John McM

One wheel cleaned. Frig concours. The rest will get a good clean on the car.

Macca

That's the spirit mate. Life's too short. Spend the time enjoying driving it I say. Always looks clean in the pictures that's enough. Give it some wax and chamois it off. I have $1000 of specialist grooming products in my lock up and I refuse to do more than a shampoo and blow dry these days. The experts can take care of the rest once a year!

Last minute things before jetting off the rock for 6 weeks. The day didnt start well. One of my buddies hit a turning Hilux at 100kmph on his motorbike outside blacksands turn off at 7.30am and my wife following behind him was first at the scene. I got down there 15 minutes after the ambulance (15 minutes after the accident!). Jo had to stabilize him and it was very "graphic". He was critical, now stable but internal injuries (and horrific external ones). Medivac charter out of Noumea turned around mid flight with technical issues! Now awaiting Medivac out of Australia. Been 12 hours since the impact. Doctors here wont touch him apart from intervating him and pain killer, they knocked him out (he was drowning under the fluid in his lungs). We hope he makes it ok, I figure he'll make it through - hes made it this far.

Again shows how fragile life is. Also reinforced the need to have a good one.
Makes flying to Europe to live out the dream youve had for 15 years seem a bit petty really but Ory was a speed demon and one of the few folk here knows my passion for cars and the biggest supporter of the GT3 live the dream policy!

Looking forward to that drive on Sunday!

John McM

Sorry to hear that. Fraconieri T boned me one day coming up from Tassiriki. Nowhere near 100km/hr or any personal injury but it brought home how quickly it can go wrong there. Many drive absolutely blotto there. Missionaries, mercenaries and misfits!

O2GO

Oh Macca how horrifying.

kiwi 911

How's Jo holding up??

JenSP

Thanks I hadn't spotted that one - at $150k it's $30k more than same age/mileage in UK (pre shipping & GST) - they're still depreciating but the low mileage ones are an interesting long term proposition. Most in PDK but a few manuals floating around - I wonder whether the enthusiast market will still prefer these in manual when they're 15 years old, or we'll all be PDK converts by 2025 .....

JenSP

Macca, I realise your point re limited 993 choice in NZ - and I've not much appetite to chase after the perfect 15-20 year old car in UK - unless I'm on one of my quarterly trips and theres one to look at within 2 hours of London. A relatively new car out of UK such as a GTS or GT3 is an easier proposition.

Macca

Hi Mate. Thanks for asking. Remarkably well actually. Appears she is not squeamish. She saw the worst of it, 30 minutes after the accident when I got there he was on a stretcher. Currently en route to Medivac plane. No public health here Im afraid that's a 25,000 USD flight. Hopefully he has insurance.

Makes me remember safety is first even when we play with our toys in NZ!

JenSP. I agree with you 100%. UK cars 20 years old are ropey at best unless ground up rebuild. Looking at 9M threads on the 993 board its scary to see how the snow, wet & Salt roads of the UK affect the chassis over time and its almost mandatory now for Colin to have to replace pieces, cut and paint pieces and apply special fixes whenever he looks at an original 993 body-shell. Im glad to say very few of the same problems with NZ cars. Ive had my 993 checked for all of Colins weak points and apart form the front and rear window frames and door check strap (all done during full glass out respray in 2005 under my direction) nothing to speak of.

I agree a 997.2 GTS is probably the best all round proposition, but for only 30K differential before shipping and hassle factor would rather buy NZ new. The 997.1 GT3 make more sense but again coming down in NZ now new model is released.

I would happily own a PDK GTS as it had the later box and software but I think anything older than that with automated transmission will have lower resale than manual. In 5 years time I suspect Porsche will not make a manual 911 other than special editions such is the way the world seems to be going. For a track appliance or weekend drive I like changing gears so I find that a shame but as I get older and for more utilitarian usage you cant argue with the latest dual clutch boxes some like on the new 458 and 991 GT3 are getting very good (finally).

996tnz

Hey Macca, sorry to hear of that crash and am thinking of your mate Ory. Maybe Jo isn't squeamish but give her an extra hug too - that sort of event does get under your skin.

We were 3rd car on the scene of a Harley versus concrete post smash once and we did all we could to calm and help one of the two injured. Will always remember the smell - a mix of too many human and machine fluids - and the state of his leg as I applied mild traction and helped it roll over with the rest of him when he refused to stay still.

Hasn't stopped me grabbing every chance to hot-lap bikes at Hampton since, but, as you said, it is important to live life to the full rather than let it slip by unlived.

On a brighter note, I too am a fan of the 997.2 GTS. A white/cream 997.2 GTS pretty much held with me (pre-upgrade) once from a stop. No idea if PDK or manual but it sure moved.

Hope Ory reaches top care soon.

Macca

Thanks Walt. Much appreciated. Hit NZ a few hours ago, got in the 911 and rumbled across town. Life is good!

John McM

I know that feeling. The road from the airport seems incredibly smooth after Vila's pockmarked landscape. Not great weather for your return but hope it will hold off tomorrow for the run. See you at Riverhead.

nzskater

Weather looking a bit better, hopefully holds for the day. See you at 8!

Macca

Looking lovely today. Low cloud will burn off later in morning....

O2GO

Me too, looking promising. Now for coffee fix before heading out

John McM

Good painting weather for me. Keep on the black stuff and see you all at the after function.