Should I be frightened of '99 996???

Hi, I'm David 951 owner. I have searched and read many threads about engine problems with the 996 in paticular the RMS issue which seems BIG. It also appears that 99MY is worse than other years. And, i've also read the "my 99 is fine" posts. There are '99 996's for less than $30k on a regular basis, but some of these posts describing multiple engine problems are troublesome. I don't want to adopt someone else's problem and would rather have a 89MY that has not much worry, than a 99MY if it's going to cause me grief. What does a RMS cost? Is it covered by Porsche as a recall or out of pocket? Any information you can give me will help me decide if I should stay in the 964/993 market or if it's not that big of a deal and i should consider a 99 996, which tend to be significantly less expensive than the newer years. I would especially appreciate info from drivers who have owned several 911's 89+ and know how they compare. Thanks in advance for any helpful input.

Just buy a well-maintained one and get an aftermarket warranty, and you'll be very very happy you bought one.

Find a 99 C2 with LSD. It's as close to being as raw as the 993's as you can get in a 996. RMS is about $800. Just get the history from Porsche and have it checked out thouroghly. 1999 RMS issues have been no worse than any other year. The vast majority have no problems.

My advice would be to get one that HAS been driven. You can be more confident that any gremlins that could have surfaced would have. If possible get a CPO car from a dealer so you have 2 yrs of warranty.

I own a 99 (the one you read about with all of the engine problems) and I also owned an 86 and an 89 Turbo when I was younger. I can tell you this, the 996 will definately feel more refined. I do not want to say it is easier to drive, but it is earier to drive. Not less fun, but much more like a regular car than a race car. Hard to describe. If I had it to do over again, I guess I would buy an aftermarket warranty. Several of the companies I looked at are gone now so it is a good thing I did not buy one, but I hear GE has a good one. As for RMS, not that big of a deal IMO. Whenever you have the clutch replaced you can have it fixed pretty painlessly. If you want to worry, that is not the problem I would worry about. Speaking with my mechanic (on a regular basis lately) he recommends a 993. He says the motor is a piece of art in those. According to him, if you still want a 996, make it a 2001 or newer. Hope that helps.

I've got a 99 as well. Just follow the normal process of having the car thoroughly checked out - no reason to be "scared" of them. Granted you will give up a few options only available with the older 996s but you can get an 99-00 996 for a really good price these days. And with all that extra cash you'll have plenty left over for upgrades, repairs, etc...

I also have a 99 that had problems. I just picked it up today with a new engine for $6,500 after PCNA paid for the engine itself. It is a relatively low mileage (42k) car that has been meticulously maintained, but one day I found oil in the coolant (it had the cracked coolant tank problem that they all seem to get!). The dealer thinks it was a porous block. I've only had it back a day, I love the car (it's my first Porsche), but I'm seriously thinking about whether I want to deal with this. I'm very disapointed at the support I got from both PCNA and especially from the dealer. After everything I've read researching my problem, for me, I'd definitely stay away from a 99 if there was ever going to be a next time. Either that or have a very, very good warranty.

I have a 99 cab that I bought new in 99. RMS repaired under warrenty at 6K miles in 99. No leaks since. If it started leaking again I would ignor it till I needed a clutch. When they leak it is not much oil. Just a drip on garage floor. It won't hurt anything. When the clutch finally wears out fixing a leaking RMS is cheap because the labor is almost the same as clutch. As I said mine has never leaked again. If my clutch went now I would not touch the RMS. In a used Porsche I don't think the RMS is an issuse. In a new car it is more of an issuse because you pay close to 100K$ for a car and it messes up your clean garage floor. What will the neighbors say?

i have a 99 c2 no problems to date it is an amaxing car as long as you get records and take care of it- nothing to fear it is a GREAT car

NO, its a car and they all break down, I would say find one you can verify the service records...and do a PPI and maybe a compression test. I wouldn't be afraid of buying a used Porsche as long as its checked, by an individual party.

got a 996 '99 in sept 05 with 55K on the clock and put 7K on it myself.....still going strong! Almost everyday driver

I have a 99 CPO that I bought in the summer of 2004. It has been a great car so far. I have 56K miles now and I bought it with 44K. The only repair that I have had was the MAF sensor that was under warranty. The only thing that worries me is the oil consumption.... I know that it doesnt "burn" synthetic oil, but i have no clue where it is going since i cant find a leak...unless its going out the tailpipe. I go through 1 qt every 1000mi. Other than that, I love my car.

Tmonkey - how did you get PCNA to supply a motor, and how did you still end up spending $6500?

My 99 C2 daily driver just turned 86,000 miles old tonight. I love this car so much, and I'm gonna keep it for a long time I think. For one thing, it only weighs 2900lbs and some change, and is a simpler car without so many electronic devices and aids as the newer ones. My car feels pretty raw comparitively. Eventually I'll have the engine rebuilt and/or add a supercharger- and my power gains start from a light platform. I could have similar HP to a 996TT, in a car that weighs 700lbs less. No need to be scared of the 99- this is a very nice car and I couldn't be happier.

Your car was probably broken-in improperly.

I have a 99 C-2 I bought 2 years ago. It has been the most reliable, hassle-free car I have ever owned! I do the oil changes myself. Currently has 45K miles, not a drop of oil ever leaked or burned. It is really a lot of fun doing all the mods and learning about my car on these Porsche forums. Who needs a repair manual when I can get all the info I need on the internet?

The dealer did the negotiating with PCNA. $5,600 of it was labor and parts related to the engine replacement, a lot of it for pulling apart and cleaning the cooling system, replacing the hoses, etc. The other $1,000 was for new battery, alignment, more dealer rip-off charges, tax...

Very good advice!! I bought mine with 68K on it. Previous owner just had the clutch replaced at the same time fixing the RMS and the convertable top motor fixed. It has CPO. I drove an hour and 30 minutes to pick it up. Don't be afraid to drive far to get the perfect car for you.

I flew up & drove back ~1400 miles to get mine (had 56k, now 64k)......no worries...

My 99' is a great car so far. With 38K on the odo, I still have a long way to go but enjoying everytime I get to drive her. Drove from Dallas back to VA on the day of purchase with a grin from ear to ear the whole way.

My 99 996 has 65k miles with no real problems. I drive it 2-3 times a week to work 50 miles each way without any major problems. No RMS, original clutch, no engine or transmission problems. Small things have gone wrong but nothing major, window switches, convertible top motor replacement, coolant tank, door handle spring, front wheel bearings...minor things....maybe I'm one of the lucky ones. Make sure you have a good indi mechanic in your area that knows how to work on your car. They can be a real help and a good one will only do what is necessary unlike many dealerships. My car has been worked on since new by my indi mechanic.