Should I buy a 996?

Hi all, New member here. I just got a promotion and raise from my job. I'm a young guy and don't plan to have any kids wihin the next few years, so I want to treat myself. So I think it's time for me to get a Porsche. I was looking at the local dealers and found a 2000 996 with around 28,000 miles on it. It's very clean and looks nice and is within my budget. The dealership also offers 2 year warranty, which gives me some peace of mind. After talking to a friend (who is a German car enthusiast and master BMW tech), he recommended a 993 because of the air-cooled engine. I know that the 993's are in fairly high demand, so they seem to be a little more expensive than the 996 I looked at. There is also no warranty and it's hard to pay top dollar for a car over 7 years old. I am not a *hardcore* enthusiast like him; I just want something fast. My question is: how do you like your 996? Should I get one? Do they have problems? Is the interior and sound system truly as bad as they say? Thanks!

Do it and don't look back. You won't regret it. Just do your research and make sure that the car is the right specimen for you. A PPI is essential. Browe the boards- here, RebbTech, 6-speed, etc- and you'll find all or more than you'll ever need to know. Keep in mind, though, that most everyone posting here is either a.) hardcore enthusiast or b.) looking for a solution for a problem. You'll find a much higher "rate" of issues than actaully really exists with these cars. I'm pretty new into mine, too, (3 weeks into my 2000 cab) and get more and more excited everyday. I'm addicted.

Congratulations on your job success. Yes, you should treat yourself now. No, you can still be an "enthusiast" and own a water cooled Porsche. Yes, the 996 has been very reliable. That said, an extended warranty is a great idea. I love my 996. It is my daily driver and has enough room to haul my 3 year old boy and wife around.

Aftermarket sound systems are easy to come by. On the interior, did you like the one you saw? I needed a full-leather interior to be satisfied, and it is incredible If the interior is important to you (it is to me since I spend all my time there), you DON'T want a 993, might as well be 1975 in there except for the lack of a mood ring and pet rock

Thanks guys. The interior didn't look terrible to me. The things that he "warned" me about were that there was a serious issue with the engine that needed to be dealt with (I think it was emissions related). Another thing he mentioned was that the 996s were assembled on a factory line as opposed to hand-built. Again, this is not a huge issue to me, but I wanted to get some feedback from actual 996 owners. And another question - Is the two wheel drive good? I hear that the four wheel drives hug the road, yet weigh a heck of a lot more. I guess it's just a give or take thing. Thanks again!

or a lava lamp... very solid though....

I love my 996, on my second one. RMS is an issue you should search and study. No other repairs for me other then wear and tear items. Most of us spend more money in Mods then in repairs. I am not into sound so it could be a transistor radio for all I care. I personally prefer the music the car makes. I would recommend finding the color you want.. A well optioned car Carbon, Full Leather, Aero Kit, Xenon, Sport Seats, etc. You most likely won't pay a huge premium for a car that as lots of options. There are so many cars out there that you can find almost exactly what you want if you are patient. The little options/upgrades can end up costing you a fortune if you intend on adding later. Carbon Fiber is a great example you can spend $3500 for full carbon interior post sale. Many of these cars will be in the same price range as a car with very few options. So my best advice find the color combo you want with the best set of options. Some people are flexible with colors so their are many more options and chances at a great deal. I highly recommend sticking to cars with the factory Aero kit. It is a must have IMHO.

993 b/c they are air-cooled? That is the reason. By the way, Porsche went to water-cooled for a reason. However, I will say this. But the Porshe that you feel good in. Drive some 993's and some 996's. You will notice the difference immediately. Both great cars but very different. Most will tell you to buy the NEWEST you can afford and I will agree with that. Just make sure you put a little bit away for mods (if you roam this board you will spend some $$$) and also for those things that are NOT covered by warranty. If the 996 is what you want then be PATIENT since there are so many available. Patience will pay off when you find the car that you really want.

Get one. The RMS issue is WAY over rated. It's nothing more than an oil leak, and does not effect most cars. Having a two year warranty you have little to worry about. I've had almost every production porsche made from 66 912, SC, Carerra, C2, C4, etc. Could never justify getting a 993 over a 964 as they're VERY similar cars, with one carrying at least a $15,000 premium for being "the last of the aircooled". Anderson was absolutely correct when he said "buy the latest one you can afford". These cars only get better with each production run.

Thanks again, guys. A few more questions. -How much is standard maintenance? -How much does it cost to replace tires? The car I am looking at has 18"s. -How are the seats? Cheers!

Alot of the maintenance is DIY stuff....save alot of $$$ that way. Tires roughly $1K for 18's if you go with the rec'd N rated tires

lVDELL is right not much Maintenance on these cars most of the preventative stuff you can do yourself. This car has the easiest oil change it will take you less the 10 minutes. Tires $700-1300 depending on brand and size Standard and Sport Seats IMHO are very uncomfortable. I prefer the Gt3 Seats. If you need to use the backseats for people then this is not an option. Some people do not like the GT3 seat so you need to be the judge on that one.

-How much is standard maintenance? Free if you do yourself (very easy, it's like playing with LEGOS). At the dealer it's no more than a grand every 15-30K miles. -How much does it cost to replace tires? The car I am looking at has 18"s. You'll probably go through rear tires twice as fast as the fronts. As already mentioned above tires run anywhere between $100-$200 per wheel -How are the seats? Seats are fine for everyday driving. If you were taking the car to the track, it would make sense to get a GT3 or aftermarket seats... It takes me less than 10 minutes to swap the seats out before track events...

yes.. This sounds familiar. I would stress a warranty, as the cost of ownership -- regardless of type of car -- is always growing. I would also aim for the youngest one you can find. Finally, I would not focus entirely on low miles. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a car is drive it, not leave it in a garage and rub it with a diaper. On the flip side, is this your only car? If so, are you ok with the size constraints? If your in the Northeast/Northwest, will you be willing to drive it in the snow? I would suggest a C4 if your anywhere near the North.

I'm in Southern California near the ocean, so I don't know if a C4 makes sense for me. This will be my only car, but I only spend about 1 hr./day commuting , etc.. Oh, and the RMS issue has been fixed (according to the dealer). How long do brakes last in this car?

I have owned a 993 for 2 � years before getting my current 996. Both are great cars but very different. Do some searching on both 993 and 996 boards to get a perspective. A truly unbiased discussion of the pros and cons of each car would be quite lengthy. Be aware that there are many misconceptions out there with regard to both the 993 and the 996. In general both cars are quite reliable. Here are some other random thoughts. Generalizations such as the 993 is entirely hand built or the 996 has fatal engine flaws are overblown and false. The 993 is not entirely hand built in the way older 911�s were. In fact the 993 is the first car Porsche starting using mass manufacturing techniques suggested by the Japanese consultants it hired in the early 90�s when sales and finances were in the tank. While there have been issues with some engines in 996 this is by no means the norm. The RMS has been beaten to death on here and is oil leak�it can be fixed for $800. While some of the problems related to the 993 are purely emissions related (i.e. clogging of the secondary air injections system �SAI�) there is related problem that is not purely emissions. The 993 engine suffers from premature valve guide wear. It is widely believed that the SAI problems is merely a symptom of the valve guide wear issues. While there are some techniques for cleaning the SAI that are overly expensive (about the same as a RMS repair) the underlying problem is not an inexpensive fix. Be aware also that the 993 factory suspension is not very durable. If you are looking at a 993 with the original factory suspension factor into the price a new suspension to make the car drive the way it should. Maintenance items on the 993 are in general more expensive than the 996. Simple items like oil changes, spark plug changes, even hood and trunk strut replacement are much more involved and costly. The 993 is not without its charms such the rawness the car has, or the aural sensations that it produces. Arguably it may be the pinnacle of the 911 design style wise. However, the 996 is superior daily driver with a better climate control system and better ergonomics. Some 996's have issues with the coolant expansion tank. Brakes in both cars last in accordance to how you drive them.

Maintanence: Nothing so far. I also have the Porsche certification for additional piece of mind, but I haven't had any really expensive or catastrophic failure in any of my Porsches. Tires: Not unreasonably expensive. I had 19s on my previous car (2002 BMW M3) and those did reach the Unreasonably Expensive level. Seats: Now keep in mind that I am a Fat Man (6', 320lbs) but I find the Sport Seats in my '01 to be extremely comfortable. I did a medium trip last Tuesday, Chicago to Green Bay and back, and never felt the need, or even the urge, to stop and stretch out outside of gas stops. I do not fit so comfortably in a 993. Brakes: For street driving, they last just fine. For street/track/aggressive driving, well, that depends on you.

Thanks to everyone who replied! I think I am going to the dealer after work today....

Bet - Nice Job, I second your opinion - Also the 996 has been a charm for me personally, daily driver for two years, rain, snow, whatever, not to mention you look great in the process... Good luck, either way you can't go wrong.

I agree. I know it's not the popular thing to say this, but I really enjoy the styling of the 996. Like so many cars, I loved the old one (that being the 993) but once I got used to seeing the 996 I really prefer it. I am very, very pleased with my decision to get the 996. Good luck!

I just bought two rear tires (same as original equipment) from the dealer (2002 996 w/18"wheels). Total was less than $750. As for long distance drives. Wife and I have done 4 trips of 800 miles each in one day and the wife didn't complain. So I think you will find the 2002 comfy. Otherwise I would say don't wait as long as I did to buy your Porsche!

The last of the 993s and the first 996s rolled off the line side by side, so much for that crap about the 993 being the last hand built Porsche. All Porsches are hand built just the 993/996/997 have progressvely more efficient manufacturing methods (read less build time & more profit margin) for better or worse. The RMS thing is over-rated, my car is 6 years old and "healthy as a horse...not a drip!"

As a former owner of a 993, I was about to offer my two cents, but it's hard to add anything to Brian's excellent review. I think the vast majority of people will prefer the 996 to the 993, especially when price is factored in. Bottom line is that no matter what car you buy, there will always be people who will offer some criticism of it. So buy what you like, and if others like it, that's fine, and if they don't, too bad.

That's why I bought mine, I hope to keep this car until it dies(well, unless a Turbo comes within my financial grasp) so I can grow old and wave at the young couples in Cabs like the old folks do to me now. I love mine, I wish I could drive it more often but I car pool to work. The sound system is the worse I've ever heard in any car in my life but I tend not to really listen to it very much with the top down.