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Note: If this kind of thread already exists already let me know and I'll ask an admin to remove it. I searched and couldn't find something similar in the 964 Forum - there is a 10yo similar thread in the 964 Turbo Forum - so I thought I'd start one.
On another, non-Porsche, car forum I'm on we have a thread for "the other cars of owners" and it's pretty fun and neat to see what else people own. I know a lot of people here have several P's and that's awesome, but I'm sure some (many!) of you have awesome other cars and / or daily drivers, race cars etc. Sometimes it's actually the most lively forum and we've all learned something and had fun along the way. Just by making a few comments about my Mini I've met 2 other 964 owners who had one.
So, I'll kick things off:
This is my 1979 Austin Mini 1000. I bought it for $1000 in 1992 when I was 16. I think it ran on 2, 3 and sometimes? 4 cylinders. My dad and I completely stripped it (not a single bolt or piece of rubber stayed on the car), got a factory reconditioned engine for $1000, a Cooper head, Kent cam, headers and the typical RC40 exhaust. Inside: all new carpet, headliner and I made a custom burl elm veneer dash. I vinyl sprayed the original seats. I bought a mig welder, taught myself to weld and the car has ~30 new pieces on. Minis were notorious for rusting in many places (floorboards, valances, rocker panels, wheel wells etc). This car was originally a shade of yellow/brownish/mustard that is affectionately known in the Mini world as "baby $h!t brown". Then it was red and then burgundy with the same style triple stripe when i bought it. We stripped much of the paint and then had it painted in a Ford blue that was common on the 1990's Probe (and others). I loved the stripe so we did that again. It wasn't the best paint job unfortunately but that's what you got for $2k cash back then! Sadly my dad died in 1996 when it was almost done.
For the last 13 years it has been in storage at my moms place while I was living in France and then moved back to Canada - but life was busy with 3 young boys and running a startup. Last year I finally brought it to my place and have started tinkering with it again. It's amazing that after 30 years so much stuff comes back to you. I pulled spare parts and tools from boxes and the nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. Currently I have put in new seats and I have matching fabric to get the rear seats recovered. I have new shocks/rubber donuts (aka springs) and a front brake conversion ready to go. Minis came with 4 wheel drums but I have a 7.5" disc brake kit to install. Despite having a British car mechanic look over it and prep it after sitting for 13 years, I have had 2 leaks in the 2 drives I've done. The first was a clutch hose and the second was some coolant. The first left me stranded after a lunch with a friend so onto the flat bed tow truck she went. The second I saw at home fortunately. Cars don't do well sitting and there is nothing in life for stereotypical than an old British car on a tow truck!
I will never sell this car - it's truly priceless to me.
So jumping from a '79 Mini to a '91 964 Turbo to work on, tinker with etc is quite the jump - to put it bluntly. There is a ton I can't do myself but I enjoy reading all these threads and I'm truly amazed at what some of your guys know. That said, I do like to get my hands dirty and have done some easy tweaks/maintenance and have a few more lined up: Rothsport SSK, new wastegate pipe/tip and new carpet - although I might get some pro help on the carpet install.
Other cars in the family:
- 2010 Audi A4 Avant with S-Line sport package; this is car is great, the seats are insanely comfortable and it's fantastic on long drives on the highway.
- 2016 Volvo XC90 is the family/bike/ski hauler machine
Who's next?
Starting the journey after 13 years of storage from Vancouver to Victoria
76S
13K miles. Original owner kept it in a basement with HVAC for 45 years and mostly took it to PCA concours events. I put MK headers and Scart exhaust on it. Incredible driving experience.
@racoguy awesome. I had a red 91 GTi and then a few years later we got my wife a green one ! I love those. My friend has done a full body strip and resto on his green GTi.
I have a 992 GT3 on order right now. It is Rubystar with Satin Neodyme (gold) wheels. It builds on 2/3 (lord willing) and arrives on 3/17. it will replace...
My 991.2 GT3 in Jet Black Metallic. A truly incredible car I would never sell if I wasn't able to get an allocation at MSRP for a PTS 992 GT3. (sorry about the photo, I pulled it from my instagram)
I have a 1986 3.2 Targa in PTS Oak Green Metallic with LTS saddle interior (ignore the sheepskins, they are gone now).
And then we have a 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid, which is truly a phenomenal car. It's head and shoulders over any other SUV I've ever driven.
Lastly, I have a 2013 BMW 328i which I drive whenever I have to park in a ****ty parking lot (football game, concert, etc) so that I don't subject cars I care about to door dings, etc.
914 with a Rothsport 2.7 MFI and close ratio 901. Less than a ton with about 230hp. The
lightweight local twisties machine- we have a lot of tight mountain roads in the area
‘84 diesel bj46 (middle wheel base) cruiser. Dif locks, pto winch, inner bead locks, soft top on 8.25r16 Michelin Xzl’s. The solo snow camp machine.
Glad someone asked because, I am honestly in a very good spot with my 964 and these 2 cars. If I won the maga millions a few weeks ago I would like to say I would only "add" and not get rid of what I have.
1990 C2 purchased on BaT in Nov 2021 and have been restoring it since. Fabspeed cat bypass, Cup pipe, FVD secondary, Fabspeed Cup airbox, FVD motor mounts, Sleeper's SSK w/Goldenrod, Tarret Camber plates, DRS Spring Plates, PSS10's, Rothsport steering stabilizer, appbiz carpet, a ton of Rennline good parts, conti stereo, alpine 6 channel amp, Infinity Kappa 3 ways in door w/4x6 rears, JL 10W6 sub remote gain (for wife), momo Prototipo. It's been fun
R53 JCW no expense spared build with forged/balanced short block, race cam, larger Supercharger, LSD, camber plates, coilovers, braced throughout, and custom interior. And at about 300whp it does very well on the track and Auto-X. I'll die with this thing.
Ram 1500 (DD) Eco Diesel that's been deleted and tuned by Green Diesel Engineering. Obviously a small lift, headlights, light bar, and wheels.
My wife also has a great dog hauler, a Grand Cherokee High Altitude. We use this for the road trips with our Golden Retriever and Corgi.
Wow- the opposite of a 964. What’s it like to compare them. I bet the Mini is a razor.
Actually very similar in terms of personality. Obviously, the way they deliver the power is exactly opposite but otherwise has the same spirit. Many owners have had the 1st modern gen mini prior to buying a Porsche. Hell even the owners clubs have the "purist" vs "Modified" dynamic. This is my 2nd pair.
Wow- the opposite of a 964. What’s it like to compare them. I bet the Mini is a razor.
Actually very similar in terms of personality (and not just because I have the same Redline pedal kit and other bits in both. ) Obviously, the way they deliver the power is exactly opposite but otherwise has the same spirit. Many owners have had the 1st modern gen mini prior to buying a Porsche. Hell even the owners clubs have the "purist" vs "Modified" dynamic. This is my 2nd pair.