2001 911 Carrera 4

Real Estate is the answer I’m afraid, I use to be a parking magnet with drive way and garage space a plenty and the world was automotive heaven 🤡 I then decided one day my then wife and I had no future and thus followed a curse word And expensive three years Culminating in the sale of the mother ship. I purchased a big new box off plan as at that point I was working Outside of the U.K. 3 weeks of each month so it made sense rather than trailing around Pre loved homes..... in hindsight I wish I had not purchased a new build as it has as much soul and character as the Spice Girls!!! Part of the contract is a clause relating to parking and although my garage being larger than average could easily accommodate my Range Rover L322 with a driveway in front I’m constantly playing valet parking moving stuff around and have four cars at home. Sorry to bore but getting to the point, although I live in a cul de sac at the end and have a ‘bay’ (technical term for bit of tarmac) outside my house it is for visitors and not residents!!!!

Now, we would all go so what and not give sh1t, however the Management Company in charge of the land have and are apparently keep receiving complaints (unlikely as my neighbours don’t give a sh1t either) and send me letters!!! The idea of storage is to placate the natives and rotate the stock as it were, on the plus side as it is a private development and not handed over to the council or highways I can park a car with no tax, MOT or insurance and no one can so diddly squat.

I do like driving it immensely but find I do go rather quickly which is probably why I’m struggling with my local roads, pot holes, cyclists etc etc.

Differently Maybe..... or no difference at all....

Going old Sokol tonight with Holstein Pils nice and icy from the freezer to complement quick and dirty BBQ burgers to keep the troops happy.

A few fragments on the magnetic diff plug but nothing to complain apart, oily a little dirty but nothing to write home apart.... still a little whiney at speed but peace of mind and a tick in the box.

A few of the smaller under tray plastics are mangled / properly buggered so I will hunt for some replacements from the cheapest source...





Have a nice evening....

A picture of the old bits of broken plastic from the front N/S.... hopefully the replacements will arrive tomorrow :-)

Crisp Cold Carlsberg Export...... lovely after a hard day in the Garden Office!

The 911 is still performing as one would expect and due to bus restrictions for the Bin Lids is being used as daily child transport to and from school with the weather being good, strangely eldest child does not like my pickup 🤔

Daily service has highlighted 3 issues. Firstly the oil leak from the rocker cover is becoming more noticeable to the point the Porker is booked in next week to have the rocker cover removed, sealant removed and replaced. Secondly with more spirited driving the tired engine mount that was not replaced due to lack of space now will be as the exhaust has to be removed for the rocker cover. Thirdly the drone from I think the near side front is getting worse, the diff oil service changed nothing so assume it is either a wheel bearing or possibly a tired/old tyre causing the drone.... could be an expensive week but systematically sorting the issues really does show how rewarding to own and drive these 996’s are.

I tried to post some moody 911 shots I took this evening but it looks more like a bad eBay advert!!! I will try to take some after the school run in the morning......

Until then Beer is called for to wash down tonight’s plant based burgers!!!

Great wheel choice.

What's on the menu? Enjoy the food and drink updates.

What the Cluck....... exactly what I thought as I was preparing the vegetarian duck wraps with finely diced spring onion and cucumber from the garden to be served with plum or hoisin sauce and rather than the small fiddly wraps went for kiddies wraps from a supermarket of your choice. All rather tasty and washed down with some Abbot Ale this evening..... like any Chinese I suspect I’ll be raiding the cupboards later for cheese and crackers, have some lovely tomato and piri piri chutney to accompany it.

Wish I had a good port as the costs are spiralling on the Green Machines Oil Leak and a healthy anaesthetic is required.

The strip down commenced and all coil packs are beyond the best being cracked, exhaust gasket amongst others needed and spark plug tubes also, the boys at AR Automotive in Chinnor who are carrying out the work called Design911 to order the parts however they have a 10 Day lead time so an alternative supplier in the form of euro car parts were used.

Below are a few photos I took after work today:













I have no idea the order they have arrived in, but we have half a eurocupGT exhaust on the bench, a rear calliper and disk that are next on the list to be replaced along with the other three, a rocker cover awaiting cleaning and half a flat six 3.4 litre awaiting assembly.

It still blows my mind that back in 1998 Porsche had a normally aspirated 3.4l engine pushing 300BHP that not only gave then super car performance but also reliability to rival the Japanese.

Twenty years on yes it may have its expensive moments but most vehicles do of this pedigree, I remember having a 1998 Chimera at 6 years old that needed welding!,,,

We digress, once the engine is back together the engine mount will be replaced and wheel bearings investigated, no rush as the MOT has expired and the earliest I can get it booked in is the 9th October......

Success though, no port but have found some Sherry to have with black bomber cheddar cheese on some fruit cake....... it may sound mad but try it.......

Thanks for reading.

Garlic Bread....... as Pete Kay would say

That’s right my friends, you heard it here first, moist fruitcake with cheese and optimally washed down with port....... bring on the Gout!

Well.... it runs and after the monumental 3/4 mile drive back to my house it does not appear to be leaking anymore, the thread doctor did his stuff and all appears to be a little tighter in the rear with less of a audible and physical noise when manoeuvring speed bumps etc with the 996 RS Engine mounts installed on both sides. Any wheel bearing issues could not be identified but with brakes and callipers on the list for spring I may bight the bullet and get them both replaced for peace of mind, the bearings are around £80 per side so with labour on top will all add up, but as I said peace of mind and it won’t be until March hopefully.

I mentioned in a previous entry about garaging the 911 over the winter, a friend has offered space for this and the mini for a reasonable (considering where I live and storage is as rare as hens teeth) 50 quid a month each so they will be out of site and mind mid November..... first of all is MOT day for the 911 tomorrow which will be a mere formality. I’m not against using the 911 in foul weather but last Sunday after the rain I had to get supplies from Thame and even in my pick up the roads were bad with many a car becoming stranded presumably through sucking in water or suffering electrical maladies..... the 911 is not a submarine! Due to COVID and reduced bus service we both do the school run in opposite directions, the roads to Watlington being less susceptible to flooding so the GF is using the Bimmer while I use the truck...... unless I can find another chariot for the winter..... watch this space!

The brown forum offers up some tantalising roffles which are interesting, but private ads on Autotrader maybe my weapon of choice over the evenings. Tonight I have some lovely cod and pea fish cakes, rice with a terrine of winter vegetables I have made washed down with a Dr Loosen German Riesling, the GF is currently man down which means my share will increase 👍🏻

Enjoy the food, it sounds yummy.