Hello
Last May I joined the club buying a Velvet Red C4, my forever car. Would have preferred a black / grey rear drive car, but searched a while and these were either hen's teeth or silly money.
With a new house and baby plus a then 3 year old, nothing happened to the car last year other than servicing and a little driving. Plus the rally special that was the Goodwood Revival car park - managed to get mud on the inside of the rear window playing in the field.
The car is pretty tidy. A few bits to tidy on the interior – horrible head unit, saggy roof lining and missing left hand side quarter window door felt. The paint isn't perfect, slight bubbling at the corner of the front and rear window. The car has been resprayed, but not a glass out, bumpers off job as there's evidence of overspray on the bumper rubbers.
The biggest bugbear of mine was the non-matching tyres and aging suspension. I like my fun cars pointy and just didn't have massive faith in the grip levels – though this could have been lack of mileage as much as anything.
This year I got the team at Parr to replace the suspension with Bilstein PSS10's. I requested a ride height more inline with that of the RS, not a massive fan to tyres tucked up in arches. Sorry to those that are, but I'm old (43) and not my cup of tea on a road car. I also requested that through the geo setup they dial out as much of the understeer as possible. The wheels were refurbed with one replaced and new PS2's fitted all round. While I still haven't spent enough time driving to really get to grips with the car, Parr's fast road setup is noticeably better.
So, questions:
Brakes –
Not happy with the peddle feel or initial bite. Parr replaced the fluids while the car was with them, so now thinking pads. I had a 996 back in the day and that always felt wooden when cold, but had plenty of feel when the pads were warm. What pads do you guys use? Is what I'm experiencing a 'feature" of the air cooled cars? The car pulls up ok, so assuming from that that the callipers aren't super tired and in need of a refurb. Though probably not the worst idea on car approaching 30.
Bodywork / sunroof / wings -
The car has a working sunroof (love the bizarre switch placement on these cars) and no aircon. Kinda like the roof open when summer driving, but prefer the aesthetics of non-sunroof cars. Easier to clean too. So the question is, what are the options for sunroof deletions? I've seen folks weld a panel in, but no changes to the internal side. What are the pro's and con's of this? Would I still need a sunroof roof lining for example?
Also want the indicators on the wings removed. Assuming a simple resistor can replace the bulb or something?
Is this work blooming expensive or something that I can slip in while having the bubbling window rust addressed? Appreciate the 'tiny bubble patches" can be a can of expensive worms on their own.
Lastly.... Do I bite the bullet with a colour change or do I need to secure a second mortgage first? Have any of you guys trodden this path and able to share approximate costs?
G pipe is also on the want list, but want to hear one first hand before doing this I think.
The interior needs a refresh too. Current thinking is either leather or alcantara dash, centre console, door tops and A pillars. Again, imagine this is a serious kick to the wallet so will have to wait until the house is sorted. Everything works and nothing cracked or split, just aesthetically not how I'd like it. I've not intention of ever selling the car, so not in a huge rush.
Last May I joined the club buying a Velvet Red C4, my forever car. Would have preferred a black / grey rear drive car, but searched a while and these were either hen's teeth or silly money.
With a new house and baby plus a then 3 year old, nothing happened to the car last year other than servicing and a little driving. Plus the rally special that was the Goodwood Revival car park - managed to get mud on the inside of the rear window playing in the field.
The car is pretty tidy. A few bits to tidy on the interior – horrible head unit, saggy roof lining and missing left hand side quarter window door felt. The paint isn't perfect, slight bubbling at the corner of the front and rear window. The car has been resprayed, but not a glass out, bumpers off job as there's evidence of overspray on the bumper rubbers.
The biggest bugbear of mine was the non-matching tyres and aging suspension. I like my fun cars pointy and just didn't have massive faith in the grip levels – though this could have been lack of mileage as much as anything.
This year I got the team at Parr to replace the suspension with Bilstein PSS10's. I requested a ride height more inline with that of the RS, not a massive fan to tyres tucked up in arches. Sorry to those that are, but I'm old (43) and not my cup of tea on a road car. I also requested that through the geo setup they dial out as much of the understeer as possible. The wheels were refurbed with one replaced and new PS2's fitted all round. While I still haven't spent enough time driving to really get to grips with the car, Parr's fast road setup is noticeably better.
So, questions:
Brakes –
Not happy with the peddle feel or initial bite. Parr replaced the fluids while the car was with them, so now thinking pads. I had a 996 back in the day and that always felt wooden when cold, but had plenty of feel when the pads were warm. What pads do you guys use? Is what I'm experiencing a 'feature" of the air cooled cars? The car pulls up ok, so assuming from that that the callipers aren't super tired and in need of a refurb. Though probably not the worst idea on car approaching 30.
Bodywork / sunroof / wings -
The car has a working sunroof (love the bizarre switch placement on these cars) and no aircon. Kinda like the roof open when summer driving, but prefer the aesthetics of non-sunroof cars. Easier to clean too. So the question is, what are the options for sunroof deletions? I've seen folks weld a panel in, but no changes to the internal side. What are the pro's and con's of this? Would I still need a sunroof roof lining for example?
Also want the indicators on the wings removed. Assuming a simple resistor can replace the bulb or something?
Is this work blooming expensive or something that I can slip in while having the bubbling window rust addressed? Appreciate the 'tiny bubble patches" can be a can of expensive worms on their own.
Lastly.... Do I bite the bullet with a colour change or do I need to secure a second mortgage first? Have any of you guys trodden this path and able to share approximate costs?
G pipe is also on the want list, but want to hear one first hand before doing this I think.
The interior needs a refresh too. Current thinking is either leather or alcantara dash, centre console, door tops and A pillars. Again, imagine this is a serious kick to the wallet so will have to wait until the house is sorted. Everything works and nothing cracked or split, just aesthetically not how I'd like it. I've not intention of ever selling the car, so not in a huge rush.