1999 996: Many Questions: Help by 08/02 Please!

Greetings Everyone and Wie sind Sie und wilkommen zu mein neue reund...Rennlist.com! I am new to this site. If everything works out, I will be the very proud parent of a 1999 996 Carrera 2 Coupe maybe by the end of tomorrow. I apologize for the many questions, but I really need help. Local Ohio Porsche dealership, who did evaluation, informs me the car had a brand re-manufactured engine put in 1 month ago. Why not a brand new engine or rebuild the existing one? Should I expect problems? Engine has a full 2 year Porsche factory warrranty and was installed the same dealership who did the inspection. Mileage was 37,700 when engine was replaced. Cannot get a straight answer about why the engine went bad. It was an acquisition from a bank by a leasing company. Clutch was not replaced. Dealership said only a leaking "slave" cylinder and supposedly the transmission was fine. Shouldn't the clutch have been replaced? the transmission?Rims/alloys on front and rear passenger side are bent. Dealership said this was normal based on crown of road, 18" rims and potholes. I said it sounded more like someone bounced the car off of a curb! They said they need to be replaced. Question: Is this normal? Would their be damage to the arms/axle or some part of the car where the wheels mount onto the car? Inside upholstery is a little worn on the driverside seat, arm rest, steering and shifter. Some scratches on outside of car, but not detrimental. Ran Carfax and VIN through Porsche..not a damged or salvaged title, etc.. Asking price of car is $47,000. Is this a good price? If not, what would be based on present condition. I will be leasing the car and looking at an extended warranty from Warrantybytel.com. Cannot figure out exterior color. Label underneath lid of car reads L37UST. I have literally spent an entire week (evenings) trying to find information on the vehicle and many of the sites do not have very much info about this specific vehicle. I would like to know all (as many as possible) good & bad things about the vehicle as possible. I will need recommendations on a reasonable transport to deliver the vehicle to me (Ohio to NJ). I am extremely excited, but want to keep a level head about myself. One last item: any recommendations, plus where to purchase them, on extended warranties, tires (brand name and sizes for front & back) and rimsWould appreciate all input prior to tomorrow at noon (Thursday, 08/02), if possible. Many thanks from the new guy on the block!

You can get decent "no stories" '99 C2 6spd coupes with less than 20K miles for $55K w/o even trying hard. I would run ,not walk, away from this car. By the time it's fixed up, you'll be close to the price of a well kept 996. I'm not a Vette fan , but for $47K , you can almost buy a brand new Z06 that will give a new 996 TT a run for it's money.

I would agree with MKW. Unless they are willing to sit down and give you a story to your satisfaction, then you could end up getting screwed on this deal. Hold off and keep your eye out for another car without such a sketchy history.

YIKES, AND DOUBLE YIKES. I'll bet you I know what happened to the car. It was a lease. The driver dogged it to death, took it to driver's ed, changed the oil at the recommended 15k interval, probably had slicks on for a second set of tires and used the slicks at the track. A remanufactured engine? No way would I buy something like that, unless you were going to lease it, too. But BUY? Don't do it.

Agree with others - walk away from this one. The color, by the way, is COBALT Blue Metallic - rare indeed and a beautiful color. Bent rims and the other things you mention tell me right away that this car has been abused. I have 18" rims and I drive in stop/go city traffic everyday on not the best roads (Charlotte NC). I have never had a bent rim. I have had a scrape or two from getting too close to a curb - always repaired to factory specs and finish. No scratches in my exterior or interior, delivered 11/98, 19K miles, flawless except for airbag light problem at delivery. My site addresses this (www.geocities.com/esklut/Erics996.html) Again, you might be salivating for this car, but you'll be puking later. Move on and find a better deal (and perhaps a more reputable dealer).

I have had a 99 996C2 since new. I have 40,000 km on it.(Ilive in Whistler Canada). I have 18" rims, have done many drivers ed days and autocrosses and I dont have a mark on the rims. I am 6'-3", 210lbs and the drivers seat and interior look like new. The dealership replaced the main engine/transmission seal after 2500 km due to small leak. The seat belt buckle was replaced due to faulty airbag sensor (twice) this is a common problem. Since then I have had absolutely no problems. It is a wonderful car, almost perfect. Recommend sports suspension and sports exhaust from RUF. GT3 seats are a must for track days too. Run from the beater you're looking at, you can find a mint 996 if you look hard enough.

NJTim, If you are really interested in a 99 996, I'll sell you mine. 19k miles, black with gray sport seats, 18 inch Tech rims, digital sound. Mobil 1's at 3k, 6k, 13k. Next oil change coming up. Babied to the bone. Saw rain twice.

I'm with everyone else that this car is probably a pass as it's history as told by you suggests abuse. Believe or not, that is a LOT of miles for a 99 911. It is usually an auction piece as they don't sell well at all. That said, if you really can't or aren't will to afford a better specimen, here are a couple answers to your questions. First, just about every warranty replaced engine is a remanufactured one from Porsche. The 1999s are notorious for having their motors replaced. Once replaced, you should have no further problems with the motor. Second, I've used warranty gold for about 4 years or so at http://www.warrantygold.com and have been quite happy. I've always gotten the no deductible, bumper to bumper diamond one (comes with road service included). Third, take it to a Porsche specializing body shop UNAFFILIATED with the dealership from which you are buying and make sure it has not been hit. Fourth, I used http://www.intercitylines.com/ recently to transport my 911 and 540. Both cars are black and were delivered in exactly the condition in which they were picked up. They were delivered on the same truck that picked them up in the same spots on the truck from which they left (they were not driven). These guys have no ded damage coverage to $150k per vehicle and have Qualcomm tracking and the best air suspensions. Bottomline though, you're really buying a payment and the payment on a little (lot) nicer car with lower miles shouldn't be that much higher. Further, try to get a 2000 with PSM if you can as there were quite a few problems with the 1999 which was the first year of the 996 (PSM was not available in 1999).

"Bottomline though, you're really buying a payment and the payment on a little (lot) nicer car with lower miles shouldn't be that much higher." I'm assuming as per your post that you're leasing when I say this.

<<The 1999s are notorious for having their motors replaced. Once replaced, you should have no further problems with the motor>> I think you are confusing the problems with the Boxster engine with the 996. I own a 99- 996,late model production, and have followed the boards since the beginning, and there have been no pattern of engine replacements as far as I know. Lots of small niggling problems which some owners have reported, but no wholesale engine replacements. The early Boxsters had a problem with a pourous casting, and did have many replacements under warranty. I have 22 K miles and it just keeps getting better. perry

I was corrected on another board that the problem 996s are pre-3/99 build. As for the air bag lights, and other assorted PIAs, do a review of those complaints here or on funcarsonline and tell me what the ratio of those complaints on 1999s vs 00s and 01s combined is. Better yet, call your local dealership's service dept and ask them if they have an opinion based on a much bigger sample than available to you and I.

FYI, in the days long ago, when I participted in that "other forum" it was a bitchers paradise.From the top on down, it was full of whining,nitpicking,pissing and moaning. It was most refreshing to come over here and discover that not everyone was filled with problems that consumed their posts and I guess their lives.In many net forums the bitchers rule, and like the sqeaky wheel gets noticed. Its hard to garner attention talking about the positives, while a moan will bring out the worst in people, and numerous posts.Misery surely loved company over there. Where did you hear about the notorious 99 engine replacments? perry

Hi Perry. Honestly, most of my current 1999 impressions have come from that board which as you say could be jaded as the praise is not nearly as heavy as the bitching there. That said, the mechanic at the Porsche dealership also backed up their impressions on both the early Boxsters and 996s. However, let's not forget he was the same mechanic who said the sport exhaust was a factory option as well (when it isn't) :-) All this aside, even if reliability and bugs aren't a problem, many changes occured on the 00 model: e-gas, PSM option, 4 more hp, changing of the VERY cheap looking and feeling dash and interior material to name a few. The 2000 is a much a better car than the 1999, almost as much as the 2002 is than the 2000 and 2001 IMO. The price diff isn't that much on used ones, so I don't see why it isn't sound advice to recommend the 2000/01 over the 1999 anyway. Also, there'll be more warranty left time wise on a 2000 than a 1999.

The 99's do have an interesting feature .I opted for what was then known as traction control.Unlike PSM it can be switched off,allowing the driver the option to decide if he or the computer has ultimate control. My wife's 540I also has the option .I can't argue with the warranty issue as owning this car after it expires has me concerned. I'm going to be out too early for the 2004, and the looks of the 2002, and buying at the end of the run don't appeal to me. Guess I'll drive and hold my breath for a year or so...maybe longer if the 2004 doesn't cut it. Maybe the next round of oneupsmanship will be the 996 owners vs. the 99whatever. Btw, 4 hp..gimme a break <g> The best way to add 4 hp is to drive the puppy and put on miles. I've never owned a german car yet that didn't get faster and smoother with miles. 15 K seems to be the magic number for BMW and Porsche. I'll take a well maintained daily driver over a no-low mileage garage queen any day. All said and done, the car that started this sounded like a beater to me,also. perry

"The 99's do have an interesting feature .I opted for what was then known as traction control.Unlike PSM it can be switched off,allowing the driver the option to decide if he or the computer has ultimate control. My wife's 540I also has the option" Traction control, especially BMW's DSC (my wife has a 540 sport as well), is NO substitute for PSM. And, you can turn off PSM but it will re-engage if you panic stab the brakes. The option to turn off PSM would really only be need on the track, and probably only by the upper tier of those track drivers. So, IMO 99% of 996 buyers will be faster and safer with PSM than they will be with TC or no PSM. Unlike BMW's DSC which all but shuts down the car in an abrupt fashion upsetting the car's balance, PSM is very non-intrusive and you can drive right "through" it. Further, the folks at PDE told us that the PSM learns the driver and will relax as needed if the driver proves to the computer he can handle it. After attending PDE, I drive my car much faster than I did before solely because I KNOW PSM will save my ****. As for getting an 04, I'm waiting for the 2nd year for sure. PS. While true, I was just throwing in that 4 hp as one of the many changes, and don't pretend it is a meaningful diff. However, that doesn't stop people from recommending the Fabspeed mufflers which are about 25 lbs lighter for a net 6 or so extra hp.

Hey Gang: Sorry for the late reply. First-off, I have not bought the car. Some additional info for you. Someone informed me that the L37UST code for the color is a Cobalt Blue (?) Still playing the old shell game. Here is the update! Carfax has been run...no problems. Title has been search...no salvage or water title. Both rims (passenger side front & rear) were bent and are being redone at the seller's expense. Still think a lateral slide was done into a curb. The asking price down to $43,700. It is a lease. The monthly payment would be $432 with only $2K down (includes TT&T). It will be a lease for 39 months. Starting to get the picture why I am still interested!! Only concern is the clutch, but the certified Porsche dealership that checked it out contends the clutch is good and the only that needed replacement was a leaking slave cylinder. No warranty, not even the original Porsche one will cover it. I have heard estimates between $1400 & $1600 for complete installation. I have been told the clutch kit alone is $450. The steering wheel (with airbag) is not in great shape, it is passable. Just out of cuurosity, can someone tell me what does a new one cost: Steering wheel and installation cost? Other than these items everything else seems OK. Thanks to all of you for the replies...especially the serious helpful ones Still interested in what you guys have to say. MY MAXIMUM PRICE WOULD BE $48K / FANTASTIC LEASE (whichever is better)...ANYONE KNOW OF ANY LOWER MILEAGE 1999's OR 1998'S???. Write me if you do...remember I live in New Jersey...don't go there!!!! Thanks!!

IF you get this car, you might as well change the clutch at the same time to avoid duplicate labor charges in the future, IMO. I'd also make any deal contingent on the car driving straight, aligning properly, and not shimmying at any speed after the rims are repaired. Good luck

996 steering wheel is two pieces, the rim and the air bag. If both need to be replaced and assuming your talking about just the leather one and not carbon-fiber, it will cost $600-650 for parts. If the airbag module is ok and you just need the rim, I think it is around $300 in leather. Karl

A leaking slave cylinder SHOULD be covered under warranty. Obviously, a fried clutch never is unless it's secondary to leaking rear main seal or something like that.

Both Cherry Hill imports in S.Jersey and Don Rosen in Conshohocken, Pa have quite a few used 996's. I bet other local dealers also have cars coming off lease, or in for trades. If it was me, I'd buy from a local dealer with a reputation and give yourself first hand inspection of the car.The cheapest "deal" on a car can turn out to be the most expensive. Perry

I had a 99 which I bought with 12k miles on it. Lets see, rear main seal leaked, clutched starting to slip at 23k miles ( Felt crapy, had 2 positions on or off from very start) Windows were creaky, something on engine rattled, assorted anoying little things I had to take it back for. Decided it was too fragile and 1st year run, Ordered a 2001 in Feb and now drive that one. Much better, all anoying things fixed. YOU will need the clutch, cost about 3K , Its high mileage so less resale value. Bad history. Save your money and walk away...