Lots of 993 questions

[968CSReading]

I drove my first 993 yesterday and I was wandering if you can help with the following questions.

The surround for one of the rear quaterlights will need refurbing / replacing, I cant see that it has spread to the body work but any idea of a rough cost to get this done?

I still think it is on its original clutch at 145K and it felt really hard. However, I have not driven one before so can only compare it with my old 968 which wasnt too bad and my RX8 which is light. There was no judder and it changed gear fine so is a heavy clutch normal in a C2?

The discs looked OK and the pads were done in Jan but I really had to push hard on the brakes, again is this normal. It is owned by a lady so maybe they just need an italian tune up.

Sadly I will need to act quick on this one so I cant really go and drive another to compare so any help on the above would be great.

 

[Pickled Piper]

Sorry, no idea about cost for refurbing rear quarter light surround. Unusual for body to corrode in this area so you should be safe assuming it is just the surround.

Clutch is relatively heavy but depends what you drive normally. A very heavy clutch is a sign that it is on the way out. If the paperwork shows 145K then I would budget for a new one £800 to £1000 and use this in your negotiation.

Brakes always need a good push. Engine and brakes respond well to an Italian tune up. Check the inside of the rear discs. Cars that are not driven hard suffer from corrosion on the inside of the rear discs, the outside can look perfect.

Good luck.

pp

 

[Pete B]

Do you mean the black anodised apron beneath the rear side window? These cost about £100 and you have to remove the glass in order to fit the new composite part.
If you are suggesting corrosion to the bodywork I would be suspicious - as PP says, a very unusual area to fail unless it was a bodged up repair. Apparently early models suffering rear wing damaged were usually repaired with whole wing and they included the entire window surround up to the B post. Later, the factory advised that damage below the window line could be repaired with part wings and a horizontal joint running from the bottom of the window apron line to a point part way up the rear engine cover. If you have rust around the aperture I'd think a non-approved repair had been carried out....
PS even new clutches are relatively heavy compared with modern cars, but you soon learn either to short shift or work out!

 

[Mark Elder]

When I had to change my clutch it changed from "very heavy" to just "heavy", so you may be OK. Although, I'd be quite surprised if it is on it's original clutch. I've often read on here that they last about 50K. Therefore maybe it's about due for it's 3rd change[][]. Test is simply to use full power in 4th gear at medium revs and see if the engine torque can beat the clutch grip. But it could be fine today and start to slip 3000 miles after you buy it (what happened to me).

My brakes sound similar. You do have to press quite hard, but it sure slows down from vast speed, very quickly and reassuringly. But points above about rust on the inner surface need to be checked.

Good luck with finding one.

 

[clyde]

Unless it is really cheap I wouldn't rush into it; try to check out/drive a few others before deciding. If it is really cheap then, perhaps, there is a built in cushion for a new clutch, etc. but I would still be very wary. I'm a great believer the old adage "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is".

Corrosion in the alloy trim to the base of the rear side window should not spread to the bodywork and, like the tops of the door window frames is more of a cosmetic issue than anything. Clutch is a bit heavy but not overly so and the brakes do generally take a bit of time to get up to temperature (especially if it's got fast road or track pads) but once there don't require too much pressure. Rust on the inner face of all four dics is a well documented problem due to corrosion under the stainless inserts in the calipers. Build in around £700 plus labour for an overhaul of the brakes, including new discs. This can be reduced if you aren't bothered about genuine parts.

 

[968CSReading]

Thanks for the replies, it does sound like it is just the window surround.

The clutch and brakes sound like they could be OK but hopefully Peter Morgan will be carrying out an inspection at the weekend. Its a good price but needs some TLC. Im looking at it from a long term point of view, esp as I will need to sell my RX8 at a huge loss to help put some money towards it. The wife isnt best pleased about it all.

 

[Johnny C]

ORIGINAL: 968CSReading
The wife isnt best pleased about it all.

Funny that. Wives don't seem to like 993's, do they? Can't think why. Okay, I know the cost of running it could buy her two weeks at a 5* in the Caribbean, but I'd rather have a 993 than go to the Caribbean. The Caribbean will still be there when I'm too old to drive a 993 (though I'm not sure the wife will!!!!)

 

[968CSReading]

In fairness she has said that I can go ahead and get the car but she has made it quite clear she doesnt approve.

Anyway, car need a fair amount of work doing to it so I have made an offer and I will wait and see. If nothing comes of it at least I have learnt a little about the car and had a drive of my first (but not last) 993. I will never forget the sound of that engine.

 

[Johnny C]

If it doesn't come off, and you love the sound, you should consider an older but mint 3.2 Coupe. They're not as refined (no ABS, PS and aircon if you're lucky) but they sound even better. And whilst they aren't quite so quick, they feel like they are. They're a lot cheaper to maintain due to the lack of extras and use of VW parts too.

 

[sailor]

ORIGINAL: Johnny C

ORIGINAL: 968CSReading
The wife isnt best pleased about it all.

Funny that. Wives don't seem to like 993's, do they? Can't think why. Okay, I know the cost of running it could buy her two weeks at a 5* in the Caribbean, but I'd rather have a 993 than go to the Caribbean. The Caribbean will still be there when I'm too old to drive a 993 (though I'm not sure the wife will!!!!)

Thats right. Mine enjoys being chauffered around on a day out, at cruising speeds, because it is very smooth. But although a competent driver of powerful machinery she refuses to contemplate driving "Roger".And not just because she is scared to bend it.It's something deeper. Maybe a feminine reaction to "the sound and the fury".
Hmmmmm.Any shrinks about ?

JohnC
993turbo

 

[Johnny C]

Mine had her first experience of driving a porker in my old 3.2, she hated it, clutch was too stiff (and we forget the clutch pedal goes the wrong way for most people), no PS and she couldn't coordinate gears and the power. She got into 2nd gear and nearly stacked it into a roundabout, so that was the last go she had of that.

She's had a go in the 993, it's a lot easier to drive but she remembers the 3.2 and is too scared of it to drive it. I'm not dissuading her - otherwise it will be used to go to the shops and she can't park to save her life even in her nissan hairdryer.

She hates being driven in it, stiff suspension, doesn't like the bucket seats and of course I drive it as it should be driven. But what she does love is being dropped off from it at the shops or a restaurant because people do stare and she adores the attention it gets her. Me? I'd rather be on a windy mountain road in Wales with no-one looking except the sheep (not that I'm into sheep you understand!).

 

[sailor]

Hmmmmmm. I repeat - any shrinks about?

JohnC
993turbo

 

[Porker993]

ORIGINAL: 968CSReading

In fairness she has said that I can go ahead and get the car but she has made it quite clear she doesnt approve.

Don't worry, she will learn to love it ! []

My girlfriend loves driving the 993 - it just takes her a while to get used to the clutch each time after her automatic Merc. It is a bit all or nothing - mad acceleration, or embarrassing kangaroo jumps. It's the sort or car that you need to practice driving to drive it well.

 

[vitesse]

All our Porsches were bought for my wife to drive(mind you we have only had 3 & 2 are still in the fleet),the last one acquired was the 964,specifically because she said she always fancied a 911 & we were beaten by 5mins to a lovely SC,so we decided to go for the 964 which was more suited with PS,ABS,etc to the feminine touch for day to day useage.
Whilst my wife really enjoys driving it,she doesn't enjoy mixing with the lorry traffic on motorways being so much lower & doesn't necessarily want to drive in the outside lane at higher speeds to keep clear.I have stuck 2 of those small wider angle plastic adjustable mirrors onto the teardrops which help on motorways when overtaking & this vision aspect is I think a weak point for the 964 for her.Some of it is down to confidence & I think people who drive all the time in mixed traffic doing thousands of miles a year have an advantage.So,from the 964 on,911's are women friendly in a way.

 

[Mark Elder]

ORIGINAL: VITESSE

....I have stuck 2 of those small wider angle plastic adjustable mirrors onto the teardrops which help on motorways when overtaking & this vision aspect is I think a weak point ....

Agreed - I'd also like a wider rear view from the side mirrors. But I don't like the idea of the small stick on round things - I assume that is what you are using?

Anyone every tried to get a convex mirrors that fit the tear-drops? Even if they stick over the full size of the existing mirrors I'd be happier. Left hand side on dual carriage ways is particularly poor at helping swift lane changes.

 

[tim993]

i'm too precious about cars to allow the Mrs to drive the TT - not that she's a bad driver, in fact she's probably better than me - but it's the little things like reversing into things / scuffung wheels on curbs / opening doors into posts and the like that means it can't be allowed. Also, she'd not like the third pedal - would have to be an auto (which it's not).

tim

 

[vitesse]

Mark,
I hesitated long,before seeing these stick-on mirrors about 45mmx25mm wedge shaped which I have put right at the inside bottom corner nearest the car door.I have then adjusted each mirror to give view of the "blackspot" when pulling out or moving back in ,a slight eye movement also giving the bigger picture in the balance of the main mirror glass.I am still inclined to quickly turn my head as well to glance sideways in certain conditions.Funny how contrary women can be ;-my wife can't be persuaded to get used to the BMW which is automatic.
Cheers,
Colin.

 

[Pete B]

I use those mirrors, but rotated thru' 90 degrees and fitted on the n/s door mirror so that I can see the n/s rear wheel when reversing. Has saved the dreaded kerb rash many times!

 

[Mark Elder]

Continuing the "mirrors" hijack of this thread...

Just discovered in the 993 parts catalog that there are two versions of the mirror glass
"plan" 965 731 035 00 (36 00 for right)
but there is also one labelled "convex": 37 00 (left)

38 is right (but says neither "plan" or convex)

993 731 038 00 (not 965) says "right, convex M215 - Version for Saudi Arabia".

Have to drop in the OPC this week, I'll ask the parts dept to find out more.

 

[Heuer]

Our 993 is my wife's shopping trolley - she uses it almost everyday and I rarely get to drive it. She has even taken it around the Nurburgring (only spun it once). Personally I think the 993 is a girl's car! []