993 Convertibles

[Davel]

Can anyone tell me please what these are like to live with - especially during the winter.

Apparently the one I'm looking at needs a little stiching, which will be sorted, but are they normally waterproof and lined etc and is the rear screen heated at all?

[Bluevelvet]

Heated rear screens on plastic tend to melt.

[Davel]

OOooooooooops.

(deliberate mistake)

[domster]

On my 944 cabriolet, the hood was a four layer design IIRC: canvas outer, rubber waterproof layer, some insulation, then inner lining. It is therefore a) good quality and very waterproof if intact; b) a sod to repair or replace cheaply. You can get it done by specialists for a lot less (inc little repairs), but FYI Porsche would have charged me 6k GBP to replace the whole hood on my old 944S2.

[domster]

PS Over the shoulder visibility tends to be crap on 993 Cabriolets and the plastic rear screen is likely to mist up. Visibility with the hood up is not the best feature.

[Davel]

Would you live with this for the winter, bearing in mind the good days with the top down, or would you forget a convertible and go for a hard top instead?

I do like open top motoring when possible and thought now would be a good time to buy.

[domster]

The Porsche convertibles are fine in the winter, but I prefer the coupe 911 for its looks and structural strength. For open top thrills I would go the whole hog and buy another Caterham where you can hear the zing of the exhaust, smell the hot oil and don't have to worry about a compromised chassis. Have you considered a 993 Targa? These look much better, can't be slashed and allow wind in the hair motoring? Vis is good, although reduced a little when the targa roof is retracted giving you two panes of glass to look through in your rear view mirror.

[Davel]

I had an old targa before and enjoyed it.

Haven't noticed any advertised though and they may be out of my league. I'd budgetted on £25 to £30k but preferably nearer £25k.

Just got info on a coupe now and considering it too.

[domster]

www.portiacraft.com/cardetails.asp?id=280

How about this one? Nice colour, too, and just inside budget.

ATB
Domster

[craigw]

Dave I know someone selling a 1996 N C4 Coupe soon, its v nice, midnight blue with marble leather, full main dealer history, 17inch alloys, hi spec alarm&stereo/6cd, tax&mot, new tyres. He wants 30 but I reckon he'd take a senisble bid for it, oh 48,000 miles only too! If you're interested let me know.

[Davel]

Yep looks gorgeous.

Thanks for all your replies over this

You've given me something more to think about now

Decisions decisions

Hi Craig - might be interested but would prefer to be nearer £25k than £30k if possible.

>> Edited by Davel on Tuesday 23 September 12:44

[craigw]

I'll have a talk with him but I think he's been bid around 27 from a dealer as a part ex
If you thought you could do a bit better let me know, cheers & best of luck.

[Davel]

Possibly but is there the chance of him e-mailing me photos and full details?

I need to talk to a colleague about which route to take.

[craigw]

dont think he has any photos but could prob get some (its having a full service at the moment so not back for a couple of days), forgot to say it has the sports seats as well, very supportive.

[DanH]

How much more lardy is the targa. Always fancied them, but can't imagine all that extra glass and gubbins helps performance, not to mention higher center of mass.

[craigw]

from memory the targa that came to Bruntingthorpe was recording identical speeds to the coupe

[domster]

They are heavier, can't remember by how much, but Porsche wouldn't sell you a C4 targa because of it.... the weight of 4WD would have been too much on top o the targa weight penalty.