718 Life.

At last. Paint Protection Film at last. After much work, many long hours of polishing and chip filling and re-polishing, cleaning and prepping, 'Red' now has an 8mm thick layer of vinyl protecting her rocker panels and hood, as does the Cayman.  There were a surprising number of small stone chips on the hoods, and the rockers definitely has some signs of rash on them at the outer flanks - not that you could really see, but you could definitely feel the marring.  Thanks to the nice guys at The Wrap Factory , I can rest a little easier now that there is a barrier of some sorts between Mother Nature / mankind and my gorgeous Carmine Red paint. The film is STEK Dynoshield PPF, warrantied for 10 years and apparently healing-friendly with heat, meaning if you get some tiny swirls or even chips in the vinyl, apparently a heat gun can help eliminate them. Marketing bumph? We shall see... I was very pleased with the customer service of the shop - great communication, explanation of the

Happy early springtime! In the quest for easy garage work on the cars, my co-conspirator has invested in a couple of excellent pieces of equipment for his GTS' home. The addition of a set of MotoMaster Positioning Jack + Wheel Dollies from Canadian Tire has made moving the cars in the garage a cinch. They're heavy duty and ergonomically excellent, and you really can put a car up on them in a jiffy and roll the 3000 lbs around with little effort (once you remember to take OFF the dolly brakes!). The second garage upgrade comes in the form of a QuickJack 5000 TL , which performs exactly as advertised, making lifting the cars up to a nice useable height for polishing, wheel changing, underbody work, etc., a super-simple task. The work we had to do to prep the cars for PPF application (hood /  rocker  polishing and  chip repair ) was made so much more ergonomically pleasant thanks to the QuickJack. Saved my back!!!!! Because the cars sit so low to the ground (yay low centre of gra

Mysteriously...confoundingly... From the factory, you can get paint protection film installed on your Porsche 911 for a reasonable cost. Not a complete wrap of the car or anything, but a useful patch of it directly on the rocker panels just aft of the intakes and forward of the rear wheels. BMW actually includes the same sort of things on the M2 as part of the standard 'equipment' when you buy the car. But the 718? Nope. As part of the mystery that is their selection of Porsche-option-offerings, the folks at Zuffenhausen saw fit to NOT have a PPF option available for my car. Which means I've got to do something about it myself, as this particular part of the car seems to draw attention from abrasive elements. If left unprotected, you can end up with something like this (not my car!!!). No thanks. Even at 20 years old, the S2000 didn't have this level of road rash (tho it did have some)! The 718 flares out a bit more at that point of the body though, right into the jetst

OK, next steps. Readying the car for paint protection film (or PPF) on the hood means dealing with the tiny little chips from the 10,000 kms we've put on the cars.  It's somewhat surprising to me, the number that there are. My S2000 had a few more, but it was 20 years old. Must be something to do with the angle of the hood, thickness of the clear coat, etc, etc, I guess, but suffice it to say, there are enough tiny spots that I want to deal with them before the whole thing gets protected with a plastic layer. Luckily, my GTS Chronicles compatriot had the same experience, and between the two of us (him doing the lion's share of the work because we've started with his car in his excellent garage), we've worked out a process for filling, smoothing and basically making those tiny chips as close to invisible as we can. We've worked out a combination of chip filling, with tiny pinpricks of Carmine Red paint (from Dr. ColorChip ) and the dissolving solution that comes

There's something very satisfying about a job well done, isn't there?  A little time, a little effort, some care and attention to detail, and a result that makes you glad you put the work into it. That's where I'm at now with the time I've put into the front end of the GTS this winter. Those European kms put a little wear into the hood, with some tiny chips, and the sloppy washing done over there introduced a myriad of light swirls and scratches that showed up under direct light. Dirty wash mitts and time constraints (therefore rushing) were definitely the culprits. I'm thinking quick washes really aren't worth it! It seems to me that the clearcoat ia a little 'softer' than that of the S2000. Or maybe it's just the Carmine Red colour that brings them out more than the S2000's New Formula Red, but either way, the 'love marks' definitely are more noticeable and seemingly easier to introduce. Now let's be clear, we are talking extrem

Well, tiny lettering anyway. With the help of a paint pen, a bright light, and a magnifying glass (old eyes!) I spruced up the shifter in the 718 tonight. Just gives a bit of life to the shift pattern, without having to pay the Porsche tax for an aftermarket shifter. I've seen those online for crazy money, and people certainly are keen on replacing the stock shift knob with all manner of different ones. For myself, I find the existing shifter to be just fine thank you very much; nicely weighted under the hand, smooth to the touch and it doesn't seem to get roasting in the sun (unlike the S2000's!). It moves very positively into each gear, so I don't know what all the fuss online is about needing a heavier knob to 'improve the shift feel'. Can't say I find it lacking at all. Future musings include the short-shift kit from the T and GT4 models, but there's certainly no rush. Saving for tires? Now THAT'S a priority! A second coat of red on the H-pattern

A tiny upgrade. But one that I love. Just cleans up the interior a tad. Always bugged me in the S2000 cabin, but thanks to an enterprising fellow on eBay, solved!! I mean I know the safety nannies need to have their say and all, but this one always seemed a bit ridiculous to me. Cooler heads prevail in Europe (perhaps being less litigious) but the solution here is an expensive one. Replacing the part is a ridiculous $1200 option from Suncoast Porsche Parts. Instead, this fix was $20. Thank you Internet.  Can you spot it? ~ Luke

2024... The first full year of Porsche ownership. It's a long way from summer 2020 when the idea first came up, but now that it's here, I'll be making the most of it. As you know, it starts with getting things properly prepped and protected for the upcoming driving season. I'm portioning that work out bit by bit so as to last the winter months, trying to time it so that I finish up as the birds start singing and the warmth of the sun returns. The first proper winter storm is imminent here in Ottawa, Canada, but I consider us lucky that we are already a week into January without having any real cold or appreciable snowfall yet. Just that little bit closer to spring already, and I think the next three months will fly by. Certainly faster than in the last few years, which were rather 'torturous' in comparison. The list of little upgrades is being nibbled away at, the latest being a nice, shallow trunk organizer that I can velcro to the carpet to keep items from fly

Only a week until Christmas, which means only three months (likely) until the 718 can poke her nose out and sniff the cool spring air. In the meantime, one has to keep busy with things. My forum reading has dropped off considerably since Europe (gee I wonder why?) so time to get back to a bit of that to while away the winter nights. A couple of new videos have managed to pop up on YouTube to keep me entertained with Porsche news there as well, though the 718 content is sparse these days, what with it getting close to the end of the model and all. Of course I have been continuing to spend time in the garage, and have to say the 1/3 of the car that I have tackled so far is looking rather good. With some careful compounding and polishing, I've managed to pretty much eliminate the Europe scratches on the rear deck, which now sits protected under a sealant and a 'ceramic' wipe-on topcoat. I have discovered a scratch on the front fender that is proving extremely resistant to poli

Ah swirl marks. A blast around fine European fine roads is surely an enviable thing, but keeping the car clean was a challenge at times. Although there's lots of access to spray-washes over there, having all the good gear to keep the paint pristine and swirl-free wasn't really an option. So, the GTS has a few 'love marks' from the quick cleans I did over there between hairpins. Time to put the winter months to good use and give the paint some care and attention. I'm not sure there's much I can do about the two stone 'bruises' in the windshield (can you believe it???), but I can definitely put my paint care expertise to good use. Last night I started - I'd already put the car away clean, so it was simply a matter of gathering up my detailing supplies and getting to work. First off was to drape a sheet over the convertible roof. I learned that the hard way with the S2000 as it took years for me to get the polish overspray residue out of the semi-porous

April. That's about when the weather turns here and you get the opportunity to wake your precious sports car up from its long sleep. That's less than five full months away. True, there have been rare moments over the years when I've ventured out - I can remember taking the S2000 out one particularly dry and unseasonably warm New Year's Day - but for the most part, my GTS will remain nestled away in my garage now until April. 2023 was the year of arrival - the taste test that really whetted the appetite before having to shut it down for the duration. Now it's about anticipation of cool spring days, once the salt is gone from the roads. The time when the bark of the flat-six will antagonize the dogs across the road as I fire it up and creep out of the winter hiding place, blinking owlishly in the fresh sunshine. Next year will be the summer of exploration; taking the car to my local haunts, comparing and contrasting it with the S2000 on the highways and byways known t

November. Winter is approaching in here in Ottawa, Canada. Dreary, cold days, with the mercury dropping below zero degrees Celsius, and drizzle on the roads. The salt trucks haven't been out yet, but it won't be long now and then the driving season is truly over for this 718 owner. I'd like to snag one more day of sunshine and dry, salt-free roads for one last quick rip around and a wash and brush up before the GTS goes into the garage on the battery tender for the dark days until April. A big thumbs down to our dealership that resisted our attempts to pick the cars up in Halifax when they landed on Canadian shores at the beginning of September. We could literally have had a full month and a half of Canadian enjoyment to tack on to the European fun, but they made no effort to stretch even a tiny bit beyond the bare minimum. Despite there being a Porsche outlet in Halifax, and an internal process at Porsche for customers to be able to pick up their cars at alternate dealersh

Home safe and sound, my 718 in hand. With the rain beating down, I’m taking the time to tackle the list of little things I had planned for this car over the past three years. You know, when you have that much time to ponder, your list can get pretty long! First off was mounting the rear license plate properly. I’m definitely not a fan of the standard two sheet metal screws right into the rear bumper factory approach. Granted one doesn’t continually take the rear plate off and on a lot, but something about the gnarled up plastic around the holes just bugs me.  Enter Carpokes , and Tom’s properly-crafted rear-plate mounts. Double-sided tape and inset threads for black anodized screws are the business, and the plate now sits secure and slightly proud of the rear fascia. Looks cleverly 3D and a side benefit is the space for muck to fall free from behind the plate. Quality work. Second was the removable front-plate solution from Carbonio . Again, the magic of 3M double-sided tape comes into

I’m awake before the alarm. The long-awaited day has arrived. On a train departing at 5:55 am, we head to London to pick up our cars. It’s a civilized way to travel, and though the rail infrastructure in Canada pales in comparison to Europe, it’s a nice callback to the train ride from Stuttgart to Leipzig. That part of the ‘chronicle’ seems far away now, and my focus turns to the Canadian element. 1205 days. That’s how long it’s been from conception to custody here in Canada. 40 months! But what a journey it’s been. In the context of global events, just two guys setting out to buy two sports cars. But personally, a huge part of our lives these past three and a third years! Sitting on the train writing this I’m reflecting on that journey and the fellow beside me; my long-time (and long-suffering) companion on this adventure, and on many others over our 38 years of friendship. Feels to me like I’m kicking off the next ‘great adventure’ - that of owning this car here, at home. Not some fa

The whispers are there. The rumours circling. The tiny hints. I grasp and claw at any possible piece of information, indication, or inference that I can glean from my salesperson.  Could this be the week? Could it be a rapid road/train trip down to London at the end of the week? Not like French TGV-rapid (320 kph!) sadly, but pretty much as fast as we can get there. The weather is turning. Last week was record highs of 30+°C here, unheard of for October in Ottawa, but the clouds and cool have rolled in since then and it is definitely fall-like out there now. Brrr. I shall hold out hope for a tiny weather window to get the car and make the long drive back to the Maritimes happen right away to surprise my folks. I’m still annoyed with my dealer for not putting in the teensiest bit of effort to enable me to pick up my car in Halifax, something I know Porsche actually sanctions. Really annoyed. When I get the opportunity to complete a new owner survey, I shall have some things to say. In t

The waiting is almost over. The cars have touched down in London and are awaiting the PDI process before we can collect them. I'm thinking that there will be little to do beyond provisioning the nav system for North America, giving them the once over and a wash, and that's about it. My travel kit is ready, with front and rear plate mounts in hand, plus the tools needed to install them, though I'm positive I will leave the front plate off until some officer pulls me over and asks where it is. The removable mount will make that easy to show, and it will only be some really disgruntled officer that fines me, so I'm gonna take that risk. The car just looks too darn good without the front plate. Can't wait to see it again in the sheet metal. The stance. The colour popping in the sun. Those wheels! And then the twisting of the key, the engine barking into life, and the long drive back to Ottawa, which will be off-highway as much as possible. I'll be reacquainting myse

One of the nice side-effects of doing European Delivery, is you kind of get two chances to "receive" your car; one in Germany, and then one when it reaches your dealer. You get double the anticipation leading up to delivery day. The second anticipation is quite different to the first, I'm finding. The car is a known quantity now, personally experienced and enjoyed for nearly a month on the twisty tarmac of those amazing European roads. So I know what I'm missing out on while the summer - and now fall - slips away. Makes the wait somewhat more agonizing. The cars landed in Halifax on September 2, after we tracked them transiting across the Atlantic from Emden on the Siem Confucius. They're sitting there still, almost two weeks later. Perhaps it would be better not knowing - I'm thinking bird droppings, hurricanes (there were, at one point, three of them on the way!), hail, who knows what? Just get them on the darn train already!! It really is disappointing not

That's it then. Europe done and dusted. What an epic adventure, and I'm not using that (rather overused these days) word trivially. This trip had it all, and after so many YEARS of waiting (37 months in all), it lived up to every bit of its billing. The exact same can be said for the car. I'd pored over every review out there. Watched every video. Studied photos from every angle, to the point that I felt I really knew all there is to know about the GTS save for the feeling of actually driving it. What that (somewhat obsessive at times) studying of the car virtually didn't convey was just how I would feel in it. I mean, it couldn't really, could it? I had very, very high expectations, obviously, as 99.9% all of the punditry out there extolled the virtues of every facet of the car. The seats, the steering, the engine note, the power, the refinement, the quality. All of it. I headed across the Atlantic with all those elements in mind, and with the expectations bar set

There you have it. A Carmine Red Boxster GTS 4.0, owned by yours truly, firmly planted on the asphalt of the famous Nordschleife. No more Google'd pictures of other people's rides - now it's legit. The butterflies were dancing as we drove to the entrance of the track for the touristenfahrten session. The familiarity of the place was comforting, as I knew where to go and what to do, but it's still a place that commands respect. From the massive variety of cars, to the awe-inspiring view of the very high speed Döttinger Höhe straight as you drive up to the place, it exudes seriousness and purposefulness. Fittingly, the Boxster, despite its playful nature as a droptop, can be just as serious and purposeful, as I've discovered over the past days.  This though, is the acid test. For my first session, the track lived up to its name as the cold, damp weather conspired with the greasy track surface to give me unexpected and alarming understeer and oversteer in practically

Has it already been ten days? Ten days since we got the cars, already lots of adventures and still another ten days to go. We've been up early in the mornings, grabbing delicious simple breakfasts and heading out to the machines and the roads. Time just slips along effortlessly, as we navigate the curves before us. The past ten days have drifted by, not at breakneck speed, thankfully. More at a nice relentless surge, perhaps mimicking that continuous rush of power under my right foot. It keeps reminding me that I've never had a car with an engine this big before. Four litres of displacement makes for all the low-end, low-rpm hustle one could ask for, but the high revving nature of it means that there's just a seemingly continuous well of power on tap. We start cruising some autostrada as we head north, making time in a roughly three-hour trek. The Boxster is effortless on the highway. Smooth, quiet bursts of power in sixth gear whenever you need it, no need to downshift to