1999 996 OWNERS! What is the skinny?

I am considering purchasing this 996: http://www.autotwins.com/index.php?o...pper&Itemid=96 I know initially there was a lot of talk of the 1999 models having issues. I have read up a lot on this and it sounds like it isn't really that big of a deal. Suggestions are to ensure the RMS has been checked out properly and the car has been properly maintained. With this being said...I am looking for the real truth data! Actual owners...would you buy another MY99 or go with a newer model? Please pass on lessons learned and thoughts! I would love to get a newer car but this will be a 3rd car and can't justify the cost yet to the wife. I am just trying to get my foot in the P-Car door and work my way up in a couple years. I am sure some of you understand . thanks for any advice, matt

I've had my '99 Carrera Cab for 5 years now and wifes had her '99 Boxster for 6 years. Both have been great cars and I would not hesitate to buy another '99. If I was looking for an early 996, I would perfer one that had a motor replacement to one that had the original. Reasons being are updated intermediate shaft and bearings, no potential sleeve or porus case issues, and newer ps pump, alternator, starter, injectors and electronics supplied with the motor. This should give you the latest motor updates along with early sought after options like limited slip diff, active brake diff, traction control, the lightest chassis and mechanical throttle. All pluses as far as I'm concerned. Oh, there were a lot of extremely highly optioned and unusually expensive cars in '99 due to the dot com kings and their expensive tastes for exclusiviy. I shopped for 15 months and bought one in '03. Good luck

Nick great info... Does anyone know if I can have a vin # run to see if the motor was indeed replaced? Thanks, Matt

Just shy of 2 years of ownership with my 99' coupe. I would buy a 99 again. My car has 43,259 miles to date, purchased with 35k miles. My only thought for you is the price you listed @ $31k seems high for a 99 if that is the car you are interested in(unless it has a CPO).GL with your search.

The car in my avatar is my second 99 (the first one was totaled when a young driver hit me). I picked it because of the reasons Nick mentioned before. LSD, most mechanical interms of throttle and traction control (which can be completely defeated unlike PSM), and the lightest of the 996. Makes for a fun tossable car.

My 99 has been great so far. Just had a water pump replaced but other than that and the usual maintenance items (alignments, oil changes, filters, etc.) it's been a very reliable car. Still on the original motor and I think I just tripped 102k this weekend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 99 again if I found a deal on 1.

also 99 owner, love the car, would buy again and again. The price is a bit steep but it looks clean and has a lot of extras.. I paid about $10k less for mine in January this year. Its very clean as well and I have found that I like to MOD it a little, so I am glad it doesnt have too much done already. Yours looks decked out already.. go for it! GL, its beautiful looking E

117,000 miles on my 99. Runs like a champ and doesn't burn a drop of oil. Engine is tight and strong, and I couldn't be happier. I've driven it across country many times, and drive it hard every single day - rain, shine, or snow. Just a great all-around car. These cars are a steal - you can own a supercar for supercheap. Even if the absolute worst happens, and you bought a lemon and the engine blew up or something - you could replace the engine with a rebuilt one with a factory warranty, and still have spent less total money than you would spend a new G35 or other random, common, boring car. These are a bargain.

I have a -99, works great!

Amen to all of the above. I am now up to 100,600 miles and in my 56,000 miles and 3 years of ownership of this car, really can not complain. Yes, it has had a few issues, but there were all taken care of under the CPO warranty. I am now out of warranty, but there is nothing I can trade this car for that makes it a worthwhile deal. I would have no qualms about buying another. Still the best advice for buying a Porsche is to always buy the newest you can afford. They only get better year to year. But as pointed out above the '99's have some advantages not found in later models and the lower prices make them a great value.

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A Porsche dealer can pull the maintenance records to determine if the engine was replaced by Porsche. However, you need to find a cooperative dealer who will do it. If the engine was replaced by an indie shop, no go.

New to Porsche's, I bought my high mileage '99 (84k miles) last summer and loved the car, coming from a 540i sport! My first DE this summer blew the motor at 91k miles and I'm in the home stretch of dropping in a new motor (at $14k price tag). If I could do it over again and the budget allowed, I'd stay away from the 3.4's, try to swing a 3.6, but still love the way they drive (when they run)!

Not as many miles as most that have posted, but have 49k on my '99. The po had replaced a window regulator, maf, and then regular service. Garage floor is spot free.

Great info fellas. If the car had Litronic headlights, a glass rear window and the 3.6 I would have been all over this (I guess that would make it a MY02, huh?). I guess the plastic window may bother me (I had an older BMW with the plastic and it became all blurry) but i am sure I can get over it. I appreciate all the info you guys have provided. For those that have mentioned the price is a little high, what do you think is a good price to offer?? I came from Tucson and the prices were lower than they are here in Vegas. Thoughts?? Thanks, Matt

My 99 is great, but I would not buy a convertable and the price is to high...

why not the cab? Too many things to go wrong?

I think the best you can do is take your time, shop around for one that you can find out a lot about. I looked around for most of a year and had nearly given up when I found mine, one owner, and was able to review the history which was clean.

Man this is your deal... https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/452052-for-sale-2000-c2-coupe-w-new-motor-and-warranty.html I would JUMP now if I didnt already own one Ed

"why not the cab? Too many things to go wrong?" Unless you really like to drive top down, in my opinion, with the top up, they are noisy and uncomfortable. So then ask yourself, how often will I actually drive with the top down? Top down in the summer is windy, sunburn, noisy, dirty and just uncomfortable. And more things to replace and fix….. In my humble opinion…. Now link above is nice http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...d.php?t=452052

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That's an interesting observation, never put that together but I think you're right. The '90s were like the good ol' days.... Anyway, if it's your 3rd car, go ahead and find a nice Cab, they're about the same price, have some fun.

I would suggest checking out this car: http://mall.rennlist.com/scripts/fea...uery=retrieval I have seen his post and this seems to be a fairly nice car with a good price. I own a 2001 996 which I track and have had to replace the engine. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with a 2002-2004 996.

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Ditto that is a good buy with a new motor too!

1999 996 with 86,000 miles. Dry as a bone and runs fine. My theory based on my reading is that these cars have much less trouble if they don't become garage queens. That means drive them. They're meant to be daily drivers and perform well that way.

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Wish I could...but out of my price range to get my foot in the P-Car world.

Speaking of cabs.. I used to own a convertible when I was in high school (a '69 cutlass conv), and it was lots of fun to drive around in and cruise town with the top down and thinking I was Mr. Cool.. Then one day I came out to my car and someone had taken a Rambo knife to my top and cut huge rips in my top. That wasn't fun. I swore I'd never own another convertible again.

Go for the Cab! My '99 has the original top, plastic window is crystal clear. Top is down more than it's up, it's only up if parked outside for a long time or if it rains, rarely here. Hard top goes on for the winter and snow. Having a Cab Porsche is making a great experience much better, like icing on the cake. Wife's Boxster top is like new on her '99, I clean the plastic windows and treat them about once a year with Macguires cleaner and polish for plastics. Keeps them pliable and clear. No issues ever with the tops on either in 5 and 6 years of ownership. I believe it's how you care for and maintain your stuff. Good luck, Nick

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You can usually just look at the engine. It doesn't come with cosmelene (sp?). All cars leave the factory with it sprayed on the underside. When an engine is replaced with a new one, unless the dealership sprayed on new cosmelene there won't be any.