I've been lurking around here for a couple of weeks, and just registered the other day. I've recently fallen in love with the P cars, introduced to them by a great friend who has a C4 964 and a 997TT. In the past I've been a domestic hot rod kind of a guy, and am now fully appreciating the beauty and refined qualitys of the Porsche. The domestic hot rods are on their way out, 1 down 2 to go..... So I've been looking all over North America for a 996. I'd love a C4S, but the pricing is just out of reach for me. I'm going to be 'settling' for a 99-01 C2 it looks like. Right now I'm looking at a 99 C2 with 60k miles on it. The car has not been driven in the last 12 months, and very little the year before (which sounds like it could be something to worry about?). It appears in great condition, and am thinking I'd like to send it to Porsche for a PPI. Having done a lot of reading on these forums, I'm learning about the RMS and IMS issues on these cars, and they have me worried. I do most of my own mechanical, so this is a project that I would most likely tackle on my own (pre-failure of course). I have also been reading with great interest the thread regarding the early IMS failure detection system, looks like cool stuff. It would likely get a water pump as well once I get it home for preventative measures. Does reading about all of the failures on the MK1 3.4 engines have me worried more than I should be? Am I just being paranoid? Is a 2001 car going to have any significant differences over a 1999? Is the 2002 that much better of a buy with the 3.6? What else should I be looking for? Should I be holding off for a 3.6 (ie: 02 and up?). Sorry for all of the questions, just trying to avoid the first P car being a nightmare purchase......
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The thing you'll hear over and over is: buy the newest Porsche you can afford. I'd be a little worried about the lack of driving of the 99 you are considering. These cars like to be driven. Get a good PPI. The MK II cars do offer some improvements along with the 3.6 engine.
I agree with Dennis, but some 99s are still worth looking at to compare. My 99 has just over 55k miles and runs great. Even though the IMS is a valid concern, the internet has a way of exagerating the failures of occurence...hope I didn't jinx myself. GL with your search.
I was in the same boat as you. I went as new as I could afford which was an '03. If the IMS is a concern budget for it at the time of purchase. These cars are surprisingly friendly to work on,and if you've been doing your work in the past doing the IMS isn't that bad. If you search "shark attack's" thread on the IMS he had also posted video which I found really helpful.
welcome, where are you from.... you dont sound parinoid, you sound like you have done your homework...and realize there are risks, preventions and precautions
Thanks for the welcome, I'm in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards holding out for another year and looking at a C4S next summer. I just can't stop drooling over them, and I definitely don't need the turbo for the type of driving I do.... We'll see how this goes.
well FWIW I too love the look of the widebody but for reasons that are simillar to why I have bought coupes over a targa or cab.. the C2 is the right machine and I prefer the MKI's for a few reasons too.. in the end it comes down to what you want and what you can live with/without - I would guess the C4 might have some advantages in your neck of the woods if you plan year round driving. That being said the C2 is a wonderful snow car if fitted with snow tires. and in the summer with summer tires its a lighter more nimble machine for the road but its not a widebody - I agree and someday might try for one...something super sexy about that ars!
I dunno, dual row vs. single row... "...2200 lbs. for the single, 3060 lbs. for the dual row, and 3650 lbs for the MY06 and later single row."
zroadhouse has a fine looking 2002 C4S, in the RL classifieds ( Paid members) $32,5 .
I wouldn't discount any 996 - look at them all. IMHO, the best looking 996s are the C4S and the MK I Aero. It's all a matter of personal preference.
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School this newbie.... What is dual row vs. single row?
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