I made my move! An 04 White 996!!!

******************************************* SHORT VERSION ********************************************* I bought a white 04 996 coupe with 24K miles in pristine condition from a Porsche dealership 5 miutes from my house. ******************************************* LONG VERSION ********************************************** I initially was looking at the 3.2 late 80s air-cooled coupes. But couldn't find the price nor the color I wanted (white -period). Almost made a major mistake -but you guys kept me straight in being patient. At the very beginning, it was even suggested that I look into the 996 as a possibility for my "first" Porsche 911. I hadn't really considered it, and quite frankly put that idea on the back shelf. I continued to browse, and the air cooled community was GREAT! They were very helpful in shaping my intentions, or what I would be doing with this car once I got it; in short, I was looking something I could take to work "almost -but not quite" every day. Our summers are brutal here in south Texas, and in the end, I felt I needed something newer, and the water-cooled machine began to make more sense. I had spoken with some experts in the community that had literally parked their air-cooled machines from June-August, and took them out in the cooler months. I even took a peek at the 928, which I've also liked since my youth. But recondisered when I realized what it could cost me (time and money ) to keep up the maintenanc on a daily-driver that's almost 30 years old. The main problem with this scenario, is that I just don't have the time (at least not now) to be doing my own maintenance, even though I'd eventually like to get to this point (I happen to agree with the sentiment that one can probably appreciate the car a lot more when you're the one maintaining it). At this point in my life, I'm just going to drive it to a Porsche specialist and say, "do your thing". ****************************************** Extra Long Version ******************************************** So.... I'm driving back from running some errands last week, and I thought, "why not swing by the Porsche dealership and just take a "newer" model 911 out for a test drive. So I walk in, there's the salesman: "Can I help you, sir?" Yes, I'd like to drive one of your pre-owned 911s. OK, What are you looking for? I'm actually looking for a white coupe. We don't have any white ones, but we have a silver one that's ready. Ok, fine with me. So he sits down at his computer and he starts poking around and says this: "That's weird. We're showing a white coupe on the aligment rack that hasn't even been listed yet". So he makes a call and verifies that it does NOT belong to a customer. It doesn't, and he starts pulling up the specs on it. He turns the monitor around a shows it to me. It's got 24K miles on it, and I'm thinking no way. " Would you like to see it? " Most definitely... So, we round the corner and there she is, raised 4' off the floor getting the aligment done. I'm feigning this cool-calm-collected look, but as I walk around, and open the doors and take a peek inside: My pulse quickens, I begin to get goose bumps...I'm freaking out internally... I thought, "I just came out to do a test drive" Could this be it?? No way....I didn't even see the price...it's going to be too much... but I can at least drive it. "What do you think?" it's nice. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) When will the aligment get done? "In a couple of hours. Would you like me to call you when it's ready?" yes (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) 2 hours later: "It's ready" 10 minutes later: I'm handed the key and climb inside; So does the salesman. I start it up and feel/hear something very different... very different from the Corrado... and very very differnent from my Honda mini-van. I pull out onto the access road, and eventually onto the freeway. In 30 seconds -I knew. This is it. Back at the lab: " What do you think?" I like it (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Let's talk. But I have to make a call first. So I call a Porsche expert/friend here in town and bring him up to speed on my morning, and he tells me this: "It sounds like this is the "One" from the tone of your voice, but make sure the IMS bearing has been replaced" Which is what some of you have been saying all along. Has the IMS bearing been replaced? "I don't know" Find out, please. He finds out: "No, it hasn't" Replace the IMS bearing, and you have a deal. He leaves and talks with the sales manager...some hemming and hawing...some back and forth. The sales manager reluctantly, but eventually agrees. "Let's go talk to the service manager" I round the corner, and in a thick Italian accent, he calls my name. "Adriano!! Como te va?" So we catch up! Talking in spanish. Eventually the salesman and sales manager look at each other, shrug their shoulders and walk away; So it's just us talking. It's Marco, a friend that I had lost touch with. He's a mechanical engineer who was the chief mechanic at Helicopter Experts, where I learned to fly helicopters 10 years ago. A true craftsman, artisan, etc. If I could trust his work before the main rotor began to spin for my daily lessons, I could trust him here. I was in very good hands! Coincidentally, he's amazing with fixing just about anything that breaks. He completely redid the tile work at my mom's house. He installed wooden flooring in my recording studio, helped out other friends, etc. But I digress..... Anyway, Marco pulls out an IMS bearing and explains what's wrong with it, and why the 996s had issues. More importantly he tells me about the LN ceramic one he's going to swap it with. "I'm going to take care of you, Adriano -don't worry" I wasn't worried then. And I wasn't worried 10 years ago as the main rotor began to spin up to speed. Marco and his wife were over for dinner last night at mom's, catching up. This beautiful 996 fell out of the sky that day and I wasn't even looking; just 5 minutes from my house. Funny how things unfold sometimes. This was meant to be. This is it (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) -a

Very nice. Congrats! Cool story, nice car. A 11-year-old car with 26K miles is...criminal. My Boxster story was similar - 9-year-old car with 20K miles. What the hell is wrong with people? I expect to see your car's annual average mileage get absolutely destroyed.

Wow! Beautiful! C4S ? I love the red stitching on the black interior... Good luck!

Wow. That's a beautiful car, in an unusual color with some rare options. Well done!

Awesome story and nice 4S. Congrats on the purchase!

Good for you! I'm very jealous. Still shopping for mine but I hope to have a similar story to share very soon.

Not just a 996... a C4S with sport seats and aero package. Beautiful. I tried and tried to find a white 996 but ended up settling for my last choice in color... silver. Lol.

That's really a nice looking car. Love the white!

Really nice. Congrats!

Ooh, that is purty. Just finished a DE day instructing and getting my new to me 04 C4S on the track. Welcome to the madness.

Very unique! Beautiful. Congrats!

Dat dere is one good looking car! Congrats on the purchase!

For sure, a stunning C4S! You are a very lucky guy. I found my 996 about 3 years ago with the same mileage (it has almost twice that now). Welcome to the club.

Sounds like a great love story ... looking for love and finding it when you did not expect to. You have a keeper there and its beautiful.

Congrats, I can feel your excitement, I love the black with the red stitches and those chairs, i'm guessing you paid over 40000

Aero kit is such a nice touch. The patience paid off enjoy it man and drive the **** out of it.

That is a great looking car. I love the color, aero kit and interior details. Awesome find. Enjoy!

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I was reading your story and thinking how cool meeting an old friend etc, then I get to the pictures and your have this awesome looking white C4S. Dude, you knocked the ball outta the park. I have an 04 C4S cab with 124,xxx miles. It's a great car, you're going to love it. Welcome!!

Yes

Wow - great looking and VERY unique car. Congrats!

A white 4S is pretty rare, even rarer is the rear wing. Nice find.

I would be curious to see the original option list on this special car, if you are willing to share it or the VIN so I can look it up. Very nice find!

Hey y'all ! Thanks for all your kind words and kudos !!!! I've already burned through two tanks of fuel....You're right, Schnell: 24k miles. I have a lot of catching up to do, and too happy to do it! Danke And you're right about the grinning part -it's going to take plastic surgery to remove it! Now I'm going to bore you with all the questions on how to baby her properly -I can see how this can become an obsession. I have to be careful though. The day I got her, I was taking her through some hills and came across some little tricked out Italian thing gunning its engine at a stop sign in the next lane. I don't know what it was because it was night, and couldn't really make it out...but this thing wanted to engage, so I did. It pulled ahead, and pretty much beat me to the next stop sign...I'm thinking, what the hell is in that thing, nitrous? It won't happen again, and on the second pass, it was history! And then I stopped myself...Really. It was sobering. I've been tooling around in a Corrado, and a Mini van for the most part. Now I have 320 hp and I'm dicking around day one. At that moment I turned into a 16 year old. I couldn't help myself -but it was stupid. It's not the 80s anymore. People are texting and driving. They aren't paying attention. Cops are in full force with all sorts of toys with new laws (automatic arrests for racing, etc). I'm too old for that sort of thing. What if this kid next to me ate it in a turn and ended up in the hospital or worse. A very close friend lost control of his car because he was racing on a public street. The wreck killed his passenger. There are places to play; tracks etc. I have to ease into this... Slowly. Get use to her. Wine her and dine her. Eventually take her out to the track and really get to know her. I'm not saying I can't enjoy her through normal day-to-day driving. I just have to be careful, prudent, wave the racers on by. There are cameras EVERYWHERE AND I'm NOT 16 anymore. What can I say? I'm not use to 320 HP -yet. Just trying to keep it real. Sorry for the buzz-kill !! And thanks again for all the thumbs-up! Cheers!

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+996, not to mention painted seat backs and deviated stitching. I would return your front grills back to black IMO as the colored grills make it look cheap. Other than that, congrats. BTW, can you look at the paint code decal? I'm curious on the code.

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Not long bought a 996 in midnight blue (I think!)this is my first post but had to put it in cause this is one of the nicest 996 I've seen , awesome purchase , hope you enjoy it

Beautiful car, great story, enjoy the ride! PS... right color.

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Well, we all get the urge sometimes - but yeah, a little discretion is called for. I've only seen a couple of the Superspeeders videos on YouTube, but I can't imagine driving at 150-200MPH in traffic. I LOVE driving fast, but the amount of carnage you could unleash with 3,000 pounds of metal moving 200MPH is unfathomable. Those guys really should get massive fines and bus passes for doing that ****. When I drive like a complete idiot, I do it in locations where the only potential fatality is me. I have no urge to die, but I don't want to take anyone else out, and I sure don't want to live with the guilt of suriving a fatal (for someone else) crash...

Yea, I know it can be tempting sometimes to let loose on the street. I love driving fast too, but I try to restrain myself and keep it to those lonely early morning (very early) drives on a great twisty road. Or, take it to the track - it's an awesome experience!

Very cool car indeed! Great find!

Beautiful car and great that a trusted friend could assure you that it is a solid car!

Glad you are enjoying the car and also realizing when it would be appropriate to really explore its performance potential. It really is stunning. A normally aspirated Porsche is all about balance. I would love some seat time in a turbo :-) There are plenty of cars out there that will be our 996's from stop light to stop light, but few that can go to the track bone stock and really shine. I instructed on Wednesday and my student had a new to him 84,000 mile 99 996. What a great car. It was fun to go from his to my C4S which I've only had a few weeks. I'm really glad to see our region of PCA building back up its DE program so folks can experience what these cars are capable of.

Great story and beautiful car! Keep enjoying it! Congrats!

Wow, great story and awesome looking 911! Reminds me of my first. Magic!

That is an awesome story. Congrats, that is a beautiful ride!

Whenever you get in that stop light situation again here's a tip that works. Just pull forward a little, raise your rear spoiler, put the window down and holler nitros on. Then just pull off nice and slow at the green light. Trust me it works everytime. Those racers get real intimidated, lol.

Awesome pick-up. You got yourself a fantastic C4s and lots of extras to boot!

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Ha ha!! Love it! I could have a lot of fun with that one!!! Cheers!

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I'm really interested in taking advantage of this myself. I'm a firm believer in learning from those years of experience. I would love to take it on the track just to see what it can do! And where I should stop pushing...i.e., where my limitations begin.

Such a nice car. It seems so balanced with the color and the aero kit. Beautiful find.Enjoy and make us jealous

I'm usually not a huge fan of white cars, but damn that car looks great - enjoy it!

As did I. Couldn't be more pleased. What an elegant and uncommon automobile---particularly for a C4S which is uncommon in itself. Well done, and welcome to the C4S fold.

No doubt you found the right Porsche. Funny how things play out. Great color with so many options. Well done!