How good is a 996 Carrera 2 (2000-2003)?

I am contemplating on working towards a Carrera 2 instead of a C4S and a Turbo as I can't imagine myself working hard and spending nearly all of my money after rent/groceries to spend on a sports car. My color choices is either a dark blue, black, nord gray or white or yellow. I am not a fan of silver or red for Porsches. I know 996s are highly hated by many enthusiasts for many reasons, with the engine reliability being the only one I am worried about. How many miles can a typical 996 Carrera 2 take on before being unreliable? I know Turbos can do close to 200K. If I buy one sorted out and replace/upgrade the IMS, how much should I be looking at, price-wise?

I can't say much about the 996 as I have no experience with them. I do however have experience with buying dream cars and my advice is to, follow your instincts on budget. Being in a hole to pay for a car, no matter how great, is a very bad place to be. Things go wrong and you need to be able to fix them. You also need to be able to plan for other things, like a house, savings, retirement etc. Just driving around in the car gets old real fast. Sorry for the lecture, best of luck.

So, your bringing this conversation over from the turbo forum to the 996 forum? My suggestions is; Don't buy a Porsche.

Look for one that has a new engine from Porsche. And stop worrying about it...;-)) Regards Stefan Denmark

The 996 reliability issues are generally to IMS failures, which are eminently preventable. There is an old thread on high mileage 996's if you're interested. That said, *any* 996 is going to be a 10-14 year old vehicle. There will be component failure, and parts and service is not cheap on these cars. Make sure you factor that into your purchase decision. Price will depend on a number of factors - which model year (mkIIs *seem* to be a little pricier), which options, and overall condition (a well-documented,low mileage, single owner car will draw a premium), geography (they're just more expensive in some areas) and of course season (you are in the peak selling season for these cars). For anything worth looking at I would budget 25-32K.

where abouts in canada are you from. 996 are amazing cars, just do your homework. My c4s is awesome, RMS and ImS both done and no,worries drives strong! You cannot beat the performance for the price. Do your homework and you should be fine. Generally,you also get what you pay for so dont cheap out when looking.

The 996 is an exceptional vehice! IMO the IMS failures are overstated. I know a lot of people with 996's and talked to a lot of porsche mechanics who generally say that the IMS failures are rare. My guess is that the actual failures are very well publicized so it appears it is a HUGE problem. No doubt it will be $$ if it happens, but I think it is relatively rare compared to the number of cars that are out there...Again this is just my opinion and I am not an expert. For around $25k I think you can get a great example of a 996 that should last well past 100k mi (depending on the maintenance and how you drive it). Best of Luck! -Danny

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Quote: So December/January is the best time to shop for a 911 you take it? I have seen some high mileage Turbos for 32K or so, and Turbo's engine is more reliable and bulletproof. Having said this, shouldn't I just go for the TT for 32K?

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hyper911, I am in Alberta and we have a ton of potholes all over the city so a very low ride like a Lamborghini would suck to drive here. I like the C4S, but the price for these guys are bordering the high mileage Turbo territory. Quote: Danny, will 25K get me a decent Carrera, Carrera 2 or Carrera 4 (NOT the C4S) Porsche? I know I will get the IMS replaced or upgraded upon purchase, but I may plan on going to an aftermarket racing/car shop and have them tune/upgrade the engine/exhaust to improve performance--after one year of ownership. For 25K, what should I realistically expect for the total mileage of the car, and how many owners should I expect for an asking price of 25K?\ Thanks!

$25k should get you a good c2. A $32k turbo will either be high miles , have stories or deferred maint. Just remember these were 100k plus cars and to repair and maintain costs. Before I bought mind it had $7k of maint done (brakes, clutch etc) so I paid a premium, but at the end of the day it all works out. Buy the best one you can, i have not seen any Turbos that i would buy in Canada for under $42k. You get what you pay for. Get a proper PPI and educate yourself by searching common issues and making sure the car you buy has them sorted or the price reflects you sorting them.

Okay, I will likely skip the Turbos. I was interested in the C4S, so doing some searches on eBay UK, some C4S's are selling for around $23,000 after converting currency to CAD, which I think is a good price. $23,000 to $25,000 can get me a 2009 or newer Nissan 370Z which I am now looking into as well. Different cars, but at the same time, it is a Porsche equivalent in terms of performance and style. No matter which Carrera I get, I know I want a Turbo rear wing for sure--especially if its a C4S since they are identical save for the missing side ducts and rear light/wing.

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Quote: October/November - There are invariably a bunch of people who look to sell just *after* the summer driving season, but before they need to store their vehicle (for those of us that need to do that sort of thing). Still good in December and January. By April however, the nice weather is here, and people begin to think of how much fun it would be to have a sports car in the summer (and who's kidding who - it is ) Turbo's don't suffer from the IMS issue and other reality is that there are few cost effective options to increasing the performance of the NA 911. So if you're thinking that 325 HP *might* not be quite enough, you could be better off holding out for a turbo - but keep in mind that it is a more complicated machine which means more expensive to maintain and repair.

$25k can get you an awesome C2. I paid less than $25k for a 99' with a full aero kit and less than 50k miles. IMO the aero kit on a regular C2 on a completely different level in terms of styling . I've driven the heck out of this thing for about 2 years and 20k hard miles now and its performed beautifully. Just last week there was an absolutely gorgeous 00' C4 in the classifieds section with aero, supercharger, and a ton of other upgrades for $25k. However if reliability and maintenance costs are of concern I think you should probably get the 370Z. It will offer comparable performance and will be newer (e.g. less things to replace). -Danny

Just my experience I purchased my 00 996 from a guy that was toothbrush **** all records, when I got to his house and he open up the garage door swear to God I thought it was a brand new car I bought it with 89,000 miles on it I've had it almost a year and Scott 98000 miles on it now never had the clutch changed came with every record from day one just had it serviced last week my independent Porsche mechanic went over it with a fine tooth comb no leaks clutch is strong paint is immaculate might have been a very good experience just my $0.02

I have had my 2000 C2 convertible for 10 years. Not 1 problem...EVER. Only thing changed was the coolant tank, and everything else has been bullt-proof. I have 54k on it now. Very under-rated car, but also very fun and sporty for sunday drives, nights home with the top down, or just as an everyday car (which I'd never do, because shes a garage queen :P ) I'm considering selling it for the right price and right home...so let me know if this sounds like a good car for you!

When I started looking for my Porsche I didn't know squat about them. Still don't, except I know repairs/replacements are quite expensive. My '99 C2 didn't come with a bunch of documentation. It was clean and serviced when I first saw it. Drove like a charm with 128,000 miles on it. After a year and a half of ownership, it just turned 140,000 miles. In the time I've had it the oil/filt has been changed 5 times. Overkill, maybe, but it's cheap insurance. (If you call $100 a pop cheap) Many owners say they don't drive their's that much but I say drive it like today's going to be the last day you do. I would rather drive a 14 yr old car 150k miles and have RMS/IMS failure than to have driven it 30k miles and have the same failure. If you're going to buy it, drive it. I almost died in 2005 (had my Z06 with only 10k miles on it) and I remember being told as I was recovering "If you don't drive it, someone else will" and I certainly enjoy driving both now.

AMEN Brother!!!!

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Quote: Well, I'm glad you are alive, and you are lucky to own a Z06--I love C6 hardtop Corvettes! I have been reading some old thread on Rennlist forums, and they say the engine failure/IMS problem of a 996 Turbo and/or NA 996 911's, only occur BEFORE reaching the 50,000 miles mark . Some users said if you find a 996 911 that has higher than 50,000 miles, this problem shouldn't be an issue any more and you can buy in total confidence. Why? Because the engine either has been repaired/replaced, IF a serious issue did occur before reaching 50K-- and if not, the likelihood is near zero if the odometer reads over 50K miles. Some said if a 996 911 has under 50,000 miles, be more wary, as a serious problem will very likely occur. Do frequent oil changes help prevent or prolong the efficiency and life of a Porsche 911's engine/parts?? (E.g. Kind of like brushing AND flossing teeth, as opposed to ONLY brushing your teeth) I'd rather do more small maintenance things constantly, if this at all helps to avoid any major problems, which can end up being super expensive.

You know, I don't know if frequent oil changes will prolong the effiency and life of the engine but it certainly won't hurt. I do the service myself so I save on labor costs. I've read on this forum posts about higher mileage 996's, that if you haven't experienced IMS/RMS failure by 50k miles chances are you're likely not to have them. Can't say for sure if that's true. To me, if it's going to break, it's going to break. I can see where being proactive and having the repair done before it happens is probably the best thing to do. I do the normal service on my car myself. Anything that I know I can't handle I'll take it to a shop.

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Quote: From what I gather, there are folks who recommend a high mileage 996 since these cars are meant to be driven and not garage queened, and there are others who say a low mileage one is the way to go. Since these cars can last well over 150,000 miles (close to 200K), would a higher mileage car-- say a 80,000 miles or more 911, be a good buy, since it's been driven regularly and can likely last another 80,000??

Buy one with a rebuild engine from Porsche, then you can sleep a night. Thats's what I did... Regards Stefan Denmark

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Quote: I couldn't tell you if it would be a good buy. You're going to have to weigh in other aspects of the car as well. I bought my C2 with 128k miles and now have a bit over 140k.

+1 to what others have said. I have a '99 C2 owned for ~2 years and LOVE it! I paid ~$22k, it had 57k on the odo and hadn't seen much recent maintenance. I've had a few small problems, coolant expansion tank, AOS, and the passenger side seat belt buckle receptacle (airbag light) but considering it's a 14 year old car it's been extremely reliable. I had the IMS/RMS replaced for peace of mind when the clutch needed replacement, but I think the issue is overblown. The keys to my decision were a solid PPI from a trusted indy mechanic, service history which I found from the local Porsche dealer, and insurance rates. It's actually cheaper for me to insure than my DD G35! When you do pull the trigger you won't believe the reaction people have. Most would never believe you paid $20+change for a 911. Non-Porsche people (Normies ) can't tell a 993 from a 991

I find that my 00 C2 highly pisses people off it being Red and me retired from Wrestling(WCW NWA WWE)What a combo,These high school kids passed me in a Saturn and the look on their faces was priceless.Seems everyone wants to race,and forget about driving it to Church you really get the look then when its offering time lol

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Quote: I am a WWE fan, but are you Ric Flair by any chance? That would be the coolest thing ever, to be able to talk to a pro wrestler and Hall Of Famer on a car forum, of all places lol Regarding buying a brand new engine from Porsche, do I just call them up and specially order one or how do I go abouts to doing this?

No I would be Nature Boy Buddy Landel I love Ric and he just lost his son,but he would never appreciate a Porsche.,hes 64 and paying 4 ex-wives 30 grand a month in alimony.I told him it was cheaper to keepher lol

Paid 15k for a 2000 c2 with 88k miles... Looked like it had just rolled out of the dealership. I did preemptive maintenance with the IMS... New clutch... Seals etc. ran me 3k for that then dumped a stereo not it (JL, alpine, etc)... Still happy with her. Bill

I have 47,000 miles on my 2002 C2 Cab, I replaced an alternator so far. I have not had any problems with it. Keep it on a battery tender if you are not going to drive it, it will chew through a battery in about three weeks if not driven.

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wmiranda would you say preemptive measures like buying a new clutch, doing the IMS and RMS thing once buying a 911 is a good way to avoid running into a major problem, and thus becoming a major expense? I know almost all vehicles that have 6 speed manuals, are normally less expensive than their automatic and semi-auto counterparts, like the tiptronic/paddle shifters. In the long run, which will be cheaper to own/repair since clutches can be expensive--and isn't manual trannys more difficult to fix/check then an automatic? Quote: Damn, that's so cool you know him though. I feel bad for not knowing who you were, lol. Grew up watching WWF and WCW back in 98 and loved it. I remember seeing a WWE Confidential episode where Ric Flair, HHH, and Batista drive flashy exotics like a Ferrari Enzo, so I guess he wouldn't appreciate a Porsche. I can picture him in a fancy car like a Lambo or Ferrari or Bugatti

Actually hes so broke from bad investments he drives a dodge....not that theres anything wrong with that lol..you can google his financial woes...sad. Ps.I was the first guy to wrestle Bill Goldberg june98 Dalton Ga. WCW

If you want a convertible i just listed my 2000 online here for 31g obo. Its blue and has a hardtop. Im just east of you in Sask. its a great car. Low miles and no issues. And Buddy. Goldberg is married to a girl from my home town. We used to hang out years ago when she was dating a good friend of mine. Small world. Lol

Small world my friend!

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Quote: Quote: well he might not, he is also looking into a lambo

Natrby- Welcome to the forum Buddy! Awesome to see you here man. I'm in the market now and considering a C4 Cab b/c I plan on daily driving it all year round. I want to enjoy all the car has to offer.

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Guarenteed from Undeground Racing Quote:

99 Carrera with 85K and going strong. 04 996TT 40K and going strong. Consumer reports lists them as "average" reliability compared to other "regular" cars. My BMW has needed more work than my Porsche's at 80K. I did have to replace the Alt.'s in both 996's. Not really any difference to any other good daily driver from what I have seen. Percentage wise, the IMS is like 1-2% failure rate, from what I have heard. If you want a car to run forever, get a Toyota while eating my dust. lol

So on Sunday, I have seen in person a clean, stock silver C4S 996 and it looks absolutely exotic and sexy. Most cars I see are either old Civics, Camry/Corollas, a bunch of 2005+ Mustangs, and generic looking newer cars from all makes. What I noticed about the C4S is relatively low slung and sits lower than a Mazda 6 for example. Oh, and from the back, it looks even better than in pictures. The wide bum/extending "hips"--for a lack of a better word, looks stunning and all other cars look narrow/"boxy" from the back. I noticed in pics, the pre-2002 911's have that unique/wide hips look from the rear too. Any real dimension differences between a C4S and a pre-2002 Carrera?

I believe the difference in width is a bit over 2". I have a C2 which looks wide until a C4S or TT is parked next to it.

Sounds like you are a bit strapped for cash for a turbo so just buy a clean c2, c2s, c4s etc wtv you like more keep it for 2-3 years enjoy it till you have some more money and buy a turbo then. The C2/C4 won't depreciate that much over the next couple years if any if you find a lower mileage one. As far as body difference between the C4S and pre 2002, the C4S as said before is wider than pre 2002 60mm if not mistaken, also has wider front/rears tires. The 2002 c4s have update facelift new headlights, turbo bumper, etc. The 2002 C4S is pretty much a complete 911 turbo minus the motor so it's a complete different car than pre 2002 carreras.

Well here are some pictures of a 2001 Carrera 4, in black: http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-wes...-S464863-4.jpg http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-wes...-S464863-2.jpg http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-wes...-S464863-1.jpg THIS would be my dream Porsche. An AWD 911 with Turbo wheels, black interior and exterior and no "factory aerokit"--not a fan of that look with the weird wing and ugly side skirts. If I had money, I'd get this one. http://www.my-lhd.co.uk/images/voitu...sche-911-1.jpg Does anyone know which exact 1999 models have this front bumper airvents with the pre-2002 headlights? All I know is the 2002-2003 C4S's have them, but with the new headlights. This is a nice combo--Google image search really didn't help, as the pre-2002 models only have the long narrow vents. In any case, I am still amazed one can buy a modern looking sports car for as low as 15K--which once was over 80K.

I a little curious, is there any actual point to your posts, because I can't figure out what it is your actually trying to garner?

http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/3752224062.html If you want to travel a little mine is up for sale