What options should I get on 996T - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

I'm going to look at more 996 Turbos on Sunday so to help me; Are there any "must haves" in the options list? Anything that is worth avoiding? Are there any differences between the years that the 996T was produced? I'm only asking this because I've found a 2001 996T that is quite a bit cheaper than expected. Are the later models better or are they all the same? Thanks in advance.

Glove box and cup holders would be on my wish list.

Foot rest Tiptronic Mezger sticker in Carrera font down the side

I didn't think it was that daft a question. Just wondered if anything (such as manual transmission) would make it more resellable in future. I know on the 997 C2S and C4S the sat Nav is pretty sought after (despite being crap) so just wondered if there was something similar with the 996T.

For future resale, a lot of people quote manual and X50 power upgrade. If you like your ICE, be warned that they switched to MOST (optical) connections in 2003, which complicates swapping out the head unit. Don't think there are any must haves though. When I was hunting for a manual with low miles I quickly realised that they only came up about once a month, and the good ones were sold within 48hrs, so I may have to compromise on spec slightly (to get in before the prices rose).

Turbo was effectively top of the range so they're pretty well optioned from the factory. Auto/manual is up to you to decide but you can only buy what's on the market. It amazes me when folk say they're holding out for a guards red, black interior, sports seats, manual, x50 with low mileage and impeccable history and an unused cigarette lighter (older readers will get the cigarette lighter gag). Buy a half way decent one, be prepared to look after it and put a bit of cash into it, then drive and enjoy it,

One word of advise, make sure you have a CD changer because the PCM head unit has to have the Sat Nav CD in. If you do not have a CD changer, you cannot listen to a CD while using a Sat Nav or have a map showing. Stupid design, I know!

FarQue said: Glove box and cup holders would be on my wish list. PCM 1 vs PCM 2. Both are very dated mind you ...

Thanks guys. I've already decided on manual. Like you say, they don't come up very often so I will base my search more on condition and mileage than anything else.

I would personally look for the standard leather trim and not that baggy type that looks like a 20 year old DFS sofa... Its not a deal breaker but its not particularly loved by the buyers or the trade. Manual,strong colour and evidence of recent work to the few known trouble spots would be my advice. Heatshields,actuators,brakes etc are just as susceptible to age as mileage so make sure these are ok.

I bought one with a pioneer head unit, Alu and carbon pack. Standard PCM is utter garbage. Also have Bluetooth now aswell and a USB in my center arm rest. I added, more carbon, 997 GT3 seats, red seat belts, alcantara steering wheel and more carbon, plus a bit more carbon. So you can always spec it up. Standard seats were a bit rubbish anyway.

Do you think there's a decent chance you would look to modify your car at some stage in the future (something that is actually quite common with 996 turbos)? If so, it might well be worth hunting around for a car that already has the mods you're considering. When I was looking for mine I'd already decided that, when funds allowed, I'd certainly change the exhaust and probably get it remapped as well. I then found a car with the spec I wanted, including those upgrades (undertaken at a well-respected Porsche specialist), at a price that was comparable to the equivalent unmodified examples on the market. Invoices for the additional work were a little over £3k. I completely understand if you want to keep your car stock, but if you are thinking of doing bits and pieces, the expenditure doesn't seem to carry through into the sell-on price so it might be worth finding a car with what you want already done... Edited by Yiliterate on Saturday 17th January 15:37

As has already been pointed out, Turbos came pretty well-specified as standard. PCM1/2 are both very dated, the Bose pack is OK but nothing special, sports seats are rare as rocking horse poop, X50 pack commands a premium (and can be matched/bettered by aftermarket tuners). I'd switch from thinking about options to looking for recent work on the car, e.g. rads/condensers, brakes, tyres, coffin arms and the like. You want to see a fat file of paperwork and invoices documenting the car's history as proof that previous owners havve looked after it.

martyspain said: As has already been pointed out, Turbos came pretty well-specified as standard. PCM1/2 are both very dated, the Bose pack is OK but nothing special, sports seats are rare as rocking horse poop, X50 pack commands a premium (and can be matched/bettered by aftermarket tuners). I'd switch from thinking about options to looking for recent work on the car, e.g. rads/condensers, brakes, tyres, coffin arms and the like. You want to see a fat file of paperwork and invoices documenting the car's history as proof that previous owners havve looked after it. I have a manual car with sports seats Sat Nav is next to useless as mine simply won't read the CD. PCM2 is OK but very dated but the BOSE pack is pretty good to have.

JapanRed said: I'm going to look at more 996 Turbos on Sunday so to help me; Are there any "must haves" in the options list? Anything that is worth avoiding? Are there any differences between the years that the 996T was produced? I'm only asking this because I've found a 2001 996T that is quite a bit cheaper than expected. Are the later models better or are they all the same? Thanks in advance. What to avoid? Mod'd ones or ones with track time. Avoid examples with a lack of servicing history. Avoid ones with a story. Generally a later model is more desirable since it is newer and probably has received transparent upgrades/improvements since the early/first ones were released. Besides finding a good one -- the most important *option* -- look for one with X50 option (rare though) and with the sunroof delete. However, I have a 2003 with no X50 option and a sunroof and it is a great car. Be sure whatever you find you give the car a thorough check out, which starts with a test ride then a test ride to give the engine/car a chance to manifest any issues.

martyspain said: As has already been pointed out, Turbos came pretty well-specified as standard. PCM1/2 are both very dated, the Bose pack is OK but nothing special, sports seats are rare as rocking horse poop, X50 pack commands a premium (and can be matched/bettered by aftermarket tuners). I'd switch from thinking about options to looking for recent work on the car, e.g. rads/condensers, brakes, tyres, coffin arms and the like. You want to see a fat file of paperwork and invoices documenting the car's history as proof that previous owners havve looked after it. Equally an x50 car can be matched/bettered further - sort of a mute point.

Thanks guys. I'm looking for lowish mileage (under 60k) so don't think my £30k budget will stretch to an X50. Can't find a decent manual Turbo at all to be honest. Most (more than 50% that I've enquired about) of the adverts on here are fake (dealers say car is sold when I've phoned, I suspect they never had them in the first place)...

JapanRed said: Thanks guys. I'm looking for lowish mileage (under 60k) so don't think my £30k budget will stretch to an X50. Can't find a decent manual Turbo at all to be honest. Most (more than 50% that I've enquired about) of the adverts on here are fake (dealers say car is sold when I've phoned, I suspect they never had them in the first place)... I think thats a realistic budget for the car you are looking for. Alot more so than the chap looking for one at 20k and not expecting a dog! :O Be patient, one will eventually come up

Really tough to find - I know that the trade is mopping up as many low mileage 996Ts as they can reasonably shift on for a margin. I think that if one comes up you will have to be quick!

Thanks guys that's reassuring to hear.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Relax and keep studying the classifieds. Plenty of dross out there, as the cars are getting older. Tiptronics seem to be everywhere and you want a manual. Be prepared to spend a couple of months looking for something suitable.

Magic - agree you have to be patient - but my point was that once you find one you will have to ACT quickly!

What would you guys qualify as low mileage? Ive got 58k on mine (04 car) ... wondering how that sits in the grand scheme as its a manual X50.

Ursicles said: What would you guys qualify as low mileage? Ive got 58k on mine (04 car) ... wondering how that sits in the grand scheme as its a manual X50. Couldn't tempt you to sell could I mate?

Low mileage? Under 50K - ideally under 40K

I think 5,000 miles a year can be considered low. Just my 2p's worth. IceBoy

JapanRed said: Are there any differences between the years that the 996T was produced? I'm only asking this because I've found a 2001 996T that is quite a bit cheaper than expected. Are the later models better or are they all the same? Thanks in advance. The 996 Turbo was unveilled in late 1999 for 2000 model year. The 2001 models gained electric switches to open the front and rear lids, and improved interior illumination. 2002 models were the so-called facelift cars: glovebox, twin cup-holders, soft-touch plastics, better ventilation, Bose sound system, an auto-dim interior mirror and a rain sensor. Also, X50 power upgrade became an option. All nice things to have if possible, but not at the expense of an older/better car if it was a choice between the 2. Funnily enough, having owned a 996 without cupholders after owning a 996 with, I really miss them! bo duke said: For future resale, a lot of people quote manual and X50 power upgrade. Manual yes (although some misguided souls do seek them out!), X50 no. There are some (like myself) that actively sought out non-X50 cars. Definitely not a resale essential. Edited by monthefish on Monday 26th January 09:34