He's getting on a bit but Egbert's charms remain
Porsche 911 Carrera 2 3.6 (964) - answers to the name of Egbert
Before Egbert was a Honda S2000 which I couldn't bear to part with - I actually had both before I chopped the Honda in for a Suzuki SV650!
Sarah 'rescued' her 911 from a Porsche race team
Egbert was purchased in a mad moment while I was racing a pink 3.2 Carrera in the Porsche Club Championship - he was being thrown out of the toy cupboard at a London Porsche race team I was running at the time, like an orphaned puppy. I had no choice but to take him home - it was more adoption than an actual purchase. I knew the history of the car and thought "what's the worst that can happen?"
I never really thought twice about if I could afford to run, or insure, Egbert. I never even really thought perhaps wouldn't I really rather have a 993 or one that was mint condition? I quickly had Egbert resprayed, and have been buying bits for him ever since!
The individuality of Egbert, he's different, and it's one of his endearing features. Nobody quite knows if he's a narrow-bodied turbo or an RS. He's Iris blue which is a 993 colour, he has a half-roll cage, an RS clutch, GT3 seats, full harness belts and, thanks to Steve Winters' magic touch, he is a bit quicker than the average 964. He may be getting on a bit, but he's still packs a punch and sounds fantastic.
A dirty Porsche is a good Porsche
He does have his off days, usually they are minor and easily fixed even by a girl. However, I did have to push him off the motorway when the alternator packed up once. The rubbers perish and water gets in places it shouldn't, causing the indicators to work when they feel like it, the headlights to randomly switch off (not ideal!) and using demister Rain-X on the inside of the windscreen is a must if you actually want to go anywhere on a cold day! Oh and I never travel anywhere in the 964 without a handful of assorted fuses, tools, torch, jump leads and a spare relay. Just in case!
I got a great deal for insurance through Adrian Flux Specialist insurers, which means Egbert doesn't cost me much more than the Golf runabout to insure. Parts are easily found on eBay or via PorscheShop and ownership doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg. I keep him topped up with Mobil 1 - good quality oil, should last 24 months if you're not doing too many miles. Just keep an eye on the levels and check the engine belts for cracking or stretching. He gets fussed over quite a bit.
Egbert's a keeper says his proud owner
We had a good trip to France early this year, mixing it with some fellow PH TVR enthusiasts, plus Egbert comes with me to all the race circuits on the Britcar series, including Spa and all over the UK.
Who knows, it will have to be an addition rather than an 'instead of', as Egbert is well and truly part of the family now. But I did spot an Amethyst 964 RS on an RMA track day last year, which caught my eye!