New 996C2 owner with questions!

I just bought my first Porsche, a 2000 996C2 6sp (see pics below). Its black/black and has 26K miles on it. It included PSM, CD changer, suede headliner, the 3 spoke steering wheel, power/heated seats, the std 17 rims, etc. Its in very good shape, only a couple of stone chips in the paint (no dings though) and the interior is near perfect. Its under manuf warranty through 6/04 and for another 24K miles -- plus I am purchasing an additional warranty (gives me another 5yrs and 100K total) for about $2K. The car was $44.8K, but I managed to get it down to ~$43K as it will need new tires soon and was missing a few things. So, with the extended warranty, it was ~$45K. I have a bunch of questions, I hope you'll indulge me! - First, did I get a decent deal on the car? I drove from Austin to Houston to look at 3 of them there, as they seemed to be better priced. After a tech inspection, I picked the nicest one and starting haggling - I need to get a CD changer cartridge and another Key/Remote Fob, does anyone know how much these cost and a good Internet vendor for them? Links any chance? - What tire pressures do most folks recommend? Its got 205F and 255R Contis. My commute is 20 miles of smooth twisties, so I like an aggressive setup. - If I go 18s when I need new tires, what sizes are recommended? I've seen some with 225/40/18F and 265/35/18R (I think), and I'm wondering if there is another (possibly wider) combination that retains a fairly stock diameter? I really like the looks of those beefy tires on the GT3 - What can I put in place of those hideous Cbox cassette holders? Another storage bin? guage pack? Ideas? I mean, I had those same cboxes on my 318i back in 1984! hehe.... - I might want to add a more aggressive wing at some point. Where is the best place to get a replica of the aero kit rear wing? I know the factory one is ~$3K, so I'd obviously like to go aftermarket if its decent. Also, does it require a front lip to balance the downforce/lift? - Is it normal for the wing warning light to come on for a few secs when you start the car? Thanks for any and all help. I'm definitely a newbie here, but I'm enjoying the learning curve. The car is simply brilliant, and I'm enjoying it immensely. Here are some pics (the first pic looks blue as it was too bright out and I had to pshop out some glare): And some pics of the other cars in our garage: A4 and M3 And the E30 M3 Let me know what you folks think! Thanks! -Dave '00 996C2 '97 M3 '00 A4 1.8TQ '89 M3

I looked at that car, great color and you got a great deal. I tried to negotiate off the $44.8 without success and couldnt get comfortable with the ownership history to pay the asking price. Someone took the 18" off the car ... it originally came with them. You can but a CD box or a 2nd storage compartment for about $50. Be happy, you may have found and negotiated one of the best deals on a 2000. Enjoy!

My factory 18's come with 225/f and 285/r I believe if you go with rims with the factory GT3 offsets you might be able to go wider. Great looking car, Congrats. Peter

When I pulled a carfax it said 4! previous owners! But then I saw that in reality what seems to have happened is that it went up for auction a couple of times, in different states, before it got to Houston. And each time it went to auction it was retitled in that state, albeit with no buyer. Based on the mileage and title issue dates, it looks like only 2 (non-auction/dealer) owners that really drove it any miles. It was definitely nicer than the other two I looked at (at EXPO Motorcars next door). The Porsche tech I had look at it said it was in very good shape and had no issues at all aside from a burnt out lightbulb in the visor and it needs new tires. Oh, and it might need new belts within 6 months. The 17inch rims that came on it are nearly perfect, so they must have come off a newer car. I'm pretty pleased. -Dave

Congratulations, the car looks great in the pictures and I'm sure it looks even better in person. Since you'll soon be replacing the tires soon, I think 18" wheels and tires looks nicer (in my opinion) and handles better. If you decide to autocross or track the car, I would have the alignment performed and dial in a more negative camber front and rear. Have fun....

Charles, Thanks.... 18" rims and wider tires will definitely be my first performance mod. I am amazed at the balance and grip I get out of the stock 17s. The shorter sidewalls and wider tires of the 18s should improve it noticeably, as long as I get the right staggered widths to maintain that balance. Do people here typically stick with the Conti's? Or should I also look at S03s, Kumho MXs, PZeros? I run the Kumhos on the other cars and they're very good for the money, but I might go for something more aggressive on the 996. -Dave

Dave, Congrats! What a beautiful car! The owners manual says it's normal for the spoiler warning light to come on when you start the car. It's supposed to go out when you put the car in motion. Enjoy and respect it. Mark

IMHO, dump the conti's. try p zero, SO3, SO2, MPSC (if you are really nutty) or the normal pilot sports. they are all better than conti's.

You did good. A great deal! better than i managed 4-months ago on basically the same car with higher mileage. 18s will make a significant difference in grip and responsiveness. I drove countless 996s before buying, half were with 17s and the other half 18s--the difference is not subtle. 225/40s and 285/30s work great. Don't obsess on tire brand/make. If you're not going to track the car, the differences won't matter. If you do track the car, few people i've met can really exploit the advantages of one brand or the other (setup, tire pressures, etc.).

delliott00 congrats, pics look nice on the key fob issue. i believe you will need to get this done at the dealer. it takes 3-5 days for key/keys to arrive from atlanta and then the dealer will need to program the fob with your car. here is san antonio(porsche center)if you are a member of pca you will get a 10% discount which helps because it is expensive. i am sure your local dealer has the same arrangement good luck roy

Looks like a gorgious car. Tail light is normal on ignition. It goes out as you drive off. First thing you should do is get under the back of the car and check the back of the engine (between gearbox and engine) dead center between the back wheels. Look for any sign of an oil leak. Do it now!

Congrats on the purchase. Sounds like you got a great deal. In May, I got a 2001 C2 coupe with factory aero pkg, 6 spd, advanced technic pkg, and 18" sport classics with 17.7K miles for $59,900 from Momentum in Houston. I thought that I got a good deal. Boy, compared to yours, was I ever wrong. Enjoy your new ride.

Nice Ride! ....great looking car. Extra storage tray is (or was) $30 from www.pelicanparts.com, their part T-552-253-01-01C... $31.00 They call it "Radio Support Shelf" Just yank out the holder and stick in the extra shelf.

Excellent deal, great looking car! As for the wheels, I'd stick with the Porsche 18" wheels, but whatever you like. Give Wheel Enchancements http://www.wheelenhancement.com/ a call. They have new, new takeoffs and used (in great condition) Porsche wheels which is much cheaper than buyng new. Your car (and mine) would have come with 18x7.5 front and 18x10 rear. In 2002, Porsche starting shipping 18x8 front and 18x10 rear for this car. They fit on the 1999-2001 cars as well. Front tires stayed the same at 225/40-18 but they increased the rear to 285/30-18. So, as long as you are buying new wheels and tires, go with the newer specs. I've put on the S-03's and they are a very good tire. I've heard the S-02a has better dry traction, but the S-03 is unbeatable in the wet. As for tire pressures, it seems the consensus on this board is 40psi hot on all tires, not the 44psi cold pressure Porsche recommends for the rear 18" tires.

Scouser, What is that oil leak you are talking about? Any idea of cost to fix? I just noticed a few drips on my 99 with 27,000 miles on it. BTW, love you city of Liverpool. Was there last September and had a great time. Magical Mystery Tour, Albert docks , etc. Just a great city to visit. Bill

nice car!

Bill 996 AERO. If the oil leak is dead center then I got some real bad news for you man. Your Rear Main Seal is hosed. Just like mine :-( It's a drop gearbox job and an expensive one at that. Mine is just out of warranty and I am waiting to hear from my dealer if they will do it under warranty as a gesture. The RMS (or crancshaft seal) fails and oil leaks into the bell housing. The result if it gets bad is oil on your clutch. If it gets real bad I guess you will blow your engine. Best get it checked out quickly. Suggest if the RMS is hosed to replace the clutch at same time. Sorry about the bad news man. Yep Liverpool is a cool place. I was born and bred in a house on Penny Lane. Cheers, Berny

Car looks great, congratulations! iii911ooo, don't sweat it. It's been four months of depreciation and you have a 2001, compared to a 2000. Be happy, I'm sure you have a great car as well!

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely go with 225F and 285R tires when I upgrade. I really like the factory 5 spoke 18"s from the 02-03 Carreras. If anyone knows of a good source let me know. I'll check out Wheel Enhancement. As for the car, no oil leaks at all. The underside is dry. You should have seen the look on the sales folks face when I jacked it up and crawled underneath it in the showroom. It goes into the dealer soon for a minor rattle (under warranty) so I'll have them give it the once over. I know the dealer here well from my Audi so they'll treat me well. In a couple of months I'll start looking for upgrades, my short list so far is: 18" wheels/tires Aerokit and wing Xenons Maybe an intake The car is really a joy to drive. It reminds me of a slightly faster version of our E36 M3. Perfectly balanced, smooth engine, neutral handling, oversteer on demand but never unexpected, and just feels agile. -Dave