Ruairidh,

++++Firstly when, in traffic clogged; speed trapped England (or, as it perhaps should be called, Lower Scotland), do you get the chance for sustained high speed travel?+++++

True but you sure get to play with the acceleration and brakes going from one camera to next!

Richard

 

In the UK you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for servicing, after all they built the thing, what do they know? If you do track work then maybe you would change the oil at shorter intervals, but I think it is a cultural thing: in US you change oil often, in France they eat horse-flesh and in Holland they sell drugs in Cafes. It's just the way it is, and nothing wrong with that.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Christer:
<strong>I think it is a cultural thing: in US you change oil often, in France they eat horse-flesh and in Holland they sell drugs in Cafes.</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Thanks much, Christer. That clears things up nicely.

 

[quote] Well, they never go over 50 mph ...
....and some of them don't even get out of the garage if its raining......
<hr></blockquote>

Them's fightin' words, JohnF! Here in the foggy/rainy NW (is there fog in the UK?) I take my C4 for a stroll daily. Playing cat and mouse yesterday with a 944 at speeds up to 90mph (unconfirmed rumor only for you cops). Seems a C4 at high speeds actually can clear the fog for the folks that follow.

As to the question at hand, though. Doesn't the higher capacity of oil lend to slower break-down periods which enable longer times between services?

 

[quote]Originally posted by Bob Haase:
<strong>

Them's fightin' words, JohnF! Here in the foggy/rainy NW (is there fog in the UK?) I take my C4 for a stroll daily. Playing cat and mouse yesterday with a 944 at speeds up to 90mph (unconfirmed rumor only for you cops). Seems a C4 at high speeds actually can clear the fog for the folks that follow.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Since when has 90mph been high-speed?

 

I've just had the oil changed on my car, and my mechanic is now recommending a change every 5,000 km, or six months, whichever comes first.

I intend to follow his advice, because my car's a Turbo, but I would've thought it was a bit over the top if my car was normally aspirated.

BTW: How much are you being charged for a full oil change? My bill was NZD 385, or approximately USD 190 for Mobil One.

 

[quote]Originally posted by John McMillan:
<strong>
BTW: How much are you being charged for a full oil change? My bill was NZD 385, or approximately USD 190 for Mobil One.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wow! USD 190 for an oil change seems high. Mine run at USD 70 or so (including oil; labor and filter)

 

[quote] Since when has 90mph been high-speed? <hr></blockquote>

Okay, Phil... don't make me come over there and settle this! Okay, maybe I should... I could use a vacation.

 

Hi John McMillan,

I am surprised at that cost. I am not in NZ at the moment, so can not check my records, but there is no way I have paid that much for an oil change!

Where did you get it done?

Cheers

Neil

 

[quote]Originally posted by neil williams:
<strong>Hi John McMillan,

I am surprised at that cost. I am not in NZ at the moment, so can not check my records, but there is no way I have paid that much for an oil change!

Where did you get it done?

Cheers

Neil</strong><hr></blockquote>

I had it done down at Powerhaus in Wellington, the bill breakdown was as follows:

Oil filter NZD 35.63
9.5 litres of Mobil One NZD 152.00
Injector Cleaner NZD 14.00
Screen Cleaner NZD 3.30
Two sealing washers NZD 2.40
Cleaning NZD 10.00
Labour 2 hours @ NZD 58.00 = NZD 116.00
Tax NZD 42.04

Total NZD 378.37 or USD 190.

Considering that I watched them start the process and came back just as they were finishing I can't quibble with the labour time/charge and Mobil One is more expensive at the Service Stations so overall I thought it was a fair bill. Nevertheless, I'd be interested to read other people's experiences.

How's Bangkok? I'm loving being back in NZ. I've just been polishing my baby and parked it out in the street to take this photo. The bunny will ride shotgun when I go for a cruise around the bays later on.

 

[quote]Originally posted by John McMillan:
<strong>

I'm loving being back in NZ. I've just been polishing my baby and parked it out in the street to take this photo. The bunny will ride shotgun when I go for a cruise around the bays later on.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

What are driving conditions like in NZ? Do you get much opportunity to stretch that beauties legs?

 

[quote]Originally posted by Ruairidh:
<strong>

What are driving conditions like in NZ? Do you get much opportunity to stretch that beauties legs?</strong><hr></blockquote>

NZ driving conditions are pretty good for the most part; uncongested roads with good seal, if just a bit noisy with steamroller tyres, because the road seal surface is rough in places.

Anecdotally, I've heard that NZ has one of the highest per capita sales of Porsches, so a few people seem to agree that the conditions are good enough to spend the necessary cash.

Unfortunately, the downside is that the legal speed limit is only 100 km/hr [60 miles per hour]and it is so easy to exceed that, so my favourite driving is on an open windy road in the country, blasting in and out of corners on boost...no extreme speeds but a whole lot of fun, nevertheless.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Bob Haase:
<strong>

Okay, Phil... don't make me come over there and settle this! Okay, maybe I should... I could use a vacation. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Be great to see you. Can you carry the Porsche as hand luggage?

Oh, and burning off a 944 is not hard!

 

I'd have loved to have driven a 911 on my last visit to the UK, but I had to settle for an A-class - for some reason I couldn't find a company that was willing to rent a 21-year old guy with no UK driving record a 911 (without me having to sell a kidney). Still got it up to 125 on the M1, though. And I don't have to say allegedly, either - that was an interesting experience. I definitely hate speed cameras, got flashed three or four times. Driving on my US license, haven't seen the tickets yet. Phew. Hate speed cameras. Hate them.

One question, though - why do people in the UK (a gross generalisation, but also an observation from experience) seem to think that (a) the US speed limit is 50mph and (b) that the absolute US speed limit is lower than the UK one? A bit weird... it's that 50mph figure that I really don't understand, is the 'normal' speed limit 50mph in some states or something? I haven't done any driving away from the western states.

What I find really odd is that it takes so much longer to get from A to B in the UK, despite motorway speeds being higher (which, it's true, they are, conditions permitting). I *really* don't understand it, it's weird.

Also a bit weird how they can't seem to afford to put decent signage up despite charging as much for normal petrol as you'd pay for racing gas over here. Grrrr.... bring back the petrol strikes, I say.

As if I needed to be reminded again why I left the UK...
must... stop... ranting... and go to bed.


Out of interest, where is the service interval specified? I can't seem to find it in my owner's manual...

 

Hi John,

The oil price looks about right, but you did get all the other stuff done too! Interesting that Continental OPC only charge $2 more an hour for labour.

I head back to NZ in two weeks for Christmas, and to get married!

Then it looks like we are moving back as I have been offered an excellent job back in Auckland. Of course I then get to drive the 964 everyday!

Are you back permanently now?

Cheers

Neil