well, i now truly believe the issues are not technical, but electrical. let me re-address the issues that i have discussed in post #20

1. BRAKING SYSTEM
a. ABD and ABS came on in my last trip when i turned on the xenons. 80% something's happening in the circuits somewhere. or that is THE BEST timing i have ever seen in a car.
b. even though they did not come on during a bumpy stretch (hit some in this trip as well), i am sure that when that happens, the ABS and ABD lights will switch on because the computers want to do something but are not doing it because of a short or a fuse somewhere. i say this with a bit of conviction only because i have it in my corvette c5. and yes, i am putting a chevy and a porsche in the same sentence.
c. discs sign is on all the time though. don't feel any loss in pads or any squeal from discs or anything for that matter. car holds up well. could be a sensor, could be that it's my first time in a 993 and i'm already impressed with worn discs/pads? <- don't think so

braking system: pass

2. GEARBOX
a. tiptronic still won't engage when i put the lever in M.
b. here's the thing, the shifter lever itself will NOT go down to 3rd in the sequential P,R,N,D,3,2,1
omg this is getting on my nerves and it will be my mission in life to see how is that even happening
BIGGEST ISSUE IS THIS TIPTRONIC THING (not a light matter of course we can all agree)

tranny: pending inspection
power transition: pass

3. IGNITION
car's been sitting for approx 10-12hrs i think (?), fired up with first attempt no probs.
when the ABS/ABD lights came on when i switch on the xenons, i shut it down, restarted and it did just fine (expected really, just saying).
- sparks/fuel pump: did not sense any lag or hear any pops while driving and flooring it so i'm guessing those are fine for the time being <- surely will be addressed in the inspection

ignition: pass

4. ELECTRICAL GLITCHES
in-cabin lights + sideview mirror are trivial matters. pass.
what i do care about esp after h20's contribution is the exclamation and what it is trying to tell me. hoping a 1995 c2 ecu can vent out all its worries to the AD's computer so they can print out the errors.
my guess was maybe the 02 sensors, but now i don't think so because the CHECK ENGINE came for a few seconds and went away when i revved the engine and put some speed up.

exclamation light: pending. very important.

AC + engine temp
impressed with both. AC was good (in +45 degrees celsius weather)
and engine temp was at half and slightly up then back down again depending on standing/moving.

ac/cooling: pass

more on the 993 c2:
found the car to be impressive when i drove it like a sports car, the 993 corners a roundabout like a proper porsche, and the rawness of acceleration (although moderate compared to what i've driven) is excellent fun. definitely feels and sounds you're going faster - but it's also misleading because speedo is in miles (i'm used to bigger numbers of km)

most important thing, deal sealer/breaker will be the gearbox and the tiptronic issue. once at the AD, i will see what a belts service costs and see what is required on the service schedule.
one thing is for sure: if you're buying a 993, drive it more than once. do NOT just take it for a PPI. i was never sold on that stuff, i think any driver can tell what the car REALLY needs

despite my head being busy thinking about those issues, i can definitely see what the fuss is all about with the previous gen porsches. enthusiasts who rallied against the abandonment of the 993-and-previous ways of porscheness since 1999 have a point

i am not in absolute love with the car because i cannot have fallen for it with the pending issues. however i have mustered enough interest having educated myself more about it + driven it again to take it for an AD inspection

to make up for the long rant, here are some pics. very dusty car, sorry. kuwait.

edit: yes i was out in my pjs
graytt, falgo has been incredibly nice and has indeed told me about a CRAAAAZY C4. way out of my budget + way too nice of an example for a hooligan like me + manual

 

Q: THAT IS EXACTLY what I am looking for considering the VC. So all 1996 and above cars have it?
A: Not sure but i think the VC introduced with the 993, My best guess is MY95-96 the VR was introduced. Check pic below of Varioram marking you should be looking for on the intake manifold. I had VC vs VR confusion in my earlier feedback

Q: A C2S is an automatically VC'ed car?
A: Not sure I understand the question.

Q: Not too crazy about the RS bodykit, sorry.
A: Dont like it either, the Carrera RS comes with two aerokit options. I was referring to the one on the yellow car (pics below)

Q: Can the narrowbody C2 be fitted with a whale tale? I mean can the whaletale be "supported" on the narrowbody?
A: yes it can be fitted on a narrow bod, but I am not sure if u want to do that. With a narrow body.. I would stick to extras that originally came or were made for a narrow body.

Hope that helps!

 

boursashi, listen to him, this good man does not speak bulshit ever!




but he has bad taste

 

Thanks bro! Sooo did u do the photoshop of the wheels in body color yet ??? i'll convince u when I see u face to face

 

falgo, THANK YOU once again sir
tips, elrayaal raa3eeha walla mo emgassir ma3ay a7rajnah eb 6eeba!

okay guys so i slept on it, going to take the car back to its owner in a bit; not going to take it for inspection.
i am not over a 993 yet, and will continue to harass you guys for one. german members might have a lot of favours to do
and although my cousin is telling me about a 996TT (which i also lust after), i am having withdrawal issues (lol) from the 993 driving

the main thing that has made me not even want to go to inspect it is the gearbox. not going into third on the lever, and the tiptronic not engaging. i don't know, a bit too rich.
everything else, braking system and my diagnosis that it is a matter of electricity; and the glitches of the sideview mirror and the incabin light and AC circulation button, these are all trivial things that can be taken care of at whatever time.
edit: besides, i don't think there are as many 993 fanatics locally so i assume the car will sit for a while and if my offer is met, pending an inspection of the gearbox/chassis, who knows

will post up more pics later to conclude this thread's first chapter

 

My pleasure! One fine day.. when u least expect it... U'll spot that perfect 993 you've been waiting for All the best!

 

I think you have made a good decision. Kuwaiti 993 market may be tiny, but a well sorted example will likely cost less in the long term.

 

i returned the car tonight, thoroughly enjoyed the 4 trips i took it for and honestly i could use it as such for the next year without any complaints.
while i love my 996 C2 Cabrio, the 993 is NOT a BETTER car. it is just DIFFERENT, in a more INVOLVING way. i would honestly advize anyone to skip the 996 gen as it was clearly in hindsight an 'in-between' transition period, which resulted in the 997 being a much more refined and 'posh', comfortable, and dare i say less-porsche

for me, now, a 993 is a must.
located a Targa, which i am reconsidering with more interest given everyone's contribution here and Falgo's info about the engines of my96+

thing is: this targa has the 17" wheels 5 spoke w/ rivets which is a no-no for me. it also comes in green/turquoise which is even a bigger no-no for me. also has yellow markers + turn signals back and front, triple no-no. no turbo bumper, but i won't push it just yet

upside is he is asking around $20k, claims original 140k km (87.5k miles) on motor. v clean interior. and since GrayTT promised he will make Falgo donate some parts from a gorgeous silver C4 (markers, lights, turbo s fogs), that makes it a project car: riviera? mexico blue paintjob? deep lip wheels? WHY NOT

 

Good decision.

Now dump the 996 and start the hunt for the right one

 

Mark, 996 is staying too pampered and well maintained to just flip + rare to find a cabrio here (in its color combo)

Targa update:
car is supposedly ALREADY at the AD! talked to the owner of the AD, he said to come by tomorrow to let me into the shop to search.
if the car IS there, that saves like 3 days worth of going back and forth! very important since ramadhan is almost over and Eid holiday will be like an extra week of waiting. 90% certain they have a file for her there, and that makes things very easy as well + jack it up for inspection

feeling good about this already ..

from ebay, seems like $500 has to go into lights (clear front markers, clear turn signals on fender for euro models, red taillights) before i can drive it lol. from what i understand, it DOES have xenon lights, but uncertain whether they are from newer lenses or just bulbs.

wheels (many options) and paintjob (riviera/mexico blue) decisions pending seeing it in real life. reportedly, interior is in excellent condition (original) with electric seats, wood trim, and tiptronic buttons in steering wheel

wish me luck tomorrow guys


edit: car is supposed to be 100% like this (except it will have the third brake light bracket thing)







i get it's a 'vintage' colour, but i hate it