activa Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Well after several months searching every classified to see what was on the market,the funds were finally available and I began viewing in earnest. After seeing a handful of uncared for,very uninspiring examples(up for good money and not worth a penny of it)I finally found the eventual purchase on Ebay of all places.Realising this could well be the car I phoned the guy and arranged to drive to Manchester the next morning to view it.I knew I had to be quick 'cos already 15 bids were in place(£8,500) and the auction still had over 5 days to run. Checked the bidding the next morning before leaving and saw it was at £10,000 and was worried as that was already £500 over my supposed budget.Anyway,drove down there,spent a couple of hours with the owner,gave it a good test drive and a thorough check over and managed to negotiate a price whereby he would remove it from auction.So much for budgets eh! So on Sunday just gone I went back to Manchester to collect my new pride and joy.Yippeee!!!!! The car is a 91 model so has the bridge spoiler that then went on to be used on the 968(just a bit more modern IMO) and a slightly modified turbo and inlet manifold(from the factory).It's in metallic grey,which I think is quite a rare colour on these and has cream leather interior.The only exterior change are a set of 18" C4S rims fitted which just set it off a bit.Not for the purist I know but they do give the car presence and grip in abundance.Inside the only change is a 968 CS steering wheel which to be honest was gonna be on my shopping list anyway(not a fan of the standard item)so he saved me a few quid.It also has high end Pioneer stereo/amp/TV/DVD which aren't exactly of paramount importance but seeing as I was well upto my max. spend came as I nice extra. The car is as near mint as your gonna get,both inside and out.The guy used to make passengers take their shoes off(a bit excessive)before getting in the car and had a plastic bag round the gear lever to stop finger marks.Well I can tell you all,that I will be looking after it aswell as possible but it has to be a car first and I can't entertain those rules.The car has covered 132k which is actually reasonable miles for one of these and has full main dealer and specialist history along with a years mot and tax.How many second-hand cars do you buy with 12 months road rund? Again,another outlay that doesn't have to be addressed. On the mechanical side it has a stainless exhaust,cross-drilled discs and an induction kit.All professionally fitted with the best items,all the bills to prove,quite scary reading if I'm honest.The gearbox was rebuilt last year and apparently this is one of the major flaws on these cars,so the fact that it was done 800 miles ago gives a certain peace of mind. I was glad in some ways that I had bought it from so far away because it gave me ample time to get used to the driving position(which can only be described as near perfect),that rear wheel drive set-up and the serious acceleration available.By the time we reached the M6 toll road it was time for some testing as I already felt at one with the car.Torque of the highest order.Press the throttle in any gear and you just feel the push in the back(after the initial lag of course)and it's ready to hit whatever speeds the road allows.How focused these cars are.They're built for one person only and that's the driver.Amusing thing was when I drove it in the daylight.The car was even quicker,can only be due to the headlamps being down,would never have believed they would cause so much drag. So to summarise.I already love the car after a only a few days and when the long Summer nights appear I can see myself doing many enjoyable miles in it.I will of course be posting snapshots at the weekend,was gonna do it today but didn't allow for the rain. The thing that amazes me is that the performance is on par with most high performance cars of today,yet it's 14 years old and only has 250bhp and to get 300bhp only costs £500,oh God,here I go!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Congrats - I'm sure you'll be very happy together ..but you know the old saying - rain is no excuse ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Sounds fantastic. Pictures, as bazza_g says!!!! We need pictures!!! I remember reading about the Silver Rose edition of this? (is that correct there was one, and is this one?). I'm sure they were the only one's with 250bhp standard (I thought the others had slightly less). I love these cars - I think their shape is almost as timeless as the E30 BMW. For some reason it captured my imagination and I always pay them extra attention when I see one on the roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Congrats - I'm sure you'll be very happy together ..but you know the old saying - rain is no excuse ! [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zchybrid Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I remember reading about the Silver Rose edition of this? (is that correct there was one, and is this one?). I'm sure they were the only one's with 250bhp standard (I thought the others had slightly less). [/ QUOTE ] The silver rose was a 1988 (E-reg) special edition and was the first year they put the 250bhp upgrade into production, from there on they were all 250bhp standard. The silver rose also sported the M030 suspension set up (allowing height / damper rate / toe and camber adjustment) for the "track enthusiast" i beleive.. But the siver rose also came with a not so appealing cloth trim of all matching colour, Activa's friend had one many years back and it had burgundy carpet,seats,dash,door cards,steering wheel,centre consol, just about everything was burgundy Went with Activa to collect his car and i must say it is a fabulous example with proper leather and sensible colour interior, nice buy....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Ah well at least I was there or thereabouts, I knew I'd read about a Silver Rose edition somewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 I promise I will post pics this week Bazza and they will be worth waiting for. M3ME,the early turbo's were 220bhp and as ZC says the first 250bhp was almost a homoligation car in Silver Rose paint.Due to the popularity of this car,Porsche then used this same set up 'til they stopped making them in 91(a few 92 cars do exist but they were leftover in the showroom from 91).The reason I went for the late model is that the Silver Rose didn't have as good equipment levels or colour schemes(IMO).The performance difference between the two is also negligable with the "SR" weighing only a few kilos less.And as stated in my first post,they are so easy to modify that that difference could be easily overcome for relative pennies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agoogy Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Welcome to the club, your colour combo is quite rare....although I too have it, a 91' with 106,500 miles....the induction kit, stainless exhaust, drilled discs, boost enhancer, CS steering wheel, colour coded teardrop mirrors and handles and a DP front splitter. Mine has a tiny bit of bodywork damage and it turned out was a cat-D right-off some years prior to me buying it. Bloody awesome machine though...wish I had your wheels..... I'm having to wait for my rubber to wear out before I upgrade... Careful about accelerating off damp roundabouts....spun mine...even the LSD didn't help... Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Nice one Agoogy,I was actually considering teardrop mirrors already.Just another nice modern touch for it.Why can't I just buy a car and drive it,I always have to be doing something to it,oh well,guess that's half the fun.I will deffo heed your warning about damp roundabouts though,it'll take a lot of driving before I dare take liberties like that.Can't imagine what it's gonna be like with 300+ brake.The tuning ladder is about to be climbed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agoogy Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Are you after a Promax stage 2 then? 324BHP and 333lb/ft Forgot to mention I also added clear front/side and rear indicators.... looks ok, quite 'clean'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Are you after a Promax stage 2 then? 324BHP and 333lb/ft.Forgot to mention I also added clear front/side and rear indicators.... looks ok, quite 'clean'... [/ QUOTE ] Had crossed my mind! Must clear it with the other half first.You know how it is,unfortunately cars have to fit in with other plans like "the garden needs landscaping" etc. My one also has the clear lenses-agreed they look a bit smoother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Boys and there 80's (design) toys! What a great model the 944 T was, the ira that gave us so much fun (until the insurance guys fecked it up with stupid premiums). Enjoy it, did you manage to sneek it via classic insurance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agoogy Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 How weird....my other half also has plans for DIY prior to the mighty 300+ upgrade.... My insurance is awesome...£360 ish for 33 year old with 6 points with a wife who has 3 points is a diabetic and has suffered a stroke !! limited to 7500 miles...thats fully comp btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Luckily did get classic insurance on it! They first said only upto 1990 models but allowed 91 as it's the same car. £385 comp. with points and the Missus as a named driver(yeah right) Took it for a spin at 7a.m this morning,ages since I had a car that I just took out for the sake of it with no destination.Looks like those 5k per year are gonna be clocked up quite quickly after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agoogy Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 awwww let her have a go! you know, as much nagging and whinging as I got for spending the money on this car when we were about have our 1st kiddie.... the moment she experienced 270 boosted ponies she was sold...the car ain't going anywhere now! and I've even shown her emails from owners who take their 10 year olds to school in one...now thats thinking ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 I'm only kidding,she wears the trousers anyway!(whoops,too much honesty) She says she'll have a drive but I reckon it'll scare her and she won't wanna drive it again. Don't know about 10 years olds in the back,a couple of bags of shopping maybe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 We need pictures....we really do need pictures now Activa! Get your finger out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] We need pictures....we really do need pictures now Activa! [/ QUOTE ] She really doesn't like having her photo taken..... Doh,you mean the car.O.K,I'll do it today or tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Congrats man. Sounds all good! Guess you are keeping the Activa as your daily driver? Ian C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted April 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Congrats man. Sounds all good! Guess you are keeping the Activa as your daily driver? [/ QUOTE ] Absolutely Ian,it is still a top car to drive,even after being in the Porsche-which says quite a lot for it I reckon. I'll be bringing the 944 to the next MK meet anyway so you'll get to see it first hand. Actually,on the journey back the Activa gave me as bigger smile as driving the Porka.My friend was driving it and had the suspension in sport mode.He went round the long bend from the M6 to the M1 and I thought "bloody 'ell,that looked quick",turns out he was doing 125mph round it(1.30a.m I might add)in a 5 door/1500kg/FrWD hatch without a trace of body roll or lack of control.Definately one of Citroens finest hours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Excellent! How many miles has your Activa racked up now? Family HDi is just about to turn 100k. Be good to meet you over at MK with either machine. Glad you are having fun... Ian C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 I'm still waiting to see these pictures Activa... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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