Need Help - Setting Priority - 996 Purchase

Hello All- I am searching for my P-Car and I am feeling very overwhelmed. There are an abundance of vehicles available, not to mention that the prices seem to go from one extreme to the other. I need some help understanding how to choose the best vehicle possible. Please understand that I have never owned a used/pre-owned vehicle. I am currently interested in two models. The 996TT (2001-2003) or 996C2 MKII. When looking at different vehicles, what element should be given the highest priority? Age or mileage? Assuming that the car passes PPI and has a service history, should I be worried if the vehicle has more than 40k miles, 50k miles, etc.? Is there a "sweet spot" ratio of miles to age that I should take into consideration? Are there items on these cars that need replacement due to age more than mileage? Should I be worried about these cars running trouble free (assuming maintained properly) until they are 10-15 years old? My intention is to keep the car for 4-6 years. It will be a 3rd car and driven no more than 5k-6k miles per year. I already know the options that are important to me, as well as colors. I just need some help getting to the next step. Thanks in advance, Ryan

Quotes source post: 6276447

First! -td

Quotes source post: 6276640

???

Yup... +1 for first (aka it should be your first priority)

I apologize. I am totally confused by your posts.

They are giving you a hard time, correct protocol is to read the Ultimate 996 buyers guide first, and use the search function to find that thread. I feel I must apologue for the 996 boys, and then you’ll see me ducking for cover. As somebody warned me on a previous thread get your fire suit on. The question you asked is politically incorrect on this forum…..At least I think it is……LOL

Ouch. sorry guys.

LINK did you say 996TT ?? Here is a new listing in my area... no flame proof suit needed

Beautiful example. Thanks.

there is another one (silver) at $50k... This one looks much nicer though. My car is high miler, and I am not the best to ask advise from as I am fairly new. One thing is for sure, there are a lot to choose from out there right now and prices are lower than a year ago when i bought mine. GL with your research and flame resistance

Quotes source post: 6276870

No worries! You're part of the initiated now Get the TT, it will hold value longer... -td

Buy the newest car you can comfortably afford. If you can get a CPO (Certified Pre Owned) from a dealer, even better because it gives you 2 years/50,000 miles of coverage if the initial factory warranty has expired. You could also get an after market warranty. There are a ton of good used 996 cars out there. Turbo has the power, but some lag sue to spooling up the turbo. It also has AWD, which some like and others don't because of the heaver steering feel. C2 is RWD and a lighter car with 320 HP. I would suggest you drive at least one of each (TT & C2) to find the one that fits you best. Then do a search on you color and options. Find a clean one and get a PPI (pre purchase inspection) on it before you buy it. Then drive it like you stole it!!!! Simple, huh??

TT and a C2 are two diff cars... apples and oranges. It all depends on your needs...

as near as I can tell from the OP... this is not a new search, in fact it has been over 2 years and the exact same question keep coming up... So either he/she is just bored and jerking our chains again, or he/she has bought a car, drove it, sold it and is looking to replace it... seeing that he/she posts across all boards indicates the first is more likely than the latter... for me I am checking this one off as - no return -sorry if I am wrong, but I doubt it

Quotes source post: 6277087

I apologize but both of your assumptions are incorrect. Yes, have I been "searching" for the past couple of years. The issue is that each time I become close to start making bids on cars, something pops up and I must delay my purchase. Have you noticed the economy in the past 24 months? Also, I live in Cleveland. We have horrible winters up here and this car will not be driven in the snow. Therefore, I am not about to commit to buying a car, have it shipped here, and then have it sit in my garage until the snow melts. The winter cuts out 12 of the last 24 months. I hear stories all of the time on these boards where people state that it took them X months or years to find the car for them. Lets also not ignore the fact that the prices on these cars have been falling extremely fast. I know these cars are not investments, but lets get real. Anytime you see prices falling like this for ANYTHING, it does not give you a sense of urgency. Obviously I am not the only potential buyer on the sideline. Have I posted a similar question in the past? YES. You will also notice that not one person has answered my questions. What should be given a higher priority? Age or mileage? Should I ignore the MY and look more a mileage? In the big picture, does a mileage difference of 10k or 20k really make a difference? Should 1 or 2 years difference in production be taken into consideration? My goals were stated in the post above. I understand that you should always buy the newest that you can afford. That is a no brainer. But, that statement makes the assumption that you are comparing multiple cars that are essentially identical, miles, options, etc. Thanks to those of you that offered advise. To those that took my post the wrong way, I apologize.

I would suggest you drive whatever Porsche you are interested in, strike your best deal now, purchase the car and start enjoying the experience(good or bad). You can talk forever about mileage, MY etc. but you'll be no further along than you are now. It's easy to spend too much time over anticipating buying a Porsche...just do it and you'll most likely be glad you did.GL

That's my stand too... dont over think it...you have 2 years of that, well over 100 posts on this board and who know how many hours on others. Its a car, go find one you like and buy it. If it works out to be a lemon, sell it, and get another one. That said I will first also say " no appology needed" and second I will answer the 2 year old question. Model year 02-05 is better then 99-01. Dont worry out miles that are 10k different. Worry if miles are 60k differant in either dirrection. IMO LOW miles is as bad as HIGH miles. Find something in the middle of the range. Check it out, buy it and post your pictures... Prices could drop for the rest of time and someday maybe these will be FREE, but you will be too old to enjoy it and all that time thinking about owning one will have been for not. My .02

How many miles per year would be average?

8k

My 2 cents....clearly, others will disagree. But cars don't do as well with a lot of storage (I come from OH, so I sympathize with the 8 billion tons of salt poured on the roads). The TT has more components and more complicated components...which would imply to me, that there are more things that would be unhappy with long periods of sitting (e.g., condensation, irregular lubrication, more low-oil-pressure startups after sitting). If you were going to regularly use the car in winter, there could be some argument for the all wheel drive. But except for the simple car-to-car variation, the simpler the car, the less there is to go wrong with it. As others have said, drive them and see what you like. But I have been well-served over the years by buying the simplest car configuration that serves my needs. I certainly think I'd like a TT. I keep looking at them & their prices. But, I also think that the number of times a TT would actually make a tangible difference in my driving could probably be counted on one hand unless I were tracking it regularly. Would I probably enjoy it, yep. But is the entertainment worth the extra dollars? That's a personal question. So, (realizing my own biases & limited info from you), if you're going to store it a lot & if your search has already been interrupted by life events several times (including financial ones), go with a C2. The lower acquisition price does not mean that the quality is lower. Could the TT have higher entertainment & status value? Yep. Just decide what you actually want to spend your money on.

Prices for 996s have hit the bottom. You are not going to find the price going down anymore. Generally speaking, the lowest price range will be $18K -21K for high mileage (over 100K) (MY 1999-2000). $22-24K for nice examples with maybe 45-99K miles. If you wait 6-8 months will you find one for $15K ? No. There are of course exceptions to all generalizations, but I've followed pricing very closely. The prices have bottomed out, buy now! Turbos can be had for $39K - 45K. There is a Turbo on Ebay right now with 15K original miles for $41K buy it now (I think), now that's a good deal. What should be given a higher priority? Age or mileage? (If I had to chose, mileage) Should I ignore the MY and look more a mileage? (IMO yes.) In the big picture, does a mileage difference of 10k or 20k really make a difference? (No. Maintenance history is more important) Should 1 or 2 years difference in production be taken into consideration? (Really depends on the years). You should seek out EVO magazine’s “Porsche Supercars” recent publication, really, really good.

Quotes source post: 6277041

+1 Tim gave good advice here

Of your choices, Go for the '03 TT. don't worry about mileage

I would choose a TT. As the markets have continued to change (and you are not going to use the car a lot), what do you come up with using a 997 lease? Regards,

Quotes source post: 6278094

..... better yet, I didn't mention my Honda! (see other thread Looking for 996, am I on a right track? )

Quotes source post: 6277396

+1 Others here can attest to the fact that I publicly obsess about my purchase choices -- be it coupe or cab, tool sets, etc. I am definitely happy to have just bought a P-car and to be driving it all the time.

Quotes source post: 6278423

Very reliable...low maint costs!

I was wrong. This economy has gone nuts and you just might get a 996 for 15K. Here's one for 14K ! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...5355&viewitem=

No offense intended to the OP but I also find threads like this ridiculous. "What should I buy? TT or C2? how many miles do I want?" blah blah. Only you know what car is right for you. Probably the one you like best. There are many cars for sale. It is a buyers market. If one really wants to buy, just find what you are looking for and if it fits then make an offer. You will likely get it at your price, subject to PPI. It is much easier being in your shoes as a prospective buyer than a seller. If you are that worried about declining value then dont buy one; problem solved. If you have specific questions no doubt you will get accurate and helpful info here. If you ask general questions like "what should I like? what should I feel? what can I afford? what should I do? etc" then expect a bit of criticism. My .02 only. Cheers.

Quotes source post: 6341197

Someone needs a lesson in how e-bay works. A bid does not equal a sale price.

Quotes source post: 6277660

600! Interested in an '04 C4S with 3100 miles that's absolutely new? Just happen to have one here languishing - I mean "sitting" - in my garage!

Ryan, They are dickin with you! Do a search and you are way ahead of the game by starting here. TTs are fast,can you really go that fast? C2s are alot of fun,cab,targa,coupe? You are really in a good buying position. Enjoy the hunt because these cars are tough to sell.

Quotes source post: 6341346

Damn, I found one for $100.

Quotes source post: 6341867

Exactly

Quotes source post: 6341867

well that's stupid... you would have to pay $1000 to ship a $100 car ? 10X ??

Quotes source post: 6341346

Actually I do understand the Ebay paradigm. This auction has no reserve, so the final bid will be the sale price. Right now the car is at $14,500. In 24 hours the auction will be over and we'll see what a 996 with 71,500 goes for. The spirit of my post was that earlier I had stated the OP would never find a 996 for $15K and that possibly it's not entirely out of the question with the failing ecomony. But I should know better than to post on the 996 board without having every fact and detail triple checked by at least two teams of lawyers, because this is the 996 board and that's the standard. Carry on..

Quotes source post: 6277358

If you live in Cleveland, it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. You have far too much weather there even after the snow melts to own a 2WD sports car when the premium to an AWD turbo is so nominal right now. Buy an 02+ TT, CPO. Won't sit in the garage that way, maximize utility, and the new bumper to bumper CPO warranty will take the edge off of your mileage concerns. 02+ there are some nice updates, some resolved issues, and they can be found CPO more readily. Stoddard Porsche (PA but closer to Ohio I think) had a nice dark blue 02 TT for low money that they have had for months, PPI that thing and make a cash offer and I bet you can steal it. While I might buy a car without CPO now that I am familiar with how these cars work and understand the repair and maintenance a little better than I did pre purchase, I would never do so unless the dealer at least offered to CPO it and gave me a breakdown on what work he would need to do to certify the car and what it would cost me. I also would not buy any car with a 15K to 40K engine replacement cost without at least a powertrain warranty from someone I believe will be in business and paying out claims for the term of my contract, but I'm likely in the minority on this board in that respect. Or for a little more money an '06 C4 would also be very nice. PS. I will warn you that you should really try to do some independent, current research on warranties if you decide to go without a CPO, as there is just very little current information on the forums regarding aftermarket warranties and you will not get too many answers by asking questions about them, because results vary so much. There is some info on the TT forum, but again not conclusive. Search for third party or aftermarket warranty or warranties

Ebay car ended up selling for $17 K even. Which I belive is a new low for a 1999 996 with less than 75K miles, clean carfax, no accidents, and no mechanical issues.

Quotes source posts: 6341197, 6341197, 6343919

Take it easy, all I did was question the alleged $14k car you listed and you get all upset? A bid is not a sale and your 14K car went for 17k (still a heck of a deal). If you can wait long enough or look hard enough you may find a $14k 996. However, surely you can see how proclaiming "Here's one for $14k" can be misleading when $14k was actually the opening bid price.

Quotes source post: 6348594

Ray, Sure it's misleading, but for how long? Three seconds? It's not like posting the wrong torque specs for wheels and putting lives in danger. Truly, your post was no big deal (neither was mine), I guess what I'm tired of is the "nit picking" "spelling ****" spirit of the 996 board. Here's what I've noticed over the one year time period I've been on this board, and I realize this is a generalization. Often, it's the same 20 or so people posting over and over, why is that? I have a theory. When new people post and mis-state anything, no matter how minor, they are hammered into the ground by the "regulars." Who are like vultures. When new people ask a newbie question or a question that's been asked many times, again hammered, and of course scared away. Maybe I've done this myself. I'm sure a regular can review all my posts and point out an example to throw back at me. Be my guest. But I'm not going to do it moving forward. Maybe I'm wrong about this, maybe this is a friendly, forgiving, welcoming Porsche enthusiast board, but I've been on here almost daily for a year and that's not my impression. I wish it would change so more people could come on here and enjoy learning about Porsches, feel okay about asking "dumb" questions, and who knows, maybe all the "experts" could actually learn something new. Carry on.

Quotes source post: 6350892

So it isn't just the Cayenne forum then... I think there is a huge amount of excellent information on rennlist, freely given up by the regulars. I think the "hammering" is mostly in good fun, not meant to scare anybody away, but just to break the monotony of the frequently repeated questions. As long as people don't take it too seriously, or take themselves too seriously, nobody gets hurt!

I think this group is more fun than any of the other 996 boards around. Renntech is perfect for no-frills tech questions and answers. 6speed is great for discussing mods. Rennlist is best for entertaining opinions, threads (Hood Ornament!!!), moaning about depreciation, and Honda bashing (btw, I love Hondas). Since I'm a newbie, I'll make the claim that as long as you don't take anyone too seriously, you'll realize that it's all in good humor.

I was just in Cleveland to pick-up a 996 last week. Agree that now is not the best time to drive in Cleveland. I was fortunate to visit on a sunny day without precipitation. I drove my new-used 996 back to Florida over about 20 hours. Funny story - I went South as far as the North Carolina border and had to stop. I got a hotel room and slept from 9 pm to 1 am. I awoke, remembered I had just bought a 996I figured I could try to go back to sleep (but would be unsuccessul) or just get up and keep driving. So, I got up and took off. The dude who checked me into the hotel gave me an interesting look as I left at 1:30 am! Best decision I had made in a long while - had a blast driving through the night and into the sunrise. Age vs miles probably isn't the first consideration for most people. And I don't think "buy the newest you can afford" makes sense with a Porsche. These decisions are more emotional than intellectual. Do you want the classic air-cooled engine or are you looking for one that is more contemporary, leaving the experience of "driving a piece of history" to someone else? I would suggest looking at many and driving a few. You will know when you are in the car that fits. Get a PPI on that one. A good PPI is absolutely essential. If you get a car that has been well-preserved, most likely it was driven with care. The best advice I got from my Porsche-crazy friends was "be sure to have fun looking before you buy...there are many amazing Porsches...take your time and find one."