Retirement Project - 996

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Wheels and aero package look good together, whole car looks great.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Great find. The rear humps on the C4 really wake that car up. Best 996 there is looks wise.

Not that it really makes a hill of beans to the lucky OP, but I'm pretty sure the C4 has the same rear quarters/size/shape as the standard 911.

The C4S, on the other hand, has the same big fat rump as the turbo, and to give it a leg-up on even that beauty, it has the red reflector strip that extends from tail light to tail light, à la the air-cooled models.

The 996 C4S has one of the best looking arses Porsche designers ever conceived.

_

[Zeke]

That's what I thought he had. And I agree about the looks.

[450knotOffice]

I love the look of your Guards Red aero kit 996.1, David. I’ve owned my similar color 2000 996 for 18 years now and while it’s looks aren’t as flashy as my 997 C4S or my 991 GTS, there’s a timeless beauty to its noticeably smaller size and simpler lines compared to those two. I’m in it 200-300 miles per week going back and forth on my 110 mile drive each way to the airport and I love driving it as much as I ever have.

Congratulations on that beautiful acquisition, David. Yours motivates me to seriously consider finally repainting my own, and my (original) suspension is definitely in need of a rebuild.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by DavidI

I took the car on a short drive and she ran as smooth as can be! I didn't push her too hard because she sat for so long and I wanted to ensure there were no hidden suspension issues. I received the Hartmanns and they fill the wheel wells perfectly to my taste. I ordered some new wheel bolts and should receive them this week. I am also going to tint the windows.

What do you think of the look?

I don't usually like the FUCH replicas on a water cooled but this works really well.
Love it!
Don't tint the windows as it will ruin the looks.

[DavidI]

Originally Posted by Norm K

Not that it really makes a hill of beans to the lucky OP, but I'm pretty sure the C4 has the same rear quarters/size/shape as the standard 911.

The C4S, on the other hand, has the same big fat rump as the turbo, and to give it a leg-up on even that beauty, it has the red reflector strip that extends from tail light to tail light, à la the air-cooled models.

The 996 C4S has one of the best looking arses Porsche designers ever conceived.

_

You are correct Norm. My C4 has the narrow body. I love the look of your C4S!

[DavidI]

Another lesson learned...check to make sure your headlights work prior to driving at night! On Thursday I worked a boxing event about 25 miles from home. My report time was 2:15 pm. The 996 has been running great, so I decided to drive her. There was an issue with the ignition because it was difficult to twist with the key when inserted. I put a few drops of Lucas gun oil in the key hole to lubricate it since the car had been sitting for about 12 years prior to my ownership.

I drove the car to the event with no issues at all. The event ended at about 11:00 pm, obviously very dark at this time of night. I started the car, no problem at all. As I drove through the parking lot where the event was held, I thought it was unusually dark. I rotated the low beam switch several times, but no luck with the headlights! I checked the fuses, no luck.

I had a choice to either drive home and stay close or beside other cars to use their headlights for illumination or call a tow truck.

I thought about Banning's drives through Mullholland and how they raced through the streets without headlights and figured I would use his inspiration and drive the car home myself, rather very slowly and carefully.

I was able to navigate my way home and the next morning began searching for the problem and solution. It turns out that the 996 has an ignition switch that seems to mechanically fail as these car age, accounting for the difficulty in twisting the key. The headlights, according to everything I have read from various sources on the web, may not illuminate when turned on because the faulty ignition switch has a faulty connection and prevents them from closing the circuit.

I ordered a new one from our host and should receive it today. Depending on what time it arrives, I'll either install it today or tomorrow and update this post.

Don't do a bonehead move like me and plan to drive your newly acquired car and drive it at night without ensuring your headlights work!

PSA..I drove home very very slowly and carefully!