Generation I vs. Generation II 996

Hello 996 forum. I've been lurking on this forum a bit lately as I research a potential 996 purchase I am considering for early 2009. Hopefully my bonus will be good this year (fingers crossed) and I will be able to buy one sooner rather than later. I am very interested in buying a 996 C4 and have been researching them quite a bit. I have no issues with the Generation I 996 vs. the Generation II 996, but have a few questions: - Were the RMS issues on some early 996s fixed on the update in 2002, or is this still something I should be concerned about? - Is the difference in the HP between the two generations noticable? - Are there any other significant engine modifications that should steer me towards a later model? - Is there anything else I should consider that might steer me towards a Generation II 996? - I've often read that cars that are regularly driven tend to have fewer RMS issues than garage queens. Is this true? I have no problems with the headlights, or the general design in the Generation I vs. the Generation II. My concern is more about reliability and/or the potential for major failures. Thanks for reading this, I'd love to hear what this group has to say about my questions and concerns.

Generally speaking, you should buy the most recent model Porsche you can afford. Also, if you haven't done so already, you should read the 996 buyer's guide that is now a sticky. Lastly, reliability is not an issue, as all 996 engines blow up, catch on fire, or suffer premature catastrophic failure. Besides, the 996 isn't a real Porsche anyway. -td

Buy a Gen I with a replacement motor. Its a great value.

Also, if you must have a C4 coupe, you will be limited to the more expensive C4S with the later cars as the narrow C4 was no longer availble in North America.

Yeah - buy the newest one you can afford - that's the general rule of thumb. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that genI is necessarily inferior to genII. The HP difference isn't really noticeable, though the genII has slightly more torque down-low. Both can scream through the gears though, so it's not really an issue. RMS hits both generation engines - it's not really an issue though - if it happens, you just wait till you need a clutch replaced and do them both at the same time to save on labor. They have the replacement part figured out and it should solve the issue. I'd rather have a car that is driven regularly than a garage queen - seals tend to dry out when not driven, and any issues the car may have will get recognized and fixed when it's driven.

From 1999-2001 MY (3.4 L) a C4 coupe was available in the US. From 2002-2004 MY (3.6 L facelift) the C4 coupe was not available in the US (but it was in the rest of the world). 2002-2005 if one wanted AWD in the US it was either the C4 cabrio (narrow body), C4S (widebody) or the turbo (widebody). There are lots of opinions about the reliability of the 3.4 L vs . 3.6 L engines. I read an article from Total 911 (July 2006) where they were of the opinion that the early 3.4 L engines, manufactured 1998-2000 were more less reliable and the later 3.4 L and 3.6 L engines were more reliable. YMMV. The latest fixes (using 997 parts) for the RMS and IMS (intermediate shaft) seem to be holding up. Some owners get the RMS and IMS replaced prophylactically with the 997 parts even if there isn't a leak when they go in to change the clutch. 2002+ cabrios have glass rear windows instead of plastic.

Thanks for all the great information. I didn't realize the 2002+ coupes weren't available in a C4 option. The C4S may be out of my price range, so we'll have to see how that looks when I'm ready to pull the trigger. I have seen plenty of cars available that have a new motor and transmission, and they do seem like a potentially good value. I have read the 996 buyer's guide on this forum, and it is a big help. Thanks again for the comments... I hope to be a more frequent 996 forum contributor once I join the club! Have a good weekend everybody.

Quotes source post: 5800665

I drive a Cayenne... so I'm already used to the "not a real Porsche" chatter...

Quotes source post: 5800910

I think these articles dont really have a basis on their claims.... Ive been seeing alot of IMS issues with the 3.6 but... I cant say that they are more/least reliable... The only thing you can do is get a well documented maint example, ppi and if you want... aftermarket insurance (CPO etc..). after all this, its still not gauranteed. aahhhh jeez... not this again, sorry it was a reflexive post.

As mentioned, aim for the newest you can afford. I'm also a big fan of CPO (certified pre owned) cars.

Quotes source posts: 5800568, 5800568, 5800568, 5800568, 5800568

997 generation continue suffering RMS leaks but in menor percentage Not very noticable, but the way to feel the power is different VarioCam Plus is a good upgrade in Mk2 series. 3.4 l. engines are a bit less sportive IMHO 3.6 are better in high revolutions. Sounds better too. And has an improve torque curve. VariocamPlus. Later versions has an improve construction A mk1 with a new engine will have the ultimate improvements into the reman engine. Would be a good deal Reliability of 996 Engines, Article by Jim Pasha I recommend you to read: 996: The essential companion by Adrian Streather http://www.adrianstreather.com/ Read the book above. It's very interesting Very important a good maintenance of the car I don't like to change oil every 20.000 kms .. too much, better every 10.000 kms The oil is the life for the engine.

+1 on CPO, 02+ Nothing, neither a PPI nor presumed records of prior use or maintenance, can really predict with insurable accuracy the likelihood of engine failure. Mostly it doesn't happen, and in some cases it does. If it does, there's a predictable subsidised cost associated with repairing it, which is comparatively low considering the original cost of the vehicle and comparatively high considering how cheaply you can buy one today. If I were you, I'd look at it like this: CPO cars are still upper 30s/lower 40s for C2s, higher for C4S (in general) Engines cost like 12K installed (at the moment, the cost seems to be rising as time goes on, used to be cheaper) If you buy a car without a Porsche warranty for about 12K less than the CPO, set aside your engine money and earn interest, and nothing blows up, you come out ahead. If you blow up, you lose the engine money but pay pretty much what you would have paid for the warranty cover. You can of course hedge this a little if you want to jump into the world of aftermarket warranties. Every dollar you spend above the CPO-engine replacement cost formula for a no warranty car is risk, and you have to assess your own appetite, because no one here or at Porsche or anywhere else can tell you whether or not the car you buy will run beautifully for a long time like most or die miserably and quickly like some. However, at the current premium I'm seeing for CPO vs. non-CPO of 5 or 10K, I couldn't justify wasting all that money for what amounts to a warranty. I'd probably search for reputable providers on this site and buy a warranty 3rd party, **** you could even buy two at that spread. Personally I found all this financial engineering way too exciting for the cost differential (which last year wasn't as wide as it is today) and went CPO because I didn't feel like dealing with it. I probably paid a 2K premium over equivalent private party at the time. I'm glad I did. Nothing big blew up, but I've been able to get some little things fixed that I would have left alone otherwise, and unfamiliar noises from the rear don't scare me. Sleep for me was priceless. But considering how much cheaper private party and no warranty dealer cars are than CPO right now, I could see the argument in rolling the dice on a cheaper car with no warranty, especially one that already had a new motor in it. As far as 02+, I did it because I wanted the newer motor (I was originally shopping 997s, and realized they weren't any more powerful or faster than the Mk2) and the updated front clip (love the turbo style lamps), but aside from that and the still-not-used-very-much cupholders, the generations aren't very far apart, and all the watercooled cars have some incalculable risk of blowing up, no matter how small or large. Remember, even the Mk1 997s blow motors for all the same unknown reasons as the Mk2 996s. Also, RMS is not the thing to worry about, it's an oil leak, and every performance car in history loses a little oil. If you want to worry, worry about catastrophic engine failure, and insure your risk or set money aside, just don't buy the car with no cover or capital reserve and pray for the best.

The C4S is worth the extra money. Just sell that "Pseudo Hummer" and you'll save enough money in gas to afford a TT.

Thanks for all the advice. The "pseudo HUMMER" is actually far more capable off road than any truck I have owned. It is far more capable than an H2, which is the real pseudo HUMMER. The H3 is actually leased, going back next year. My wife will take the Cayenne, leaving me free to buy a 996. I'd love to be able to afford the C4S, we'll see how the finances look at the beginning of the year.

Dennis, What exactly is your budget? Prices are dropping faster than a California Condo. U might be surprised! Ps. I picked up my 4S for $42K.

all 996's have the rms issue. not confined to gen 1. gen 1 is lighter and faster regardless of more displacement and 20 more hp. gen 1 is much more responsive to performance adders.

I'd also recommend that you find a one owner car with all the maintenance records - in my opinion, that will give you more assurance about the longevity than if it's gen I or gen II (or "buy the newest one you can afford").

Quotes source post: 5803145

Thanks - I'm starting to figure that out. I have found a couple already on the PCA website and here that qualify. I'd much rather buy one from a "Porsche guy" than from a car lot.