gettin' it on

So the time is drawing ever closer to my selling the 911 I have built over the last ten years, and buying a 996. As you can see from my thingie on the left there I signed up many years ago, but never really posted, (edit - I didn't realize this was in fact my FIRST post) I did however spend HUGE amounts of time over on the Pelican Parts air cooled forum - 985 posts. Great forum, great people, but to my eye the liquid cooled action is on Rennlist. The 911 I've built has become too much of a beast to daily drive, and now that I have little kids and an all consuming career. I am lucky to be able to get to the track or autoX site three times per year. Maybe a tour thrown in here and there and I'm managing to put on about 1000 miles per year. That's just not enough Porsche quality seat time, so here I am, looking to sell the 911, and researching the 996. I think I have the picture pretty much in focus.The 3.4 litre cars are good value, but carry more risk than the 3.6 litre cars. In all cases, the RMS issue is under control, and worst case scenario, the motor comes out, a new style seal is fitted, and the while you're at it do the clutch. I gotta say i'm more edgy about the grenading motor problem though. I fully realize that the problem is magnified by the internet, but it's not like it's unheard of. I guess the worst case scenario is a $10K reman install, and while expensive, it wouldn't be the end of the world and the upside is a fresh start with a *bulletproof* motor. Still that sucks and I'll go on record asbeing disappointed in Porsche. So after all that, I'm actually leaning towards a 1999 car, mostly for the value for $, but also because I have an aversion to drive by wire....perhaps that's stoopid, and it will acually be harder to work on a cable equipped car or whatever, but the drive by wire systems I have (limited) experience with have been *jerky* for lack of a better word. So questions: 1) What kind of high mileage 3.4 litre cars are hanging around on this forum? 2) What about the transmission bearing failures I hear about? 3) Why shouldn't I buy a nice 1999? By the way - you're smilies are a welcome change after years of Pelican!

Welcome back... er, again... or... oh hell... just Welcome. Nice looking 911! Most here will tell you to buy the newest car you can comfortably afford, which is pretty sound advice. Check out AutoTrader to get an initial idea of the listing (asking) price of various year models and try to narrow your search that way first. Then you can start looking at the model year(s) to find some cars you would be interested in acquiring. Once yo have narrowed the field, you can post some questions here about any "pros" or "cons" for that model year. Good luck with your search!

I feel bad for anyone that has had a problem, but buying a 99 doesn't mean that you'll have trouble. Internet generated hysteria. The 99 is an incredible car - lightest of the model and without many frills. Mine has 60 some thousand miles and no issues, never has. Good luck.

I have put on over 15,000 miles on my 99 in the last year & am closing in on 75,000... still going strong.

Welcome. There is nothing wrong with getting a '99, but as Tim mentioned I'd get the latest example you can afford. Here is a mileage thread. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/317888-highest-mileage-996-who-s-got-the-highest-mileage-car.html Good Luck!!

Out of curiousity, why does everyone say the remanuf. engines are bulletproof? My dad says the same thing, and I consider him very much "in the know" when it comes to these sort of things. Is it just the statistics of having two engine failures (despite not having hard numbers, we know the percentage is very low, even if there isn't a consensus on what 'very' constitutes)? Is it the warranty? Or are these engines somehow manufactured differently? Justin

Early engines had QC failures with the block, such as 'intermix' and slipping cylinder linings. Later or replacement/remanufactured engines have fewer of these issues, and from MY 2003 onwards the above block issue may have gone away to the point of being highly improbable. RMS is a potential issue with any 996/997/986, but is a PIA, not an engine killer.

buy an extended warranty. my Camry is 100% drive by wire and is smooth as silk. I suspect P is just a good or better drive by wire.

Hey, there can be no mentioning of a Camry on a Porsche forum. No problems with my '99 since the RMS in year one!

i hear you! cant wait to get rid of it!

Have a 2000 with 86k miles, nothing major to speak of, just the stupid oil separator went south.

It is extremely difficult, if not impossible to get a warranty on a 1999 Porsche I believe....

I am sure the 99's are fine cars and all, but for me I just much prefer the 2002+ mainly due to the appearance changes. performance wise I really do not care, but I just do not like how much the 1999-2001 looks exactly like the boxster. Actually looking like the boxster is not as much an issue as I do not really like the looks of the 1999-2001 911 or the boxster. One looking like the other has little to do with it. I acknowledge though this is merely a matter of taste for me, and has nothing to do with whether or not they are quality cars.

Thanks for the welcome and the replies gents - I will be keeping you all posted on my progress. A couple of points: 1) lightweight is a huge priority for me. I'd take the heating elements out of a set of heated seats if I thought there was a gram of weight reduction to be gained. If I hear correctly that the 99's are lighther, then that strengthens my resolve. 2) I'm in Vancouver Canada, but intend to bring acar over from the USA. There's a full $10K to be saved this way after the taxes and duty are paid. With that in mind, I'll likely be asking for advice on go indy shops to perform PPI's. Thanks in advance for the help there. 3) I've been on Craigslist and Autotrader so far, and it looks to me that good low mileage 1999 models are available primarily in CA and FL for a hair under $27 - 28K. Naturaly there are $25LK cars out there too, but I have to assume there is a relationship between the price you pay and the condition of the car. 4) I would love a 3.6 litre car, but from what I've seen I'd have to stretch the budget a little more than I want in order to get a good one. As far as the headlights go, I think I prefer the earlier style. Call me crazy, go ahead, lot's of people do. 5) On account of my being in Canada, I figure any kind of warranty i sworthless. I'll be on my own but I've got a good indy shop near to me with 996 experience so I'm prepared. First thing first though....I gotta sell the 911. Anyone interested? It has webers and cams and JE pistons, and 964 brakes and elephant a-arm bushes and big torsion bars and 8&9 inch Fuchs and SSI's and..and..and... I have a buyer lined up for the spring. tttfn

100,000 miles and running strong here. It's a great car and lots of fun. The 3.4 is an excellent engine so don't worry about losing too much by not having a 3.6.

99 r nice...... but if i can do it again......at least an 02

I have a black "99 Cab with 85K. I've only had it for about a month, but everything so far has been great, except for the obligatory expansion tank replacement.

Shouldn�t buy a 1999: The interior is a bit plasticy. The amber lights (can be changed with $$). If you find one with an original engine try to get an extended warranty, I had to replace mine due to a main bearing failure and the intermediate shaft was leaking a little. It was $9k to replace, the warranty covered $8k. Now I have a �99 with an engine that was built by Porsche with all the fixes already done (quieter timing chain for example). I too replace the coolant tank, but that�s a DIY project. Should buy a 1999: Price, weight, 1st water cooled 911 (could be worth something in 50 years (grasping at straws here)). The interior update from the previous 911s is what really made the decision for me since mine is a daily driver. The 993 is an awesome car but I think the amenities the 996 has to offer as a daily driver did it for me. My 11 year old and 8 year old fit in the back. The general consensus is to get an �02 or greater because of the engine/interior/exterior updates and HP increase, but I�d buy a �99 again if that is what I could afford (which it was).

The 1999 leather interior I looked at recently was plain nice, the plastic interiors I have seen haven't bothered me. I ain't all that fancy you see. The tailights don't phaze me either....orange, white - whatever. That damned toasted motor problem has come up again though I love it...buy a '99 for the collectability. I'm pretty sure after I'm done daily driving and tracking this car for 10 years, it will be none too collectable. I have a long commute and just *love* running the he77 out of my cars. Use 'em up I say! As far as the 993/911 interiors go...I love 'em. The pedals work better if they hinge from the bottom and the old style intrument cluster is a work of art IMHO. Thanks though for your perspective, Also thank for you ~100K mile guys for piping up. Cancels out a couple of the bad motors.