...is a funny old thing when it comes to older cars.

I've had my 16 year old 964 for the best part of two months now and have only just overcome what I would call the 'trust barrier'

Let me explain - I used to run an old TVR S2 - a make not exactly noted for reliability - however over the best part of two years and 10k miles I was only let down once ( and that was partly due to my own foolishness....)

Anyhow - the move to a 964 was one that I'd wished for since being a kid etc. etc. I'm sure its a familiar tale.

My 964 was one of the very first C4's but had a fantastic history file which showned that the 'expensive phase' had been dealt with in the last couple of years - top end rebuild, clutch etc.

but that didn't stop the paranioa!!

I't started on the way back from picking the car up the oil guage was reading off the bottom of the scale - despite the previous owner patiently explaining to me the nature of these beasts - I think I had my ears closed thinking 'mmmmmm 911...' - there I was convinced I'd ruined the car in the first 100 miles of ownership.

Quick websearch (cheers Rennlist ) showed that this was normal and I was being paranoid.

Next: dash lights (!) - when it stayed on and the car beeps at me that paranoia kicks in again
I see the PDAS light (i think) stay on for about 20 seconds after the car has started and assume that something has gone horribly wrong and a pipe has spewed hydraulic fluid all over the driveway - again unfounded paranioa and a relatively normal.

Next - Heavy Traffic on a hot day -

being new to the wonders of air/oil motors - I had no knowledge of how they behaved in traffic - on a hot london afternoon ('bout 30 degrees) and the best part of an hours stop start traffic the oil pressure dropped to 1 bar. as the temperature rose past 9 o'clock I became convinced that I was going to have to pull over and let it cool dowm.

next white 'smoke' on a wet morning -

This was the icing on the cake as far as paranioas go -
Starting the car on a very wet morning after a few hundred yards i stopped at some lights and plumes of white 'smoke' seemed to be coming out of the exhaust. Massive paranoia here... until i relised that the whole car was covered in condestation and the 'smoke' was actually steam....

Once all these psychological games had been played by the car on me, I found finally, that I had total confidence.(I think being familiar with the car and its limits aided this feeling greatly)

The experience has become massively enjoyable and It gives me a buzz like no previous car I've driven has.

I guess in order to take out from the whole 964 experience you need to cut you teeth learning the car (and its characteristics/foibles) first.

(cue me breaking down on the drive home

anyone else take a little while to get over 'the fear'??

 

Absolutely!!!

When I first got mine (18 months ago now) I was paranoid about going more than a few miles for the fear of some major catastrophy!! As I gradually learned more about the car and it's foibles my confidence grew. Over time, as the small problems got fixed, my paranoia gradually declined to a point now where I have no concerns about driving several hundred miles in a day.

I guess it was initially a concern over the age of the car - any 16 year old car I'd owned in the past had been a wreck - but I hadn't reckoned on the 964 longevity!! I drive a small van day to day and every time I get in the 964 it reminds me why I love it so much!!!

Regards

Dave

 

I know the feeling. At first it took me ages to get anywhere as I was paranoid that the oil level gauge was not accurate. Was there enough oil in there ? Better stop and dip it to be sure,
Paranoia extrordinaire !!
When sitting in traffic idling away , even more paranoia about excessive movement - was that the dual mass flywheel ( the car had been sitting for a few weeks after all ) ???

At the start my 'other half' wondered why had even bothered to get my dream car as I spent more time worrying than driving!

Now the car does the daily driving / shopping run when required ,but also adores the track,

 

I feel fortunate to have been warned by the previous owner: "Oh, you'll spend the first year worrying about something breaking or going wrong - we all do." And sure enough - too hot? too cold? too much leak? what was that funny ringing sound? why does it shake? why is it so smooth now? why won't the fuel nozzle go all the way in? why can't I read the frickin' dipstick? what's that squeak? So at least I knew it was paranoia!

So far, the car's never let me down, even with a fully closed thermostat I drove it to the shop and it didn't overheat, it's got about 130k miles on it, one of these days I'll have to do some serious top end work to address some issues but I just flat love the thing. As I said in another thread recently, I'd start out across country (and it's a big country) tomorrow in it armed with only oil, a cell phone, and an automobile club card.

 

The worst bit as a new 964 owner is when you first check the oil, and cant read the dipstick, and then overfill it while the engine is cold and then fork out mega bucks for imaginary oil leaks that you caused in the first place.
These cars do take a while to get used to but worth it in the end

 

Paranoid? Not for a moment. I bought my first 911 in 1977, and sold it when I bought the 964. I drove the first 911 through years of being broke. I had to fix the throttle linkage by the roadside once, and the carburetors did not like dirty gas, but otherwise it always started and always ran great. I had no doubt the 964 would be even better. It has been almost 3 years, and I was right.

 

Oh Man, I am sitting here laughing. The posts here describes my ownership so well… when in doubt… change the part for a new one… I have replaced so many good parts just to feel better/more secured that the car will not die on me. I still think about needing to change the clutch again (the one in the car I had it replaced some 15k miles ago…) because of silly noises. You know how many times I have check the adjustment of the valves because I am afraid I did it wrong… (and that means new filter and oil, of course)…

So back to your fear… I have had the car for 5-6 years now and still fear of something going wrong… I take care of the car, floor it like it was meant to be floored/driven but the fear has never really gone away…

So here is to all of you, thank you! Now I know I am not alone

 

Seems like I am starting paranioa even before my ownership has started, as I am about to buy a 34.000 km C2 Cab but already worring about oil leaks which I found during my first inspection. Maybe I should buy a Toyota Corolla instead ... ?

 

Yeah, had it to some degree. Crap like that has always bothered me on my cars, though, but certainly not as pronounced as with the Porsche. I had a Jeep Wrangler that had a wierd thunk sound every time you would go over a bump (which was often in a Jeep) - up until I sold it, it drove me nuts.

Same thing with the 911 - everything about the car is do direct, you're more in tune with the car than other cars. I can't believe the little stuff that breaks, but overall it's been pretty good.

Other than this: I was driving down the road the other day, about 35mph, and the car just turns off. Gone. Zippo. Zilch. While coasting at about 25mph, I start it right back up and on my way I go.

It's that kind of stuff that gets into your head...

 

Don't be scared... I replied to your other post...

Some of us in this forum tend to be over protective of our cars and spend more than what is really required... meaning we are freaks that are parnoid and jump to fixing what is not yet broken... I know I do at least...

The car is a great car, and the 94 is the last one of the 964 so a lot was fixed by Porsche by then...

Some of the stuff I have done is more for peace of mind, therapy, or just plain enjoyment… not because it was required…

Clean the engine, get it inspected, do a proper Pre-Purchase Inspection (or like in my case, a Post Purchase Inspection) and then decide.

It is a car… 11 year old at that… some things are bound to need replacement. Taking care of it is part of showing the love between man and machine. Enjoy it!!

 

Yup. Fifteen minutes into a 1500 km trip, a few weeks ago. Out like a snuffed candle. Restarted immediately. Kept going. Never missed a beat for the remainder of the journey.

 

Springer - I'm with you! Having had a 65 911 as a daily driver for 10+ years, the 964 is a blessing - I humbly add it is the newest car I've owned (most recent model year, and least miles)!! No idle jets to unclog from gas particles... remember that fondly, and my fingers no longer smell from picking out the little pieces from the idle jets....

 

I have had 4 Porsches in 25 or so years. They all leaked oil from somewhere sometime. This is the only one that ever left me stranded and embarrassed and it was all over a failed DME relay while sitting in a busy gas station. Easy fix as i had read the cause so many times on this board. That more then made up for my dues in not having shop time. Just turn up the radio or get a louder exhaust and you wont hear the strange noises if it makes you feel better.

 

So true, my record is 2.5 valve adjustments within 10,000 miles. The half was for the third time when I realize there was nothing to adjust.

 

I am laughing out loud right now...this could not be more true. Today is my one month aniversary with the car. I am suprised I havn't killed someone driving because I watch my temp and pressure guages like a toaster..waiting for the bottom to fall out. I have to think this car has not survived 14 years and 116k miles of driving for being weak and underdesigned. Still, everytime I park the car, I still look underneath to look for the little spot of oil, or worry about every little noise that comes out I havn't heard before. But, a gracious member of this board gave me the 964 manual on disc, and I am student every night looking at how simple it is to maintain, fix, replace, rebuild, undo alot of this car.

Simply put, these cars rock.