number9ine

Label it "Porsh" and you might sell twice as much. :D :rolleyes:

Whew! I had to stop a few times and catch my breath after running through that sentence. :) Sounds like a good deal considering your options; with those import fees I don't blame you for picking up something as cheap as possible. You may try hammering an old socket to the wheel locks and using a torque wrench, then replacing with regular lugs or a new set of locks. Until you get a paint job get some 600 grit wetordry sandpaper, etching primer, and a few rattlecans of Krylon White to cover up the door. Put a tarp over the car, tape everything off except the fender and door, pull the seal from the windowsill, and go to town! $40 in materials and an afternoon later, you'll have an all-white car again. Good luck! M.

I second this, there's a lot of potentially unseen damage there. Top and bodywork alone are $4-5k on the low end; you may need to replace mechanical parts that have been affected by heat. If you're a DIYer you might see some savings, I wish you luck with the project. For safety's sake I'd replace your tires, who knows what the heat did to them. M.

+1 for this. The manual says there's no need for a warmup idle. I start driving immediately and just keep it under 4k RPM until my water temp is nominal. I don't let the car sit on idle after driving, but my last two miles or so are always gentle so I don't put it away too hot. M.

In addition to everything that's been said above, if you plan to track the car know that the Tip is a different (not to read: inferior) experience. Sure you're not gonna win any drag races with manual 996s, but that's not really the point anyhow. :) I've driven a 993 Tip and my wife's Tip Boxster on the track and it always seems to find the right gear and feel like it's delivering all the power the engine has to offer. We did have the trans fluid and filter done on the Boxster at 65k mi instead of the recommended 90k, was feeling a little sluggish when cold. Porsche recommends a flush at 90k for the manual too, for what it's worth. It'll be maybe an extra $50-100 or so in parts and fluid for the Tip.

Anything that lubricates should help you, WD40 or maybe just some dish/car wash soap. I find the rubbing alcohol does well for adhesive, and I've used it for rubber cone marks from AX which is why I suggested it here. lifts the stuff up and doesn't leave a lot of residue to clean.

I'd try a little rubbing alcohol, and a plastic or teflon spudger/spatula. Are you sure it's not brake dust? Try a wheel cleaner (not the cheap stuff that eats your clearcoat) and a little elbow grease with a rag. Follow up with polish when you've removed the really big bits.

Anyone? Bueller? Going to dealer soon to have them look.

Did you set your PCM's route guidance voice to UK? On my PCM 2.0, it made changes to the map and some of the menu displays when I did that. Not sure if it's the same on the newer unit, but worth mentioning. M.

Hi all, I've had my '05 C2S for all of a week now and it's wonderful. However, when starting it up in 45-50 degree weather there's a sharp rasp that appears to come from the driver-side exhaust at idle and on throttle, which subsides after about 20 seconds of driving. I don't have PSE. I've searched around and see that the heat shield may be the culprit, but it really sounds as if it's inside the exhaust. I had to replace the tensioning bolt on the driver exhaust tip because it was loose, rusty and torqued into a bend. The tip has an '06 date on it, suggesting it's been replaced under the recall for the loose welds. Nothing on it was loose so I assume it's not the problem. Anything in particular to look for? I've gone underneath and given the system a good tug and nothing appears to be loose. Maybe they all do it? Every C2S I test-drove was started mid-day in sunny 60-70 degree weather so I guess I have no benchmark. I can certainly live with it, just want to make sure it's not a symptom of a larger issue. Thanks! Mark

Yes, buy a MY2006 or newer - the engine problems were sorted by then. If an '06 is out of your range, doesn't hurt to look at the 05s so long as it has (or you buy) a warranty. Not speaking from personal experience, but I made sure my C2S had a warranty (CPO) and would've bought one if it didn't. After seeing some of the failed bearing, d-chunk and other lovely pictures of grenaded low-mi engines here it was imperative. For your warranty choices, ask your local OPC sales guy for a brochure on what they sell. They'll mark it up $1000 or more, so talk them down to something reasonable or buy it directly if that's possible. Going with the OPC's choice of warranty means you're less likely to get hassle if your car is towed in dropping oil and parts. M.

I'd like to know about this for my 2005 as well. I could live with just the internal mirror.

The bmohr doth protest too much, methinks. As sure as someone will refer to your car as a "porch," people often mock what they don't know. Since you're on this site you know that the only parts your car shares with ANYTHING VW are some insignificant bits like screws, fluid caps, and maybe a rearview mirror or grab handle (Cayenne excepted). And lest it be known as a "merger," Porsche is buying up VW. Now, fast forward 10 years and there may be a lot more Porsche in VW and vice versa, but is that a bad thing? Not in my opinion. Did I just get trolled? M.

Had a PPI, everything checked out. No recalls. And yes, the last owner missed out on some serious driving time. I plan on driving those miles for them! According to the order guide (thanks Renntech), Slate Grey is a $3070 option. :o I'm not sure I'd have ponied up for it new, but I sure do love it used. I hear the Dension is great, just need to sell the NAV-TV first if there are any takers. Putting up an ad in the FS section now. M.

Oh, I'm never afraid of driving hard... ;) Thanks for the comments so far!

So... In my quest for a lightly used 911 I started out looking at 996 Targas and coupes. Saw a few I liked, drove some more, but then one day saw a cheap 997 C2, so I started including 997s in my search. Then I found a C2S not far off from me and said to myself, "let's drive it for fun." Big mistake. :) One drive and I was spoiled on anything else. So much car, and such a different animal from my 986S. The 996s didn't feel like a significant upgrade over my Boxster; this does. I am thankful my wife indulges me. Of course, buying her a Boxster a year ago helped matters. :D Here she is, only 10k mi and that new Porsche smell. Slate grey, adaptive seats, nav, some other goodies. And a little something extra, turns out the previous owner had a NAV-TV Sirius unit installed. I don't do Sirius but I imagine some of you do, so if anyone's interested in buying it PM me. I'm looking to buy an iPod unit to replace it. Thanks for looking! :renntech: Mark

Now I'm trying to imagine Xzibit with a foreign-language overdub. How does one say "Yo Dawg" in Dutch? :) Aliballan, beautiful car. Like RFM, I enjoy the stock look. If anything, I'd remove the front plate mount, and fill the holes with plugs from www.bumperplugs.com (if you can purchase such a thing in Lebanon). Not sure what your local laws are but I've never had much trouble from the police after removing mine. If they pull me over, I'm sure the missing front plate is the LEAST of my worries. :lol: Mark

There's nothing available from Porsche, but there are always third party companies out there that cook this stuff up. Since the LED markers are new as of this model year, you could either wait a few months until someone comes out with a retrofit kit or build your own if you don't mind spending the time and money. You may find yourself doing some wiring if you want the car to treat them as DRLs as well as directionals. Heck, you may find yourself doing some wiring anyway. Whatever you do I'd hang on to your current housings and hardware, just in case you sell down the road and the next owner likes it stock (I know I would!). Good luck. Mark Thanks for the reply Mark. Do you know any tuner shop around LA Area? Not familiar with the LA area, but I'd try the PCA regional contacts there (http://www.pcala.com/Default.aspx?page=ContactUs) for a recommendation. Mark

There's nothing available from Porsche, but there are always third party companies out there that cook this stuff up. Since the LED markers are new as of this model year, you could either wait a few months until someone comes out with a retrofit kit or build your own if you don't mind spending the time and money. You may find yourself doing some wiring if you want the car to treat them as DRLs as well as directionals. Heck, you may find yourself doing some wiring anyway. Whatever you do I'd hang on to your current housings and hardware, just in case you sell down the road and the next owner likes it stock (I know I would!). Good luck. Mark

Beautiful car. 20 years from now, that color will make your car stand out in a field of grays, blues, and blacks. Take your mother out for a spirited drive and gauge her opinion afterward! That is, unless she suffers from any condition barring her from amusement park thrill rides. :)

Thanks to everyone! I'm sold on the Targa, I'm off to find just the right one. And in the meantime, if anyone's in the market for a nice '03 Boxster S... http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25725 Mark

Thanks for your very helpful impressions, Lawrence. Any other Targa owners/drivers care to chime in? Also, has anyone sent their Targa to the dealer to service the top (lube, etc.)? How much does that run typically, and is it something that could be done myself? Looking for a TSB on it now.

Hello there! Current '03 986 S owner who's interested in moving to the 996 Targa. My price range probably puts me in an '02 or '03 model. I have yet to drive one, they're hard to find nearby. So, I went to my local P-Car dealership to drive a 3.6 coupe and get a feel for it versus my Boxster. More motor, but very much like my car on the street and highway (although I'm sure a harder drive would yield differences). The first salesman I talked to was a bit rude, insisting that the Targa is "too European" for my taste (huh? I guess I was "too domestic" for his), and indicated it would be soft and creaky and just about useless. All this after about 30 seconds of discussion! I take it he wasn't a fan. Luckily, he got busy with another customer so I worked with someone else who was friendly and helpful. I've done some reading on people's experiences with the Targa's glass roof, including squeaks, rattles, and the like. My wife and I both have Boxsters, one with a hardtop, so I'm no stranger to odd noises. I hope to find my "jewel in the rough" that's unmolested, and maybe has the TSBs performed on the roof. It's a buyer's market. I'd love to hear from Targa owners or anyone with experience driving one, ESPECIALLY if you've tracked the car. I'm no racer, but I enjoy a few DE and AX events per year and want a car that will perform well above my ability on the track, which is average now and will improve over time. I want that same car to drive me home afterward in relative comfort. I'm a fan of the all-rounder; my Boxster has spoiled me so well in this respect that it'll be hard for me to part with it. I've read cries of added weight, softer suspension, noises, and top failures, most of the comments coming from folks who don't own one. Regardless, your $.02 is appreciated even on those points. FYI For all you Cab fans out there, my second choice would be a coupe. Thanks for reading. Mark

You know, I have that same problem with my '03 S. Oddly, when I stopped at a dealer to point it out, the tech opened my boot, took one look at the condensation and proclaimed "it's perfectly normal." I get exactly what you get, the slimy condensation, a black ring from the filler area seal, plus every month or so, I'll see one or two small frothy yellow-ish bits around the expansion tank cap. I've checked the cap, tank, and seating and it all looks good. My water temps range from about 170-200 once warmed up, and I haven't noticed a significant dip in my coolant level, although the tank level is hard to read. So, until my trunk is full of leaking coolant, I'll take the Porsche dealer's word for it.

There are any number of good reasons why Porsche's investment in VW makes sense, none of which are communicated by this statement. Its sole purpose is to not give a reason. Smart move--Wiedeking's defense provides no target for media spin, and speculation can instead only focus on extrapolations of fact. This is much like what Alan Greenspan does, waxing drivel to the public and leaving his policies and near-term decisions a mystery to the media. This investment isn't earth-shattering, nor is it so risky as to leave Porsche in an unrecoverable position should VW ultimately fail.