XavierLaFlamme

Rennlist:

It was a little over a year ago that I rode the Amtrak to Detroit and bought my 1997 Black C4S. I have put 17K+ miles on it since.

I owned a 2011 Subaru STi and a couple of motorcycles(2008 Triumph Speed Triple, 1977 BMW R100S) which I sold to pay for it. I knew that in some ways it was a foolish decision, but I am an all-in kind of guy. I wanted to drive it everyday and see how the experience was. The advertisements talk about the everyday supercar. I am just the guy to test out the truth of that statement. I did not take it easy on this car. I beat on it(with love).

So for the last year I have driven the car everywhere. It has hauled all kinds of stuff(wood, compressors, drumsets, luggage, boxes, etc), carried 3 hockey players(one of them a goalie) with full equipment countless times. I have slid through snow, ice, sleet, rain, dust storms, hail, punishing heat and everything in between. It has frozen and sweltered on the streets. It was hit while parked, ticketed, but never towed. It has been around the Midwest and out to the west coast. It has lived a life in this one year.


I knew that it would cost me money to keep it up. I also realized that nothing is cheap on these cars so I vowed to do all the upkeep myself if I could. I purchased a scissor lift to make it all easier. I love that thing!

This is what I did to it:

Maintenance:

3 oil/filter changes
Plugs/Rotors/Wires
Trans Fluid replacement
Front Diff Fluid replacement
Brake fluid flush and bleeding(2 times)
Brake pads all around
Windshield wiper blades
Replaced battery
Replaced all 4 tires
One headlight bulb
Replaced air filter
Washer fluid
SAI Flush(2 times)
E-brake taken apart/lubed/retensioned


Repair/Replacement:

Stock Shifter ****
Spoiler transmission gear
Engine Air duct rubber
SAI valve
Fan/Alternator/AC belts
Engine Fan/Bearing
Passenger side Rear Axle half
Steering Rack Replacement(done by Midwest Performance Cars, Rebuilt rack purchased online)
Front Diff seals(done by Midwest Performance Cars when they put in the rebuilt rack—Thanks Emil and Jonathan)
Sunroof chains/seals
3 window switches
1 DME Relay

Modifications/Upgrades

Momo Prototipo/Porsche horn button (non-airbag wheel/hub)
Fister Stage IIIs(Thanks Darin/Mark FD Motorsports!)
Bilstein PSS10 coilovers(Thanks Darin/Mark FD Motorsports!)
Center Console Delete
Rennline Lower Dash Delete Panel
Radio Delete
Pre-amp installed
Carpet Removed
Seat Re-upholstering(Thanks Classic 9!)
Rennline Shift ****/E-Brake handle
RS Door Cards(Thanks Appbiz!)
Painted engine shroud and fan
Rear Wiper Delete
Thule Clamps/Yakima Basket Roof Rack(First one was stolen!)

Future Modifications

Carpet(lightweight) from Classic 9
Interior Leather upgrade
BBS LMs(Hopefully)
Half Roll Cage
Different Swaybars
From strut brace
Top end rebuild(I am reading up on it now. Maybe next winter!)


I hope this coming year will bring good things for my beloved 993. This car is awesome. I am bonded to it now.

My goal is to be able to take it all apart and put it back together successfully. I am learning. Although my efforts sometimes result in more broken parts, learning the hard way is still learning.

Cheers,
Michael

993/907

Three hockey players and their gear trumps me.
I once hauled a set of Cessna 185 landing gear (2 gear legs with 850's attached, and the tailwheel); and nothing sticking out of the windows or sunroof.

Gordo

AOW162435

Michael,
Awesome write-up! I've lost track if how many thousands of things I've replaced, cleaned, taken apart, etc. on my 993. It's been a labor of love and I've added 30,000+ miles over the last 8 years.

My fondness for the 993 has only grown over the years. While at times the engineering may vex you, it's impossible not to appreciate the robust construction that went into it.



Andreas

LimeyBoy

Love the fact you jumped in with both feet and came out smiling.

jmg3

.....

TheSilverFox

Very cool!!

Good to see another Chicago owner on the boards!!

XavierLaFlamme

Where are you in the area? I live near Foster and Damen?

--Michael

e3photo

Great story,and don't worry,taking them apart is easy.


Emerald

asofine

I have to call BS on three hockey players including their gear (w/ goalie gear). Not possible.

XavierLaFlamme

Well I have no reason to lie. I have a roof rack with a Yakima basket. Have you ever done it?






Back off dude.

--Michael

mongrelcat

Look closely at his avatar photo.

Three cheers for you, Michael. Cool deal.

msk818

Awesome!

asofine

Ah, that explains it. Good on you! Had the joy of DDing my 993 for the first couple of years I owned it and it was a pleasure. Too many people on here don't get to experience the joy of actually driving their 993s IMO!

tcsracing1

great write up.

Yeah these cars can eat money when time comes to maintain them but given their age it is a fair expense and allows the car to run another 10-15 years! So in all not that bad actually.

I use my 993 daily as does my wife. They are super fun commuters and a lot of people just dont understand it which is fine by me.
I haul everything in the car. I had a ladder in yesterday. Barely fit. Like little trucks these things

Harry L

There is something mildly subversive about your car: Misfits sticker, roof rack, no center caps, etc. - and your ownership philosophy is unimpeachable.

Very cool. Hats off.