964RS for Caterham

[Skidmark]

£ 7K buys some serious bodywork, even on an RS I think. I assume thus repair must have been out of his own pocket, because an insurance company would have stipulated a Porsche approved repair. Did you ask about it ?

 

Is the complete door damaged or just the skin ?

[Skidmark]

Surely you don't mean just paint !!!???

[Julian Thompson]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I was asked!

 

No, what happened was simple. Clearly the car was lightly pranged - original bonnet with sticker, perfect underneath, factory underseal. This was a light "glance" that spoiled the wing and door. Both were replaced and are fine but the paintwork on the wing and door is not as good quality as the rest of the factory finish and the way the shutlines have been set between the door and the wing is amusing !

 

So, the job for my specialist was:

 

1) remove wing and door, strip to bare metal.

2) carefully and expertly refit the panels to factory spec.

3) repaint to factory spec.

 

However, to add complications the original painting clown masked the rear threequarter panel rather than taking out the window so this panel too must be refinshed and according to the painter we must also go into half the bonnet to get the match right. Add to this the fact that there is a roof ariel on the car which I want removing and you can see where he is coming from with repainting all of it.

 

I just dont relish overpainting things and I dont like the idea of repainting the perfect bonnet and right hand side of the car.

 

Ideally I just want the car put back to original spec - I can live with 10 year old paint everywhere else because the car is 10 years old!

 

God knows how much it would be if I said "bare metal the whole car"!

[Julian Thompson]

Forgot to answer the question; the previous owner had the car over 5 years and wasn't bothered about the wing and had never noticed the finish on the door. I am just a very fussy person.

 

The repair was done a long time ago, at least 6 years for sure.

[Gary G]

Julian,

 

I don't and never have had a Porsche, but it seems I am the same as you in that I like to keep my 7 in mint condition and spend lots of time polishing.

 

From the sound of it, you bought the 964 to drive rather than polish, so why not just get the original repair fixed and take the car on the track and enjoy it. It'll be an expensive museum piece otherwise.

[Julian Thompson]

Gary

 

Thanks for that. I think you're right or course - I'm going to get a price to do just that work.

 

And back to the reason we're all here.

 

This nice, black RS for sale at a bargain price. It really isn't easy to find one at this money and of course, should you feel the need to spend a few grand on it when youve bought it (can't think who'd be daft enough to do that - Julian) then at least you've not paid the earth....

[Mark Piper]

Firstly I don't beleive any RS (not 100% sure about the Touring tho) had underseal beyond a special order clear wax (which mine had). It was for this reason that Porsche reduced the corrossion warranty to 2 years (ISTR) on RS.

 

As to the paintwork, £7k is a lot of cash. Gaurds Red is not the most difficult paint to match, but unmatched looks hideous under sulphur lighting.

 

...and if the car's to clean you won't want to track it as they do get badly stonechiped at the front due to their low ride height. Plus if you stick it in the kitty litter, don't try to drive it out - the lack of underseal means there's no protection when shingle is thrown up from the rear wheels -result - dimpling of the rear wings from underneath - nigh on impossible to sort out short of filling and painting.

 

So if the paint is OK, don't bother repainting it, unless you fancy entering Concours. Far better to have fun with it and paint the front just before you sellit on.

[Skidmark]

Thanks for the plug Julian. I think Mark is spot on in his assessment. The RS BEGS to be driven. You just can't do both I think, either you pootle around to Porsche Club meets with a cleaning kit & have everyone ooh & aah over your pride & joy, or get it on some track days & find out what the fuss is all about. It doesn't mean your car is going to turn into a tired old dog ( they are very tough ). Get some more quotes, save your self a few grand & spend the rest on driver training, then you'll find only well driven powerful Sevens & specials passing you..

[kenny.]

I'm tempted on this car...what do you think Julian?...don't want to be accused of copying 😬

 

Kenny SLR400

[Mike C.]

£22,500 is very cheap for a 964 RS.

 

There is currently a fairly strong market for the limited production, driver-focussed, lightweight RS/CS/GT variants of the 911.

 

Whereas the mainstream 996/Boxsters are becoming increasingly popular/common (well they are great cars), many enthusiasts and collectors are looking for something that little bit special.

 

Mad Manx

[Julian Thompson]

Yes yes, I knew my "underseal" comment would be spotted. I didn't mean underseal. I meant that sealing compound stuff they smear accross welded joints and then is painted with the car!

 

Anyway, Kenny.

 

Can't really help you yet - I don't know enough about the car to comment honestly.

 

I think though, that since you are a fussy bugger like me you won't be able to resist spending some wedge on it and so paying such a good price gives you the scope to improve the car if you want to - wheras I on the other hand will end up with a £35000 RS that is only worth £30000. Still, better than the depreciation on a new one!