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So much I want to share with the community:
1. My history with Porsche
2. My history with this car
3. My amazing experience in flying to see the car
4. What's next
My History with Porsche: Like everyone on this forum, I've always loved cars, though my affinity with Porsche's isn't one that started at childhood (I’m 39), but only about 5 years ago as I started looking for a 'driver's car'. Prior to that my cars included Acura Integra’s, the first run of the Nissan 350Z's (I grew up loving the 300Z), Audis, Mercedes, etc. Cutting to the chase, I zero'd in on the 2011 Boxster Spyder, which I found, bought, and fell in love with. I started AX'ing the Spyder, and eventually graduated to a few track days. During this time with the Spyder, my family grew, and I needed a more practical car, and didn't have the space to keep the Spyder. I reluctantly sold it, and have thought about it ever since.
Fast forward two years, and I now live in the east bay, have an actual garage, and started my search for my next Porsche.
My history with this car: I knew that a new Porsche 911 GT4 or GT3 was not a practical financial move for me now, so set a budget of $40K to get back into a driver’s car. This limited me to older Cayman's, Boxster’s, and if I got lucky a used 996 Turbo. I immediately eliminated the Cayman / Boxster because the lack of a rear seat, so zeroed in on the 996 Turbo. I found a number for under $40K, and then went to test drive it. Keeping it short, it wasn't what I was looking for; fast, but not engaging when compared to my Spyder.
I then flashed back to a track day when I sat in my instructors 964, and as he drove I could almost feel what he was feeling. I did my research, and decided I would get a similar feel with more stability in a 993. As I started researching, it looked like I would be relegated to a Cab or a higher mileage Coupe. I found several Cabs in my price range, but when I went to go drive one, I felt the steering was disconnected compared to my Spyder, and the suspension just didn’t meet the muster. During my search, I met an amazing guy who is a big Porsche guy that had several 964’s and 993’s, and he said I need to find a Coupe. My goal then was to find a put together coupe that wasn’t low mileage (because I want to drive it), but was well taken care of.
Enter me stumbling upon Alex’s write-up in a Craigslist ad that I found after scouring craigslist, rennlist, and autotrader for several weeks. Almost immediately, I felt this might be something special. Here was a 60,000 mile 993 coupe that was sitting for 6 weeks because didn’t check off the item’s on an investors list (it had an in-warranty engine rebuild at 25,000 miles, had a repaint, and has lots of track time), but it alternatively checked every one of mine. Plus, Alex’s write-up of the car was something unique. Anyone that spent that much time writing a for-sale ad had to be a car enthusiast, and have a bond with the car. Anyone that wrote so much about the flaws of the car, had to be incredibly confident about the strengths.
So I sent Alex an email asking some basic questions about the car, and unlike every other craigslist response, I received a book in return, with well thought-out answers that were genuine in their goal to inform me, not sell me. After 2 days of emails back and forth, I called Alex, spent 40 minutes to him talking about the car and his background on cars (he’s also a BMW track instructor), and within minutes after sent him a refundable deposit and booked a flight to Denver. In between the booking and flying, I also spent an hour with the mechanic that did the PPI, and went over everything that he saw on the car. Coincidentally, the seller happens to be a rennlister and car lover (he was selling through Alex on consignment), and gave me some much-needed confidence that this could be the one.
Fast forward to Denver: mind you I had never done anything like this, but it felt like I owed myself a car day after the amount I had been working and traveling. Alex picked me up at the Denver airport in the 911, and wow, I almost immediately knew it was the one. Fifteen minutes out of the airport, Alex let me hop in the driver’s seat, and the adventure truly began. Alex has a standard, off-the beaten path race course that he’s created, with tons of line of site that has almost no traffic (it’s rural farm land, and his office is at an airport hanger). As a race car instructor himself, Alex immediately went into teach mode. ‘Hold the line, break, break , break, maintenance throttle, hold the liiiine, all the way, go, go, go!!!!’ Yeah, it was the best test drive EVER. Wow, was this car communicative. I felt everything, I could feel the weight distribution as I started getting to 6/10ths of its capabilities from front to rear, I could feeeel the linear throttle response as I came out of corners. This was just as good as my Spyder, if not better, when it came to the visceral feeling of car, driver, road.
However, it still wasn’t a homerun. There were some small cosmetic issues that I was having trouble getting over on a $46K car, no matter the fact that I had seen similar cars going for much more. Making it even more difficult was the fact that 911 rear seats aren’t rear seats, but glorified grocery bag holders, and there is no way I could fit my son’s car seat back there (though my daughter’s booster seat could). Coincidentally, Alex had a CHERRY E46 M3 with 30K miles in Phoenix yellow in the hanger; perfect. I asked if we could take it for a ride. This was the best thing I could have done, because that drive, on the same course, more than anything else drove home how special the 911 993 is. The E46 is amazing, but compared to a 911 993 felt numb. It was 5x nicer on the inside, 10x more practical, 20x less fun. As soon as we got back to the hanger, I told him we had a deal on the 993.
And that is pretty much it. I gave Alex the money, he gave me the title. The cherry on top was that Jeff had a techart spoiler that he had taken off, but still had. I asked Alex’s guys to put it back on, and it’s completely subjective, but I LOVED it. I had to get back to work, so couldn’t drive the 993 home like I wanted to, but as I flew that evening knew 100% I had made the right decision with this car.
On closing, big props to Jeff for being an absolute gentleman and offering to buy a DME relay, rear seat belts, and an extra key AFTER the deal was done – he didn’t have to, but he did, and I really appreciated it.
If you haven’t guessed it, Alex was a hero in this deal, never pressuring me, always educating me, and just letting his passion for cars come through. He is a true car enthusiast, and if you’re looking for an eclectic car, give Alex at Glen Shelly Auto a call, he will find it for you.
And now I patiently await my car to arrive in the bay area, hopefully by Saturday or Sunday. I look forward to being a contributor to this board, learning from you all, and most of all, enjoying the drive.
Here are some quick iphone pics. Much better ones on the way once i've waxed and polished her.
Last edited by rohitgarewal; 08-02-2017 at 09:02 PM.
Reason: Adding pictures
On closing, big props to Jeff for being an absolute gentleman and offering to buy a DME relay, rear seat belts, and an extra key AFTER the deal was done – he didn’t have to, but he did, and I really appreciated it.
Congrats Rohit! Alex assured me it was going to another enthusiast, which is great!
The new key/remote is on the way from Suncoast. You'll just have to get it cut to match and program the remote (there is a write-up here somewhere).
When Alex told me that your kids may be riding in the back at some point, I wanted to make sure you got some new seatbelts as the ones in it are frayed a bit from the rollbar/track time its seen in the past.
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When Alex told me that your kids may be riding in the back at some point, I wanted to make sure you got some new seatbelts as the ones in it are frayed a bit from the rollbar/track time its seen in the past.
Enjoy driving it in good health!
The mark of true honor and genuine character right here. Rare and very refreshing! You, sir, are a gentleman's gentleman!
...This was the best thing I could have done, because that drive, on the same course, more than anything else drove home how special the 911 993 is. The E46 is amazing, but compared to a 911 993 felt numb. It was 5x nicer on the inside, 10x more practical, 20x less fun. As soon as we got back to the hanger, I told him we had a deal on the 993.
I love this! So utterly irrational and rife with P-car love! You totally "get it" --and belong in a 911-- no question!
Congrats on the car, Rohit: a real beauty and the reward of patience and due diligence! But also on the stellar experience. Kudos to all parties for making a deal into a memorable experience!
BTW, I had hit that crossroads 4x WRT kids in the backseat. Fughettabout fitting a real carseat; a booster is all you'll get back there. But think of it this way, it's a kid's "graduation" to finally be able to ride in the back. All mine loved it as kids ...like a rollercoaster trip just going to grab milk and eggs...priceless every time!!!
When Alex told me that your kids may be riding in the back at some point, I wanted to make sure you got some new seatbelts as the ones in it are frayed a bit from the rollbar/track time its seen in the past.
Enjoy driving it in good health!
You're a rockstar Jeff, thanks!! Now to find a good mechanic in the east bay that knows air cooled 911's .
More importantly, time to plan a road trip on the coast.
08-02-2017, 09:00 PM
The deal is done, I have a 993 that I love.
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