Porsche 911 (996) Help

[stats007]

I'm going to sell my SL in the New Year and am thinking about replacing it with a Porsche 911 C2S. It's one of the only cars I can think of that has decent residuals and offers more than the SL in terms of similar running costs and reliability / performance. Budget is around £28k so looking at a 40k mile '99 car. Not keen on a convertible or the added weight of a C4. Any advice / web resources from people? I imagine a Porsche forum would be a good place to start though thought I'd start here first as I know a few people have had / wanted them.

Cheers

 

[Satch]

Could try here:

http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/postlist.php/Cat/1,2,12,15,22,25,26,27,5/Board/Porsche911


quite a few people have posted the same sort of question.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Avoid the very early 996's, ideally you need to look at a facelift 996 (2001+?)

There were two main facelifts, the first one 1999 ish replaced the orange indicator lenses with the clear ones, the second one came with different headlights (as fitted to the 996 Turbo) to differentiate it from the Boxster.

If you haven't already done so pick up a copy of 911 & Porsche World, think they did a buyers guide to the 996 a few months ago, I could photocopy the article for you if you like?

Suprprisingly prices of 996s have fallen a lot, whilst clean 993's are fetching low to mid 30's still !!!

 

[SimonsMerc]

Apart from main dealers, you could look at:

http://www.911virgin.com/stock.htm
http://www.paragon.gb.com/sales/default.asp

Wherever you buy (including main dealers and the above), read this:

http://www.performance2and4.co.uk/

and then get an inspection done by

http://www.petermorgan.org.uk/

before handing over your cash. Be careful. You're buying a beautiful piece of machinery, but there are people out there just waiting to prey upon your unsuspecting behind.

You'll love it when you buy the right one

-simon

 

[SimonsMerc]

Suprprisingly prices of 996s have fallen a lot, whilst clean 993's are fetching low to mid 30's still !!!

Because the 993 is the last perfect 911. I'd take one over a 996 if I had a choice of both (I can't afford either at the moment, but that's life).

-simon

 

[Satch]

I would love a 911, but sadly there is a reason why the 996's are not holding value whilst the 993's are still sought after:

+The 993 engine is based on the 964 which evolved from the 911 back in 1964. All these engines have their rear main bearing right next to the flywheel, the main bearings are supported directly in the crankcase and do not have a problem whatsoever with premature RMS failure. They all get the odd RMS leak, but this is a trivial issue usually caused by an aged seal after 100,000 miles, once dealt with it does not fail again for a long, long time.

So why the problemwith the new generation engines? The 986/996 had to be redesigned by Porsche to be cheaper to make, i.e.less time consuming to assemble, in order to cut the cost of making their cars to remain competitive (look at the bottom line profit of Porsche Ag, maybethey went too far?). They probably achieved their goal at a price. Known faults of the new generation engines include:
1. RMS failure
2. Intermediate shaft bearing failure
3. Dropped liners
4. Overheating cylinders (caused by the incorrect use of 100% coolant, not a 50/50 mixture)
5. Variocam actuator failure
6. Breather housing oil leaks
All of these will be engineered out of the cars in due course in the usual efficient Porsche way, but that is no comfort for the owner of a problematic engine out of warranty.

Going back to the RMS, unfortunately the cantilevered flywheel, relatively flexible crank & seperate crank cradle (from the crankcase) all contribute to the problem, induced by wobble on the flywheel end leading to premature rear main bearing wear. I believe that Porsche actually have checking tools for the wear on these bearings now, or at least have a measurement for permissible side play, which should indicate the level of the problem. Some engines suffer more than others, I would hope that later engines are better, but I cannot vouch for that.

Guess what though? The GT3 & GT2 do not have the problem. Why? They both use an evolution of the 993 crankcase & crank design, not the new one because it is not strong enough for racing.

The moral of the saga is that if you want to buy a 996 and not worry about your RMS, buy a GT3.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?f=48&t=154369

 

[GrahamC230K]

993 Turbo 4. Yummy

One of my favourite shape 911's and the spec of the Turbo 4 is very appealling. I've got the front brakes already, would love the rest of the car one day!!

Worth considering.

 

[stats007]

Cheers guys. I looked into buying a '74 2.4T a while ago so have some old copies of 911 & Porsche World in the garage somewhere

I know a lot of people say the 993 is the last of the great (i.e raw - aircooled) 911s but I think the 996s get a bad press - I know a few owners that have had no bother at all - apart from brake discs - though one chap had a whole new engine under warranty .

I'm very fussy and have a few months to look so will do my homework. If a nice 993 came up then I won't be discounting it!

 

[High-Lo]

Cheers guys. I looked into buying a '74 2.4T a while ago so have some old copies of 911 & Porsche World in the garage somewhere

I've got all copies of 911&PW for about the last 9 years. Will have a quick search for 911 buyers guides.

 

[bolide]

There's a Buyer's Guide to air-cooled 911s in Octane this month

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I've got all copies of 911&PW for about the last 9 years. Will have a quick search for 911 buyers guides.

I used to have them too from about 5 or 6 years ago. Threw almost all of em out when I got married (I keep reminding my wife that her engagment ring was supposed to be the deposit for my Porsche!).

I kept two or three of the old 911&PWs but just started buying it again about 3 or 4 months ago The new format / style is quite a lot nicer I find.

 

[Howard]

I did a few trackdays in my mates old 993 Turbo 4 some time ago ....

I've got nothing to compare it against having never been in a 996 Turbo , but Wow !! is the one word that springs to mind immediately ....

Certainly doesn't make a pretty noise when accelearting hard , but a wonderful one nonetheless .....

You might have seen this one around Stats a few years ago , the registration was N11 HOT (silver Turbo 4) used to live around Teddington .....

My old boss had one of the 47 RHD 993 RS's , then he sold it to one of the chaps from Dexters estate agents who promptly wrapped it round a tree on its roof ..... now that was one hell of a car ....

 

[sye73]

...everything that ' satch ' has said is 100% right. A pal of mine had nightmares with his 996 and, when he decided to finally move it on, more than a few dealers simply didn't want it (regardless of price).
His 996 GT3 has been fine though !!

 

[Doodle]

Don't forget the dislocated left foot

For some reason (possibly just my physical size), to get my left foot onto the clutch bend I had to try and bend my lower leg around the centre console...after 20 mins I was in agony, even after basically sitting semi-sideways to get better access.

The 911's mechanicals may have been updated over the years, but the driving position doesn't seem to!

Shame really, as the Carrera I drove ticked all the boxes, fast, quiet, build quality.

 

[stats007]

A few I've come across - though they're not shouting buy me!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/120811.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/111990.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/100210.htm

Any thoughts on the C4 Tiptronic?

 

[stats007]

A nice looking 993 & 996.

 

[BTB 500]

A nice looking 993 & 996.

993 looks lovely. 996 has had 5 owners in 6 years ...

 

[stats007]

I know which puts me off - but as a colour it's my sort of thing. Too many have GT3 Aero kits or are silver!

 

[GrahamC230K]

Ah, the turbo 4's are well above your budget, had better forget that. If it couldn't be a turbo 4, I think I would be looking at newer cars too.

 

[SimonsMerc]

That 993 looks lovely - one of the nicest colours for it too. In fact I like the colour so much I bought my 7 series in that colour Wish I could afford the porsche :S

-simon