Selling Penny my 996, needs a rebuild...anyone interested

So after a lot (and I mean a lot) of nagging it looks like my wife may finally be getting her way...decided it's time to sell Penny, my 996. Just under 2 years ago she suffered a cracked cylinder and I put her in the garage hoping to get her rebuilt within the year but things didn't work out that way and I've been delaying the inevitable ever since. I've just pulled her out of the garage and she's still in great condition (apart from the obvious). Firstly - would anyone on here be interested in taking her off my hands? and secondly...I've no idea where to even begin pricing so any support on that would be really appreciated. Here is a high level overview: 2002 996 C2 Cab, manual in polar silver with metropol blue interior and hood. 107k miles on the clock and 3 owners from new inc me. I've got full documentation, inc a detailed spreadsheet I've kept of all the work that's been done (when, why how much etc) since I've owned it. Oil change done every 5k miles with Millers 10w-50. Standard spec inc: - bose with PCM 1 and 6 disc cd changer (currently has aftermarket headunit (pioneer sph da 120) - electric memory seats with porsche crested headrest - Porsche Sports Exhaust (I've done the cut out override mod) - Sports Chassis (M030 sports suspension) - 18" carrera wheels - PSM - Wind deflector included - Hard top with the silk cover and a stand on wheels. I retrofitted cruise control and did a detailed guide of it on 911uk. It came with M030 suspension from new but I refreshed all of this just before it died; new shocks and springs on all 4 corners as well as top mounts, ARBS and bushes...it hasn't even done 1k miles on the new suspension yet. Replaced all of the exhaust brackets and bolts (tailpipe clamps and bolts in the flanges), the waterpump and AC condensers shortly before it died as well. Been running with Michellin PS2s, the rears were replaced at 104k. Loads more done but don't want to bore you with the full list unless you're interested. Really is a lovely spec car thats been well looked after and bodywork is in great condition too...really sad to consider selling it but don't want to see her sat in the garage not being used!

Sorry to hear of your woes. Was that oil in the coolant rather than coolant in the oil? It will make a big difference if has sat for a couple of years I would think. If at the very minimum it needs the engine removing and a head swapping then I would think you need to be looking at perhaps £5-6k less than it would be otherwise. At that mileage it would be ready for new bearings anyway, so a good excuse for a full strip down and rebuild for somebody. Looks like a great car other than the obvious. Good luck. MC

Thanks MC We saw coolant in the bores when we stuck a scope in. You could clearly see the crack and a small pool of coolant. Is that the better or worse of the two? The intention was to do a full strip down and rebuild but life has got in the way ever since so I'm hoping I can find someone who wants to give her a new lease of life. So taking roughly £6k off a normal value would be fair?

Sorry, I misread it, cracked cylinder rather than cracked cylinder head, so that really is a full on strip down and rebuild whatever. That is bad news and I would say a minimum of £6k off the price, probably more like £8k as that is about the minimum you could get away with to put it back on the road in one piece, either with a secondhand engine or with major work done. It is a real pity but unfortunately these cars are often worth a little more than what the engine is worth. I really hope it goes to somebody who wanted a full Hartech rebuild anyway as hopefully it will be a great base for that. MC

Whilst trying to be positive.... Without the engine fault I'd say that the car is £12k-£14k. As it is IMO it is worth £6k-£8k. Probably worth more than that if you parted it out. Which would be a real shame.

...to be brutally honest a rebuild is going to end up in the area of £10-12k possibly more and if it's like most 996s especially since it has been stood for a while it will require a few other odds and side thus the car has greater value to you if you break it for parts... So if it were me and I was in the market to buy I would offer you about £5k as is...ouch indeed!

Re reading your post, bar the knackered engine it sounds like a good car that needs saving. Fix it and enjoy it.

Re: Selling Penny my 996, needs a rebuild...anyone intereste Ive sent you a pm

Sadly. I'd have to agree with the above. It's not just a case of the value being 'the car with a rebuilt engine minus the cost of the rebuild'. You've also got to factor in the hassle factor of the buyer needing to collect the car, organise the rebuild and delivering it to the rebuilder. Unless the buyer is very keen to end up with a car that matches your exact colour combo and spec I reckon they'd need a financial motivation to take on the job. Good Luck though. :thumb:

hi, your stuck between a rock and a hard place. a bargain rebuild will be in the region of £10K. lets say the car is valued at £15k, maybe with a rebuild you could get a little more?? If you part it, which is a shame i think you could do better in value of return, you then have to break it! I think the value of £5k is fairy real in my opinion, harsh news Maybe give a few specialists a call they might offer you a better price?

I'd pay £5k for that. I'm sure you'll get plenty of offers of around that. If not PM me. I'd fix it up for Mrs Marky and ditch her PCP'd Abarth. Not wanting to be a vulture though and your situation is the epitome of a nightmare 996 ownership experience. Buy car, car breaks and is suddenly worth next to nothing, so as said you blow £12k on a rebuild or knock £12k off it's value. :nooo: A horrible tale of losing £12k basically. I feel for you Leon. I remember it from on here when it first broke and you put it away. Get rid and draw a line under it.

Take a chance and see what it makes on ebay.

I feel your pain as I went through this last year when my engine dropped a valve seat. The rock and a hard place description above is the best description. If you decide to rebuild, you will get project creep - the starter motor cable might need replacing, the brake line over the gearbox, the rear subframe diagonal braces, gear shift cables, AOS, flywheel, clutch etc. debate over replacing one liner or a few, and then, do you used steel liners or go the Hartech route? And then do you go for a 3.9...? I agree with the other above on the costs of rebuild and the value of the car now without it. Any potential buyer will not only need to do the engine, but the brake fluid is now due and the brake Piston seals will be toast, so as I buyer I'd have to budget for a caliper rebuild. As a buyer I would want to replace the battery, Tyres might be due. Any buyer could just keep listing items that they need to budget for as the car hasn't been driven and they can't test drive it. I spent weeks running over the numbers and telling my wife about it. Eventually she told me I should get the 3.9. - I kid you not. She still claims responsibility for this! And I'm happy for her to own it as it means if I don't make my money back on it in a few years time, I can blame her! Best of luck with you pr decision making and sorry to hear you are in this position.

^^^ Is the right answer. I'd actually be amazed if it didn't make minimum £6k and more like £7k. Or sell it to one of us for £5k. G'wan, g'wan, g'wan! :grin: ETA. Responding to eBay post. Not the one directly above.

As has been said, I'd call around a few of the places that can rebuild the engine themselves and see what they'd offer you for it, and then (I suspect) take Mark up on his offer.