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TinRobots 996 996 C4S

INWB

Well-known member
Joined
2 May 2016
Messages
248
So this was originally posted on PH but I have serious issues with the way Haymarket are operating and the place isn't what it used to be so I thought I would stick everything on here.

Sometimes you just know. For me, that day was on the 5th September 2015 as I pulled up the driveway of the local Porsche OPC and saw the midnight blue 2003 C4S I knew. I had to have it. It looked great. Smaller than all the cars on the forecourt but just right.

What got me to this point? Some background first.

One of the few posters I had, when I was a kid, was a Porsche. The 959 (silver) one. 917s developed my love of Gulf colours and the brand and the 911 during the 80's and 90's seemed to belong to another world of speed and noise and success.

But life conspires against you. I would love to say how I bought my first car at 16 and fettled it constantly. But I didn't. Although I have always loved cars I'm typically extremely risk adverse. I always wanted to buy the best I could and would save, but that normally meant I never ended up buying anything because I didn't have enough money to spend to get what I wanted. After passing my test in a SEAT Malaga I was still on my Raleigh bike rather than in a car. I would borrow an old Austin van with decorating materials thrown around in the back from my soon to be Father in Law. A relative's Fiesta was borrowed on occasion with a gear stick that seemed to stir porridge rather than change gear.

My first car was a Ford Escort 1.4. My first car and first company car. It was in dreadful condition when I picked it up but it was mine. I was on my way and now I was married it meant that we had some freedom. The career was finally starting. I cleaned and polished and waxed that car to the point that when it went back after about 9 months it was immaculate. The fleet manager was gobsmacked. From then on all my cars were company cars. Three Peugeot 306's, Cavaliers including a SRI, Vectra (worst car ever), Audi A3, A4 and A6. Lots of nice cars as temp cars, mainly Audis and Vauxhalls. After opting out of company cars it got more interesting BMW 320d, 330d, Merc C220d and finally a BMW535d.

But then my risk adversity was thrown to the wind. I walked out of my well paid job. I had enough of working for others. Armed with a credit card I set up as a one man band with my wife sorting admin. I kept hold of the 535d and it nearly bankrupted me. It had to go. So back to a Merc 220d, then a Nissan Kumquat as we thought we may be leaving the UK (but didn't) so to a 3ltr Nissan Navarra (epic, one of my fav cars), then a Merc 250d. During this time I had decided that a change was needed. I wanted to build a business. So my wife and I did.

Which brings us to 2015. We wanted a better work life balance. We sold the business. It was satisfying that we had gone from zero to a decent small business that was nicely profitable within the 4 year business plan we had written. I wanted to treat myself as a well done. In the middle of trying to run a business, we were in the process of selling and renovating our house to the extent the neighbours thought we had been victims of a missile strike. I started looking around. I didn't want to pay more than £30K. The costs of my 535d when I was earning next to nothing still haunted me. But something nice could be found for that.

What better than a Porsche?

I hadn't driven them (never on the many driving/track days I had been on) but I wanted a 911 and specifically, the 996 C4S because it just looks right imo. It was at a cost I could justify with my inner risk adverse self. I didn't think it would depreciate and would rise in value because being slightly arrogant and suffering from a little confirmation bias my hunch was that sooner or later people would realise the 996 is a gem. I didn't want to pay more on a 997 as I just don't click with the design (fussy interior and lights are an affectation) and I couldn't justify buying a 964 or 993 (plus they scare me slightly).

I had seen a few 996's but service histories were patchy, looked dreadful or I got the feeling of massive bills on the way.

The 996 now in front of me seemed perfect even before a test drive. "That. Is. Gorgeous" my understanding wife said. That was it then. I hadn't got out the car before I knew it would be mine.

Not the best way to enter negotiation......



[url=https://flic.kr/p/xiPYHu]
https://flic.kr/p/xiPYHu
 
Getting out the car I do what most men do. Pretended to know what I was doing.

The story given by the owner was he had bought it from 911Virgin as a stop-gap before his GT4 arrived. After buying it in July he had got an earlier slot than previously expected so needed to sell after just 6 weeks. He had paid £24,500 for it and didn't want to lose his shirt and I wanted a well sorted car. He seemed a genuinely nice person and that gave me confidence that this was "the one".

Registered by Guildford OPC in October 2003 it had been maintained with a service every year, instead of the 2 that Porsche allowed on cars for MY2003. The single exception was 2008. After getting spark plugs and a major service in 2007 it waited for 4921 miles and 2009 before getting a minor service. Not a disaster considering the miles covered.

Nine Excellence and Porsche Torque had taken over servicing in 2013 and they had carried out lots of work to keep it in great shape. LCA, LH and RH radiator, grill set, trailing arm front, air con gas, Indicator Stalk replaced, new steering column, Front and Rear discs and Pads, 4 new Pirelli P Zero Tyres, Short Shift fitted, HID replacement, clutch slave cylinder, new exhaust (suffering from seams corroded) and gundo mod all gave the impression of something cherished over its 53411 miles.

Spec wise it wasn't that special. Sunroof delete and a few bits and pieces. A £600 after market Pioneer sat nav lifted the cabin but the speakers were still a combination of standard Bose speakers - all of which sounded rubbish.

But it looked great. The only fault was the lights had been badly restored and were suffering from some hazing. The underside and the engine didn't have any leaks and looked in exceptional condition apart from the exhaust.

After a test drive I was smitten and we did a deal based on everything checking out. I phoned Nine Excellence and 911Virgin and as you would expect they were extremely helpful. Both recalled the car and said it was a good one. So money was transferred and a pick up at the owners home was arranged.

He transferred his private reg came to pick us up in his daily (Golf GTI or R - I was too excited to really notice). House and leafy suburb was reassuring. He seemed to be having second thoughts and as we reversed down his gravel drive after exchanging all paperwork you could empathise with "that look" of "WHY HAVE I JUST SOLD THE CAR".

We headed onto the M25 and headed home enjoying the fact that we finally owned a 911. For a couple that had started married life without any transport and earned £7 per month above the poverty line it felt good.



It was now time to start improving it....
 
The rest of the year the car hardly got touched apart from cleaning it. Life was filled with changing the bomb site into a habitable home, finishing off the business sale, voluntary work and buying a shell of a house that had been abandoned for the last 7 years. That required a heap of renovation and I was glad I had the Nissan Navarra as a result.

I bought a Specialised car cover for it as I had just converted my garage and the only addition to the car was a Red S for the badge:



Sadly, after cleaning it soon after I caught one of the corners and it has been annoying me ever since.

2016 had arrived. I didn't really know what to do work wise and I was retained by the company that had purchased my business. Although I could let go I wasn't that happy with the way they did business. It wasn't a great time but I still counted my blessings everytime I took the C4S out.

It was time to give it some little treats....
 
Paintwork is always a problem and it was getting me down that I had neither the skill or patience to sort what was a bit of an issue.

Only one thing for it. Give it to an expert.

I took the car to Baeu Technique for some paint correction and ceramic coating. It made a world of difference and I was a happy bunny:



[url=https://flic.kr/p/Jvv8pT]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/Jvv8eH]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/Jvv8mr]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/Jvv8Jv]


Although I like nice shiny paint I don't like shiny steering wheels. So a call was made...
 
The Porsche 996 has a major flaw. It is well known and many owners gloss over it. Downplay it. Say it isn't that important. But those rare times when you may just need it then it can catch many people out.

Regardless of if you have a standard or Bose set up the hifi is pretty crap.

So it this was always on the to-do list.

First up the speakers. Replaced those with Hertz.

Then the amp. Lots of room behind the trim in the frunk so that goes in:



JBL XD400 fitted. But then you need some crossovers:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/24WuunZ]


Job jobbed.

The head unit is a Pioneer AVIC F30BT running Android 7.1. I bought the latest maps but and put the proper surround on it with a Porsche brake calliper decal on it. The splash screen is a Porsche badge which is nice on start up. I'm not a great fan tbh and it is on my list to replace with something a bit more up to date.

In the meantime it is okay and helps me around the country and europe when needed.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/K5KomC]
https://flic.kr/p/K5KomC
 
I finally changed the lip spoiler. It was pretty battered and on removing it I found someone had tried to glue it where it had previously split. Hate that sort of thing. So I bought a new one from the OPC.

I went for the Turbo version after seeing one on a C4S at the recent Porsche Chatsworth meet. Think it looks so much better


Taken at the recent Silverstone Classic:

 
I mentioned above about shiny steering wheels. I really don't like them.

What I do like is something that can be gripped. A bit more chunky without losing steering feel.

For that have met me I you will also realise I have a bit of a thing for Orange. I would eventually like orange seatbelts, brake callipers and badge with a couple of discreet highlights in the cabin. Thus far I have resisted because I am mindful of what some may think if I ever sell it.

So off I went to Jack at Royal Steering Wheels. I've had the gearstick, handbrake and wheel all retrimmed.



 
That looks a fantastic 4S!

Interesting to see your audio work, I agree, the sound system is rubbish and not helped by my Amp being on its way out (no sound from rear speakers and popping occasionally from front left door speaker) - I've been quoted £640 to have a new amp and single din head unit installed or just under £1000 to have a double din installed with a new amp and have the climate etc moved underneath (I currently have a CDR23 single din unit).

I'm torn to be honest - the car is a second car for me so I'm not really needing sat nav etc etc - I cant make my mind up if a double din would look better than an aftermarket single din unit - part of me says it looks cleaner with less flashy lights.....
 
A trip to Spa was on the cards so although the brakes were okay they were rusting and lipping and so I thought I would get a few jobs out the way. 2018 hadn't been bad business wise so I thought one big expense was going to be okay.

On went:

Miltek Exhaust
Top Gear Manifolds (every bolt snapped)
Top Gear Sport CAT200 63mm
Refurb of brackets

RSS Tarmac Perfomance Engine Mounts

Sebro disks and pads all round
HEL brake lines

Phew.

Car is now louder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUqQZeOMbsI

The RSS mount make the biggest difference. Handling is now in a different league to before and certainly one of the best upgrades so far.

This week has also seen the MOT come up and I have two worn rear tyes right on the limit.

Previously I had Pirelli Rosso tyres fitted at Leicester OPC but they have lasted 10,000 miles and I've never been that happy with them. So I have bought 4 Michelin Pilot Sport2 s this time.

Bill since I bought it?

£10,609.19

This is on a car that cost £23,500 3 years ago.

I think/know that I over spent but I had looked at a fair few C4S at the time and they were in a shocking state.

I hope the bills stop soon.....(cough) but I can't not keep it in good shape:

 
What a fantastic story :)

You've got a gorgeous 4S.
I once saw another one in midnight blue with black leather, where all the stitching (on the seats as well) was in red. A very nice, subtle touch. And your choice of orange works well too.
 
Thanks for the replies. Means a great deal.
 
Cracking stuff! It looks superb in that last pic.

I love what you've done with it. I'm pretty much on the same path, but a little behind you. Interior next for me, again yours looks superb.

I love that colour.
Congrats on having a goal, working towards it and then achieving it. Exactly the same as me in that respect. I work hard for everything I own. It's the only way.

Kudos! :thumb:
 
The car looks epic and really nice to read about your journey so far and giving the car the attention it deserves.

Looking forward to reading more.
 

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