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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHConsumer reports 99 996 is the best?
Leading reported evidence
Replace once
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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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
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
(yes i did have the rms and ims seals changed once but not a drop since and the rest of the car has been very reliable.
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Suggestion
I've done 3-4 oil/filter changes, bought 2 new rear tires, replaced a driver's side wheel bearing,new brake pads front and rear, and knock on wood ...no major issues other than basic maintainance.
Leading evidence: 'Replace once' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace bought 2 new rear tires' (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
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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
With that said, in their review of used 996s, they rate the 1999 model year car with either half red (very good) or full red (better) circles.
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
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Suggestion
I've done 3-4 oil/filter changes, bought 2 new rear tires, replaced a driver's side wheel bearing,new brake pads front and rear, and knock on wood ...no major issues other than basic maintainance.
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
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Suggestion
keep it well oiled and if you track it change the oil every 3-4 events...
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace bought 2 new rear tires
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
I've done 3-4 oil/filter changes, bought 2 new rear tires, replaced a driver's side wheel bearing,new brake pads front and rear, and knock on wood ...no major issues other than basic maintainance.
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.
27 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: 20261027T003124Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
First, i think consumer reports has sizeable flaws and the information provided merely provides a framework for making an informed decision.
With that said, in their review of used 996s, they rate the 1999 model year car with either half red (very good) or full red (better) circles. The only category that was average (empty circle) was engine major (no doubt caused by reported failures of the sleeves,IMS,and RMS).
Do most 99 owners (now that the cars are 10 years old) agree with CR's findings?
Wholeheartedly yes, very few problems. (yes i did have the rms and ims seals changed once but not a drop since and the rest of the car has been very reliable.
Their reviews may be good for high-production-rate cars, but as it relies on consumer feedback, it tends to be all over the place for cars produced in smaller numbers like Porsches, as 1 or 2 reports can skew an entire category. It's rather telling when you can track a particular component that didn't change between model years that goes AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME COMPLETECRAP AWESOME.
I let my subscription expire, but as of last year, they didn't even have reviews for 98 or 00 because they didn't have enough people reporting. In short, I wouldn't rely on the CR reliability history charge at all.
Actually the early 996 has been rated very high in reliability by many organizations. Only when you look at non scientific data (more specifically message boards) does the car look unreliable. Mine's been one of the most reliable cars I've owned as well.
I've owned MY99 for almost 3 years(Sept), purchased with 35k miles, now have 47k. I've done 3-4 oil/filter changes, bought 2 new rear tires, replaced a driver's side wheel bearing,new brake pads front and rear, and knock on wood ...no major issues other than basic maintainance. I haven't modded much, but did change out the stock suspension for a M030, and dumped the 4 spoke wheel for a 3 spoke. I enjoy my Porsche and have only regretted not driving it more than I do. I'd agree to date with their findings.
I've had a '99 Boxster for 7 years and a '99 Carrera for 6. I do my own oil changes and minor service work. Neither car has had a RMS problem. My Carrera did develop a cracked sleeve in '06 and Porsche goodwilled a replacement motor. Other than that no issues and neither has been in the shop. The wife's '06 Lexus 400h has actually been less reliable overall and wife doesn't mind as she gets treated like royality at the Lexus dealership, with their free upscale dessert, fruit and coffee bar. They always do free stuff for her too like clean and treat her leather seats, shampoo the front carpets, add stuff to her navigation and onboard computer.
So, I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to buy another '99. In fact a '99 Coupe would be my choice as the basis for a DE or race car.
Haven't tracked my car, but find the improvement very satisfactory. A better ride overall, without the 'buckboard' feel of a much stiffer setup. The 3 spoke was plug and play after finding out I needed an extra part/adapter to make it work.
3 spoke is an easy swap. I did it last year. If you get your hands on a 3 spoke wheel and the airbag, let me know, I can help you install it as I'm more or less local to you.
I may consider going for an M030 update - I notice that the stock suspension is stiff, but when I work it a little on a high speed ramp with some undulation in it, the car feels a little spriongly & springly and not very connected to the road.
BTW: I was born in Kittery!!! Love that Trading Post....
Some of the cars I looked at had the 3-spoke - very nice! Thanks for the offer on install - might take you up on it
RoW M030 is a huge upgrade from US stock. Don't waste any time thinking about it, just do it.
As for the three spoke, maybe I'm alone but I find the four spoke quite convenient for turns that require me to move my hands. It's really easy to drop a thumb to the lower spoke in order to avoid shuffling or crossing arms.
Convenient or not, whenever I see a 4-spoke I think "Ford Taurus". The 3-spoke just looks and feels miles ahead--so much so that it was a requirement for me when I was looking for my car.
sorta correct. US M030 and ROW M030 are identical except for the ride heights. US M030 drops the car 10 mm from the stock US suspension, which is very very little. ROW M030 drops the car 20MM total from US stock, if you are looking for that look but it comes with the driveway scraping challenges.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
