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Onwards and upwards to a 981


red rocket

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Recently found myself in a position to move on from my 987 to a 981 much sooner than expected. Think my search began around similar time to @Dubdubz. Have certainly been watching all his posts and questions in recent weeks, desperately hoping we weren't going to be unknowlingly competing for the same cars! 

Did alot of reading up on here and elsewhere to supplement existing knowledge. And started scouring AT, Ebay, Car Gurus etc etc etc to the point where my head was spinning! In the end decided my requirements/options would be naturally somewhat limited by various factors e.g.

- modest budget (especially as far as SWMBO is concerned!)

- 2.7 likely plenty for me, especially given 25bhp above my 987

- more bells and whistles = potential for more to go wrong, e.g. PASM, PDM 

- some things e.g. Chrono would be nice to have not need to have.

Definitely didn't want Black (unless maybe with a Red roof), Sapphire and probably not Silver. Agate might have been OK  BUT the 987 was DK Grey and I fancied a change. Red would be OK but, surprisingly, I really like 981's in White. Then, I really am not a big fan of Black roofs (987 was Stone Grey) so we're there other possibilities? 

I thought I would stay manual but I reckon more than 90% of the 981's on the market are PDK which I was open to trying.

Decided the must have options were heated seats (which probably 99% of 981's evidently have) and I didn't get on the 987 despite being on the wishlist, rear parking sensors, 20 inch wheels, pref Carrera S and Sports steering wheel(though I actually quite like the standard m/f wheel). Painted roll over hoops would be really nice. Front parking sensors, DAB, climate control, extended leather, cruise, DAB and auto dimming mirror would be nice but not a deal, breaker.

Almost the first two cars which really caught my eye were virtually identical, White with Red roof and 20 inch Carrera S wheels and both at the same specialist dealer, RPM Specialist Cars in Knaresborough The options on each were very slightly different but each fitted with my criteria. Of the two, the slightly more expensive 2014 model with Silver wheels was my favourite but as soon as the weather bucked up a couple of weeks back it was sold. Spent about another 2 week scouring the ads until last week when I phoned to enquire about the second car. Dealer was great, answered questions, sent me videos and copies of recent invoices for work done. They knew the car as it was locally owned and serviced by them. Most recent owner had bought it twice having regretted selling the first time!  I couldn't get to see it till yesterday but they agreed to hold it for a £500 deposit which I figured was pretty safe as they are specialists, have virtually 100% 5 star reviews (including on here) and seemed very genuine. And anyway I was smitten.

So yesterday I made the almost 15 hour round trip to Yorkshire, spending 3 hours talking, checking the car and test driving before agreeing to buy.  It's not perfect (it's just over 10 years old!) but they do a 150 point check, clean MOT (yesterday pm despite it having already been MOT'd in January), full detail and machine polish (saw and talked to their detailer who was at work on a Cayman). There was some lifting of lacquer on the headlights (no crazing) so they will be sanded and recleared. The side vents (body coloured) are heavily chipped and will  be repeainted, auto rain sensing wipers will be coded (if they can) and they'll  do a full alignment. 

And here she is in all her glory (well I think so anyway!). And yes, in time honoured fashion I have bought the first car I saw! 

NhwZ8eg.jpeg

Dr2BIus.jpeg

gDv2Djf.jpeg

UwiOuB4.jpeg

Options, all factory:

Roll over hoops, side vents, lower mirror housings, rear undervalance and front grille strakes in body colour

Sports tailpipes (Black)

Carrera S wheels with spokes painted Black

Parking sensors front and rear

Seat belts in Guards Red

PDK 

Cruise

Heated seats

Manual aircon

Sports seats plus

PCM 3 Nav with Bluetooth and DAB

Head rests embossed with Porsche crest

Didn't get the full leather but have to say the pebbled vinyl dash , door cards etc is a big improvement on the 987. All round the cabin ambience is a big step up from the 987. And the sports seats are really comfy.

Pick up is Friday next week and I won't begrudge the long drive home! :bana:

@deanmr2see what I mean about the colour scheme?!

Edited by red rocket
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41 minutes ago, red rocket said:

Recently found myself in a position to move on from my 987 to a 981 much sooner than expected. Think my search began around similar time to @Dubdubz. Have certainly been watching all his posts and questions in recent weeks, desperately hoping we weren't going to be unknowlingly competing for the same cars! 

Did alot of reading up on here and elsewhere to supplement existing knowledge. And started scouring AT, Ebay, Car Gurus etc etc etc to the point where my head was spinning! In the end decided my requirements/options would be naturally somewhat limited by various factors e.g.

- modest budget (especially as far as SWMBO is concerned!)

- 2.7 likely plenty for me, especially given 25bhp above my 987

- more bells and whistles = potential for more to go wrong, e.g. PASM, PDM 

- some things e.g. Chrono would be nice to have not need to have.

Definitely didn't want Black (unless maybe with a Red roof), Sapphire and probably not Silver. Agate might have been OK  BUT the 987 was DK Grey and I fancied a change. Red would be OK but, surprisingly, I really like 981's in White. Then, I really am not a big fan of Black roofs (987 was Stone Grey) so we're there other possibilities? 

I thought I would stay manual but I reckon more than 90% of the 981's on the market are PDK which I was open to trying.

Decided the must have options were heated seats (which probably 99% of 981's evidently have) and I didn't get on the 987 despite being on the wishlist, rear parking sensors, 20 inch wheels, pref Carrera S and Sports steering wheel(though I actually quite like the standard m/f wheel). Painted roll over hoops would be really nice. Front parking sensors, DAB, climate control, extended leather, cruise, DAB and auto dimming mirror would be nice but not a deal, breaker.

Almost the first two cars which really caught my eye were virtually identical, White with Red roof and 20 inch Carrera S wheels and both at the same specialist dealer, RPM Specialist Cars in Knaresborough The options on each were very slightly different but each fitted with my criteria. Of the two, the slightly more expensive 2014 model with Silver wheels was my favourite but as soon as the weather bucked up a couple of weeks back it was sold. Spent about another 2 week scouring the ads until last week when I phoned to enquire about the second car. Dealer was great, answered questions, sent me videos and copies of recent invoices for work done. They knew the car as it was locally owned and serviced by them. Most recent owner had bought it twice having regretted selling the first time!  I couldn't get to see it till yesterday but they agreed to hold it for a £500 deposit which I figured was pretty safe as they are specialists, have virtually 100% 5 star reviews (including on here) and seemed very genuine. And anyway I was smitten.

So yesterday I made the almost 15 hour round trip to Yorkshire, spending 3 hours talking, checking the car and test driving before agreeing to buy.  It's not perfect (it's just over 10 years old!) but they do a 150 point check, clean MOT (yesterday pm despite it having already been MOT'd in January), full detail and machine polish (saw and talked to their detailer who was at work on a Cayman). There was some lifting of lacquer on the headlights (no crazing) so they will be sanded and recleared. The side vents (body coloured) are heavily chipped and will  be repeainted, auto rain sensing wipers will be coded (if they can) and they'll  do a full alignment. 

And here she is in all her glory (well I think so anyway!). And yes, in time honoured fashion I have bought the first car I saw! 

NhwZ8eg.jpeg

Dr2BIus.jpeg

gDv2Djf.jpeg

UwiOuB4.jpeg

Options, all factory:

Roll over hoops, side vents, rear undervalance and front grill strikes in body colour

Sports tailpipes (Black)

Carrera S wheels with spokes painted Black

Parking sensors front and rear

Seat belts in Guards Red

PDK 

Cruise

Heated seats

Manual aircon

Sports seats plus

PCM 3 Nav with Bluetooth and DAB

Head rests embossed with Porsche crest

Didn't get the full leather but have to say the pebbled vinyl dash , door cards etc is a big improvement on the 987. All round the cabin ambience is a big step up from the 987. And the sports seats are really comfy.

Pick up is Friday next week and I won't begrudge the long drive home! :bana:

@deanmr2see what I mean about the colour scheme?!

Yeah ‘ playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order’ I get what you mean 😂😂

looks like a lovely car and RPM are a good dealer with a decent reputation 

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1 hour ago, red rocket said:

Options, all factory:

Roll over hoops, side vents, rear undervalance and front grill strikes in body colour

Never seen the side vents and rear undervalance painted white before, didn't know that was even an option, could it be the previous owner had them sprayed? I do like the side vents painted, might have to look into that for mine.
 

2 hours ago, red rocket said:

Didn't get the full leather but have to say the pebbled vinyl dash , door cards etc is a big improvement on the 987

I've had my old 2.7 with the pebbled vinyl dash and my current has full leather, I think I preferred my old one as the leather seems to cause much more screen reflections in sunny weather compared to the pebbled one.

Very nice looking car, enjoy!

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1 hour ago, CMA said:

could it be the previous owner had them sprayed

No definitely factory. I checked the options from the VIN beforehand.

1 hour ago, CMA said:

Very nice looking car, enjoy!

Thanks

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14 minutes ago, red rocket said:

No definitely factory. I checked the options from the VIN beforehand.

Thanks

Every days a school day, good to know that for the future. 👍

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Peter, that looks absolutely lovely. Love the painted vents, red belts and you're in the red roof club.  I had to get my roll hoops painted but well worth it  I think.
PS your mirror bases are painted too instead of being black, in case you hadn't noticed👍

 

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Looks great, and your right, 981's do look good in White,  but i am biased🙂.  I also have the pleasure of white side vents. Sometimes think it needs a red roof, to match my seat belts. Do like the Red and White combination.  Have fun

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Well done, another new white 981 owner in a matter of days on the site.

It is a lovely looking car, they do really suit the white and the painted vents are a classy touch.

Cheers

Kevin

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Posted (edited)

Thanks all. 

 

10 hours ago, Topbox said:

Peter, that looks absolutely lovely. Love the painted vents, red belts and you're in the red roof club.  I had to get my roll hoops painted but well worth it  I think.
PS your mirror bases are painted too instead of being black, in case you hadn't noticed👍

 

Cheers Bob, yes forgot about the mirrors. Post now amended. You'll get a look if you come over to Lynmouth or maybe later in the summer in Weymouth.

Edited by red rocket
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Forgot to mention that RPM had previously removed the one way valves on the rear drain holes so that's one thing I don't have to worry about.  Just need to find out where the fronts are.

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27 minutes ago, red rocket said:

Forgot to mention that RPM had previously removed the one way valves on the rear drain holes so that's one thing I don't have to worry about.  Just need to find out where the fronts are.

There are no front drains on the 981 so one less thing to worry about.

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Very nice Peter 👌 I look forward to seeing it at Lyn Valley. Although I might get snow blind with you, Rich and possibly Guvs in attendance. 

Red, white and black. Your loyalty to the Red Devils knows no bounds! 😉

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5 hours ago, RichW426 said:

Looks great! 

I use RPM for servicing and recommend them to my friends.

Enjoy! 

Thanks, good to know. Seem like decent people even if they are from Yaaarkshire! :laugh:

Can you tell I'm an exiled Lanc?!

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On 4/24/2024 at 8:48 PM, CMA said:

Every days a school day, good to know that for the future. 👍

Yeah, mine has those bits colour coded. Wasn’t completely sure about it at first but it’s grown on me.

 

D41A6D2D-DDB5-4799-942A-FEB9D0722ECC.jpg

 

Looks great @red rocket - nice one. Good to hear the review on RPM, they did the most recent service on mine just before I bought it.

 

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Funny, untill reading this thread, i didnt realise all the above parts( moospeed)  painted that i have were extras, i've never paid any attention to having a white rear valance. Just checked my options list and it all comes under EXTERIOR PACKAGE PAINTED  and  INTERIOR PACKAGE PAINTED  options. I do like the  white interior bits . Learnt something today already and its only 07:00.

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Welcome to 981 ownership. I have had mine for nearly 4 months and I love it. I also went for a red roof but had to have red leather to match!

I nearly bought a white one but waited for GT silver which was my first choice.

Enjoy the car. I joined the Porsche Club of GB and have already enjoyed a Sunday club drive and meeting other Porsche addicts!

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@red rocket you should have messaged me so we didn't compete!!

That looks spot on Congrats - I saw a white cayman in Dovehouse and not a colourway I had even considered - but we both said that looks really clean/fresh and overall a great shade for the shape! 

I had to have a 3.4, just a box to check. My blue one came up and bar the interior creaks p***ing me off - it has surpassed all my expectations. The PDK is sublime.
I have to say though I am concerned for my licence - gets to way more than the speed limit far too quickly!
Sport is ace for the downshifts ...

Well done again !! you will love it...

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