Total 911

Max Newman

-

Aylesbury, UK @maxripcor

Model 997.1 CARRERA Year 2004 Acquired APRIL 2012 Model 991.1 CARRERA S Year 2013 Acquired SEPTEMBER 2020

So how did I end up with a brown 911?

I’d actually noticed it and overlooked it in my search for a 991.1 C2S, on the grounds that it had the alloy wheel design I was trying to avoid and a light interior when I really wanted black.

I knew from experience with my 997 and my 335i Touring that it is difficult to find, when you get really serious, a car that really ticks all the boxes and comes in on budget. The brown car was in stock locally at RPM Technik in Cheddingto­n, and when I looked more closely at the advert online I realised it had an absolutely stellar spec. Being an Autumn 2013 (2014MY) build it had DAB radio, on top of PDK, Sport Chrono, PSE, rear wiper, Bose, and – wait for it – heated AND cooled seats. Don’t knock them until you’ve tried them.

RPM Technik are a respected marque specialist situated just half an hour from home, so I reasoned it was worth at least viewing the car. I knew my first impression would tell all, and reveal whether the light Agate and Pebble interior and Anthracite brown exterior combo were to my taste.

On a sunny Saturday morning in September the car looked simply stunning. The spec struck me as really interestin­g and classy rather than pensioner spec. And the Carrera Classic wheels complement­ed the overall look for a very cool St. Moritz rather than Silverston­e vibe. I’m guilty of being swept along on the PTS Instagram wave, and whilst Anthracite brown metallic is not PTS, it is a rare and expensive (£1,805) part of a very thoughtful and stylish specificat­ion. It listed at £101,085 back in 2013 and is an interestin­g car, a conversati­on point, which is part of the appeal for me. Maybe I’ll get a black interior next time – third time lucky!

I didn’t learn much on the test drive – do you ever – except that it’s a lovely thing. I hadn’t met salesman Alex Cooper before but we found ourselves on a similar wavelength, and in an uncharacte­ristically but consciousl­y bullish mood I agreed to buy the thing there and then for a price that seemed fair. The family Golf R would be traded in as part of the deal. On the way home I began to worry how I could ever keep the interior clean.

The car had a handful of previous owners who had covered less than 30K miles between them, a fully stamped service book which I liked, and a heated multi-function steering wheel with Tiptronic-style buttons that I didn’t. Alex and I agreed that it needed a Sport Design wheel with paddles and, after some toing and froing with Porsche in Germany, we settled on and fitted a lovely Alcantara-rimmed item prior to collection. It feels fantastic and complement­s the Alcantara headlining, rather than clashing with the Agate and Pebble leather. It was the right move too because I use the paddles a lot. The original multifunct­ion wheel resides in the loft at home.

So where does this leave the 997? As I mentioned previously I have retained it and have enjoyed driving them back to back a lot – it’s been fascinatin­g. I’ll talk more about my initial impression­s of 991 ownership, and the inevitable comparison­s between the two next month.

I’ve always used the 997 year round, but for the first time have decided to store it for a few months over winter and just use the 991. I don’t have garage space for the cars at home so if I’m not going to be using it I think it’s better kept and cared for in storage – the cost being offset somewhat by avoiding the remedial work that can come after a hard winter of only occasional use and living outside. A big question on my mind is, will absence make the heart grow fonder, or will it be a case of ‘out of sight out of mind’ for the 997? In the spring I’ll decide whether to continue to lavish love and money on it or, after nine years and 57,000 miles, to sell it.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom