Got my first P-Car

Hi Everyone, I just purchased my first P-Car, a '99 996, Silver w/ Black full leather interior. It has 95K miles (I know it is high), but only paid $20,500. I had the car checked out at Autobahn Performance in Peabody, MA, and they told me it was a very strong car and awesome for the price. Of course, now I have the mod-bug and I can't decide what to do first. The things I want to do are: 1. Stereo-I have searched the boards and see that everyone likes Rich in CA. I have worked with Sound-In-Motion here in Boston in the past, might go with them, do a custom box on the rear shelf, focal speakers, genesis amp, etc. 2. Xenon headlights and clear tailights 3. GT3 Aero Kit minus the "Taco" wing. I can't spend all my money at once, do any of you have suggestions in which order to go? I also want to add this is a really great site. I have learned so much over the past couple of days! Also, I will post pictures when I figure it out. Apparently, the photos that I have are too large to be uploaded. Any suggestions on how to make them smaller? Jason

Someone who is much more educated on this than me, but I think if you do the aero kit you need to do the taco wing, or some sort of wing on it for proper balance and handling. I may of course be wrong, but I think I have read of others talking about these things. Good luck with the new car, and you should have posted some pictures by now.

That sounds like a really good deal. Congratulations. Personally I would go with the xenon headlights first because it is a very functional upgrade that greatly improves night time driving in my opinion. The factory litronics will likely eliminate the orange front directional marker too, which I think looks much better. Along those same lines a clear/smoked front side marker light is also makes a huge visual change IMO. The other items you mentioned are really just personal preference.

I think if you have the rear spoiler you have to have the front spoiler, but not vice versa, so going sans taco should be OK. Wow 20k for a 996 that checks out, thats a really good deal.

I'd vote for lighting first, aero kit second, stereo last. The reason I'd use is that the lighting is functional and aesthetic, as is the aero kit. The stereo mod., is a waste of money, as you should be spending all your time listening to and enjoying the engine. I never listen to music in my car... it's all about the engine music baby! As for the partial aero kit.... here's a link to the most recent discussion (last week). https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/308581-partial-aero-kit.html In summary: 1) Never put the rear wing on without the front bumper. 2) Partial aero kit will change the aerodynamics and will destabilize the car at very high speed (read above street legal limits north of 100mph). 3) The partial aero kit is best installed in conjunction with a lowered suspension.

Awesome price

Totally agree with you oreganet!!! I hardly have my stereo turned on while driving, the shifting engine music is the best! I'd vote stereo last.

would the "taco" spoiler fit a 2002+ c2?

^ I don't see why not...the bodies should be the same... For lighting honestly I'd just throw in some silverstars and use the money elsewhere for now.

what about suspention? ROW030 or PSS9 should come before any aero-kit. i agree Xenon headlights come first

Wow - great price. Focus on practical mods first - suspension, brakes, etc. Stereo? Fuhgeddaboudit - the flat 6 is all the music you need. And if you hear some smartass 997 owner calling the 996 a Ford Taurus, smack him. Then do it again. These cars are awesome.

That's what i did and I'm very happy with them... nice clean color for a grand total of $80 for two pairs.

Thanks for all the advice guys. How do these silverstars look? Are they comparable to Xenons. I might just do the Xenons anyways to clear out the front. Anyone know the best place to buy Xenons and clear taillights. I had read on the forums that Brandywine Porsche was the best place (1095), but when I called, they quoted me about 1700. Anyone have a suggestion?

I've just installed Silverstars - no, they're not the same as HIDs, but they give a nice bright, clean white light. HIDs put out around 4100K light, the Silverstars come in around 4000K. I don't know off the top of my head the intensity of each, but I'd expect the HIDs to be more intense.

I'll second that one!

Jason - first off Congrats on getting a P-car and Welcome to the Porsche Phunny Pharm! Second - ask and ye shall receive. Listed below are my "can't miss" instructions for posting a pic. There are also re-size instructions at the bottom. I have shared these instructions with many "Newbies" and they have NEVER failed to work, so the pressure is on you to keep the string alive. All words shown in BOLD indicate buttons. If you are just doing a "Quick Reply" you will have to click on Go Advanced button. Then follow the steps below: Down below the part of the screen where you type the text and below the Submit Reply and the Preview Post and Spell Check buttons, there is a Miscellaneous Options section followed by an Attach Files section. In the Attach Files section, click on the Manage Attachments button. You will now get a pop-up window. There are 3 buttons Browse , Upload , and Close this Window . Click on the Browse button and now (in a new pop-up window) you can search on your PC to locate the pic you want to attach. Click on the name of the file you want and then click the Open button. Now click on the Upload button. After the file has been uploaded, you can click on Browse button and repeat the process to upload another pic or click on the Close this Window button. After you click on the Close this Window , you will be back to the original "message" screen. Your pic file should be listed just above the Manage Attachments button. If you are finished typing the text, you can click on the Submit Reply button and everyone will be able to see your great looking P-car! If your pics are too large, you can resize them with MS Paint, or PhotoShop software, or you can do it online at this web site. http://www.resize2mail.com/

First, I would consider the WARRANTY - good piece of mind for that kind of mileage, and considering you stole the car for $20K, it is a no brainer for about $1400. I would go for the clear markers, HID's, then aero. Congrats.

Did he say $20500? ..low whistle... I sold my 964 for 26k a few months back, how low can a 996 go?

Here are some pictures! I will take some better ones once I have detailed the car.

Thanks for the posting instructions.

Congrats you got a ggod deal !

that is a great deal. 996's values are decreasing like crazy. any idea why ? that is a serious lot of bang for the buck.

The Best mod is a top drawer set of fresh rubber and an alignment. after that I would do the following: 1. Aero (factory side skirt and GT3 MK1 Front bumper), this will make the $20K car look like $60K again. Consider aftermarket fiberglass for the taco, maybe other will disagree. I picked up side skirts from a small outfit called precisionporsche.com $430 delivered well worth it, too bad paint was $700 in these area of the country. 2. *Light* tinting of windows. 3. Clear side markers, tail lights and clear triangles for the headlights. I honestly see no major improvement from Halogen to Litronics if you drive in mostly urban areas. Money is better spent on aero and wheels. 4. Consider some Replica Carrera 5 spokes (seen on Ebay for as little as $1000) they aren't as light as the 21 pound Factory Carreras but still a good deal and lighter than your twists. on detailing since you have Arctic Silver like me and your paint is over five years old I would consider Werkstatt Prime Strong and Carnauba Jett as your polish and seal. FK 1000P for monthly wax and FK 425 for post wash anti-dust quick detailing. Clay Bar first! p.s. Look into a drive train warranty from warrantydirect.com, you can transfer the warranty to the next owner before it expires for $50.

Put the money aside for a couple of months for expected and unexpected maintenance/repair cost until the car proves itself out. The car may be $20K but it would still be a $50K+ car to maintain. Other than that, drive and enjoy!

man, i was planning on spent the same money on a G50 with the same milage. now i need another 996

You arre Welcome! You have a very nice looking P-car! Thanks for posting the pics... and you are officially "off the hook" because you posted the pics!

you know if you aero the exterior as you plan (which ALWAYS attracts more buyers) you stand a good chance of driving this car and still selling it for more than you paid. NICE! did you see the opening scene in Gone in 60 Seconds? Givoani Ribisi steals a silver carerra by driving through the showroom glass window. Who would have ever thought that car could be had for $20K just a few years later. Meanwhile those 993 prices seem to be doing some strange things lately!

Sounds like you got a great deal plus turbo look 18 wheels! Congratulations!

Jason, where did you buy the car? Where do you live? Private Sale? I only ask because I am from Peabody Ma too. The guys at Autobahn rock!

I live in Newton. I found the car on craigslist. The owner was originally asking more, but it didn't sell (he wasn't actively trying to sell it if you ask me, he only posted one ad at the end of September and then let it expire) and then I low balled him and he accepted. Checked the carfax, it was clean. Had the PPI at Autobahn and they gave it a clean bill on health. Now I own my first Porsche!

congrats - great deal

where do i find info on the silverstars? never heard of them

here you go http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...ce/Silverstar/ Dig around on the website some more and you'll find info on hte Silverstar Ultras that are supposed to be even better. When I bought mine I wasn't able to find a place to buy the Ultras.

thanks i'll check it out- i was leaning towards xenons for my next mods so this might work-

Silverstars may be better than factory halogens, but they are absolutely no replacement for xenons. Anybody who tells you otherwise is dreaming. If you can afford it, go Litronics!

maybe it will get me buy and I can get my bumperettes as always there is no substitution for the real thing...like... Porsche?