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I had the distinct pleasure of hitting two milestones on the same day: 993 posts and 100,000 on the odometer! To celebrate, I figured I would post my 993 story as my 993rd post complete with some pics documenting my history with the car. I apologize for the length, but I guess in the end it is good to know that someone can be every bit as enthusiastic about their car seven years into their ownership as they were the first time they turned the key...
I purchased my 993 from fellow Rennlister Al Z in January 2004 with 73k on the clock. Al has come and gone into the 993 fold several times, first with my car, second with the Cactuswagon and finally with another Polar Silver car which I hope he holds onto. My car already had some pretty desirable pieces on it when I purchased it from Al, including hollow spoke NB twists, a turbo front bumper with scoops/fogs, RSRs, some interior bits, HIDs, etc. I had a PPI done on the car, but otherwise this was the first time we met after it was shipped from Detroit to Nashville sight unseen:
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:26 AM.
I stumbled on this post tonight while looking for something else! To update everyone 13 years later, I still have the 993 and it now has 142k miles on it. I had the car repainted in 2017 as the paint was a little beat up from using it as my track car for a decade and finally added the wheels that I've wanted for it ever since I first got the car- gold centered BBS E88s. I just celebrated my 20th anniversary owning the car and love it just as much as I did when I first bought it. I remember how much $33k dollars felt in 2004 when I was 28 and bought the car, but as we all know the market has been kind to the car.
...and I ended up getting a 997 GT3RS a few years after my last post as I had hoped. I just crossed my 10 year ownership mark on that car and it has 42k on the clock. Then I added an E55 wagon, a Lotus Elise and a 78 Trans Am. But the 993 will always be my favorite
At first the 993 was going to be a sunny day and weekends car, but after my regular autocross car at the time (MR2 Turbo) started having problems, I found myself taking the 993 out for runs and loving it. I sold my autocross car in early 2005 and used the money to add PSS9s, TRG sways, 18" CCW classics and MPSCs to the 993. Pat Williams Racing in Memphis installed the parts and gave the car an awesome alignment and corner balance. This transformed the car into a perfect cone carver. I was consistently the first or second fastest car of the day during the 2006 and 2007 autocross seasons with this setup, which sure made alot of Z06 owners in ASP unhappy Here are a couple of pics right around the time I got it back from Pat:
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:27 AM.
In 2007 I decided it was time to put a little more love into the 993, so I added an RS wing from MA Shaw, deleted the basket handle brakelight, had the front end resprayed and replaced the rock guards and headlight lenses. I also had my hollow spokes painted black, painted my calipers red after a full rebuild, had Guard rebuild the factory LSD and added the silver crest:
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:27 AM.
The car was awesome, but something was missing...oh yeah- the script! It was risky whether I was going to like it or not, but in the end I think it completes the car. Like most of us, I'm a huge fan of the 73 RS and GT3RS, which was probably my primary motive in adding it. I was happy with the way it turned out.
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:28 AM.
Since adding the script in 2008, I haven't done much but drive and enjoy the car. I am still sliding down the slope (replaced the windshield and added a 996 GT3 steering wheel and cat delete pipe last year), but at a more relaxed pace as there isn't much left I want to do to the car. I gave up autocrossing in 2008 once my daughter was born, but still get the car out to three or four track days a year. Here are a few pics from the track:
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:28 AM.
If you haven't figured it out, I still love my 993 today just as much as the day I got it. Although it now has 100k on the clock, it doesn't appear to burn any oil (I check it religiously and never have to add any between oil changes), pulls like new and looks like a car with half the mileage. I have really been keeping an eye on 997.1 GT3 RS's lately and hope to add one to the garage several years from now, but I'll only do so if I can keep the 993. I've seen too many people leave the 993 fold only to return countless times, so I know I'd regret selling her. One final pic taken by my wife, who was not only nice enough to take a picture of me standing next to my car right as it turned 100k (including driving in circles in the parking lot for 1.4 of those miles), but for putting up with my Porsche hobby and the hours I spend on Rennlist (which is alot, although I guess I don't post much since it took over 7 years to get 993 posts):
Last edited by 993Brendan; 03-26-2011 at 12:29 AM.
Great looking car.
BTW, what you use to wrap at the front (the blue stuff) when you are on track?
Originally Posted by 993Brendan
Since adding the script in 2008, I haven't done much but drive and enjoy the car.* I am still sliding down the slope (replaced the windshield and added a 996 GT3 steering wheel and cat delete pipe last year), but at a more relaxed pace as there isn't much left I want to do to the car.* I gave up autocrossing in 2008 once my daughter was born, but still get the car out to three or four track days a year.* Here are a few pics from the track:
Thanks for the compliments. The tape is just blue 3M painter's tape. I had the front end resprayed a few years back and it keeps the chips to a minimum. The trailer hitch is for my little tire trailer that I started pulling to the track a few years ago.
Vince- you're not too bad yourself. I'm happy our local 993 crew is growing! I'll probably bag on CnC tomorrow- the forecast looks terrible. Definitely looking forward to the Ferrari one the next weekend if the weather is nice!
Nice Brendan! This same post will be a long time from now since I'm only at 41xxx and some change now. I never saw the CCW's on your car and I like em. On another note nice shirt and I just had a flashback last weekend with a friend about the first time I saw 7 Seconds.
Nice Brendan! This same post will be a long time from now since I'm only at 41xxx and some change now. I never saw the CCW's on your car and I like em. On another note nice shirt and I just had a flashback last weekend with a friend about the first time I saw 7 Seconds.
Thanks - I love the look of the CCWs. I'm hoping to get some BBS LMs with black centers down the road so I can have the same look for my street setup. I didn't think anyone would catch the shirt- I'm impressed.
I stumbled on this post tonight while looking for something else! To update everyone 13 years later, I still have the 993 and it now has 142k miles on it. I had the car repainted in 2017 as the paint was a little beat up from using it as my track car for a decade and finally added the wheels that I've wanted for it ever since I first got the car- gold centered BBS E88s. I just celebrated my 20th anniversary owning the car and love it just as much as I did when I first bought it. I remember how much $33k dollars felt in 2004 when I was 28 and bought the car, but as we all know the market has been kind to the car.
...and I ended up getting a 997 GT3RS a few years after my last post as I had hoped. I just crossed my 10 year ownership mark on that car and it has 42k on the clock. Then I added an E55 wagon, a Lotus Elise and a 78 Trans Am. But the 993 will always be my favorite
03-25-2011, 11:17 PM
993rd post and 100,000 miles
