Dream car........ journey so far

[Storkers]

Hi like many on here thought I would start a log, to keep track what have done etc

I've always been into cars and always loved the 911, remember stating at school too a friend I would have one by time I was 40....

I got into bikes at 15 and progressed up the ladder with these, enjoying a few European trips with friends and a visit around the ring being the highlight. Most of my biking group were older so that came to an end after about 10 years, as they all settled and bikes went. Whilst without a bike I helped my Dad to build a 1932 Ford Coupe pro street style, big block Chevy 454ci, roll cage the works, this has been a labour of love and still not properly on the road, with a divorce, bike crash and heart attack it had its hold back, and sadly I'll doubt now he is older my old man will get to enjoy as intended.

Anyway after marriage and two kids and a house extension, I had a few cars mainly Bmws, in 2017 a got another bike I had wanted when younger in the hopes of getting back into it, without a lot of biking buddies now, and time I haven't got to ride as much as I would like and the misses has never been that keen.i sold my Bmw 645ci beginning of march this year, looking at getting something more practical and going from 3 car household too two. I've always kept and eye on 911's and had been looking at a few, after a few Sunday drinks and the whole corona situation I started to consider more......

 

[Storkers]

I found a 996 which had 997 upgrade made some enquiries and had the "chat" with the wife, done a deal on price and arranged to view car, which was in Bristol some 3 1/2 hours away. Went to sleep the night before and was like a kid at Christmas, couldn't believe I was going to finally get one before 40(July birthday),,,,

The morning came and friend who kindly offered to take me turned up, chat was all about car on way down, the closer we got the nerves set in as still couldn't believe it was coming true.........

Arrived and car was outside, was bit disappointed as was bit dirty and dusty, we got there at 12.30 and sun was out, chap seemed ok and happily let me take for test drive with my mate as passenger. Test drive went ok all but on start up battery sounded a bit weak. On return stopped and started again and still the same. Looking around the car I noticed a screw head in one of the front tyres( lucky it was visible) this was on mot in December which I had been told was all done. I pointed this out and also stated alarm bells now ringing as to what, else hadn't been done. Again started again and struggled on weak battery, but this time a large plume of smoke came out the back for a good 20seconds, long story short chap wouldn't drop on previous price so I sat all the way home rather sad and dishearten, no real apologies, he stated would take up with garage who he had paid to have the work done at. No offer of first refusal once sorted.

Needless to say I was about miffed at time and money to go and view, wrongly or rightly I got a friend to enquire about car as in a text he had stated was aos and was now going to keep as worth to much to sell cheap. He replied to my friend stated AOS needed do to be fair, but that previous buyer had not paid the agreed amount, oh and that car used to Ben green, never told me or did it flag up on checks I had paid to be done????



This was car

 

[Storkers]

feeling disappointed still, I was still keen in car, stupidly, and text chap but stated was still worth what agreed even with 3 new tyres and AOS needing doing, I stated the price we agreed was with not knowing any of this and that was that, couple of days and I came to realise I think I had a lucky escape.

I then decided to join this forum and a new world of info was at hand......

I'd since seen two other cars, a 996 C4s, which was up in Newcastle and a 997 which was closer, given the two I preferred the 997 look wise although the 996 in hindsight was the car condition and ownership wise.

Again agreed a lift with a friend, to see the closer 997, sorted a day could go and on contacting the guy he stated had been offered the asking price from someone keen, but not yet seen the car. Too be fair he held out as I offered to come the next day. In the end the guy couldnt make said day and he offered me to view that weekend, I couldn't as had work, the original chap never came and he claimed got the full asking price from someone else.

I considered the 996 in Newcastle but what with everything going on was just to far at the time, another 996c4s came up, I quite liked but was typically in wales, and although over the phone had kind off agreed a price viewing again was the hold back, so 3 down and still no closer

 

[Storkers]

After asking a few questions on here and people agreeing I had done the right thing with the black one, I started to put the sensible head on and think maybe wasn't meant to be and just get something sensible.........

Then one night at work I saw a ad on here for a black 997, sent a message and came back with a number so rang the next day, owner(Nick) sounded a real genuine guy and had also a build thread on here so could see what was what, and a true car guy, didn't mind my questions and even gave pointers on what to look for if his wasn't the one. So again agreed a price and set of with my friend on 26th May for two hour journey, this time more nervous as was sure was the one but after previous didn't want to get my hopes up!!! Lovely hot day, car was clean when got there (tick)! Everything was as was........ all bout over a 2 hour wait for funds to go through and a couple of calls from fraud department from the bank!!!!!

Picture from the day while waiting around



The drive home was great I was on cloud nine, and couldn't really believe I had fulfilled a childhood dream,

So much so that I took it steady and got it up to 35mpg on the way home!!! Apart from one blast through the Blackwell tunnel, I'd loved to have seen my face as I came out the other end,

 

[Storkers]

Other than drive and wash and polish I didn't do much for first couple of weeks, spare time was spent decorating the lounge as a sweetener too the wife,,,,,!!

Also I had decided to sell my bike as to be fair wasn't now going to get the use, and was getting harder to stay slow the more I did get to ride it...... put up for sale and sold within ten days, picture of day went next to the car......decided to keep money in a car fund encase anything unexpected big bills come in

 

[Storkers]

After the room was done and bike sold, I thought I would start gently.......with a new sticker!!



Followed by another wash and polish, caught the picture afterwards and thought shadow looked quite good

 

[Storkers]

Week or so back I noticed the oil pressure gauge was stuck on 5, even when car not running, quick question on here and google and pointed to a oil pressure sender or possibly bad earth, ordered new sender unit, but out of stock so in the mean time took to local specialist and confirmed it was the unit, so once turns up will replace.

Had been looking at fog lights and looking a bit tired, so came up for sale but missed out on. Read some thread on headlight kits and purchased a Meguiars one, had a crack yesterday, was abut tentative going at it with the wet and dry, but more than happy with outcome and well worth the £22.00, so did headlights as well


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Headlight one doesn't really show too well in the picture but looks much better

 

[Storkers]

Couple of pictures after washing after work today






ordered som Gtechniq wheel armour which turned up today so will be a job for tomorrow, as previous owner had wheels powder coated and sprayed, I thought would clean up and apply to keep them tip top

 

[Storkers]

 

[adamw]

Great story and great looking 911! :thumb:
Glad to hear it worked out in the end and sounds like it was worth the wait.
Well done and welcome to 911 ownership and 911uk :thumbs:

 

[Storkers]

Thanks! Most say still can't stop looking at it, great forum some really knowledgeable and helpful people on here

 

[berni29]

Hi

Great looking car and wish you well to drive it!

Berni

 

[NLW73]

good to see the old girl is being looked after and enjoy

35 mpg. wow thats good going. the most I get out of the new sldegehammer on a long run is 25. I saw 13 the other day when giving it some gas!

great noise and lots of space for the bikes and kids.

 

[Storkers]

So today was spent taking wheels off and having a clean up and applying Gtechniq wheel armour, few pictures















Had good clean up although not to bad, all plastic dressed, gave stainless exhaust boxes a go over and came up great but forgot after pictures as was getting ready for work, wheels and calipers look good although typical ran out of stuff to finish last wheel off.

 

[Storkers]

Been looking into swapping seat belts for red, as quite fancy this, sent a selection from FDTS ltd who will swap over once removed, anyone attempted this and how easy to remove, looks like few bits of trim to remove, so don't want any broken clips, also does battery need to be disconnected????
Picture of samples sent top left is their stated Porsche one, which funnily enough is a pretty good match for the ones in the fire engine I drive while at work!