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PeterC4

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Everything posted by PeterC4

  1. For those that do not have voice control, I have a telephone handsfree question. Can you dial a number using voice commands? I assume not, but haven't had the opportunity to check it out. It appears that voice command is s separate option from the Bose Package option.
  2. If you are concerned about cost of maintenance this car is not for you, particularly if you are just starting out after graduating from University?? A 996/7 will require rear tires at least every 10,000 miles, oil changes approach almost 9 litres of synthetic oil and you might run into a rear main seal issue in a 996, less likely in a 997. Most people use 93 Octane fuel. All expensive stuff. Even if the car is driven modestly, time itself will necessitate maintenance, it's just the way it is like every car - only a little more expensive. My wife used a 2004 C4S Cabriolet as a daily driver. Beautiful car. It suffered fatal engine failure after 80,000 km after the cylinder block got scored and the piston damaged the block. It was $30,000 for a new engine - and I took good care of it. Regardless, after a period of time, certain things needed to be changed. It is just the way it is. Don't get me wrong, they are wonderful cars in many ways and can be driven in the winter, are generally good daily drivers, and even the non-PDK automatics were fun to drive. In my view, the newer the model the better in your case so go with a 997 if you can, and an S will have better re-sale value. But seriously this class of car is expensive to maintain relatively speaking, new or older. And don't forget about depreciation. You could wave goodbye to $30,000 pretty fast. It doesn't mean it is not a worthwhile purchase. It is if you can afford it. If you go to your local Porsche dealer, my observation is that most customers take care of their cars and are not financially concerned about the cost of maintenance. That's why I think used Porsches can be decent buys. But if this is interfering with your rent, you are on the wrong track. Good luck.
  3. Interesting post. I have driven the 991 and after having two 996s I think its a very big modern day improvement. I loved my 996 but after a while, I just thought the car was....old. Don't get me wrong, great on the track and my wife drove a C4S Cab as a daily driver. She really liked it. It was an exceptional looking car. But drive it 2 hours to the cottage and you are ready to sell the thing as soon as you get back on Monday. I found myself drawn to my BMW 3 series and now I have a 5 series too which is great. Crisp handling, excellent dynamics and traction are fundamental in my view, but on a day to day basis, you need to have a balance of things including ride comfort, even if it is your third car...at least I do. And whether we like it or not, Navigation, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors are just part of modern day automobiles. It is a departure of sorts, but really that happened with the 996. The horse left the barn in 1999. Paying 80k for a good used copy Porsche and having to check you paper maps is not on, in todays automotive market. That is what drove me nuts about my 996, it didn't have those things and I needed Bluetooth at a minimum and I use navigation all the time. I find everything about the 991 better. Performance inside and out, good looks and as for badging, you can always take it off. And the ride is perfect in my view. My 996 had a fatal engine failure and so I am waiting for a good 991.
  4. Of course, it all depends on how long you measure reliability.
  5. I was at the dealer this morning after my wife took the car in yesterday and spent time with the tech who was quite knowledgeable. The cylinder wall is scored inside the fourth cylinder and the piston is now making a tapping noise as it moves up and down. It will only get worse with time and then may sieze. Since the cylinder is part of the engine core there is nothing you can do to "rebuild" or refurbish the problem unless you re-bore the cylinders. Porsche will sell you a refurbished engine, but I understand it is basically a new engine that was manufactured from a recycled core and all the parts are new. It comes with a 2 year warranty. The problem has occured before in the 996 engines, but this late model version engine does not have "sleves" in the cylinders like the early ones which caused even more problems. The dealer is asking Porsche for some warrantly assistance and they are going to see what they can do to alleviate some of the costs. The new engine comes with all new parts and the tech said that when it comes in the crate it is like brand new. So it is fundamentally different from salvaging something from another car.
  6. My 2004 996 has 80,000 km and has developed a loud tapping noise when running. After a trip to the dealer for diagnosis, it appears there is cylinder scoring in cylinder 4 and the suggestion is a rebuilt engine. The car runs well, no visible blue smoke, although it was mysteriously low on coolant last month. I will take it for a second opinion, but it appears that an engine swap is going to be an expensive proposition in Canada at a quoted $28k. Any other alternatives?
  7. Lapis Blue is the colour and it looks different in sunlight and shade.
  8. Hello to another from Toronto. You can't go wrong with a new alternator.
  9. That is your alternator failing. PSM and ABS turn off when there is not enough charge in the car.
  10. Check the alternator and its set-up. When my alternator failed, I noticed the interior light would not turn off.
  11. I've had my 2004 996 C4S cab, tip for almost 4 years now, it is my second 996. This has turned out to be a great car. It has run flawlessly, has seen some cold winter driving, and the automatic transmission, notwithstanding it's an older generation tiptronic, has turned out to be bullet proof and a real plus on the track. I have had no problems except for normal maintenance and a change to my alternator. The car runs beautifully and, to me anyway, is one of Porsche's nicest looking 911s. For those of you looking for a relatively inexpensive older model this would be it from my perspective. No RMS issues from what I can see and the C4S cab gets compliments everywhere I go.
  12. I own my second 911 both 996 variants. The real issue with the battery life is the car not being driven often, or stored in the winter without use of a trickle charger or proper maintenance. Otherwise, I have had no issue with the battery. Assuming you have no cell phone chargers, radar detectors or other devices plugged in, there has to be something draining the battery of its power when the motor is shut off, that is unexpected. Secondly, a battery that has been drained then re-boosted is always weaker and prone to problems. I would check your alternator if you are having consistent problems. Also, look at your voltmetre when the ignition is on...is it reading under 12 volts? Finally, at night, with the ignition off walk around the car and look closely for any lights that might be on unexpectedly.
  13. On a racetrack today with my '04 996 C4S and after a few laps, PSM failure light came on. Thought the car was maybe a little too hot. Stopped and cooled down for a while, went back out and then it seemed okay, then other warning lights went on PSM ABS failure, Check Engine. Car went into pits, and then wouldn't start. All warning lights went off when boosted and then the car wouldn't run correctly or more than 20km/h. Had to tow the car back to the City. I think its the alternator. I'll report back to readers. The most unnerving thing that happened is during the back straight, the lights went on and car lost power. Despite being an '04... you can appreciate the electronics at work in these cars. I hope its only the alternator. Sure was an expensive tow 210 kms back to Toronto, from Shannonville Racway.
  14. Nope, you're fine and your dealer did the right thing; the wider front make the rolling diameter of the fronts and rears the same since the winter rears have a slightly higher profile (35 vs 30). This keeps your PSM and ABS system happy. I've been using the same size tires for the past 3 winters with no problems. Just replaced the worn rear last month with the same thing once again and now I'm ready for it's fourth winter (if it ever snows). I used the Tire Rack and I purchased the recommended widths front and back for 18" tires on my C4S. I purchased a new set of rims as well and they came installed and balanced. Tires are Blizzaks LM60. Price was great. The recommended 265 width for the rear is small even with the 10" rim, so the rim sticks out from the tire a little (watch those curbs). But otherwise they are great in the snow.
  15. I've had a 2000 C4 and now drive a 2004 C4S Tip Cab. Both cars were trouble free and virtually bullet proof.
  16. I had a 2000 C4 Coupe and now own a 2004 C4S Cab. I also drove a new 2009s with PASM. My 2000 was pretty much as you describe, hard riding kind of sums it up. I bought it with only 54,000 kms or so. The 996.2 cars (2002 - 2004) were different and had various revisions to engines and body structure. My 2004 cab is much softer riding despite using bigger wheels. In driving the new 2009 S, the PASM suspension makes a huge difference. in normal setting is very smooth, more like a BMW 3 series with sport suspension. In Sport mode it gets stiffer, but still does not feel as intrusive as the older cars. The bottom line is, look carefully at suspension alternatives and many can give you good advice as to what works and doesn't. A newer model year is sure to work. I think you'd find a 2002 to 2004 car more solid than a 2000 and a new model that much better still. A lot has changed in the newest cars.
  17. Had the first part of the weekend with a 2009 C2S with PDK, courtesy of my dealer. The PDK is truly magnificent. I have actually become accustomed to the buttons on the steering wheel. They way they work is that you push to advance to then next gear, pull to come back to the previous gear. What's interesting is that the button fits right in the palm of your thumb. Pushing becomes very easy once you're used to it. From an operating point of view in auto mode, the shifts are imperceptible. Yet, push the peddle to the metal and the car launches forward in an instant. Using manual mode the shifts are blindingly fast. In "Sport Plus" mode (comes with PDK) the car goes into race mode and the throttle response is different and the car shifts into gears explosively. It's quite amazing, particulary with the 997-S's 385 HP. This car really moves. PASM that comes standard in the S model is a must option if anyone is getting the base 997. PASM allows you to select two driving modes. In normal mode, the car's suspension does a wonderful job of smoothing out the bumps and make the ride...pleasant; softer than the base 997. It rides like a BMW 3 series with sport spuspension. In sport mode the car is firmer and that ride will be familiar to many porsche owners, although it's still is quite refined. The car I'm testing has bluetooth and the media interface. No steering wheels controls or voice activation makes it awkward to use the bluetooth interface with your cell phone. Dealer cars in Canada are not ordered with voice activation unless a customer orders the car with that option. It may not be important to some, but for those drivers that need to call their office or their clients, Porsche still doesn't have it quite right. The new touch screen is good, but very awkward to dail a number from your Blackberry when you have a lot of contacts to sort through. The Bose stereo sound pretty good. What I can't quite get over is the look of the 997.2 and its slightly cut-off rear lights. To me anyway, my 2004 C4S Cab looks better. But I'll give it up to get that fanatastic transmission and extra horsepower. Overall, a great car with a real modern day chassis. My wife loves it too.
  18. I'm going to get a PDK car from a local dealer for a weekend test drive. This will give me a good idea of what this car is all about.
  19. One of the neat things about the PDK is that it "Blips" the throttle when you downshift. I was in the showroom yesterday. Coming close, very close to ordering a CS or C4S with PDK. With 385 hp in the S/4S it will be a quick car. But what is just as important to me is that these cars come with some creature comforts that I use when travelling like Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree driving.
  20. Downshifting is very fast. To me, the option cost is worth it. And launch control literally "launches" you up to speed. It is really something.
  21. Used an auto upholsterer for my ripped seat. They took the seat out, matched/dyed the leather and re-did the bolster. Excellent job from what I can see - $450. But a few very small nicks in the centre consol which I will have to deal with.
  22. Thanks Dharn. I have found a top notch auto upholstery shop here in Toronto and will check it out and post the results. I agree, I think an upholstery shop is the way to go.
  23. I have a ripped drivers side leather seat in my 2004 C4S. Its a tan interior and its quite noticeable. A 4 inch gash on the side bolster where you sit, not on the main portion of the seat. Anyone had experience with this in Toronto or anywhere else? I'm wondering if I can get just the side bolster recovered.
  24. Took a test drive in a C2S with the PDK transmission and sport chrono. Fantastic is the only way to describe it. If felt very, very fast. In manual mode the gears will hold until you change them. It is the fastest shifting car I've ever driven and the best accelerating car I've ever driven with the benefit of having an automatic in heavy traffic. Very good ride characteristics too. The PDK makes me question the benefits of a manual in these cars.
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