School me on 996's, please!

Basically at this time I am just kicking tires on 996's and do not even know if I will like the 996 as a DD because my '04 E60 525i is the bomb as a DD but....I need another true sports car. Long story short is that I was hoping a could get some opinions on the good and bad of the 996 with no plans of tracking the car, just enjoying it.

I will be test driving this one tomorrow....
Used 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera For Sale in Houston TX | Stock: P3S622135

One issue I do have is that there are no actual pictures of the vehicle, the color is only listed as "blue" and I would like to know the true color. I will post pictures and impressions tomorrow yet any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am also willing to wait for the right financial time so I am in no rush, I just want to experience/drive the base model, the C4 and the Turbo.

Thanks in advance,
Gregg

 

$30k is high for that mileage. That car is most likely this color combo. Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Convertible 2 Door | eBay

 

You are probably right and the '02 has 20K less miles than the '03 and the '02 is convertible as well as AWD (no reserve on the '02 though gives me pause). I would be very happy with a pre-'04 996/6-speed in coupe or convertible, $25K is my cap with a $5K trade-in.

 

I would pass on the 996 and pick an earlier or later model. I understand that some may love it... They do nothing for me for looks or the interior where you spend all your time. So I'm sorry but being honest. You'll be disappointed every time you walk away from it and the view will not be inspiring. Find another car you will love seeing depending on your budget.

Robb

 

So another MKII MR2T you say? Thanks!

 

Or go for a turbo.

 

Lol. I wasn't suggesting that. And of course I'm not trying to insult 996 owners or you with what you like which is all that really matters.

I just don't want to see you sell yourself short. I remember driving a 996 and the gear shift came off in my hand. That didn't happen with my 911 sc so I thought they failed in many departments with the 996. It didn't feel or look special to me.

I just got back from the Porsche factory and museum. Lot of better cars that I would go for made by them. Many within your budget.

Robb

 

Head to Rennlist, Gregg. Prices are great on 996s, due in part to scare about IMS and they are not air cooled. Think you can get ones in 20K range. Just budget some bucks for likely maintenance on cars approaching 15+ years. Good luck in the hunt...T

 

Well said, Wayne.

Good advice.

Mike

 

Great cars for sub $20K. IMO the IMS issues are blown way out of proportion. If you're worried about it there are IMS warning kits and retrofits available. Mine was lowerd with a ground kit/wheels and looked pretty awesome...less jellybean.

 

What he said.

Maybe too obvious to restate, but just because a Porsche (or Ferrari) has depreciated to Camry level doesn't mean repair costs are Toyota-ish.

 

Gregg,

Go or a 996 C4S or 996 Turbo, no model less.
I've own both and will be getting another 996 Turbo sooner than later.
Super fast, good looking in the right color, and absolutely bullit proof.
Also, they have never been cheaper than they are now, talk about bang for your buck!
I am in Houston in you need some local advice.

Mat

 

Excellent advice.

 

Very wise reflections...although depending on when your friend owned it/whether he still owns it, his 964 Turbo could have made him far more than the cost of an engine rebuild now..

 

996TT Go For It !!!
I bought one a few months ago, and UNREAL !!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you don't mind its looks, the 996TT is a bargain in terms of performance and it doesn't have the dreaded IMS that can potentially grenade and destroy other 996 engines.

If you aren't going with a 996TT, then I would either go pre 996 model (993/964/911) or I'd go with a 2nd generation 997 with direct injection engine...when they got rid of IMS. Some people claim IMS failure is rare, but I know someone with a car that suffered IMS failure, and Porsche settled a class action suit involving IMS failures so that is enough for me to avoid a 996.

Good luck!

 

996 is a great DD. Cheap, decent looks, small, utilitarian and fun to drive. I currently DD a '00 C2, had an LS1 powered '99 C2 daily driver and just picked up an '01 Turbo to replace the '00. The C2 with coilovers and decent tires has the best turn-in of any car I've driven (not fast, but the feel).

Personally, I wouldn't spend over $20k on a narrow body 996. If you're spending $30k, spring a few thousand more for a turbo.

 

Get the 996TT. Do it.

 

With your budget the turbo may be out of reach. However, if you can stretch the budget, I would also vote for the turbo. Super reliable and should hold its value better than NA versions. Really a lot of car for the money.

 

So, I thought I'd give this thread a bump too.

I've started the search for a 997 Targa, but seems to be slim pickings at the moment.

I have come across a 2002 996 targa (90k miles) for pretty cheap price (asking $22k), and am wondering how one of these cars would fare as a daily driver.

Anything special to know about the 996 Targa's?

I assume all other 996 issues apply.

Thanks!

 

There is a reason 996s are a lot cheaper than 993s and 997s. Skip it and keep looking for a second generation 997 Targa with direct injection engine and no potential dreaded IMS issues.

 

Dom…996s are insanely cheap, not only due to the IMS scare (which many believe to be over-blown), but also due to their greater age and mileage.

You indicated that this would be a DD, so that's the only worry that I would have about an older car - 996 or not. How long/far is your commute? If your 996 went down for a while, could you arrange alternative transportation?

From what I have read, the worst case scenario is a new engine in the 15 - 25 K range if the IMS grenades on you. So, 25K car + 25K engine = 50 K worst case scenario, close to prices you were quoting for 997 Targas. If your budget permits that worst possible expenditure & you had another means of getting to work while the 996 was in the shop, then it is worth considering. If the 996 holds up apart from the usual maintenance one expects on a 12 - 15 year old DD, then you're ahead of the game, and have a car that most would not be able to discern from a newer 997.

If I were going to do it over again, I would get a 996, keep a reserve of 25 K in the bank for doomsday scenarios, do some preventative work when I first got it - change all the fluids, upgrade IMS, address rear main seal, etc. - and then drive it like I stole it. Of course, if my Porsche goes down, I have only an arduous 1/2 mile commute, and I am sure my wife would let me borrow her highly reliable Honda pickup truck!

T

 

Thanks!

My commute to work is about 5 miles, so not too bad. I currently use a 2008 Audi A4 with about 105k miles with no issues. I have the 308 as a backup if necessary. If I were to buy a 997, I would probably sell the A4. If I bought an 996, perhaps I could keep the Audi as a backup.

The cheapness of the 996 is a big plus, especially when I can tell the wife I'm going to spend half of what I thought I was to spend. Of course, until I see the car, I don't know how much it will need, and how good it really looks (the ad only has a couple pics).

I'm keeping my options open. I really would like a Targa, whether it is a 996 or 997. I can wait, but I hate waiting. I really wish I could pick one up soon. The money feels like it's burning a hole in my pocket, and there is always the fear that 3 or 6 months from now, circumstances can change and boom, no more car...