what's the market for a LHD 993 like ?

[Porsche]

hello all

I am a current LHD Audi Coupe owner (heavily modded from Amd & Milltek), looking to get a 993 C2 based on a need to move up to 6 cylinders & rear wheel drive
and a leftie is sadly all I could afford, but after almost 2.5 years of a leftie here in the UK, I'm happy with it !

now I bought my Audi directly from germany 3 years ago (how the euro was kind in those days!) , I was wondering how the UK LHD market was for 993's... supply ? prices, etc ?

just starting my serach & research, which suggests I should stick to a 1996+ varioram model only.. is this a good idea....?

any words of wisdom about LHD 993's would be greatly appreciated ?

any views on after market warranties for the 993 ?

what about speedo conversions ? would I expect a leftie to have a converted MPH speedo or keep the KPH but with a MPH sticker, i.e. MOT compliant ? what's the situation ?

and have any of you gone down the AmD tuning route for your 993's ?

many more questions to follow !

regards


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[adrianc]

lhd 993...


You are probably better off buying a lhd 993 in the UK than Europe. Right now many are cheaper (after costing collection/reg) than Europe and some are heading back'home'.


Warranties will depend on who /what they are, no universal standard...but the good specialists probably offer the best ...some will be offering in house warranties .i.e. they underwrite themselves...and on an older Porsche this may be best.


Always ask what is really covered and how it works, sadly many 'salesman' cant bring themselves to tell it like it really is, that is a warranty is very specific on what it will and will not cover..ask.


MPH/kmh, I always prefer an original clock, the 'MOT' is not dependant on mph/kmh.


As always, go carefully, check thoroughly wherever the car comes from.


Adrian Crawford.
www.911secrets.com
www.performance2and4.co.uk




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[Hendo]

Hi Sundeep

I bought mine here in england from Paul Devyae. although LHD not his speciality, he was aware of my interest in a 993 if one came up and I was already driving a LHD 964. Adrians point is bang on that with current FX rates, there are few if any bargains to be had by sourcing from germany and probably more headaches. I've still got the original KPH speedo and as Adrian says, its not an MOT failure. Much has been said about varioram vs pre. Maybe I'm a big girls blouse but I'd have thought that you'd have to be pushing hard regularly to notice 13 extra horses and the pre varioram engines have all the 'bulletproof' qualities of its successor. I didnt bother with after market warranties as IMHO most are a waste of money and dont cover anything that might go wrong. Again, as Adrian says, tread carefully, get everything checked, and a quality 993 wont need a warranty and the premium saved might cover a service or two. Having already driven LHD, you wont need any advice or guidance on that front. Still a decent discount to be had vs RHD equivalent and a car that is 'les cacahuetes de chien' as my French colleagues might say.


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[Porsche]

thanks,

my mistake on the MPH speedo being MOT required !

I got my TT direct from the german equiv' of the autotrader
www.uk.mobile.de
which still has the odd bargains ! esp' in the 996 Targa market....

but it was a HUGE effort going direct, myself with no help ! all worked out in the end and still saved £000's over what a UK importor could have offered BUT those where the days of the great FOREX rates ! :wink:

Now I got my Speedo changed to MPH, how do people cope with a KPH speedo ? :?
or are just very good at dividing everything by 1.6 ?

I've just bought Peter Morgan's 993 buyers guide, so that should be an interesting read..

my current dilema is having seen the spec of the C4S, i.e. turbo chassis, suspension & brakes, etc 8)
is this really a better sports car than just a plane C2 ? i.e. 993 big brakes are a legendary coversion on an Audi TT and having driven a few the thought of driving a 993 with only ordinary brakes sounds a bit odd ! and of course in am in that whole TRACK DAY thing, which I've done in my TT....

the alternative is a 993 Targa, 8)
i've only ever seen pic's, any owners out there with experiences, not sure if there are any compromises in a Targa over a standard 993 ? i.e. boot / interior spaces, etc but it dont seem to exist on the used LHD market over here ? or am I looking in the wrong places ?

based on the prices that I have seen, .. (ignoring all the what if's) is the varioram really worth paying a premium for ?


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[Hendo]

Quote: Originally posted by Sundeep on 03 June 2004

Now I got my Speedo changed to MPH, how do people cope with a KPH speedo ? :?
or are just very good at dividing everything by 1.6 ?

Dividing by 1.6 is harder than multiplying by 6. Simpleton that I am, every 10 kph is 6 miles for me, so the ones I watch are 50kph (normally highlighted flourescent) and 70KPH for round town and villages. 120-130 KPH on motorways. If I'm above those, I know where I am and I'm not watching anything other than the rev counter.

:wink:

Incidentally, RSJ, on the independant dealer section at the bottom have a very nice looking C4S
http://www.rsjsportscars.co.uk/vehicles/porsche_911_993_4s_15.htm


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[noony]

For trackdays get a C2. They are lighter hence more nimble.

There seems to be no real reason to avoid pre variorams. Poon's is, admin's is and our old one was a pre varioram. In fact if you want to chip it you should get a pre varioram, they have an on board computer(OBD1) that is much easier to chip.

Good luck


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[Griffo]

Sundeep,

I don't think you can just get a new sticker for the speedo to convert Kph to Mph and replacement's are serious money. I bought a LDH 993 about a year ago and only found one out of about twenty cars with the speedo converted, so I think your stuck with Hendo's conversions like the rest of us!

I wouldn't bother with a C2S if your after the big RED brakes either, as they have the normal C2's as std.

One thing you might bear in mind if your thinking about a traga is that it's based on the Cabrio chassis not the coupe so if your a track day fanatic expect the same performance in terms of handling as the cabrio.


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[Jamie Summers]

The easy solution to the kph speedo problem is to put a couple of stickers on the glass of the guage at the relevant point, as the previous owner had kindly done on my lhd 911. All you need is 30, 50, 70, 90 - easy !

Jamie


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[Porsche]

Incidentally, RSJ, on the independant dealer section at the bottom have a very nice looking C4S
http://www.rsjsportscars.co.uk/vehicles/porsche_911_993_4s_15.htm

perfect ! then I saw the price
which puts it into RHD priced marked......

on that Targa... is the roof really worth while or is the standard sunroof enough (btw, is it standard or is that a/c ?)

as for the chassis, so a Targa is based on the Cab, so I assume that means it heavier ? and therefore not as nimble ? is that correct......

silly question, but does the Targa still have the 2 pint sized seats up back ?

also any problems with the 993 Targa roof that I should know about ? any extra servicing in it or just more grease :wink:


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[bosch]

I've never had a problems with kph conversions - as Hendo says you look out for 50 kph (31 mph) which is marked in flourescent, then 80 kph (50 mph), 100kph (62mph) 130 kph (80 mph) and the rest is off the rev counter. There are some definite bargains to be had over RHD, but its advisable to go for a car that's already registered in the UK. Also one thing to look out for is to check that it has the correct RHD headlamps (about £450 a pair from independents) - the lamps are switchable, but will only output a symmetrical flat beam.
Pick wisely and enjoy.

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[Porsche]

cheers

but does that mean the standard LHD headlamps are not switchable ?

so even if I was to import I would need to replace the headlamps to RHD spec....

as for the speedo, I might install a dash mounted RoadAngel (which I already have in my TT) which gives me an instant and accurate MPH reading...




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[bosch]

All 993 headlamps are switchable (whether LHD or RHD), the problem being that switching them over to the "foreign" setting produces a symmetrical flat beam, ie no assymetric kink to highlight roadside. Technically its a MOT failure, but I doubt many testers would fail it - I found its more of a safety issue being able to see at night

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[Hendo]

Sundeep

Bosch's point is well made especially as 993 regular headlights are about as bright as mud. I've got mine switched on to foreign setting. (very simple to do, takes about 3 minutes) but the beam is neutral rather than biased to the left hand road side. It does stop you blinding on-coming traffic though. There are a number of threads about light bulbs for 993's and I did change mine for a set of 'blue light' high intensity. I think they are Bosch (from halfords) which have improved night driving immensely.

If you get to that stage, you can always either priv message me or post a request and folks'll let you know what bulbs are best


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[Porsche]

Quote: Originally posted by bosch on 03 June 2004

All 993 headlamps are switchable (whether LHD or RHD), the problem being that switching them over to the "foreign" setting produces a symmetrical flat beam, ie no assymetric kink to highlight roadside. Technically its a MOT failure, but I doubt many testers would fail it - I found its more of a safety issue being able to see at night

cheers, although I have the same issue with my TT, the xenon lights switch over with the flick of a switch but also produce a flat beam..

I know a few TT's that have been up for MOT's and the odd MOT chappie have spotted it and IIRC from the reports from TT owners, the MOT place have checked their MOT doc's to find that there was no specific mention of the requirement of the assymetric kink to nearside of the road...??

so is it really an MOT failure ? havent known of a LHD TT to fail yet ? or just how sharp the tester is ??

although my current flat xenon setting seem to be fine, although my local stealer made an adjustment recently (who says its now fine) and the xenons seem to have lost a bit of their direction..! and has made vision at night worse :?

although the audi stealer in question did try to claim it was a £300 cost to flick the lights over until I found about the switch !


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[LOJO]

Sundeep, I was told that the reason to get a Varioram isn't for the varioram, it is for the assurance that you have the latest wiring rig and som other upgrades that are more important than the few horses extra. (comments anyone?)

About that C4S being in RHD territory, I think you are wrong there - maybe you can get a RHD C4 for 30k, but a RHD C4S would be closer to 35-40k. If you find a C2 or C4 and take the cost of adding the 18" wheels, big red brakes, turbo suspension and body you will pay far more than the cost difference between C4 and C4S, so I think if you may want that stuff it is better to buy the C4S than to go C4 plus upgrade.

HOWEVER, the argument against the C4S is that the standard cars are cheaper on tyres, more nimble, and arguably have better ride on bumpy roads.

LJ


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