Respray or not?

[tykes]

I have owned a 1996 993 Targa in Iris Blue Pearl for several years which is relatively low mileage (70K) and otherwise in excellent shape other than for the inevitable stone chips mainly on the front but there are a few on the rear wings.

Would I be a fool to consider having the car resprayed or is there anywhere that I could get all the imperfections removed. Whenever I polish the car I am left with lots of little white marks where the polish collects and it really annoys me! I realise that should I go the respray route I will probably pick up a stone chip on my first outing but I would like the car to have immaculate paintwork as I intend to keep it for the foreseeable future.

I was at Steve Bulls garage in Devizes a while ago and he had a 993 Turbo which had just had a complete respray (for cosmetic reasons not damage) and it looked fantastic. Not cheap but I know some people will always be suspicious of a resprayed car fearing it is hiding something nasty.

What would you do?

 

[dommorton]

It is broadly accepted that 993's are of an age where they will have had or will require cosmetic work to keep them tip top.

Take pics before, during and after to put future buyers minds at rest, and all should be fine.

Having a well executed respray will enhance saleability not hinder it. The important piece there being that it is well executed!

 

[clyde]

I agree with Dom, especially if you're keeping the car for a while.


Remember though that the front and rear screens will require to come out and you will need to ensure that they are removed without damaging the bodywork and re-installed correctly to firstly look right and ssecondly not to make that damned squeeky noise. There is also a possibility of either or both breaking on removal which will add a grand or two to the cost of the process.

 

[Mark Elder]

And if you are taking the screens out you may find some rust around them from past poor fitting, so get that treated as part of the overall process too!

I feel same as you, the stone chips are getting too many - but when do I bite the bullet, a new spring about to arrive, perhaps it should be done this year...

 

[John Maddox]

When I bought mine back in 2005 I had the bonnet, bumper and mirrors repainted as part of the deal because of gravel rash. I don't know who they used but a brilliant job was done with it faded in to match existing paint. 7 years later it still looks excellent.

I would investigate a partial respray if remaining paint is good.

 

[JB 3.2]

ORIGINAL: John Maddox

When I bought mine back in 2005 I had the bonnet, bumper and mirrors repainted as part of the deal because of gravel rash. I don't know who they used but a brilliant job was done with it faded in to match existing paint. 7 years later it still looks excellent.
.

I did the same as John, and also took the opportunity to replace and tidy up around the windscreen as outlined in Marks post, fortunately there was no rust around the screen when it was removed. The rest of the car was then machine polished.

 

[tykes]

Thanks for the replies and I think I am leaning towards a total respray. I did have a couple of small spots of rust, about 5p in size next to the wiper, repaired a couple of years ago which required the screen out and the panel to be resprayed. They did an excellent job of repairing the rust but I am not totally happy with the paint match which shows slightly when the car is clean. They resprayed the front splitter at the same time but that is not noticeable.
I have also noticed an annoying whistle which appears sometimes and when I asked Steve Bull to investigate he told me the screen had not been put in correctly and was about 1-2mm to high so it needs to come out again anyway.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good painters in the Somerset area or I will use Steve Bulls recommendation.

Thanks
Richard

 

[Gordon Attar]

Richard
As you are planning to keep the car for the forseeable future then you should get a windows out quote and compare it to a say a front end of bonnet, PU and wings and probably mirrors and decide whether the difference is worth the extra. As a few stone chips at the back of the car could be done by chips away or similar.

and check out Steve Bulls recommendations they should be good as its his reputation, might be worth getting a quote from Dick Lovetts in Swindon for comparison and the warranty.

 

[nickgardner]

I had exactly the same issue three or four years ago with my 4S. went for a full glass out respray - used Portslade Panelworks in Hove who used to be an official porche centre (still a mercedes one). took them a few weeks and cost about two and a half grand but did an absolutely superb job. I'd defy anyone to realise its been done other than the pristine nature of the car. All in I thought it was very reasonable and definitely the right thingto have done.

 

[Gordon Attar]

Excellent price, did that include vat?

 

[tykes]

That is an excellent price even though a few years ago - I may give them a call. The 993 Turbo I saw at Steve Bull's garage had been done for 3.5k which I felt was reasonable and of course my Targa doesn't have a roof!

 

[jdpef356]

If you are considering paint you may wish to look at the to of the Black side window frames - Bubbles?[&o]

 

[tykes]

Can't say I have ever noticed bubbles on the side window frames but will have a good look. are they prone to corrosion then?

I contacted Portslade Panelworks in Hove as per Nick's recommendation and they have given me a quote of £3300 plus VAT for a full glass out respray which seems pretty reasonable. I see that they have a recommendation from Rivervale which is where both my 993 and my wifes CLK came from!

On a separate note anyone care to recommend someone for the interior. Aside from a really good valet I want to freshen up the interior as there is some wear on the gear knob, handbrake handle and drivers bolster but no rips or tears. What are people's views on re-connolising (or whatever the process is called)? I realise that a lot of the interior panels on a 993 are actually vinyl as opposed to leather such as the seat backs.

 

[Gordon Attar]

What colour is it?

The leather dye kits work perfectly just put 3/4 coats on.

Maybe worth replacing the gear knob and handbrake handle

 

[tykes]

Not sure whether it is classic grey or marble grey? How do I tell - is there a code somewhere?

 

[Gordon Attar]

Marble grey is very light almost cream in colour, though in a 14/15 year old porsche it tends to be a grey colour gauge its real colour against the vinyl on rear of seats or door.

Have totally redone marble grey front seats with gliptone kit from bespoke leather, found the results better and softer than when I had some seats reconnolised, see picture

 

[tykes]

Think mine is classic grey then.
Did you do those seats yourself as they look pretty good? I will have a go with Gliptone when I am next back in the UK.
Out here in Dubai I have a 996 cab which has the nephrite interior (green) which I like - car is black - and I recently had the seats touched up on the bolsters by a company called Color-Glo and they did a fantastic job. Do they exist in UK? Materials used are water based not chemical or so they tell me!

 

[Gordon Attar]

Classic Grey picture attached.

Couldnt find Color Glo franchise in the UK.

I did the seats my self takes about 5/6 coats, I've done 4 seats out of a 250ml bottle. Do not actually know whether water or chemical based but you can add a touch of water to thin it down so probably water based.

Wow a 996 cab with leather in Dubai that must be pretty hot (lI've liived in Kuwait and Oman), presumably you have air con on most of the time and you have full shade parking at home and work.