New Porsche owner
04-15-2011, 04:43 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Porsche owner
I've been semi-lurking for years, and I've been posting for a while, but it's time for a proper check-in.
I've wanted a 911 since I was a kid. I don't know when exactly, but in the mid 1970s I had photos and cutouts of 911s, 930s, BMW touring cars, and so on. Skip forward to 1997 or so, and it was time to buy a second car, and I shopped around for a used 911. Budget was a big concern, and I realized that (1) what I really wanted was too expensive at the time, and (2) what I could afford would require a lot of research to get right. I found a great deal on a 2-year-old Miata which I thought was going to be temporary:
5 years and 2 kids later later I traded it in for a spanking-new-to-the-US Subaru STi. A practical four-door family car.
Taken when the car was completely stock, at a DE event in Spokane WA. Note which car I went to Spokane with. The STi transformed from a completely stock car to a SCCA street prepared autocross car, ruining the family part:
I went overboard with it, and after over 40 autocross events in 2005 and a hillclimb:
[youtube]M4_lpxvcHyU[/youtube]
I had to quit. Money and more importantly, time with 3 kids. I got laid off in 2008, so we sold everything but our minivan.
After getting a job again and riding my bike to work for a few months, I started looking seriously for another car. The Miata, RX-8, and S2000 made the short list, but the Boxster and Cayman looked like they might also be possible with a stretch. I went down to the local dealer to check out a 2006 Cayman they had, since I'd never driven one. Well what do you know -- a gorgeous 2004 996 C4S sitting next to it for an attractive price and even included a CPO. Wow the 996's have depreciated. I drove them both, and while the Cayman does handle very nice, the interior was a bit smaller, there are no back seats, and the engine sound didn't appeal. On the other hand, the C4S.... After a couple weeks of dithering I went ahead and did it. Later Feb 2011 I finally join the Porsche owners club. After years of some involvement with the PCA, I finally get to join.
2004 996 C4S, 20k miles, 6-speed (of course), midnight blue metallic, gray leather interior, CF trim (not my choice but it's ok), PSE, GT3 wheels, Bose sound, bi-xenon, heated seats, M032 touring suspension (standard).
After a month the license plates arrived, and my youngest daughter likes them:
On a tour of the SW Idaho area with the Miata club:
Autocrossing in stock form:
The kids like it. I've driven 1, 2, and 3 kids to work, to dinner, on driving tours. It's a lot more practical than I thought when I bought it.
I'm now pondering the merits of aero kits, suspension (X73/74 or PSS10), wheels (used turbo twists or Victor Innsbrucks), tires (AD08s or V710s), etc. Or I may do what I had planned all along and leave it stock. Time will tell.
I've wanted a 911 since I was a kid. I don't know when exactly, but in the mid 1970s I had photos and cutouts of 911s, 930s, BMW touring cars, and so on. Skip forward to 1997 or so, and it was time to buy a second car, and I shopped around for a used 911. Budget was a big concern, and I realized that (1) what I really wanted was too expensive at the time, and (2) what I could afford would require a lot of research to get right. I found a great deal on a 2-year-old Miata which I thought was going to be temporary:
5 years and 2 kids later later I traded it in for a spanking-new-to-the-US Subaru STi. A practical four-door family car.
Taken when the car was completely stock, at a DE event in Spokane WA. Note which car I went to Spokane with. The STi transformed from a completely stock car to a SCCA street prepared autocross car, ruining the family part:
I went overboard with it, and after over 40 autocross events in 2005 and a hillclimb:
[youtube]M4_lpxvcHyU[/youtube]
I had to quit. Money and more importantly, time with 3 kids. I got laid off in 2008, so we sold everything but our minivan.
After getting a job again and riding my bike to work for a few months, I started looking seriously for another car. The Miata, RX-8, and S2000 made the short list, but the Boxster and Cayman looked like they might also be possible with a stretch. I went down to the local dealer to check out a 2006 Cayman they had, since I'd never driven one. Well what do you know -- a gorgeous 2004 996 C4S sitting next to it for an attractive price and even included a CPO. Wow the 996's have depreciated. I drove them both, and while the Cayman does handle very nice, the interior was a bit smaller, there are no back seats, and the engine sound didn't appeal. On the other hand, the C4S.... After a couple weeks of dithering I went ahead and did it. Later Feb 2011 I finally join the Porsche owners club. After years of some involvement with the PCA, I finally get to join.
2004 996 C4S, 20k miles, 6-speed (of course), midnight blue metallic, gray leather interior, CF trim (not my choice but it's ok), PSE, GT3 wheels, Bose sound, bi-xenon, heated seats, M032 touring suspension (standard).
After a month the license plates arrived, and my youngest daughter likes them:
On a tour of the SW Idaho area with the Miata club:
Autocrossing in stock form:
The kids like it. I've driven 1, 2, and 3 kids to work, to dinner, on driving tours. It's a lot more practical than I thought when I bought it.
I'm now pondering the merits of aero kits, suspension (X73/74 or PSS10), wheels (used turbo twists or Victor Innsbrucks), tires (AD08s or V710s), etc. Or I may do what I had planned all along and leave it stock. Time will tell.
04-15-2011, 04:57 PM
#2
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Very nice!
Trending Topics
04-15-2011, 07:44 PM
#8
Your car is stunning. So much so that I'm jealous.
Wait...I have a C4S in midnight blue and grey interior...in my garage!
I love these cars!
Excellent pic with grey sky by the way. Might have to turn that into a desktop pic.
Wait...I have a C4S in midnight blue and grey interior...in my garage!
I love these cars!
Excellent pic with grey sky by the way. Might have to turn that into a desktop pic.
04-15-2011, 08:59 PM
#11
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 0
Received 37 Likes
on
30 Posts
Supreme. The backstory is excellent and the countryside looks magnificent! Enjoy the miles and smiles and I am sure there are quite a few empty mountains roads that you can touor around on. As for mods, once you start, there is no turning back...you jump into the abyss, (monds) no one in here will help to break the fall, its all terminal velocity from there......."tower to Yomi"....."Runway 996 PNW, is clear and anytime you are ready, you may proceed with takeoff."
04-16-2011, 04:57 AM
#13
Congrat's!. Great looking car and country. For mods I think B&M SSK would be first. Suspension (coilovers & sway bars) would be next (I run JIC Coilovers which I highly recommend). Lighter wheels then............
04-16-2011, 08:31 AM
#14
Congrats! The GT3 wheels and PSE are nice.
I can relate to the overboard autox too. Kids and family put that into check pretty quick.
But, you PAX'd so well, it'd be a shame not to see you prep the car a little more for stock class.
turbo twists, used V710s or A6s, Koni yellows, ebay muffler bypass are all relatively inexpensive.
Whatever you decide, good luck!
I can relate to the overboard autox too. Kids and family put that into check pretty quick.
But, you PAX'd so well, it'd be a shame not to see you prep the car a little more for stock class.
turbo twists, used V710s or A6s, Koni yellows, ebay muffler bypass are all relatively inexpensive.
Whatever you decide, good luck!
