964 - Things you didn't know when buying..

[noel]

I'm very keen to buy a C4 in the new year and wanted to find out those little things only an owner could discover. What niggles are there, what have you found out?

Thanks in advance for the input.

[wildoliver]

the fact the dipstick is several kilometres long, and you can only check the oil when the engines warmed up and running! Catches many a new owner out!

[Ian964]

The gurgling sounds from behind your right shoulder after starting it up from cold - just the noise of the oil through the oil tank. And the cloud of white smoke from the exhaust on start up if it's been left standing for a few days.

[epoch911]

In no particular order:
> Getting used to dimming the rear view mirror cos every other car coming up behind you is taller than you are
> Learning to love the 'personality' of your warning lights (how that diff warning light loves the wet)
> Take a tip from the IT community...aleways remember to switch it off then on again. Et voila!
> Wondering what the hell to put in the tape cassette storage in between the seats
> Believing that the numbers on the blower control actually mean something
> That a simple tap of the DME fuse can cure many a "non start". Then getting a spare just in case
> Loving the "explosion is a switch factory" ergonomics of the dash
> Learning to love the smell of oil, petrol and exhaust.
> Learning to relax...problems are often simpler than you think
> BUT..keeping a couple of grand in the kitty just in case....

[911wise]

Every man and his dog trying to overtake you. It seems that overtaking a 911 is quite a scalp, and as most people in a mondeo (or similar mass produced uniform car) wouldn't have the nerve to try it on a newer model, they seem to think that challenging an older model gives them their best chance.
Sqealing of belts for a few seconds on start up (usually damp).
Whistling ans sqealing of air temperature sensor in climate control unit, I'm told a squirt of wd40 cures this but so far have been a bit unsure and not tried it.
Last but not least the dreaded oil leak, maybe not the case for every car, mines done 87k and is bone dry. maybe work was done on it under warranty early in its life or I have just been lucky, touch wood.

[leosayer]

I didn't know that a replacement targa roof costs £9000 if you break the one on the car.

[Ratspants]

epoch911 said:

Believing that the numbers on the blower control actually mean something

I was fiddling with these whilst getting a lift with my Dad in his 964, and we couldn't work out what the correlation was at all

It seemed to turn itself on/off/faster/slower as it saw fit. Sounds like this is a reasonably normal behaviour - although I haven't read the owners manual

Ben

[melv]

See:

www.porsche964.co.uk

[Patrick1964]

Finding out that you can get a "cubby hole" to replace that useless cassette holder

[wildoliver]

Patrick1964 said:

Finding out that you can get a "cubby hole" to replace that useless cassette holder

I've got a cup holder in mine, room for 2 cans or in my case 1 can and a phone!

Oh and airbag light!