what is an 'early' 3.4 996?

[SteveStrange]

HughG said:

GT6 Jonsey said:

Been following this guys story of engine woes on his channel. Interesting journey with a Hartech 3.7 build, and the all important final bill as there is alway a “while your in there” scope creep
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu3xzDC6VI4

I wasn’t aware of Lee’s channel so thanks for that. I agree with him that more transparency in the breakdown would be nice to see, it’s an awfully big number!

And after all that, there was quite a list of "imperfections" with the rest of the car. That's insane money, IMO.

[oddman]

Manage to sneak out today in a dry weather window. Haven't been able to get out recently due to new puppy taking over. Battery flattened and wouldn't start a few weeks back but the battery conditioner has sorted it.

Enforced break made me appreciate how great it is. Shrinks around me and everything is so tactile. Lovely. Electrical gremlins to sort and planning a suspension refresh soon. Motivated to get it as good as it can be given it's 25 this year.

[RiccardoG]

Just flicked through PCGB's "Porsche Post" magazine as it focuses on the 996 this month. Was intrigued by the story behind the cover magazine, a 100k miler 1998 car in daily use. Alas, the actual article within the magazine was just the same old story of Porsche in the 90's and how it was saved with Cayennes blah blah...

Anyone know the 996 in question and the story to it. I liked the idea of it being this retired teacher's daily driver for the past 15 years, lives outside, used all year round, nice and a testament to 996 quality.

[SteveStrange]

RiccardoG said:

Anyone know the 996 in question and the story to it. I liked the idea of it being this retired teacher's daily driver for the past 15 years, lives outside, used all year round, nice and a testament to 996 quality.

I think there are several of us on this thread who have similar experiences. Mine ives outside, is my daily (school runs etc), rain, sun or now etc etc, and has a LOT more than 100k miles!

[ATM]

My original 996 was a DD until I got more cars. They all live outside. I'd love a garage but even if I did get one there would be fight over which cars get tucked away.

[jonny996]

mine is not a DD, more like a 3 times a week D now with covid & WFH, but sits outside, is used to ferry kids to rugby & everything a second car in a 2 car family would be used to do, only in style & faster!!!!!

[nebpor]

My 996.1 was my DD, now my 996T is my daily. Only way to keep these cars running good is to use them!!

[ATM]

jonny996 said:

mine is not a DD, more like a 3 times a week D now with covid & WFH, but sits outside

Snap

But I am trying to find more excuses to get out of the house now - going to the gym was not allowed before but now it is

The thing is with 6 vehicles to choose from none of them get used much

[nunpuncher]

They are a pain in the arse if you don't drive them daily. Just went to move mine in to the garage for winter and the bloody battery is dead due to me not driving it enough.

What is it in these cars that drains batteries like nothing on earth?

[ATM]

nunpuncher said:

They are a pain in the arse if you don't drive them daily. Just went to move mine in to the garage for winter and the bloody battery is dead due to me not driving it enough.

What is it in these cars that drains batteries like nothing on earth?

Mine are usually OK. Car should shut down after about 2 weeks. Then only the key will open it. Does your do this? Yours is a turbo right so it might have a 20 year old tracker somewhere consuming elec full time.

[Fast Bug]

nunpuncher said:

They are a pain in the arse if you don't drive them daily. Just went to move mine in to the garage for winter and the bloody battery is dead due to me not driving it enough.

What is it in these cars that drains batteries like nothing on earth?

I don't usually lock mine and it gets used every other weekend which is usally just about enough to keep on top of the battery. Any longer than 2 weeks and it's flat as a pancake!

[ATM]

I've probably mentioned this before but will regurgitate. Lifepo4 type batteries probably suit occasional use cars mixh better than any type of lead acid or gel. Reason being they give full elec power when low on charge and then can charge back up super fast. If you buy a big one it will have masses more capacity too.

[jonny996]

I get about 3 weeks of non use before it hits issues

[nunpuncher]

ATM said:

Mine are usually OK. Car should shut down after about 2 weeks. Then only the key will open it. Does your do this? Yours is a turbo right so it might have a 20 year old tracker somewhere consuming elec full time.

No, it's a late 3.4 C4.

Same as Fast Bug, I tend not to lock it. Used to keep it on a trickle charger over the winter at the old house but as I don't have power out to the new garage yet it's been sat for around a month draining a 6 month old battery. Will it stop draining it if I lock it?

As it's a late 3.4 it's got the mechanical frunk release so it's now a case of wheel off to get to the emergency release or sticking a batter from another car on the fuse box live post.

[shalmaneser]

ATM said:

I've probably mentioned this before but will regurgitate. Lifepo4 type batteries probably suit occasional use cars mixh better than any type of lead acid or gel. Reason being they give full elec power when low on charge and then can charge back up super fast. If you buy a big one it will have masses more capacity too.

What battery did you fit to yours? Mine has been underused since the arrival of mini-shalmaner and has occasionally struggled to start. plus weightsaving, obvs.

[ATM]

shalmaneser said:

What battery did you fit to yours? Mine has been underused since the arrival of mini-shalmaner and has occasionally struggled to start. plus weightsaving, obvs.

Any will do. I'll dig out some pics. The one I have is linked. I paid less than that - 224 I think.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403145914695

I've been thinking about upgrading to one with Bluetooth monitoring. Because the downside of a small lightweight LiFePo4 is it will just switch itself off if the charge gets low to protect itself. They don't like being drained completely flat. So the small lightweight ones will not have the capacity of a big heavy lead acid. So you can leave a lead acid connected much longer than a really small LiFePo4 if the lead acid is fully charged.

So if you want really lightweight you need to give it some TLC because if you leave it for weeks on end it will go flat. If you want to fit and forget and leave for weeks on end then you need one which is a bit more substantial. Substantial will still be smaller and lighter than a medium size lead acid. Is this making sense or am I going round in circles?

[bgunn]

RiccardoG said:

Just flicked through PCGB's "Porsche Post" magazine as it focuses on the 996 this month. Was intrigued by the story behind the cover magazine, a 100k miler 1998 car in daily use. Alas, the actual article within the magazine was just the same old story of Porsche in the 90's and how it was saved with Cayennes blah blah...

Anyone know the 996 in question and the story to it. I liked the idea of it being this retired teacher's daily driver for the past 15 years, lives outside, used all year round, nice and a testament to 996 quality.

If it's Matt Masters motor, it's my old car.

[nebpor]

They’re a massive waste of money and effort - just buy the biggest traditional battery that fits in the space and don’t worry about it going flat (within reason)

[nunpuncher]

Yeah, I bought a massive Yuasa thing, like got to stand in the frunk to be able to lift it in massive. The bugger has still gone flat after about 5 weeks.

[Cleanhands]

Same here, unfortunately it dropped a cell after 10 months, which was surprising. At least I got a replacement straight away.