from 996 C2 to 997 Turbo

Guys I've been on here a while now and thought I should give a bit back! Get a cup of tea or something stronger it's a long read!

I've owned 3 911 over the last 8 years (lucky me) i'm not from a privileged background just worked hard.

My first was a 996 C2 manual, midnight blue beige leather but blue carpets, loved the two tone look, my indy hated it saying don't ever ask me to sell it lol I used it daily for 3 years and loved it but the sexy lines of the 997 was always pulling at me.

I was in the market for another manual C2 but wanted the S model for a bit of extra grunt. Luckily a lovely midnight blue 4S came to the market locally and it was love at first sight! It was those hips lol It was a major deal for me to spend £33000 on a car!

It was from a BMW main dealer who had taken it in part exchange for a new car. It had 6 months OPC warranty left so no need to worry.
This was in the days before I visited this site and I had no knowledge of IMS or bore score, I nievely thought a car with this pedigree must be bomb proof :hand:
Again lucky for me I had 3 years trouble free motoring when I decided to trade up last August to the 2009 gen 1.5 Turbo.
I paid £55k and I thought I got a good trade in of £26k I was starting to get worried about bore score and the more I came on this forum and told my engine was made of chocolate the more I worried I also noticed a few signs, using oil and a bit darker tail pipes on one side, not that it ever built up as I clean the tail pipes weekly!

The TURBO wow this is totally different to anything i've ever owned! It's infectious it just makes you smile!!!
It came with the usual bose pcm3 but adaptive heated seats and tiptronic yes tiptronic made it for me!! I don't think I could go back to comfort seats or manual.

I moved quick when I saw the Turbo for sale, I knew I wanted Auto and couldn't make myself go to £65k for the PDK my local indy was selling, basalt black 2010 with 29k on the clock, it was lovely but had centre lock wheels and I didn't quite like how they looked, anyway £65k I couldn't do it.
I was at the airport and had a few hours to kill so got a coffee with friends and family going for a week away. I started brousing autotrader i'd been looking daily for months! when it popped up, that's new I said to myself. I looked through the spec, zoomed into the pictures and got all giddy.

52k on the clock was a tad high but adaptive hard back heated memory seats, I was drooling. The family had no idea what I was upto. I walked away from everyone and rang the dealer. Nice guy answered the phone and after 30 minutes we agreed the deal, the holiday couldn't finish soon enough!
Straight off the plane, drive from Manchester to Leeds bloody M62 pick up the 4S and head to Nottingham to hopefully pick up the Turbo.

Arrived and there it was, not a thing of pure beauty like the 993 Turbo or an E Type but a real presence to it!
From a distance it looked perfect but we all no up close can be another story, and it was.

I loved the seats but the hard backs where both sctratched, the centre console was awful that matt rubber finish was all scratched. No leather on the tip surround and the console lid was the standard affair, it all looked a bit drab.

I'd just had the console lid in the 4s embossed and french stitching with the group buy from Linus (great job he does) the 4S tunnel was midnight blue and to me just looked better!!

I then started to look round the car, wheels had just been done so they were mint and looked a proffesional finnish.
The car hadn't been well prepped, I don't think it had had any prep other than a wash and it showed! the paint looked like a 50,000 mile car with stone chips and dull paint.

I was so disapointed and said sorry it's not really for me, my business partner who came along for the ride looked at me shocked and said your jocking!

I walked away to my 4S and looked inside at what linus had done with my leather bits and looked back at the Turbo and thought hang on what would it cost to put a bit of interior right and to give it a good detail? plus no sign of the dealer wanting to get mine checked for bore score and that was in the back of my mind!
I also think nothing of spending the whole weekend with the orbital polisher detailing cars. So I walked back over to the Turbo and started looking more closely at what would need doing to get it how i'd like it. I worked out it would cost about £1000 and tried to get this knocked off, we ended up agreeing a further £800 of the price to go towards the changes/corrections and we drove it away.

The drive home was almost a shock, what power these things have! you hurtle towards loosing your licence in short time, wow I would need to learn to appreciate what power is beneath my right foot!!

I know this is going on a bit so apologies, I also know my English can be a bit poor so apologies for that too but i'm just a standard run of the mill Northerner
:floor:
So to the changes and work needed.

So list of jobs to do:

Turbo rear badge, the chrome had come away £115 from OPC

Turbo kick plate drivers side, £81 from OPC

Console lid, tip surround, handbarake, all done by Linus, embossed Turbo and french stitching £354

Seats and console stripped at work and sent to Wicked coatings to be done in Basalt and high Gloss finish. Full console and hard back seats inc all parts. £365

Bought two gen 2 steering wheels from Mark at Sterlings £40 Had to butcher 1 wheel to get the front multi function fascia off without any damage, it was the wrong colour so sent it to Wicked to coat in Basalt and soft touch matt (this was included in the price above)

Steering wheel module from OPC £255 this is needed when going from gen 1 to gen 2 wheel.

Local Indy pewis reset for the wheel, it took a few goes £40

Side sills sent to wicked they were scratched and thought would look good £120.

DA polisher ready to go to work, I bought some new pads, Poor boys black hole and a touch up for the stone chips £45

Two weekends in the garage and i'm now happy

Total spend £1415 but it was worth it!

To anyone looking for their first 997 don't do it like I did it, get it thoroughly checked, I was lucky!!

We all love pictures so here you go.

A great read, and pics too. Thanks :thumb:

I've also had 3 x 911s in 8 years so I can relate to your story. I went from a 996C4 to a 997 Turbo via a 996 Turbo.

Glad to hear you've come away happy! I'd not have the balls to buy a car in that state, but you're right - a bit of extra money and you've got a winner!


I'm considering both upgrading my 996t to a 997t.. or downgrading to a 996 C2... Just not sure what to do!

Jay. said:

Glad to hear you've come away happy! I'd not have the balls to buy a car in that state, but you're right - a bit of extra money and you've got a winner!


I'm considering both upgrading my 996t to a 997t.. or downgrading to a 996 C2... Just not sure what to do!

Click to expand...

A big difference 997t or 996 C2 I did love my 996 and to be honest I'd still be a happy man just not as happy 😂😂

A good read of your story to the present day.

I'm just wondering if the dealer had spent £1000 on it (claimed any VAT back) would it have sold for more to get it looking fantastic inside and out.

Anyway the dealer didn't and somehow it's better to do the job yourself as owners are more meticulous.

I'm just wondering if it's worth getting if back under Porsche Warranty for peace of mind & maybe whilst it's at OPC getting it fully serviced. As to draw a line and start a fresh knowing everything is in top condition and running on clean oil, filters and new belts. That's what I do with all my cars, ge that Porsche stamp in the service book :thumb: . It is a Porsche Turbo after all.

Great story, thanks for posting. :thumb:

From a fellow Leeds lad (but only on my first Pork).

Just watch your license!

You haven't included post-detail pics!

James

Great write up and some nice pics.

Linas does do nice work...

I keep thinking about my seat backs - how are they holding up with normal wear and tear?

Great story! Like RobP I'm thinking of painting my hardbacks, really don't like the drab grey. Can't decide on Midnight Blue or Silver!

MNC911 said:

A good read of your story to the present day.

I'm just wondering if the dealer had spent £1000 on it (claimed any VAT back) would it have sold for more to get it looking fantastic inside and out.

Anyway the dealer didn't and somehow it's better to do the job yourself as owners are more meticulous.

I'm just wondering if it's worth getting if back under Porsche Warranty for peace of mind & maybe whilst it's at OPC getting it fully serviced. As to draw a line and start a fresh knowing everything is in top condition and running on clean oil, filters and new belts. That's what I do with all my cars, ge that Porsche stamp in the service book :thumb: . It is a Porsche Turbo after all.

Click to expand...

I'm sure the dealer who specialises in exporting range rovers did nothing other than the refurb of the wheels. It's got a full OPC service history including invoices, it had a massive service at Cheshire only a few weeks before I bought it, inc full coil packs. I wouldn't buy a car of this type without full history! Warranty doesn't worry me that much, if it breaks I'll fix it, I always make sure I put away what the warranty would cost and for now it's worked out ok. I understand why people do I'm just not one of them👍

James M-S said:

Great story, thanks for posting. :thumb:

From a fellow Leeds lad (but only on my first Pork).

Just watch your license!

You haven't included post-detail pics!

James

Click to expand...

I'll try and get some added, enjoy your first porka not a bad choice at all 997.2👍

DucatiRob said:

Great story! Like RobP I'm thinking of painting my hardbacks, really don't like the drab grey. Can't decide on Midnight Blue or Silver!

Click to expand...

Go midnight blue I love that colour! They are holding up well but to be honest no one been in the back :hand: for me the steering wheel and the console painted are the big improvements!
I never thought what if the wife reads this :floor:

rob_p said:

Great write up and some nice pics.

Linas does do nice work...

I keep thinking about my seat backs - how are they holding up with normal wear and tear?

Click to expand...

Rob they do attract dust 😂😂 look nice though!

Warranty doesn't worry me that much, if it breaks I'll fix it, I always make sure I put away what the warranty would cost and for now it's worked out ok. I understand why people do I'm just not one of them👍[/quote]

That's fair enough, a conscious decision. I've always had Porsche Warranty and I've used it so many times. (Not that I have bad luck with vehicles). So every niggle gets sorted and every problem gets fixed. The beauty is my cars always have Porsche parts fitted. The main point is I don't even have to leave the house. Simply call up an OPC, they collect them and bring them back. The key other point is OPC's conduct a 'good engineering practice', which means everything along the path to repair, bolts, nuts, gaskets, all get renewed.

I can't praise the Porsche Warranty system enough. Worth every penny. :thumb:

MNC911 said:

Warranty doesn't worry me that much, if it breaks I'll fix it, I always make sure I put away what the warranty would cost and for now it's worked out ok. I understand why people do I'm just not one of them👍

Click to expand...

That's fair enough, a conscious decision. I've always had Porsche Warranty and I've used it so many times. (Not that I have bad luck with vehicles). So every niggle gets sorted and every problem gets fixed. The beauty is my cars always have Porsche parts fitted. The main point is I don't even have to leave the house. Simply call up an OPC, they collect them and bring them back. The key other point is OPC's conduct a 'good engineering practice', which means everything along the path to repair, bolts, nuts, gaskets, all get renewed.

I can't praise the Porsche Warranty system enough. Worth every penny. :thumb:[/quote]

All good points!
I think my decision was made for me when I got my 996 C2 it was bought with OPC warranty. The first time I ever walked into my local OPC was to discuss a leaking condenser, it was diagnosed by my Indy and they told me to get it done under warranty. To say I was disappointed with how they looked down their nose at me is a massive understatement!! There's me thinking I'm the dogs I've got a 911! I was told it wasn't covered under the warranty and I showed them the warranty book where it clearly showed it was. I ended up walking out and ringing Porsche gb they agreed it was covered and went to book me in, I refused to go back to that dealer and had to book and go to another city. Fair to say I've never been back!!
Funny thing is my best mate bought a 991 4S privately a few weeks ago. It's low mileage and only 2 months out of warranty. I told my friend to get it checked at the Indy I use, they do a thorough 111 point check. The only thing it threw up was an oil leak, this was reported to the owner, his response was that's funny I had an oil leak done under warranty only a few months ago. He contacted said OPC and they agreed to sort it it was the same leak. My friend collected it direct from the OPC where he discussed getting a service done and putting the warranty back on, he drove away and said he would book it in. A few weeks later he saw a drip of oil on his garage floor! He took it in and he was told it wasn't the same leak, not trusting he took it back to the Indy to see what they say. It was the same leak! After allot of arguing they agreed to do it, my friend came to the same conclusion as me and that why our Indy is so busy!!

silvermilnec said:

MNC911 said:

Warranty doesn't worry me that much, if it breaks I'll fix it, I always make sure I put away what the warranty would cost and for now it's worked out ok. I understand why people do I'm just not one of them👍

Click to expand...

That's fair enough, a conscious decision. I've always had Porsche Warranty and I've used it so many times. (Not that I have bad luck with vehicles). So every niggle gets sorted and every problem gets fixed. The beauty is my cars always have Porsche parts fitted. The main point is I don't even have to leave the house. Simply call up an OPC, they collect them and bring them back. The key other point is OPC's conduct a 'good engineering practice', which means everything along the path to repair, bolts, nuts, gaskets, all get renewed.

I can't praise the Porsche Warranty system enough. Worth every penny. :thumb:

Click to expand...

All good points! I think my decision was made for me when I got my 996 C2 it was bought with OPC warranty. The first time I ever walked into my local OPC was to discuss a leaking condenser, it was diagnosed by my Indy and they told me to get it done under warranty. To say I was disappointed with how they looked down their nose at me is a massive understatement!! There's me thinking I'm the dogs I've got a 911! I was told it wasn't covered under the warranty and I showed them the warranty book where it clearly showed it was. I ended up walking out and ringing Porsche gb they agreed it was covered and went to book me in, I refused to go back to that dealer and had to book and go to another city. Fair to say I've never been back!!
Funny thing is my best mate bought a 991 4S privately a few weeks ago. It's low mileage and only 2 months out of warranty. I told my friend to get it checked at the Indy I use, they do a thorough 111 point check. The only thing it threw up was an oil leak, this was reported to the owner, his response was that's funny I had an oil leak done under warranty only a few months ago. He contacted said OPC and they agreed to sort it it was the same leak. My friend collected it direct from the OPC where he discussed getting a service done and putting the warranty back on, he drove away and said he would book it in. A few weeks later he saw a drip of oil on his garage floor! He took it in and he was told it wasn't the same leak, not trusting he took it back to the Indy to see what they say. It was the same leak! After allot of arguing they agreed to do it, my friend came to the same conclusion as me and that why our Indy is so busy!![/quote]

OMG that's disgusting customer service, I really hope you sent this information to Chris Craft at PGB. If what you write is true then PGB need to know to stamp on it immediately. The brand can be easily tarnished by rogue individuals that have no place under the Porsche ethos.

Which OPC was it?