Originally Posted by mikey_audiogeek

Yup Im a Bridgestone fanboi', keeps things simple. Quick summary of 16 years and 270,000km of tyres:

Had Re010 on the car in stock 16" when I got it with 40,000km on the clock. Hard as nails so great for sliding everywhere.

Then went to P-spec S02's great tire with heaps of grip but $$$ and scary in the wet when worn. Ran two sets of these before going to Goodyear GSD3 on a whim. Much quieter and better in the wet but a spongy tire in comparison. Went through 3 sets of these I think?

Then got the 18" Enkeis (same time as I went Bilstein Motorsport coilovers) with Goodyear Eagle asymmetrics 235/265 width. Very pointy with heaps of grip but glassy at the limit, grip fell away sharply.

Then onto Bridgestone RE001 then RE002 now RE003. Re003 are a step up on the 02. Not much difference 001/002. Good life, >30,000km on 001/002, expect the same on the 003.
003 has more grip than is fun for me - think I'll put a narrow set on the old 16" wheels 205/225 and go play...

Cheers,
Mike

Originally Posted by mikey_audiogeek

Yup Im a Bridgestone fanboi', keeps things simple. Quick summary of 16 years and 270,000km of tyres: Had Re010 on the car in stock 16" when I got it with 40,000km on the clock. Hard as nails so great for sliding everywhere. Then went to P-spec S02's great tire with heaps of grip but $$$ and scary in the wet when worn. Ran two sets of these before going to Goodyear GSD3 on a whim. Much quieter and better in the wet but a spongy tire in comparison. Went through 3 sets of these I think? Then got the 18" Enkeis (same time as I went Bilstein Motorsport coilovers) with Goodyear Eagle asymmetrics 235/265 width. Very pointy with heaps of grip but glassy at the limit, grip fell away sharply. Then onto Bridgestone RE001 then RE002 now RE003. Re003 are a step up on the 02. Not much difference 001/002. Good life, >30,000km on 001/002, expect the same on the 003. 003 has more grip than is fun for me - think I'll put a narrow set on the old 16" wheels 205/225 and go play... Cheers, Mike

Originally Posted by Macca

dang!! It took me a while to find your thread. I did read your thread titled "in praise of the Carrera C4" for a while till I realised I was definitely on the wrong path!!

Bugger John, not sure what to say. I don't think limiting the car to road use is the answer as I'm sure a spirited drive Northland style even on road tyres will elicit the same result.

My only totally unlearned advice would be to re install the old clutch pack and shims to precisely as they were before the re build. This may reduce the preload on 3rd gear and alleviate the binding? I'm really out of my depth with only limited experience to draw from but having installed the LSD clutch packs twice on my C2 I know how critical shimming those can be and I believe they can have a detrimental affect on shift quality. I still have a notchy shift 2 to 3 under heavy load (exiting B51 when pushing in by way of example) and I think this may be to do with having an LSD.

I really hope they can get this sorted for you mate. As much as I love your idea of a lotus (will look like big bird from Sesame street in an Elise lol!) I can't imagine you without a Porsche during an RSG day. I'm sure the boys will get it sorted and perhaps it's a blessing you don't have the time to spend in the track in 016. Keep your chin up mate. Maybe drop Steve Wiener or Colin B an email, they are engineers with 100s of real world g50/64 rebuilds under their belt....

Originally Posted by John McM

I'm happy leaving it to Dan and Steve. They haven't given up as far as I know. It's just a machine. As for C4 reliability, in any machine complexity is less reliable, everything else being equal. I have no concerns on fast road trips but am too far into the track driving to bother with limiting myself to roadies. Off to trademe to see what I can find to strip out for the track. Maybe an ex racing mini? I fit in those.

Originally Posted by Macca

I agree leaving it with Steve/Dan, more to poll Colin & Steve W for information incase they have come across the issues before and can shed some light on where Dan should be looking. I've done this before at various times through my builds and can email you there details if you like. Over the years have had to research all my project prior throwing the parts at CCS to construct. John in a racing mini, now that would be a fun mobile road cone on an RSG day ;-p. I think the Lotus has merit but try one for size first. Agree with Dave the Toyota powered models the best choice. I think on z221 you'd find them a bit quicker than the C4 and the consumerable should be negligible. Tony B has had same tyres, pads and rotors on his exige now for two years, went out with him at Taupo in it and pulled 46s on old tyres 2 up. 240 bhp and he's about to have the computer done for another 40 BHP. Has more torque than a 911 being a blown motor and weighs around 1000kg. Doesn't sound great but the 300lbft plus in that platform really makes itself know pulling out of corners. Torque rules exiting corners in the in field. I couldn't keep him on the infield but made ground on the straights in the 993, but I was driving the wheels of it and I'm sure he was just aping as he would normally...

Originally Posted by 964X33

Jon Pottinger told me the same story when I bought Mr Black. Although I respect his knowledge on things Porsche, the theory that C4 boxes don't handle the track on sticky tyres doesn't seem to be backed up by international experience or design. Very many guys in US and Europe seem to track their C4s very hard on sticky tyres with no majors. Maybe he was referring to the planetary gear set failure we've seen first hand. I could be wrong, but many on this forum were surprised by our gearbox issues John and suggested it was because we are upside down here?

Originally Posted by John McM

I still remember the planetary gear set warning and you were correct. Others to this day prefer to dismiss the possibility rather than check their gears. That said, I've yet to hear an explanation as to why they break. Partly, my thoughts are driven by my experience and costs with this rebuild. I have blown Macca's bill out of the water and I'm still without a working box. I simply don't want to risk it again having been in this position, when a mechanic I respect warns me. It's tempting fate for what is a small part of the cars intended use.

Originally Posted by Pel

Warwick, I saw your fb post, I have a spare double garage in Albany for a month (at least) within a unit complex of mine, send me a PM if you need, wont cost you a thing bud.

Originally Posted by Macca

In all seriousness how can a battle hardened 964 C4 become a brittle faberge egg all in the blink of an eye?

Originally Posted by John McM

A full glass out respray would be the best way to give your car a clean bill of health but let's face it, you'd be reluctant to drive it in anger again and you'd never realise the spend when it comes to resale.

Originally Posted by Macca

NZ must be the only place in the world you can get such cheap 964 and 993 now. We should enjoy this while it lasts. Won't be many of these old timers on the track or Targa in a few years time - we may be the last group who freely run them as such before they eventually disappear to heated garages!

Originally Posted by John McM

I'd say we are almost definitely the last group to run 964 and 993 like this. The modified Turbo 3.6s are being returned to original as values increase. I sense there's more interest in modded 964s to keep that trend going but with a whole lot of faster cars around the good condition 964 price point it would be a fanatics choice now to track one seriously over say a Cayman.

Herman will do the NITT but I won't be going hell for leather. I haven't ordered any more track tyres. Truth be told if the windscreen broke right now it would be a full respray and a life of moderate RSG days ahead...