New Owner - Day 16 of Porsche Ownership
12-20-2009, 06:26 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
New Owner - Day 16 of Porsche Ownership
Howdy all!
Only been an owner for a short while, but want to stop lurking on the forums and introduce myself and share my narrative for any interested parties. I'm gonna include all the details because after reading through here, it seems lots of y'all are are detail oriented as I am.
After wanting a Porsche since I was old enough to know what one was, I finally realized the goal on 12/4/09 with the purchase of my 2002 Guards Red Carrera 4 Cabriolet. 44,200 miles, bought for $33,750 from a local private seller. Got all records, including window sticker. Seller is an airline pilot (very detail oriented and fastidious with regard to maintenance, and a great guy, the sort of guy you want to buy your first Porsche from!) and had just about everything replaced on there that could be replaced (tires, brakes, struts, et cetera), except the clutch, but we'll get to that.
Weeks 1 and 2 were fantastic. I added an Alpine iDA-X305 to facilitate use of my iPod in the car. I used http://josh1.com/Music/AlpineImageCo...3-2176b79e1605 to put the Porsche logo as wallpaper on the head unit in case anyone else is considering a similar project.
***Incidentally, this frees up the original CDR-220 and changer for sale. I saw a few people post WTBs regarding this. So, feel free to make offer or I'm gonna liquidate on eBay.
Week 3 was marked by minor hardship. Let me rewind. Rob, the guy who sold me the car, and the mechanic, Tony at Stuttgart Specialists prophetically warned that 996 clutches are only good for circa 50K miles. Generally, I'm a pretty lucky dude so I figure what the hell I'm sure I can get by for a while, it's not slipping or anything. Well, and somewhat ironically, I was headed to church one night this week and all of a sudden, while still in my neighborhood, and not exceeding 30 mph, the clutch pedal goes all soft and starts gyrating. It was the kind of tremble you get right after you get a speeding ticket and are about to pull back into traffic but this was an actual mechanic thing, not mental residue from a brush with the law. So, I limp on to church thinking that maybe it was just the cold weather.
I get it home, talk to Tony at Stuttgart the next day and he thinks the clutch is probably toast. C'est la vie, I figure, I just wish I had the car for more than 16 days before it costs me $1,800 for clutch, flywheel, and friends. Incidentally, Tony was also recently elected President of the local PCA chapter. Solid dude, if you need Porsche service in Louisville.
I dropped the car off yesterday, he's gonna diagnose tomorrow and, Deo volente, I will get the car back by Tuesday.
So, that's my story. And even in lieu of this hardship, owning a Porsche friggin' rocks!
bobby
Only been an owner for a short while, but want to stop lurking on the forums and introduce myself and share my narrative for any interested parties. I'm gonna include all the details because after reading through here, it seems lots of y'all are are detail oriented as I am.
After wanting a Porsche since I was old enough to know what one was, I finally realized the goal on 12/4/09 with the purchase of my 2002 Guards Red Carrera 4 Cabriolet. 44,200 miles, bought for $33,750 from a local private seller. Got all records, including window sticker. Seller is an airline pilot (very detail oriented and fastidious with regard to maintenance, and a great guy, the sort of guy you want to buy your first Porsche from!) and had just about everything replaced on there that could be replaced (tires, brakes, struts, et cetera), except the clutch, but we'll get to that.
Weeks 1 and 2 were fantastic. I added an Alpine iDA-X305 to facilitate use of my iPod in the car. I used http://josh1.com/Music/AlpineImageCo...3-2176b79e1605 to put the Porsche logo as wallpaper on the head unit in case anyone else is considering a similar project.
***Incidentally, this frees up the original CDR-220 and changer for sale. I saw a few people post WTBs regarding this. So, feel free to make offer or I'm gonna liquidate on eBay.
Week 3 was marked by minor hardship. Let me rewind. Rob, the guy who sold me the car, and the mechanic, Tony at Stuttgart Specialists prophetically warned that 996 clutches are only good for circa 50K miles. Generally, I'm a pretty lucky dude so I figure what the hell I'm sure I can get by for a while, it's not slipping or anything. Well, and somewhat ironically, I was headed to church one night this week and all of a sudden, while still in my neighborhood, and not exceeding 30 mph, the clutch pedal goes all soft and starts gyrating. It was the kind of tremble you get right after you get a speeding ticket and are about to pull back into traffic but this was an actual mechanic thing, not mental residue from a brush with the law. So, I limp on to church thinking that maybe it was just the cold weather.
I get it home, talk to Tony at Stuttgart the next day and he thinks the clutch is probably toast. C'est la vie, I figure, I just wish I had the car for more than 16 days before it costs me $1,800 for clutch, flywheel, and friends. Incidentally, Tony was also recently elected President of the local PCA chapter. Solid dude, if you need Porsche service in Louisville.
I dropped the car off yesterday, he's gonna diagnose tomorrow and, Deo volente, I will get the car back by Tuesday.
So, that's my story. And even in lieu of this hardship, owning a Porsche friggin' rocks!
bobby
Last edited by GolfTango3; 12-20-2009 at 09:29 PM. Reason: added some photos
12-20-2009, 07:00 PM
#4
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Welcome, its not 50k for the clutch and honestly they CAN last much less or much longer. The only way to know condition it to remove it and inspect it, and not many people do that. They do die quickly once gone. I think $1800 is really really really high for the job unless I missed the part where he is replacing the flywheel too.
While in there he will look at IMS seal and RMS seal if he is as good as you say, so expect some feedback on both of those.
Did you have some pics? My blackberry doesn't always show them. If not post some up for us.
Church is a good place to go and confess the repeated trips to the garage
they know, others have blazed that trail 
Best luck on the repairs and long lived love with your very special car that took a long time to get. (28 year wait for me,
why did I wait SO long!)
While in there he will look at IMS seal and RMS seal if he is as good as you say, so expect some feedback on both of those.
Did you have some pics? My blackberry doesn't always show them. If not post some up for us.
Church is a good place to go and confess the repeated trips to the garage
they know, others have blazed that trail Best luck on the repairs and long lived love with your very special car that took a long time to get. (28 year wait for me,
why did I wait SO long!)
12-20-2009, 09:34 PM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
The $1,800 included clutch kit and dual-mass flywheel. Tony advised against light-weight flywheel because he said it had negative impact on driveability of car. Specifically, he said something to the effect of "it would sound like marbles in the bell housing."
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12-20-2009, 11:16 PM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Bobby, congratulations on the purchase of a gorgeous Porsche. That color combination with those wheels realy works well together. Welcome aboard. I recently did the clutch on mine at about 38,000 miles. I went with the single mass (lightweight) flywheel. It is not for everybody. Your mechanic gave you good advice. The price on the clutch job sounds pretty reasonable, since it includes a new flywheel. Hopefully it is the only major repair that you need for the next 50,000 miles.
12-21-2009, 09:11 AM
#13
Race Director
Nice intro, great looking cab...bummer about the clutch, but because you aren't complaining about it, you get a gold star. Sometimes it helps to have a good attitude about Porsche ownership.
12-21-2009, 09:29 AM
#14
Racer
Thread Starter
Yeah, I figure I knew what I was getting into and bitching about it isn't a constructive use of our time.
Now, on the other hand, my fiancé, Katie,..... well, gentlemen, that is a whole other story. There has been plenty of told-you-so'ing and general displeasure with the entire Porsche experience.
That's why I took care of this BEFORE the wedding.
Now, on the other hand, my fiancé, Katie,..... well, gentlemen, that is a whole other story. There has been plenty of told-you-so'ing and general displeasure with the entire Porsche experience.
That's why I took care of this BEFORE the wedding.
12-21-2009, 10:45 AM
#15
Congratulations,
I did the same thing. My first Porsche was bought at the encouragement of my girl friend at the time. After that car's untimely death, I bought my second one the same day I bought her ring although she didn't know it, she was a bit annoyed at my purchase of the car before I proposed to her.
Boy was that an expensive day, LOL
Enjoy it in good health.
I did the same thing. My first Porsche was bought at the encouragement of my girl friend at the time. After that car's untimely death, I bought my second one the same day I bought her ring although she didn't know it, she was a bit annoyed at my purchase of the car before I proposed to her.
Boy was that an expensive day, LOL
Enjoy it in good health.