Purchase help, interesting twist!

OK boys, Over in the 997 forum (title was 3000 miles in 6 years) I documented a 2006 c2 cab I was an inch from buying. Owner totally flaked on me. So...... Maybe karma is on my side, I now have right of first refusal on a 1999 c2 cab, w/ 60,000 miles. Clean car fax. no accidents, no paint work, 2 owner. Current owner bought it at 8K miles. Car will be purchased out of state. I have most service records, spoke with shops where serviced, plenty of hi res photos. Owner has stated it is literally "prestine". His exace words where, "you're going to think I had this car stored in saran wrap for the last 10 years". Pictures back this up. Here's what I would like input on, sort of a mystery to figure out. I'll post photos at end. The engine was replaced in 2004 due to oil mixing in coolant (known issue I gather), see attached photo of invoice. So this engine has only 35k miles since replaced. What we are trying to determine is what year engine it was replace with. I have learned the 1999's came with the double row IMSB and later 2000's, 2001's with the single row. The double row being much better as far as failures. On the invoice, as you can see it say 3.4L -01 carrera, which may indicate a 2001 engine was installed. This would have had the single row, unless they deliberately retrofitted it with the double. Do you guys think since in 2004 they may have know the double was better that they would have installed a double when they put the new crate engine in it? The car has brand new top with the glass window, new tires, original window sticker, all manuals, both keys, hard top, all maintenance up to date and verifiable thru records. Has original clutch. I posted the option sticker from the frunk in the previous post and here also. Code Option Description 220 Locking differential 224 Active Brake Differential 437 Comfort seat left 438 Comfort seat right 490 Hi-Fi sound system 537 Left seat with positrol and lumbar 551 Air Deflector (Cabriolet) 692 Remote CD changer (6-disc) 939 Soft leather rear 982 Supple Leather Seats/Trim C02 Equipped with catalytic converter X54 Oval Chrome Exhaust Pipes X70 Metal Door Sill with Insignia X71 Aluminum Instrument Dials Silver w/ black interior. $64,000 ? What do you guys think a good price is for this car? I have agreed on a price already that seems fair. I'll let you know what it is after some of your suggestions.

Unintentionally hijacked a thread, so I started it over in this new thread..... My most humble apologies...

$64,000 for what? Car is in the $17,500 to $20,000 range. Single or double, both can fail. Sounds like you got amped up on the 997 and now you're jumping to a car you weren't originally looking for. Glad you did as the 996 is a great car.

It's hard to say on the bearing. The newer "improved" IMS bearings were larger single-row bearings, not double-row. I believe the double-row bearings were installed on 1999 - 2001 cars, but I could be wrong on that. I'm not sure I understand the price question. Is the seller asking $64K for a 1999 C2 cabriolet? I certainly wouldn't pay anywhere near that much for that car.

Yes - seller clearly wants $64,000. IMHO, that's too much. You can work him down to $62,500. Buyer's market right now.

More than likely it's an updated 3.4l with the single row IMSB. Looks like a great car but I'd agree with $20k max

"$64,000 question" was a figure of speech. I am purchasing car for $20,000 even. Assuming no issues with inspection. I happen to be cool with that, given I was paying $37,000 for the 997, so now I have plenty of dollars for the unexpected repairs and mods with room to spare $$ wise. He has replaced so many ware parts and other things such as water pump, new cloth top w/ glass and the conv. top cylinders, brand new goodyear tires, new engine which he paid labor (engine at no cost), new brakes/rotors, and a list of small things that should not concern me for a while (horn, ignition switch, etc.). And this car appears very well cred for cosmetically. One scratch on front and one patch of road rash on rear wheel.

With that kind of scratch get a turbo. No ims worries! I started my search with the 997 c4s and after reading/obsessing I opted for the 996 turbo. Check em out they are speed demons and can Hold two Dairy Queen blizzards.

Year and a half ago I had a great opportunity on a 2005 turbo (996) cab., w/ 23,000 miles. My wife's cousin who works for a very wealthy guy was selling it. I had bought a BMW from him years before. The cousin is his personal affair manager and was sort of in charge selling it. So sounds great right? Well, neither know anything about cars, Both are gay, not that that has anything to do with anything, but again no car knowledge. Owner has Ferrari's, and what not, more $$ than God. Instead of it being a help that he was related and handling the sale, it was nightmarish. Neither could answer any basis questions about service history. When I pointed out something wrong with car he questioned it and had a look of amazement. When I pointed out some services were not up to date it was questioned etc. etc. Real issues was I wasn't dealing with the person who owner the car and had the financial interest, it was the cousin who was just arbitrarily facilitating the sale. Owner was too busy in ivory tower to help. Only came back with smart *** answer when I posed a question. Just couldn't deal and gave up. But great car. Last I heard he still hasn't sold it. Having Thanksgiving dinner at cousin's house and am going to inquire. I took it for several test drives and drove the snot out of it.

I'll sell you my 996 for half of that.

My search is over, but thanks....can't wait to fly into N. Carolina and pick up the 996 cab. Thanksgiving is delaying it by a week. No way I'm traveling by air over holiday. Rather chew glass. I think car and price are exactly what I want.

Nice purchase at $20K. Congrats! Edit your post though - it reads as that you're buying the car at $64K.

The 996 cab showing in the posting is worth $30,000 and that is top whack.

I always push for higher prices on the 996 but for $64000 I expect the seller to fly me charter, include European delivery and throw a night in a 5 stars hotel with 2 swedish girls then I gladly pay $64000. Going back to reality I can buy a 997, 2011, Porsche certified pre-owned with less than 10000 miles http://locator.porsche.com/ipl-custo...ails.ipl?cid=1

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Hurdi - Why are you trying to get him to lowball the seller? Seller wants $64k. OP is clearly happy with the car (it is in very nice condition, nicely optioned and a nice color combo). OP says he's happy with the car and paying the asking price. It's his $$ and if he's happy paying $64,000 for it, that's all that matters. Jeez, some people.

If you are buying that 99 cab for $20k you are doing well in my opinion. The engine most likely was replaced with a newer motor rather than the original double row. Looking forward to your post after you obtain ownership.

$64,000 is too low. Something must be wrong with the car. That car is $74,000 all day long

"800 pound gorilla in the room" is, why would someone pay that much for this car. WAIT!!!!!! There's a freakin' 800 pound gorilla in the room!!!!! Wonder what his name is. Looks like a silver back.

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Obvious to me now, but late last night after a long week, I initially read that as a serious question. Stranger things have been asked around here.... Congrats on your purchase!

Thread melt down in 3....2....boobies

For guys outside the US and/or under age 60ish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_$64,000_Question

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Actually I think he paid $20000 for it after all. I think he got a very good deal.

rolex11 wrote: "On the invoice, as you can see it say 3.4L -01 carrera, which may indicate a 2001 engine was installed. This would have had the single row, unless they deliberately retrofitted it with the double." If the new engine was truly a stock 2001 engine, then it could be a single or a dual row bearing. Both were used in the 2001 production year. On my previous 2001 996 I had the bearing replaced and it was a dual row. Good luck with your new car.

I and the owner are trying to speak with where it was preformed it see if there is anyone or anything to help us determine. 11 years ago so, not likely. Since it is the original clutch, I suppose I'll discover when it needs replacing, and probably do the fix then. At purchase price of $20,000 my budget allows whatever I decide, who knows may do it ASAP. Now the $64,000 quest...............wait, not going there again......

The sheer number of missed connections in this thread is really where all the thread's entertainment value is. The fact that what appears to be a nicely-maintained car is being purchased for the entirely reasonable price of $20K is almost boring compared to the number of panties being twisted when folks thought you were going to pay $64K for it. I'm willing to bet at least 3 more people chime into this thread and tell the OP what a bonehead he is for considering $64K for that car.

BTW, nice car and deal. Congrats!

Psssst... No one thought he was paying that.

Sixty-four thousand dollar question. Phew. For a split second...never mind. Meticulously maintained cars don't have bumper stickers stuck to the paint...$20K.

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No '99 996 with a replacement engine is worth $30K. I overpaid for my car at $30K - and my car is (in my opinion, which I understand not everyone shares because some people insist on being wrong) epic. Once you lop an extra few grand off for it being a cabriolet...

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Your car is worth $30k and is epic due to the fact that it has the rare mk1 aero w/mk2 wing combo.

5CHN3LL, It's a Virginia Tech magnet....i asked Got lots more info and pictures today... new top w/glass and top hydraulic cylinders 1 month ago new BFGoodrich tires, too bad their BFG's, but new new belts, water pump, battery, brakes and rotors in September recent oil change, coolant flush, brake flush hard top w/stand, wind deflector, all keys, included it's his daily driver and has been since owned, 4 miles to work and back, so it's been driven regularly being inspected the 30th, and I'm flying up the 5th to pick up and drive 750 miles back to FL barring any repairs or issues $64,000..scratch that (couldn't resist)....$20,000 even....

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Actually, as rare as the awesome 4 spoke is anymore $64k is probably not far off! That's actually really bad as it means the motor is getting many cycles without ever warming up. See if he will share what his oil change regime was a sit should be really aggressive given the engine won't be able to burn off the water and other crap off.

Noted... driven regularly what I said..... 4 mile trips twice a day...ideal???...probably not....but that's the way the mop flops... I'll have him knock $25.00 off price.....

I was just pointing out that your "driven regularly" comment wasn't specifically a good thing in this case, not suggesting you beat him up any more about it. Just something to be aware of and getting his OCI schedule would be really good information for you.

Has the sale gone through yet? Just thought I better chime in. Personally, I think $64,000 is too much for that car. YW.

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That's $64,000 Canadian loonies I suppose, not US greenbacks. How many Euros or Bitcoins would that be? Looks like a great car. Hope your PPI comes up looking relatively clean.

One comment the owner made as we spoke today was that when the car is first started from cold was, "it runs rich until is warms up". I asked what he meant by that and if it was a problem, and he said he just wanted to mention it and considered it normal. I do have to drive it 750 miles back to Florida... Any ideas what this might be.....Should I be concerned? It's being thoroughly inspected Monday the 30th before I get there the following Friday.

It could be an SAI acting up or broken. The engine will be warm by the time you take it for PPI so mechanic might have to trick it or put a Durametric/pst2/piwis on it to trigger it. If it is SAI, it shouldn't impact your drive back in any way. It's just for cold fuel/air enrichment purposes on a cold engine when you first start it.

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These cars run ****ing pig rich to help warm up the cats. It's normal, but it's also the reason they really need to be driven so that any crud can't build up in the combustion chamber from the warmup process.

ALL cars run rich until they warm up.....if they didn't, they wouldn't run.

It runs rich due to the 64k asking price. After it warms up it converts to 19k.

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These seem extra extra special though.

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I really am amazed that you got him down to $20k from his original asking price of $64k. I thought from the start that was a little high. I feel bad for chastising Hurdi when he tried to talk you into lowballing the guy down to $30k, but Hurdi knows better than anyone that the cabriolets just aren't as valuable as the coupes. I think Hurdi has resigned himself to keeping his cabriolet because he knows that it will be tough for him to find someone to take it off his hands. Don't get me wrong - the cabriolets are fantastic cars. Ain't nothing better on a beautiful day than cruising with the top down. Enjoy that beautiful new car. You got a $44,000 steal.

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Hurdi's cab will probably be a bit harder to resell due to Hurdi driving it into a wall. Thankfully, the Home Depot gutter guard absorbed much of the frontal impact, and the paint damage was minimized due to the inch-thick stack of decals on the rear deck lid. Police report suggested that environmental conditions plus the driver's physical limitations (restricted range of motion due to excessive "heavy gold") were to blame. Otherwise, the car is eminently collectible. Word on the street is that if you like the smell of WD-40, Hurdi's cab is the car for you.

Thanks for the expert comments... Once I wash and wax this puppy...I plan on reselling for $72,575.00 obo.... l've drank the coolaid....

It's official....bought this 911.... Shippers pick it up Wednesday morning in NC and should arrive to me here in Miami some time Friday. I went with AAA transporters which is "the real AAA" Open transport, $450 tax, ins., etc.

Great Xmas present for you!

Ho Ho Ho..... Sure is. $575.00 to ship. Had to change shippers due to misrepresentation. AAA transporters said they were part of the AAA (triple AAA) that we all know. Turns out they weren't. Plus he couldn't find a truck, so I went with another referred shipper. $175.00 more but I feel better using them. Spoke with the actual mechanic that did the PPI one last time before pulling trigger. He stressed over and over what great shape this car is in. Very excited.

Owner just sent this photo of him about to put on the hard top for trip to Florida.

are you getting the hard top storage rack? perhaps he can just chuck it on top so it can go along for the ride!

Yes the storage rack is coming with. He disassembled and stored it in the car. Put the hard top on, of course, for the trip on the truck. Word from the driver is that it's coming tomorrow, not Friday..Yeah!

Final update on the "$64,000 question" 1999 996 C2 Cab for those who would like it. If you don't understand the whole $64,000 issue, don't ask. Car was delivered a day early on Thursday Dec. 10th. Was in better shape than I expected. The only issue that was not preventative maintenance was a faulty IACV causing an idle issue, replaced and all good. What I have done since: (All DIY in my humble garage) Replaced coils, plugs and tubes. Removed mufflers for easier access. Don't see how you can properly torque things without removing. Replaced all the bolts and screws you have to take off in doing this because they were beginning to corrode. While in there I discovered neither coil heat shields were attached so I attached new coil heat shields. Replaced motor mounts with stock mounts. Put new visor lids on and got the lights to work when lids are opened. Ordered the ones for the boxster and retrofitted them. New wipers New air filter New cabin filter New ignition switch , figured I'd replace before it fails. Changed oil & filter New Porsche valve stem caps Replaces orange side markers w/ smoked clear markers with clear bulb Replace some wheel well trim pieces that were worn away Cleaned condensers and radiators Removed all 4 wheels and torqued lug bolts to spec. Of course, detailed inside and out meticulously. Still on list: All fluids to be flushed and filled. Probably have indy do those. Am I missing anythings guys? Thanks to everyone here on Rennlist. Couldn't have done this without you guys.

Did you evacuate the old air out of the tires and refill with nitrogen? It's a '99 C2 so it's got a cable throttle versus e-gas. I have heard those things can bind if they have not been lubricated per the recommended maintenance interval. I'd hit that cable with some lubricant just to be safe.

Filled tires with Martian atmospheric gas, heard it adds 10 HP! Lube throttle cable...on to-do list.. Now what's this IMS bearing I hear of...?

Don't forget to finger yourself

Good score. Nice car!

Not sure it's wise to update this thread and close it out considering the $64 dollar question "****storm" (thanks all you smart a$$'s). But just to close out this thread by answering the initial question of whether the factory replacement engine installed in this car in 2004 due to intermix had a dual row IMSB. Answer: NO Feb 3rd 2017 the clutch wore out. Replaced the IMSB while in there and out came a pristine single row. Now we know.

Which bearing option did you replace it with? Did it cost less than $64k? Inquiring minds want to know. Seriously though, sounds like a beauty. Happy miles with lots of smiles!