Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Isn't that how you got into this mess in the first place?

If you go for a focus sized vehicle you'll need an external (hitch mounted) rack for bikes and so on or you'll have no chance of getting everything loaded. My 850 would be too small for what you are looking at without the external rack. Probably spot on size wise with it, mind.

@IR Please, do this.

It makes no sense but I adore it!

Edit: larger profile tyres - obviously

Those flaps!

£5,995.71 to pay for the 911. Wow.

Oh dear.

Oooooff... 100% over budget for the works then?

I've never heard of this different sized lighter thing before. So is the Euro size the same as old British fag lighters? I've never noticed a difference between the lighters in Rovers, Mercs, Porsches, Citroens, Toyotas, etc.

I've never had any problem plugging a satnav, USB charger or battery conditioner into my Porsche's fag lighter socket either.

996 A/c condenser replacement
Removed front bumper and replaced left air-conditioning condenser and o-ring seals.
Removed and replaced receiver drier unit.
Checked for leaks and operation after repair.
Replaced pressure and return lines front to rear of car for the air conditioning system.

Air Conditioning Service
Drain out R134a gas, carry out system evacuation.
Refill with R134a, compressor lubricant and leak dye.
Run system, check pressures and output temperature.

Replaced front shock absorbers,top mounts and bump stops.
Replaced rear shock absorbers and inspect top mount and roadsprings.
Refinished road springs and rear anti roll bar.
Removed and replaced seized front anti roll bar drop link rods.
Wax oiled under side of car.

Removed and replaced engine mounts
996 Exhaust gasket and fastener replacement
Replaced exhaust 'triangle gaskets and fasteners. Checked for leaks after repair
EML light on after road test. Rechecked fault memory and found bank 1 O2 sensor not switching. Replaced sensor and cleared fault memory.
Carried out road test and re-checked O2 readings for both banks. Found car to be slow.
Checked DME readings and air flow sensor, found air flow sensor pulling too high an air reading.
Removed and replaced air flow sensor.
Carried out road test and checked readings.

Removed and replaced near side front radiator. Reduced timedue to A/C work. Bled out coolant system after fitment.
Checked for leaks after repair.

Replaced faulty clutch booster spring. Lubricated linkage.

Removed and replaced front and rear lower suspension arms.

Wheel Alignment: Four wheelChecked and adjust four wheel alignment.
Checked steering wheel alignment after repair.

Replaced missing front number plate plinth,fitted new numberplates.
Carried out power steering pipe modification.

Replaced hand brake retaining spring clips as incorrect ones fitted.
Cleaned hand brake shoe and carried out shoe adjustment.

Replaced near side rear brake caliper bolts. Cleaned out threads.
Drilled out broken front brake pipe fixing mounts to front hubs.
Carried out time sert repair to front hubs to refix brake pipe holder.
Replaced missing or damaged discs retaining screws.

Make: Porsche 996 Carrera Cabrio Description Amount
Vatable Items 4,996.49
Mileage: 60539 VAT @ 20.00% 999.30
Total Invoice Value 5,995.79

Yours is newer, I think mine was the last generation to have the Euro spec lighter socket.

If you have a Google you'll find plenty of 964 owners talking about wedging a sat-nav charger in with a matchstick.

Exhaust fills with water and can get in to engine.... Guess how I know.

What wax oil did they use? Did they clean the car and then inject stuff in to the box sections?

Dintrinol or bilt hambert, if not I would question it. As they are the Daddies full stop.

Am I the only one that is wary of things such as EML lights going on when they have been moving things about?

Found car to be slow.

Best bit.

Yes, I chuckled at that. The way that Precision Porsche work is that the same technician will look after the car every visit, so he test drives, diagnoses and fixes everything for the time that you take the vehicle there. I'm hopeful that this is the extent of the problems that he will find for at least a couple of years.

I'm also happy that he has now signed the car off as (presumably) "not slow".

How did they get a legal number plate without a V5 and other bits?

Still need the details to record them making a plate. DVLA do spot checks.

Few of my local places stopped making plates because of this and the hassle of DVLA coming in.

Every garage will have a friendly nearby plate maker.

I'd say that's a reassuringly expensive bill @Dammit, reads like the workshop know what they're looking at.

Should've had them do the PPI...

Replaced front shock absorbers,top mounts and bump stops.
Replaced rear shock absorbers and inspect top mount and roadsprings.
Refinished road springs and rear anti roll bar.
Removed and replaced seized front anti roll bar drop link rods.
Removed and replaced front and rear lower suspension arms.
Replaced pressure and return lines front to rear of car for the air conditioning system.
Removed and replaced engine mounts

As a none sports car person, why don't they build these cars with quality parts in the first place? it's only done 60k miles

They don't do that, if the fuzz knows the law you get hassle, more tugs...etc

Every garage will have a friendly nearby plate maker.

I'd say that's a reassuringly expensive bill @Dammit, reads like the workshop know what they're looking at.

Should've had them do the PPI...

Yeah, that would have been good - sadly it's an hour and a halfs drive to their workshop from my place at 6am, the owner of the car wasn't going to wear that.

It IS reassuring in its thoroughness, I am actually very excited to drive it again. I also need to put some miles on it to drive down the cost per mile - currently standing at something that would bear comparison to the Apollo program.

Friendly places can issue road legal plates. Road legal need to be recorded, if they get caught issuing plates without docs they will lose the ability to make road legal plates . Thats why loads of traders don't replace plates any more with their logos on the bottom just put a sticker over them.

What business would risk that?

LA Craigs of the day....

1969 Firebird, with some tasty mods. OK, I prefer the front clip on the 69 Camaro but this looks like a terrific car for the dough....$17k!

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/5815366695.html

I'd crumple that exhaust in seconds!

Ordered some 15x8" rear wheels looking at 235 diameter tyres.

For exhaust I'm looking at the EMPI tuck away header and a single side exit glass pack. For maximum stealth and clearance.

I do want similar bumpers/bar to that though.

I think the beetle has just become my favourite car. So damn easy to work on.

Had a loose connection to one of my tail lights. 20 minutes, a screwdriver and 8mm wrench later and it's fixed...

Might try to sort out the play in the steering after lunch.

Isn't it supposed to have 90 deg of free travel before any steering action starts?