44 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHLooking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Leading reported evidence
Use car dealers either
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I also don�t like smaller used car dealers either, but sometimes you just don�t have much choice.
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use car dealers either' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Test drive' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I live in a pretty rural area, so there isn't a lot of options, as there are no used car dealers in the area (not really high on my list to go to a used car dealer).
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Use car lots
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Your post makes no sense - There are lots of used car lots with used 996's in Potland - Just do some research
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Test drive
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
You learn very little useful information on a dealership test drive.
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Test drive all you want
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Use car dealers in the area (not really high
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I live in a pretty rural area, so there isn't a lot of options, as there are no used car dealers in the area (not really high on my list to go to a used car dealer).
Looking to purchase, but never have driven (Portland, OR)
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
44 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T144035Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hello all,
Just thought I would throw this out there to see if anybody would be willing to accommodate. I am in the market for a 996 and have never driven one. I would like to get an idea what a good one would feel like to drive as I go through the process of purchasing one of my own (yes I would get a PPI). I live in a pretty rural area, so there isn't a lot of options, as there are no used car dealers in the area (not really high on my list to go to a used car dealer). I am about an hour outside of Portland, OR in the gorge and am hopeful to find a volunteer that would be willing to let me drive theirs. I will be in the Portland metro area on Thursday the 22nd and possibly the 23rd of October. I know this is a long shot, but all of you have been pretty helpful so far so thought I would take a wild stab in the dark on this one.
Thank you,
Scott
Your post makes no sense - There are lots of used car lots with used 996's in Potland - Just do some research
It's not Kosher to ask someone to drive their car especially since you have never driven one.
I would let someone I know drive my car if they were interested in buying a 996.
Someone I didn't know...maybe...
But I'm way down here in Texas so the point is moot.
I would just bite the bullet and drive an hour to find a car to test drive at a dealer. Besides, if you are in the market, they should let you test drive them, and I would line up 3 visits in the same day so you can get a feel for how they drive. There�s no guarantee that a rennlister�s car will drive any more �normal� than a dealer car.
I also don�t like smaller used car dealers either, but sometimes you just don�t have much choice.
For an enthusiast on rennlist I would surely let them drive after taking a short ride with me. No prob. Presuming they are competent in stick shift.
A bottle of Drambuie might magically appear in my frunk after the trip. (one could hope)
I recently let a fellow rennlister drive my car. He was concerned if he would be able to fit in stock seats with a helmet on and a rollbar. I let him sit and drive the car in both seats (race and stock, swapped them out so he could try both).
That's what the community is about helping people. OP, I am in Philly otherwise I would have no problem.
Some people will let a stranger drive their cars - others won't. Someone trying to sell their 996 is much more likely to let you. My advice - its a big purchase, and worth the time it takes you to travel somewhere to check one out in person and drive it. I'd guess that you have some assumptions about how it drives and handles, I'd say its everything you imagine and better. Get out and test drive one at a used car lot - even if its not the exact model and trim you're looking for. I tracked one down at a used car lot to drive and see if I liked it (spoiler alert, I liked it), but I waited another 3 years before I bought mine.
I'd have no problem letting a seasoned RL'er drive my car with me in passenger's seat but handing over the wheel to someone who just joined the group 3 days ago and never drove a Porsche there's just no way.
Maybe most of you haven't experienced poor drivers who are clueless? I'm not saying the OP is nor do I mean any disrespect but some people are just terrible drivers who grind on the car.
With the 30 or so of my Porsche's I have sold over the past 35 years I've seen some real Morons take the wheel - Burning clutch, over-revving, grinding gears, bottoming out front nose/etc.
I still remember 20 years ago some A-hole driving my 911sc and redlining it thinking he was funny - I won't finish that story here but learned its very easy to fire off left hook and clear dash from passengers seat.
I once let a long time Forum (Replica Forum) member drive my HiPo T1 based speedster and could not wait to get back to the house. This older forum member that had many manual cars in his past could not shift without grinding the crap out of my car!
My best friend took my 996 around thhe block on my first day of ownership and came back with the GT2 brake air damn folded into the rim! Those pot holes come out of nowhere!
You're probably going to have to do some leg-work if you really want this. I would recommend emailing the Portland PCA chapter and ask if it's OK with them for you to attend a member's breakfast in the future. (I'm willing to be they'll say yes.) Offer to buy a member's breakfast in exchange for a drive or ride-along with them. Being in person, getting to meet you face-to-face will probably be more persuasive than a random internet post. No offense meant by that last remark. The internet is just a wild place, and we've had our share of crazies right here on this forum.
thanks strangelove, I can say that I have been on other forums in the past, and for a post I thought I would get a ton of backlash for, I have experienced very little. Your suggestions are noteworthy, and something I should consider. No hard feelings taken, I have thick skin and I yes I realize the Internet is a crazy place!
Hah, you'll laugh at this but..... I have always wanted to own a 911 since I was an early teenager. It has never left my mind. I have read or watched everything over the years on all different types of Porsches and have always been 'in love" with 911 performance and handling. I bought my first Porsche, a 996, months ago without ever driving at age 51. I knew I would love it. My mechanic had been driving it, doing some work on it and told me "it's tight and you will like it, buy it Nick, you'll never get another deal like this" and I did. I have worked with him for 15+ years and I trust him (he is a pretty good autocross racer too). Yeah, I am sure some will think I am crazy.
LOL, driving it home was my 'test drive' and I have loved every minute since. A '99 911 with 99,000 miles, good rubber, major updates already done, everything works, good paint and a few irritating door dings for $13,500.
Now he yells at me "don't blow the engine, its $8k to fix". I'm still laughing and regret nothing at all! Test drive all you want. I knew I wouldn't NOT love it!
It depends on the reason why you love the 911. You clearly love it for reasons that ring true. I have a buddy who always wanted one because, to him, the 911 was the car that said �I�ve made it.� That�s great for him - go ahead, work hard, be successful. But after he drove a 991, he wasn�t impressed with it. I think he would have been better off test driving a GT3, because he ended up rationalizing a different car that was a lot cheaper.
But like you, the 911 represents a lot more than a status symbol.
UPDATE: I found a 1997 Boxster listed for rent.
I just did a quick search. Oldest I found was a 2005. Not a 996 but maybe close enough to give the OP an idea.
I’m in the Gorge. I’d let you drive my 991.2 2018 Carrera T! But, hey.
Funny... I saw a white 996 drive by this morning. Don’t see too many 911’s around here.
When you get your car, let’s GO!
Great story!
I too had lusted over the 911, some of my wealthier friend dads had them and I once had the pleasure of driving a late 70's Targa when my friend parents went out of town...Hadn't driven one till a month ago when I got my roller running! A fine machine it is indeed.
Had a homeless guy run up to me this morning, he was all excited pointing to the front (thought I was about to roll over something or had a flat) I rolled down the window to hear what he had to say. He said aloud, hey that's a 100K car isn't it? blah blah blah, he went on and on. I said no, $80K but it cost me $4K. The look on his face was priceless as he walked away totally confused.
That is a great idea and something we've already done for several clients looking to see how they would like a Panamera. You learn very little useful information on a dealership test drive. Taking the car home for the weekend is a much better basis for making decisions.
I am going to have to do some research, never heard of this. Can anyone make a recommendation? I did a quick Google and see there are lots of different kits and $$$ variances.
Thanks for the heads up, the dings really do irritate me
I don't even have door dings on my '06 Silverado!
I don�t use the kits. I pay an expert to do this. I�ve seen my expert take nasty deep creases out, repair dents of many different sizes and depths, and in the end, look flawless and perfect. Doesn�t cost much either, maybe $100-$150.
Me too.
I accidentally put two dings in my 996's rear fender.
$100 later the PDR guy made them disappear.
He even came to my home on my day off.
It was interesting to watch him work.
Next time I get a ding I'm going to call him to take care of it.
It's more of an art, and I'm no PDR artist.
