996 911

I know everyone here gets excited about sports cars every now and again. I have been looking at early 996s. i have maintained euro cars myself for years (saabs, audi, Bmw, mercedes etc.) how much worse is maintaining a 996. Is this a run away or nice complement to our bmw x5 and saab 9-3 that we have now.

Chris

I've seen a couple blowed up real good at track days, but they're at the bottom of the depreciation curve. I seem to recall that the engines are known for rear main seal leaks and catastrophic balance shaft failures. There's probably a fix by now, and a high mileage car with appropriate documentation is likely a safer bet than a lower mileage one at a higher price.

For even money, I'd go with an aircooled Carerra2. All of the Porsche experience with less D-bag stigma. (Not that I don't like the 996, but it's just another rich a-hole to a lot of the general population.)

but now you don't have to be rich to have one, good turn of events. They aren't the most desirable, but very capable car and better by most accounts than the previous versions. Evil 911 handling is held at bay by suspension tuning and electronics, power is very good.

They do have intermediate shaft problems, the bearing was a design mistake. There are several fixes, the engine has to come out but other than that is easy fix. Search Pelican (can i say that here?) for IMS failures and you'll know much in little time. fix should be applied to any 996 (or boxster) that hasn't had it yet.

otherwise a very solid choice.

I've heard because of those issues they are very affordable. They also are sort of outcasts with some of the Porsche purists for being the first watercooled 911s? I drooled on them a while after that article about the Renegade v8 swap

Tyler H wrote: For even money, I'd go with an aircooled Carerra2. All of the Porsche experience with less D-bag stigma. (Not that I don't like the 996, but it's just another rich a-hole to a lot of the general population.)

Is the general population really differentiating between the different P-cars? It's all Porsh to them.

Unless you drive a lime green GT3 RS, in which case one becomes a drug dealer or strip club owner.

I picked up a 2002 996 C2 for my FIL earlier this year. He wanted a six speed convertible for under $20k. The one I found ended up being $17.9k with the LN Engineering IMS fix on a 50k mile motor. The body had 75k because Porsche replaced the original engine due to a RMS leak. Overall a good car with some minor cosmetic issues and a ton of fun to drive.

I personally don't like convertibles. I'd take a hard look at a dark gray or dark blue coupe with the locking differential, HIDs, and sport seats. Once I had my grubby hands on it I'd install Bilstein PSS coilovers, the GT3 console delete kit, and probably the deep sump mods they run on the Boxster spec motor. I'd be happy with that until I could afford a 997 GT3 (because the motor sounds like secks at full song).

Thanks for all the imput. I have been starting to see them at what seems like good prices. But if i have to start pulling motors and such for service SWMBO will not be pleased.

again thanks for all of the imput.

Chris

Mitchell wrote: Unless you drive a lime green GT3 RS, in which case one becomes a drug dealer or strip club owner.

Wrong! then you are AWESOME! Would you NOT rock a lime green RS3 if given the chance? I know I would. It is a German that throws the extras out and isn't corporate silver or sellout black.

In reply to cdowd:

Is this something that will live at my house? If I recall correctly your Mrs thinks all Porsche owners are trying to compensate for a lack of hootus.

Got offered a 99 with 100k, new motor AC ...etc.. $13 grand... I passed and kept my S197... Phoned fellow forum member ZOOmiata ( Elise owner) he passed as well and bought a E46 M3.

coming from a 964 RS (2 of them) and a 997S family... we passed..

just not as good as the cars before or after.. you can find good ones..but it scares my wallet. Turns out the owner lived near my parents and had put 27K into a new motor and related equip ... nooooo thanks...

holding out for a C2 964.

singleslammer wrote:

Mitchell wrote: Unless you drive a lime green GT3 RS, in which case one becomes a drug dealer or strip club owner.

Wrong! then you are AWESOME! Would you NOT rock a lime green RS3 if given the chance? I know I would. It is a German that throws the extras out and isn't corporate silver or sellout black.

Who said that I didn't want one?

I just went to a tech event about the M96/M97 engines found in these cars at the local Porsche dealership. I had actually been staying away from these cars because of the horror stories that can easily be found all over the internet. In the end it seems that cars with engine issues have them pop up early in life: under 40k miles. The rest of the big issues stem from neglect, extended oil change intervals, and missed shifts (5th to 2nd).

AutoXR wrote: Got offered a 99 with 100k, new motor AC ...etc.. $13 grand... I passed and kept my S197... Phoned fellow forum member ZOOmiata ( Elise owner) he passed as well and bought a E46 M3.

Wtfbbq. When was this? You did not tell us??!

Friend of mine blew his up at the track. He had the IMS fix already done to it and had a cylinder failure. Complete motor BOOM event.

Between that, the IMS problems, rear main seal problems, low rent interiors and the fact that they're not going to really appreciate the way the other 911's have (1st water cooled 911, kinda funky looking) I'm staying away from them.

I would rock a 996 GT3 or twin turbo, but both of those are substantially more money...

docwyte wrote: I would rock a 996 GT3 or twin turbo, but both of those are substantially more money...

996 twin turbos are the best value in the Porsche world right now, and the engine doesn't suffer the same issues as the regular 996.

Same with the GT3, but they're not quite the bargain.

In reply to Woody:

I agree that the 996 Turbos are a great deal. They are well below 40K usually.

They're beginning to creep back up. Friend of mine bought one 2-3 years ago with 50k miles on it for $35k. Not sure you can find one that cheap anymore.

The GT3 and Turbo motors are based off the GT1 motor, they never had any of the issues that the other 996 based motors (911, Boxster, Cayman) have.

bluesideup wrote: because Porsche replaced the original engine due to a RMS leak.

I take it that the rear main seal leak is due to a manufacturing defect and not a simple seal failure?

I found a few turbos still in the 35-38k range when I looked last night. I didn't realize they were that affordable

The turbos use the "GT1" engine design and do not have the IMS issue.

From what I was told by a Porsche tech, the RMS issues are a product of not driving the car. That said, the RMS did go through a few design changes over the years. There were some cars with chronic RMS issues having to do with casting and assembly that were replaced under warranty if detected.

The X51 "power package" should also be brought into this discussion as cars equipped with option X51have some better oil pan baffling in addition to the extra power.

Another thing to look for if you have the opportunity is getting a report on over-rev codes. Different models and years have different reports and rev limits. Essentially though, you want to make sure that all of its "over-revs" were done with the rev limiter and not a missed shift.

I am no longer afraid of picking one of these cars up, provided that it has actually been driven as a Porsche should be, has been maintained properly, and has a good over-rev report.

I would love a 911 without all the "eccentricities" that come with them.

I am really beginning to think a 911 with an LS1 or an older one with a EJ25 might be the ticket for me.

LS1s aren't dry-sump. Go LS7!

Bringing this one back up because I picked this up a couple weeks ago.

Background: I have been daily driving my SVO for a few years (Megasquirt 3, hx35 turbo, true antilag system, E85 28psi boost with a host of suspension mods, you get the jist). I finished college last year, got a great job, so I ended up buying a race car to go racing with next year (older BMW).

That left the SVO in a weird spot. Not needed for racing anymore, not the safest thing on the street, but still very fun. Wife mentioned I should think about something else; then my painter offered me 5k for the svo. So I started researching, looking. After a couple months I found the perfect car in LA, flew down next day and drove back 15 hours.

Paid 22.5k for a well optioned 2002 targa with 99k miles. At 90k the clutch, water pump, LN dual ceramic IMS, RMS, etc. were done. It is the best car I have ever driven, I love it. I feel like I am 16 again.

I hate knowing that I can afford that. Must be sensible, drive Focus into the ground...

Judging from your SVO pics, you're in WA? Join the NW PCA club if you get the chance. Great group of folks to autocross with out at Bremerton (plus HPDE days), and socialize with. We AX with them with our BMW ... wish we had a Porsche to fully join.