 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Get it done, then have Paint Protection Film put on it - so it stays perfect.

That way it looks amazing, and you can drive it without worry. The PPF nowadays resists scratching, keying and makes washing it far easier as well. In fact it will "heal" under heat so swirl marks will disappear if introduced whilst washing from what I have read/watched.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Twinfan said:
This for me. If it's not chipped down to the bare metal, and therefore likely to start rusting, I'd leave it alone. Original condition can't be re-gained in the future.
Yes, but we're not talking about an ex Bira Bugatti Type 35 are we? Most buyers would haggle you down on a car like that if it needed paint. I'd not paint the whole car if it can be avoided though. Most decent body shops can do wonders without having to do a glass out, trim off job.

Twinfan

10,125 posts

103 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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For resale obviously a re-spray could be worth doing.

For personal enjoyment? I'd leave well enough alone....

Cheib

23,111 posts

174 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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It's not an F40 with people looking for the paint sinking into the weave of the bodywork as a sign of originality. Do whatever makes you happy!