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 Post subject: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:06 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:47 pm
Posts: 272
Location: Fleet, Hampshire
TIPEC membership: 6089
Hi to everyone,

As I’m new to this forum and everyone seems friendly I thought I’d take the time to introduce myself and my car a 1993 968 Coupe. Like a number of people on this board I seem to have reached that age where I want to relive part of my youth, so having thought about it for 18 months I decided to buy myself a 968. I was looking for a 968 Sport, having previously owned a Tiptronic (L52 HAN) and Manual (K750 PLK) Coupe, and thought a change would be good. After about five months one came up that caught my eye, now it wasn’t a Sport but it did have an uncanny resemblance to my old car which I’d sold eight years prior, when my wife and I decided to start a family.

I would like to point out in my defence that under normal circumstances I would have got the car thoroughly checked over before buying it without first having seen it, but there were a number of factors working against me:
1. I was stuck abroad due to the ash cloud.
2. The car looked good.
3. The price seemed reasonable so it probably wasn’t going to hang around long.
4. It was my old car (L52 HAN) and was still owned by the person I sold it to.
5. I really really wanted it back.

You’ve probably guessed by now that this wasn’t the smartest move, but as I said there were extenuating circumstances and one sunny Saturday morning at the end of April I caught a train up north to collect her. She wasn’t perfect but at first glance seemed to be running okay and the drive back was uneventful, having said that I didn’t push her hard which in hindsight was really lucky.

Things got a little more interesting when I booked her into GT-One (in Chertsey) for an inspection and that’s when the fun really started. I don’t think I’ll forget the conversation I had with Peter as it was like being called into the headmaster’s room for a telling off. As Peter brought out the two sheets of A4 a cold chill went down my spine as he started to read out their assessment. It was at this point I realised that the car hadn’t been that well maintained over the past eight years, though from an originality point of view, it had a lot going for it, such as the tyres which appeared to have last been changed by me shortly before I sold it (based on the year of manufacture stamped on the side), but that was the least of my worries. The tyres were easily rectified, but it had to go back to GT-One for a further 3-4 weeks to fix such things as:
1. Front discs and pads.
2. Both CAM shafts (I’m still feeling the pain of that :shock: ).
3. Cam belts.
4. Balance belts.
5. Ignition lead set (the last set I bought for a car cost about £25, not these ones though, LOL)
6. Distributer cap.
7. Loads of gaskets, etc.

Just in case they missed anything I got them to do a 24,000 miles service on her too. The parts list covered two pages which was a bit scary but GT-One did their best to keep the labour charges down and now she’s running like a dream, though there’ll be more to do next year as the suspension and exhaust are also original and the rear brakes will be ready for some work by then.

With the most critical of the mechanical work behind me I decided the aesthetics needed some attention so I booked the car into Drive ‘n’ Shine, a company that I’d come across in my search for a 968 when I stumbled across Richard Morris’s website (http://www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/ worth a look if you have a 968 or a 911). I’ll be getting the car back tomorrow just in time for the summer and have been told I won’t recognize her. I hope they didn’t paint her pink! Actually I know they didn't but that's another story.

At 131,000 miles she’s quite a high mileage car, but since I’m responsible for putting on over half of those miles the first time I owned her it doesn’t really bother me, especially as I used to get her serviced at OPC garages and the engine has been sorted by GT-One.

Some people would think me a little daft, but for my wife and I this car is like a member of the family and we wanted her back, so although it’s been a costly experience we haven’t regretted it yet. We’re in this for the long haul, the car is running well and over the next couple of years I’ll slowly get everything sorted.

Like one of the club’s other members I too have the mechanical aptitude of a turnip, but it never stops me from trying to fix things, so any help or advice you can give will be gratefully appreciated.

_________________
Current Cars : Porsche 968 Coupé - Tiptronic (Aventura)
................: Mazda 3 Sport
Previous Cars: Porsche 968 Coupé - Manual (Midnight Blue- K750 PLK)
................: MG Midget (Aqua - KUR 643L)


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:20 pm 
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Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:43 pm
Posts: 12836
Location: Chatham, Kent
TIPEC membership: 4190
HI & welcome :wave: that list sounds a little scary & this on a "well maintained car" !

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Jim

http://tipec.net/region_southeastlondon.php

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2005 Porsche Cayenne S SOLD
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee SOLD
2010 Mazda MX5 Mk3.5 2.0 Sport Tech SOLD
2000 Porsche Boxster S SOLD
1987 Porsche 944
2019 Abarth 595C


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:59 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:38 pm
Posts: 409
Location: Surrey
TIPEC membership: 6410
Hi & welcome to the forum :wave: Nice interesting first post.

Something romantic abiout buying your oreviously owned car back. I keep looking to see if one of my previous 944 autos turns up. You always hope it's going to be in the condition it would be - if you still owned it yourself during the missing period. Think that's always going to be deciding factor in the end. I wouldn't want to get involved in a mega financial restore. Reckon you were lucky it was the same guy you sold to tho'.

If they are the tyres you put on, and they have done another 65k - let me know what they are - I'll buy a set of them...... :lol:

Hope the car runs well and trouble free for you in the future.


James

_________________
Porsche 1992 944 S2 - Fastest Colour

Previous Indulgances:
4 Auto 944's from new 85 - 93
Auto 924


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:19 am 
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Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:24 pm
Posts: 3008
Location: Halifax
TIPEC membership: 4636
Hello. Interesting. They say you should never get attached to a car. Made the same mistake when I fell in love with mine. Think that service bill is fairly reasonable apart from the camshafts. But if your keeping it once done thats it. Cheaper than a new engine. Main thing is that the bodies in good shape. Hope you got the main pain out of the way now & can enjoy your car again! :D

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944 lux, Eco car. Off the road more than it's on!
Audi 2.0 TDI Good but rather boring..........
944 now sold.


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:38 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 2:27 pm
Posts: 1595
Location: dorset
TIPEC membership: 3045
hi welcome

everyone loves anothr asimov fan on the board

Gordon

ps didnt the R eventually go??????

I blame giskgard for all the ensuing problems !!!!!!!!


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:46 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:47 pm
Posts: 272
Location: Fleet, Hampshire
TIPEC membership: 6089
Hi,

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. I picked my car up today from the garage and she looks a peach. Better still she's driving really well and a lot quieter than when I first bought her. When I get the opportunity I'll upload some photos, the garage took quite a few when they were sorting out the body work and they've promised to send he a CD with them so there should be plenty.

Glad to hear I'm not the only Asimov fan. Although I've read a reasonable amount of Sci-Fi and Fantasy books, his are the only ones I've read twice.

_________________
Current Cars : Porsche 968 Coupé - Tiptronic (Aventura)
................: Mazda 3 Sport
Previous Cars: Porsche 968 Coupé - Manual (Midnight Blue- K750 PLK)
................: MG Midget (Aqua - KUR 643L)


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 Post subject: Re: Hello from a new 968 owner
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:40 pm 
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Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:55 pm
Posts: 1337
Location: Loughborough, Leics.
TIPEC membership: 4623
Hi and welcome.

I hope she gives you another 65k miles, and I'm sure she will as you obviosuly looked after her.

Enjoy the ride, looking forward to the pics.

_________________
1982 911 SC, Guards Red
2000 Boxster, Arena Red, Savanna Leather interior, 2.5 Tip S GONE


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