30 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH99 model year
Reported or suspected cause
overblown, imho (and no pun intended)
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
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Reported fixes
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 report identifying a cause
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.
Reported cause
The blown engine issue is overblown, IMHO (and no pun intended).
Leading evidence: 'overblown, imho (and no pun intended)' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'overblown, imho (and no pun intended)' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean alternator electrical connectors' (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.
Replace number of features and manufacturing methodologies
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
Neither you or I know the numbers or percentages - but we do know that Porsche changed a number of features and manufacturing methodologies to reduce the failure rate - what ever it was.
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
A couple of oil changes as part of the 30,000 mile service, 45,000 mile service, rear tires (about to replace all four) and replaced the switch for the back up lights (about $15.00).
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've read that most higher mileage 996es probably had their engine issues worked out, with many having had their motors replaced under warranty.
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 suspect a cause
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suspected cause
A 57k car that has been well maintained is probably a good one.
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
A couple of oil changes as part of the 30,000 mile service, 45,000 mile service, rear tires (about to replace all four) and replaced the switch for the back up lights (about $15.00).
Replace number of features and manufacturing methodologies
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
Neither you or I know the numbers or percentages - but we do know that Porsche changed a number of features and manufacturing methodologies to reduce the failure rate - what ever it was.
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
A couple of oil changes as part of the 30,000 mile service, 45,000 mile service, rear tires (about to replace all four) and replaced the switch for the back up lights (about $15.00).
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
this article speculates that the failure rate of the early '99 996 motors are possibly in the 5% to 10% range--while they're willing to gamble that 90% to 95% of the 996es are fine--many of us in the market for used 996es find those numbers bitter pills to swallow--especially if I'm the poor sap to get a bad one.
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.
30 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: 20261027T064914Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I'm looking at getting a 996 cab for my wife. I have zero experience with Porsche's. I have heard that '99 model year should be avoided like the plague. Is this true or is that nonsense?
The prices for '99 seem to be all over the board on autotrader and cars.com. Does $29k seem fair for this example? It's a 57k mile, no accident, no issues car and comes with a hardtop.
http://rlauto.us/c911/_gallery_.htm
Is there a 996 buyers guide somewhere on rennlist or online? thanks.
It's nonsense. I have 114,000 miles on mine. Burns ZERO oil between changes, starts everytime, and I drive it multiple times a day - hitting the redline every single day...
Yes, there was some issues with some early batches of engines, but those aren't as numerous as you'd think. A 57k car that has been well maintained is probably a good one. If it had a crap engine, it would probably have shown itself by now. I would buy it and enjoy it.
As a past owner of a '99 and knowing many people that own 99's, I can tell you that you should not avoid them.
However with that said, buy the newest model possible within your budget. Basically if your budget cannot get anything newer than a '99, then either you have to get a '99 or wait a little longer to get something newer.
Others on this forum will give you more advice, but it still comes down to what you can afford and again the rule of thumb is get the newest model possible within your budget.
Have a 99 996, bought 18 mos. ago with 35k miles, now have 41k miles and it has been very reliable. Replaced a front wheel bearing and brake pads, plus a brake fluid bleed and an oil and filter change. Nothing else has been done to date and I love my 911. Best Porsche I have owned so far.No signs of RMS or oil usage, great car and very affordable to buy.Don't be afraid...find the right car and pull the trigger.(after a PPI)
Having recently purchased a high mileage '99 C4, I was very relieved to read the responses on this subject. I've only had mine for a couple of months, but so far it seems very tight and almost new-like for a 9 year old car. The only thing I have noticed, and worried about a bit, is gear noise (don't know if it is coming from the transmission or elsewhere in the AWD system) that is heard under light load in 5th and 6th. BTW, by high mileage, I mean 95,000.
...Rickker
There is nothing inherently wrong with a 1999 996 (unless you ask a 993 or 997 owner). If the PPI is favorable, grab it. There are some amazing deals out there.
Yeah.
The only think I might add, is it's not a bad idea to get a "late '99", normally recognized by clear (non-amber) front and rear lenses.... (such as that Cab you're looking at).
I bought a '99 in November that has 47k on it now. Not a daily driver but no issues and the only issue from the previous owner, A passenger window regulator.
Prices are all over the board depending on shape, mileage, options, part of the country. I found some movement in price when I shopped. You may could negotion that price down some.
Some useful independent dealer experience is detailed here:
http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf
Outlines the early model risks, the tech issues which were later engineered out and tries to put them into perspective.
I bought a '99 996 in November '07. I've driven it about 1600 miles with no problems. It's my 3rd Porsche and I'm surprised at the reliability ratings this car has received (check out carpoint.com on msn). There are other resources that say it's a well-built car by all standards.
That being said, be cautious. As the other Rennlisters have indicated, you have to be certain not to buy one that's been abused or modified to hell.
Good luck.
What 1999Porsche911 said.
The blown engine issue is overblown, IMHO (and no pun intended).
There's advantages to the 1999 (weight and a little less electronics, to name a couple).
Personally, I love mine! Bought 4-21-07 w/59,000 miles. It now has 77,000 miles and going strong!!
I have had my 99 for about 4 years. Had 22,000 miles the day I bought it and 24,000 miles two days later after driving it home. I now have 55,000 miles. A couple of oil changes as part of the 30,000 mile service, 45,000 mile service, rear tires (about to replace all four) and replaced the switch for the back up lights (about $15.00). Like it as much now as the day I bought it and looks almost new outside and just like new inside. I would just make sure it is in good shape and checks out on inspection. I would also make a list of the options you want and hold out until you find one that has the options you want. The must have options for me were the 18" Sport Classic Wheels, full leather interior, sport seats, litronic lights, 3 spoke leather wheel and heated seats. Mine also came with the hard top (I believe it was standard for 99), audio upgrade, back up sensors and rear wind screen.
Good luck!
So OP...what do you think of '99's now?
You have a lot of responses and all of them positive, you must tell us what you think, or you would not have asked in the first place.
What ever your opinion, there are design issues with a '99 M96 block, that were later designed out, based on the failures that did occur in the field.
Neither you or I know the numbers or percentages - but we do know that Porsche changed a number of features and manufacturing methodologies to reduce the failure rate - what ever it was.
I had a '97 986 fail, my wife's '99 986 failed too (both M96 blocks with under 10,000 miles each) - so I have a different experience to the happy folks that have posted here - not statistically significant of course, just my personal experience. Both were handled under warranty.
So when it came time to buy a 996 - my personal preference was to by a 2003 - a model year which had had the engine redesigns applied, as well as more HP etc etc..
Fool me once Shame on you Fool me twice Shame on me - or should that be
Fool me twice Shame on you Fool me thrice Shame on me...
this article speculates that the failure rate of the early '99 996 motors are possibly in the 5% to 10% range--while they're willing to gamble that 90% to 95% of the 996es are fine--many of us in the market for used 996es find those numbers bitter pills to swallow--especially if I'm the poor sap to get a bad one.
I've read that most higher mileage 996es probably had their engine issues worked out, with many having had their motors replaced under warranty.
The 2002+ MkII 996es are great except they're heavier, less mechanical, and no LSD option at all ("please save me" is standard).
2004 40th anniversary 996 is the ticket--except at this point they're out of my price bracket--and probably always will b/c of their "anniversary" status...
so I guess the '87 to '89 Carreras truly are the bullet-proof 911s--so many of them get flipped for a profit, or no net loss--that it's becoming difficult and time-consuming to find a lower-mileage, 2-/3-owner G50 3.2 Carrera
thanks everyone for the input. i made an offer on the blue cab but the seller declined. i'm not in a hurry as there's still snow on the ground. i'll definitely be picking up a '99 cab before summer.
I have a 99 C4 with 146000Km on it.
I have had it since 2005, winter driven to -35 Celcius in the Canadian prairies often. No problems other than clutch that needed replacing. That, and my wireless door thing stopped working last month. But that's nothing.
Other than that it's darn near perfect - it doesn't even have any squeaks, and well, it looks like new.
I'm holding out for a late model Targa 4 for my next car, but I'd really hate to part with this one, it's so good, and wow, you can get a 99 996 for dirt cheap these days - you won't regret getting a 99.
I bought my '99 C4 a couple of months ago, with 153,000 km on the clock. It seems much like yours - no squeaks, looks and drives like new, and my remote door lock/unlock does not work either! I bought it in Ottawa, Ontario for 29K, which I thought was an excellent price, before reading threads on this forum. It seems that Canadian selling prices for 996s are about 5 to 10K higher than in the US.
BTW, everyone has been saying how low 996 selling prices are, and what great buys are available. I would like to know WHY are 996 prices so low? Any comments on this?
...Rickker
Kingston, ON
That is an easy one. Porsche ramped up production for the 996 and since the 99 was the first year and now the oldest of the 996, it is thus a good deal since there are so many of them out there. Basically, Porsche produced a crap load of them and they are not that exclusive like other years.
I am sure that the same will happen to the 997 after a few more years since I read on this forum that the 997 production was even increased more than the 996. But from I heard directly from a dealer, 2008 production was actually throttled down a bit to make the 997 a bit harder to get.
I'm about to hit 100,000 on my 99 C2 daily driver. No issues other than replacing cracked plastic coolant tank and cleaning alternator electrical connectors.
