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Unread 01-01-2011, 01:13 PM   #1
John Koa Wood
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Default Considering a 996..

Well, as things progress, I am considdering a few changes..

Considering a 996, what should I look for? What should I avoid? What should I ask?

I have not yet driven one, nor have I spent much time with them, but I will be looking to replace my daily driver, and do all my own maintenance (save a few exceptions such as having Chris White build up the motor for my 951).

Want to remain within the p-car family, and want newer, more reliable, more modern.

997 is more than I wish to spend, Boxter and Caiman are not really my taste.

So, what's the advice of the 996 crowd?
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Unread 01-01-2011, 01:35 PM   #2
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John

Get the book "Porsche 996 - The Essential Companion" by Adrian Streather, it is an excellent reference on the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Porsche-996-Es...3902443&sr=8-1

I bought mine about a year ago and it is way different than the 951, not better (except in comfort) but different. The 996 is better DD in my mind and hugely entertaining.

Read about the RMS (largely solved and not a huge deal) and IMS bearing issues (no one really knows how many cars it affected, but my guess is a relatively small percentage) in the TOS's 996 forum. There is a fix from LN Engineering for the IMS issue.

This is a car that you can work on. It's not as easy as the 951, but not crazy difficult either. I find parts a bit more expensive than 951, but not enormously.

C2 vs. C4 is a matter of taste. I have a C4 but with only 5% of power delivered to front wheel under most circumstances, I would probably look for a C2 with PSM in the future.

Many like the 2002 to 2004 model (996.2) due to more HP, stiffer structure and different headlight and bumper treatment. I kind of wish that I had gone for that, but in reality I really like my 1999 C4. (and really wish that I had a budget for a C4S or a 996 Turbo, but both were out of my price range). My advice would be to get a well equipped car as opposed to a bare bones one. The leather interior is very nice compared to the base trim.

I would look for a car with a MO30 RoW suspension (some guys like the X74, but I found it a bit harsh for street only driving) and one with PSE exhausts (or at least hacked mufflers - the sound is much better). And like all P-Cars (1) PPI and (2) as many records as available.

PM me with questions and thoughts. I sold my 951 to afford a 996....
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Last edited by fbgh2o; 01-01-2011 at 01:49 PM. Reason: Additional info
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Unread 01-01-2011, 07:54 PM   #3
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I've had my car for a little over five years now and just can't come up with a lot of bad things to say about it. Okay, it blew an engine (intermix problem), but other than that I've been very happy with the car and would absolutely recommend it...these things really are bargains these days. Mine is a C4 almost identical to Fergus's...

I'd recommend finding one with a remanufactured engine already installed to avoid any potential issues. The C4S is a great choice for a few bucks more. John, I've read enough of your posts to say that you wouldn't have any trouble working on these things. Let us know if you have any questions!
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Unread 01-01-2011, 09:49 PM   #4
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Will keep everyone updated...

Thanks guys, exactly the type of info I am after... and I am going to try to hang onto the 951... I needs my boost fix...
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Unread 01-02-2011, 11:20 PM   #5
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The 996.... its a great car. I suggest the LNE bearing. It has recently been voted one of the most reliable cars, I think by consumer reports. The same report put VW as one of the worst.

Its nothing to be afraid of. You can work on it just as you can your 951. They didnt use some Martian technology to build it like a lot of people will try to make you think when you tell them you are going to do yrou own work.

Its just like any other porsche, you have to take the proper care of the car.
at 100K they need new cam chain pads. Although many do not replace them they are do.
I dont see any advantage to buying a low milage car over something with 100K on it. In fact some feel that a higher mile car may be a better bet Due to the IMS issue and crank off center issue.

Anyway. I have had mine for a year this month. 10 more days will be a year. It had 103 on it when I bought it and now I think it has about 115 on it. It has a few oil leaks I plan to chase this summer. But it ran this while year with out an issue.
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99/996/911 Aero.

I also have a very strong respect for the 928.
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Unread 01-02-2011, 11:30 PM   #6
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John

Another thing that you might want to do is sit in the different seats available (stock, stock with soft leather, sport and GT3 Euro)

My car came with the soft leather version of the stock seat with full power options including lumbar support, which was great. However, I did not like the limited upper torso support especially around the shoulders. So I replaced with manual sport seats. They are a significant improvement, but I wish I had been able to find a set with adjustable lumbar support and and heat.

Couple of other items of note - it takes a lot of oil (10L).... Which means and oil change will cost $100 on oil alone.

Coolant changes are a bit of a PITA as it is a more difficult to drain and not as easy to bleed as a 951 (unless you have one of those vacuum tools that dealers have).

If you can, find a car that has had the coolant tank replaced. They tend to crack and leak, but the fix does not appear that hard.
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Unread 01-05-2011, 05:20 AM   #7
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Unread 01-05-2011, 01:10 PM   #8
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Well there are MANY available for sale, I am seeing it as a buyers market, and what I am seeing 20K gets a ton of car these days..

I am settling to a color (Speed Yellow) but the Blue and Black look SOOOO good as well.
Leather interior
Sunroof (? any issues to watch out for?)
3.6 not mandatory but nice to have
6 Speed
suspension is not really a concern, as I have upgraded suspensions many times before..
Seats, as long as they are leather, I am not really concerned with as they are easy enough to replace..

all this and I still have yet to sit in one, or drive one... might turn out to not be the car for me.. but honestly?

Thanks guys, Fergus, I will deffinitely let you know when I recieve the book, and will read it cover to cover.. and heed its words...

I am not at all scared of 100K miles, my 944 that a 996 will be replacing is just (400 miles or so) UNDER 100K right now, and showing its age.. but I realize 100K is less on a properly maintained much newer car...

Maintenance records are a must, in absence of them I will offer accordingly, and am considering having retainer $ placed at one or two shops for PPI readiness... so If I find the one, I can get PPI, and perhaps a second PPI, and pull the trigger..

I am actually excited about the prospect of owning a much newer car, not to mention a 911 variant (despite what some say about the 996).. I love my 944, but it is almost 24 years old, and I am tiring of constantly working on her.. my 951 when complete, will be completely new, up to date, and a handfull to drive.. I need something that is reliable, fun, and suitable to daily driver use...

My biggest concern is the miles I drive.. 15K on the 944 over the last 5 months... I drive A LOT more than most people.. but use is predicated by Maintenance.. in all cars...
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Unread 01-05-2011, 01:36 PM   #9
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John,

There are two versions to the basic cars (non-turbo, GT3). Mk I's '99-'01 and Mk II's '02-'04. If you can afford a Mk II they do have some meaningful updates over the earlier cars IMHO (that being said there is nothing wrong with the earlier cars).

- 20 extra hp (24 more than the '99)
- more torque at a lower rpm (thanks to VarioCam Plus)
- Better aerodynamics (20% less front lift and 40% less rear lift)
- 20% stiffer chassis
- improved interior
- improved oiling (revised pan and baffles for better high g performance)
- improved engine cooling (the newer cars run cooler as a result)
- better fuel economy (only 1 mpg, but every little bit helps)
- improved suspension (reinforced strut towers, revised springs, shocks, bushings, and sway bars).
- revised exhaust (better sound)
- only a 55 lb weight gain over the '99-'01 cars

Furthermore if you want to go really big look for a 2004 anniversary edition. They came pretty loaded and included a limited slip and the x51 power kit.

Good luck.
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Unread 01-05-2011, 02:26 PM   #10
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John, there was a very nice looking black 996 Mk I with the aero package just posted on Rennlist for about $24k. I don't know anything about it other than those are the ones everybody seems to want.
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Unread 01-05-2011, 02:35 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Koa Wood View Post
I am settling to a color (Speed Yellow) but the Blue and Black look SOOOO good as well.
Speed yellow might be hard to find. Black will be extremely easy, blue just slightly less so.

Quote:
Leather interior
They all have leather seating, but some cars are equipped with an upgraded leather, the name of which escapes me right now. You can usually tell right away if it has the upgraded leather. Also, there's a full leather package (dash and headliner I believe) that comes standard on the Mk II C4S and TT models but I am not sure it was available on the Mk I cars.

Quote:
Sunroof (? any issues to watch out for?)
Almost all 996s will have a sunroof and it will most likely rattle over bumps a lot and be finicky to use. Actually, if you could find one of the rare non-sunroof cars, I'd be all over it.

Quote:
3.6 not mandatory but nice to have
6 Speed
suspension is not really a concern, as I have upgraded suspensions many times before..
Yeah, those are all up to the individual owner's tastes...

Quote:
Seats, as long as they are leather, I am not really concerned with as they are easy enough to replace..
There are multiple seat options (all leather) but you might want to find one with the seats you want because while they're easy to replace, they sure aren't cheap.

Quote:
Maintenance records are a must, in absence of them I will offer accordingly, and am considering having retainer $ placed at one or two shops for PPI readiness... so If I find the one, I can get PPI, and perhaps a second PPI, and pull the trigger..
Perfect!

Quote:
I am actually excited about the prospect of owning a much newer car, not to mention a 911 variant (despite what some say about the 996).. I love my 944, but it is almost 24 years old, and I am tiring of constantly working on her.. my 951 when complete, will be completely new, up to date, and a handfull to drive.. I need something that is reliable, fun, and suitable to daily driver use...

My biggest concern is the miles I drive.. 15K on the 944 over the last 5 months... I drive A LOT more than most people.. but use is predicated by Maintenance.. in all cars...
+1 on all of the above. The 944 and 951 are great cars, but they're getting a bit long in the tooth. The 996 cars really are a bargain right now.
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Unread 01-05-2011, 11:31 PM   #12
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All good stuff.

Jake interesting remark about sun roofs. Mine is dead silent... I think.
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Unread 01-06-2011, 12:01 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fbgh2o View Post
Jake interesting remark about sun roofs. Mine is dead silent... I think.
I never noticed it until I started hearing others complain about it, and now I can't ignore it. It seems pretty prevalent in these cars...I'll cross my fingers that your car is immune.
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Unread 01-06-2011, 01:47 AM   #14
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ohhhh, saw a green one on 95 tonight... mmmmmm it was purty... but I still like the yellow, and there are several available...

I need to get out there and drive one... or ten... and with a book coming, I am sure I will have plenty of reading to do!

My 944 is and was always intended to remain as close to stock as possible, the 951 on the other hand, will be all fresh and new when she hits the street... new this, new that, rebuilt this, refurbished that... newness all over the place...
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Unread 01-06-2011, 01:40 PM   #15
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Quote:
but I still like the yellow, and there are several available...
The question on this is will you still like yellow in 5 years. Also I am always reluctant to have a bright coloured sports car... Cops just see you easier... That's whyI went with Arena red on mine - it's much closer to burgundy.
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