Newbie owner: 10 interesting facts for all you other newbie 911 owners.

[TheGreg]

So as a newbie 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa owner here are some pieces of advice for all you new Porsche owners.

10. The engine is in the back.

9. Yes that is the spare tire.

8. Do not break off a little piece of wood when you are pushing the calipers back during a brake pad job. That little piece has a habit of slipping in behind the calipers and wedging itself back inside in the disc. It is a pain in the *** to get it out...or so I've heard...from someone...named Phil?

7. The key is on the LEFT side.

6. No matter how good you are in driving on ice and snow, a 3.2 Carrera is NOT the right car to drive on black ice.

5. The flap covers in your gastank filler access port thing fold left over right....no wait I mean they go right over left...wait no....dammit.

4. The intermittent window wiper control is not actually on the normal wiper control. It is actually on the top right of the dashboard, it's a cute little button that you spin to actuate. A very Jaguar-ish touch...in a good way.

3. Your car jack does actually fit even though you may not know it. There is a little plastic cover over the jack point slot, nowhere does it tell you to pop that little sucker off.

2. No. I cannot help you figure out your heater controls, that is a path every man must walk alone.

And the number one thing to know if you are a brand new Carrera owner is?

1. The oil dipstick is INSIDE the oil fill tube.

[emac]

Good write up. If you think the little piece of wood is a pain in the ars drop the dip stich in the big hole
PS. Check oil on level ground WITH engine running
Greetings
Ernie81 sc

[Dodge Man]

On many classic models, the oil light flashes when the E-Brake is engaged. When your door scratch gets repaired, body shops will pour in several quarts of oil to try to cover their A** but will not admit to it when the oil smoke & oil flooded air box appear. Quote, "Yes this shop does Porsches all of the time"; body shop was used/recommended by a dealer that is no longer in business.

[TheGreg]

Originally Posted by emac

Good write up. If you think the little piece of wood is a pain in the ars drop the dip stich in the big hole
PS. Check oil on level ground WITH engine running
Greetings
Ernie81 sc

Ouch. That sounds like a fun time. My learnings are over the past six months or so.

[sobamaflyer]

One last look in the garage before bed is ok

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

One last look in the garage before bed is ok

Every single night since they day she came home.

[porsche930dude]

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

One last look in the garage before bed is ok

to make sure the lights are off and there is no fires or fluids pouring out

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Every single night since they day she came home.

Thank goodness. I thought I was the only one.

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

Thank goodness. I thought I was the only one.

Nope, every time I stand at the top of the stairs and turn off the lights in the garage...

[atc_marty]

Might I add:

11. Never fill the oil to the top. So much smoke...

12. The spare needs to be inflated before use. Also, it can't go on the rear.

I learned all these things during the same, shall we say, roadside event. I now have a new-to-me spare. Transmission survived.

[Unobtainium]

1. You will smile every time you drive it.
2. You will smile every time you see it.
3. Others will not understand.
4. You won't care.
5. Stopping power is more impressive than its acceleration and you will love that about Porsche.
6. The AC works poorly and it won't bother you.
7. The heater is enough to keep food warm on a jaunt for Chinese food takeout.
8. Yours is the best color combo and model year.
9. You will look at the new ones and initially dislike them, but by the next model release they will grow on you. Though secretly you'd never part with yours for one. And you will have a new 911 model to dislike.
10. You WILL modify it or restore it to make it just as you know it should be. And it will take 4 times longer than your worse case scenerio, but then it will seem more perfect than ever. Repeat 1-4

[mgro1959]

And always let your car warm up before adding oil. Pulling into the gas station years ago as a newbie owner and talking to the fellow Porsche owner next to me who said I almost ran out of oil! First thought was how stupid, how could you run a car out of oil that takes almost a case of oil. Second thought Geez maybe I should check my oil level. Lucky thing I did. It was down about a liter. 4 blocks later I could not see anything behind my car. Thought I was fogging for mosquitos. First my heart almost stopped, quick glance at the gauges showed no real issues then embarassment set in and it was a 12 block trip back home. I took the side streets . The faster I drove the thinner the smoke cloud and less chance someone I knew would see me. Swearing and pissed at the car I parked it. I opened the decklid and there it was the tell tail sign of one who was afraid they would run out of oil. A drip of oil from the air box. I opened it up and there was the extra liter of oil minus that which was still settling over the 12 blocks I has passed. Good laugh now but was fairly traumatic at the time.

[bdisco]

2. No. I cannot help you figure out your heater controls, that is a path every man must walk alone.

[X JBM X]

That diagram totally makes sense!

[McLaren-TAG]

After a year and a half of ownership, I still 'subconsciously' fondle the rear flare and leading edge of the wing in one stroke every time I pass the car in the garage.

[wgirardot]

Originally Posted by TheGreg

So as a newbie 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa owner here are some pieces of advice for all you new Porsche owners.

10. The engine is in the back.

9. Yes that is the spare tire.

8. Do not break off a little piece of wood when you are pushing the calipers back during a brake pad job. That little piece has a habit of slipping in behind the calipers and wedging itself back inside in the disc. It is a pain in the *** to get it out...or so I've heard...from someone...named Phil?

7. The key is on the LEFT side.

6. No matter how good you are in driving on ice and snow, a 3.2 Carrera is NOT the right car to drive on black ice.

5. The flap covers in your gastank filler access port thing fold left over right....no wait I mean they go right over left...wait no....dammit.

4. The intermittent window wiper control is not actually on the normal wiper control. It is actually on the top right of the dashboard, it's a cute little button that you spin to actuate. A very Jaguar-ish touch...in a good way.

3. Your car jack does actually fit even though you may not know it. There is a little plastic cover over the jack point slot, nowhere does it tell you to pop that little sucker off.

2. No. I cannot help you figure out your heater controls, that is a path every man must walk alone.

And the number one thing to know if you are a brand new Carrera owner is?

1. The oil dipstick is INSIDE the oil fill tube.

another fact of life: your 911 is going to be a $20,000.00 car by the time you get it right, and sorted out

[weseeeee]

It's been over 15 years and I still look in the garage and think I'm a lucky man

[dyusem]

Originally Posted by Unobtainium

1. You will smile every time you drive it.
2. You will smile every time you see it.
3. Others will not understand.
4. You won't care.
5. Stopping power is more impressive than its acceleration and you will love that about Porsche.
6. The AC works poorly and it won't bother you.
7. The heater is enough to keep food warm on a jaunt for Chinese food takeout.
8. Yours is the best color combo and model year.
9. You will look at the new ones and initially dislike them, but by the next model release they will grow on you. Though secretly you'd never part with yours for one. And you will have a new 911 model to dislike.
10. You WILL modify it or restore it to make it just as you know it should be. And it will take 4 times longer than your worse case scenerio, but then it will seem more perfect than ever. Repeat 1-4

+1 (and yup, I am lusting after a 997.2 4S to add to the stable)

[mhall131313]

This is very fun and so very true! Every night for me it is one quick look with a gentle touch. Then I shake my head and say to myself, I own a Porsche!!

[sky1jord]

Originally Posted by Unobtainium

1. You will smile every time you drive it.
2. You will smile every time you see it.
3. Others will not understand.
4. You won't care.
5. Stopping power is more impressive than its acceleration and you will love that about Porsche.
6. The AC works poorly and it won't bother you.
7. The heater is enough to keep food warm on a jaunt for Chinese food takeout.
8. Yours is the best color combo and model year.
9. You will look at the new ones and initially dislike them, but by the next model release they will grow on you. Though secretly you'd never part with yours for one. And you will have a new 911 model to dislike.
10. You WILL modify it or restore it to make it just as you know it should be. And it will take 4 times longer than your worse case scenerio, but then it will seem more perfect than ever. Repeat 1-4

You read my mind.