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

An option. C476 - PSM.

Yes, I did remember that without Googling, because that's how I roll.

I think it became standard later. Maybe 2001?

Glad you're on the wires

thoughts on value for money for this creature > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-PORSCHE-911-CARRERA-2S-S-A-BLACK/272364882459?_trksid=p2045573.c100034.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D1256ca220840491d9521829cbe4621fc%26pid%3D100034%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D351770434361

vs this > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-911-CARRERA-2S-997-3-8-S-GEN-2-PDK-EXTENDED-LEATHER-SPORTS-CHRONO-SA-/201649205092?hash=item2ef33aaf64:g:i~sAAOSw65FXuCag

GT aero kit on non GT3? Should probably be no but it does look nice (1999 3.4 litre 4wd)

I'm a fan of narrow body cars, but they are tricky to sell esp as it's about to tick over 100k.

The first one looks carefully maintained by this owner, but he's one of 5 and the wheels look shocking.

I'd suggest finding something inbetween. £35k is a sweet spot for a sensible mileage car.

cool, advice appreciated

pics? Can look shit without lowered suspension and rear spacers to widen the track.

GT aero kit on non GT3?

Non!

@Hefty

another question - pdk worth it?

doubling the fund and going for a turbo worth it in shit-stained pants factor?

or quadruple the fund and go balls deep > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-3-8-468bhp-PDK-GT3-/262440139566?hash=item3d1aa6bb2e:g:GMUAAOSwHoFXtZFl

pics? Can look shit without lowered suspension and rear spacers to widen the track.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-996-Carrera-4-3-4L-6-Speed-/252531360450?hash=item3acc0ac2c2:g:XHgAAOSw9IpX0ZR9

Gash, next

Massive, picture-heavy post:

So, I've had a 1972, 88", diesel series 3 for a while. She's called Dora, and this is her:

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I used her as a daily driver, and adventure vehicle for a while, and she never skipped a beat (apart from one time, when the alternator seized and broke the fan belt, but fixed it with shoe laces to get home). Decided we wanted to use her for some winter climbing expeditions, so gave her some much deserved love:

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The chassis was very good, but needed a littile bit of welding. Was all painted and waxoyled. Bulkhead is also very good too, with no rust. Rebuilt the head, rebuilt the steering (box, rod ends, swivels etc), fitted new brake lines, hoses, slave seals, drums and shoes all round. Replaced the springs and dampers, and had the injector pump and injectors reconditioned. Also fitted some reconditioned diffs from a discovery, giving a higher final drive ratio for long-distance cruising. When I do jobs like this, I'm pretty thorough, especially if doing something now means not having to do it in the future, so I replaced the Hardy-spicers and wheel bearings too.

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After all the work, she drove like a dream, and even topped out at 72mph with the new diffs! We drover her 1800 miles in a week, and carried on using her as a daily driver.

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However, she was still a bit tatty, so we (my climbing partner restores classic cars for a living) decided it was worth restoring her properly, with big ideas of an intercontinental over-land trip... So in the spring we stripped her back down, and started. Had the engine and gearbox professionally rebuilt, full nuts and bolts rebuild of the rest of the car, and professional respray. Decided not to replace any of the body panels, as I wanted to keep it as original as possible. It's a 45 year old farm vehicle, at the end of the day, not a concourse show car, and a few little dings and ripples in the aluminium panels shows the character!

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My mate, Josh, has done most of the work, and he's very good at what he does. Very happy with it now! Have replaced all the lights etc (not with LEDs, kept it all original, but uprated the headlights), and the wiring is all sorted too. Not shown in the pictures, but also had the roof resprayed. Unfortunately it's cost me too much money, and I'm rebuilding a boat at the moment, so I'm not going to be able to keep it. It's kind of sad, but as I haven't been driving it for a few months, it's slightly easier to let it go. It will all be fully finished in the coming weeks, and I'll photograph it properly. Will be sold with zero hours on the engine, so will include the first service. So this is an advanced opportunity, before it's officially advertised, in case anyone on here is after a restored classic land rover.

If you're driving it daily and live in London then PDK is marvellous. If it's a fun weekend car PDK ruins it.

A gen 1 997 Turbo can be had for gen 2 Carrera money and has the engine that doesn't break. It's very fast and comfy, maybe too fast and comfy for attacking a b-road, but for livening up visiting the in-laws in Bognor or blasting down to Monaco it's amaze and can easily return 27mpg.

A GT3 is for Sunday blasts. The 997 and 991 are more squishy and useable than the 996, but still have enough of a sense of occasion to feel like you own a racing car rather than a fast coupe.

Mrs Hefty will drive and passenger in a Turbo, but not a GT3.

What you actually need is a GT2, which comes with the wooshy speed of the turbo, the sense of occasion of the GT3 and the constant imminent risk of a fiery death. I get jittery just thinking about driving one.

Vesuvius is a good colour on that, but as I suspected it needs lowering, the suspension resetting to give a bit more camber and spacers on the back.

With that done and the original exhaust tips welded on to the noisy exhaust I'd bang it.

Gold! Cheers man

Cost of this work would be approximately?

(I like the idea of the narrow body shell but with 4wd).

And thanks for your knowledge, as ever

Dunno, but not loads. Maybe:

Rear spacers £100
Exhaust welding £150
-20mm springs and geo £1000

Actually that looks like a stainless exhaust. Might be easier to reattach the original.

http://Www.centregravity.co.uk seems to be the go-to for suspension.

It is a stainless system, advert says that they have the original so it could be refitted - I imagine that that's a bit of a pain, but would allow for the sale of the stainless system of course.

However, I suspect that I'm into trying to make a car something that it's not meant to be.

The appeal of this one was narrow shell and 4wd, plus it's close enough to go and test drive.

I've craved one of these forever. If I thought for a moment I could afford it (or fit it in my parking space here in London) I'd have it. Good work.

Ok, this one (positive) has orange indicators, and it would mean that I'd only ever owned red cars: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/porsche-911-996-carrera-manual-aero-GT3-stunning-PX-swap-/201662891162?hash=item2ef40b849a:g:iDwAAOSw9IpXzqmT

"Misplaced" service book. Oh well, that's not important for these cars.

Was anyone else at the brighton speed trials?

first one at least has fsh

why so keen on getting a monty'd up one instead of a straight car?

I'm not, I'd far prefer an unmolested one, but those are the rarest.