Perspective on 996

Interesting take on the 996, from an article posted on the 997 forum. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/por...e-911-996-3-4/ Having owned a Boxster for over 8 years and a 996 for nearly 7, I can't step up and defend Porsche on this one. I will say, that I think the Boxster and 996 are great cars and in over 40 years of car ownership including many semi exotics, the 996 Cab was my favorite.

This comment was particularly inane... How to you compare value on a 1998 993 C2S, a pretty rare and desirable car with a plane jane 99 996? pretty sure the 993's are not fetching as much $$ as they used to anyways but still.

First, I love my 996 aero. However, from a consumer's perspective: Would you rather buy a car that Porsche was losing their shirt on with producing that particular car or one that made so much money where it allowed them to R&D new products?

I have to disagree with you here. I don't care if they make more money for R&D when I buy a product. I would rather see them lose their shirt, so I get a better value. The 996 is a better value, imho.

The author of that article seems particularly bitter. He must've got burned pretty bad on some repair down the line. Quite a rant, but it sure seems biased.

Ah for f@ck's sake, not this crap again. Another doomsday article on a small percentage of 9X6 owners have suffered what guys like this claim plague the line. And to compare a mass produced 996 with a total redesign to a small production 993 that was the 40 year evolution of perfecting the non water cooled outdated motor is just ignorant. If the 996 was produced in the same number the 993 was, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Buy one or don't. If you are in the market, articles like this are your best friend. You can get so much for the money it's not even funny. The 996 is better than the 993 in every way (except current pricing).

Guys sounds like he complains about everything and the 996 was on his radar this time. Disregard it. -td

I have to laugh when I read articles like this. It is an article written by a human - not based on FACT - but largely based upon his literary freedom to write his sentiments. And then people take them to be facts. There are so many silly factual errors all lined up to make his case - that it would take longer than I have time to address. Agree with 'himself' - disregard it. Drive your car and enjoy it. If you commiserate with him, then sell your car and be done with it, if you don't own a 996 yet and believe him, don't buy it.

I read this article yesterday along with all the comments from different people - I did not want to post it here as it got me really upset and did not want to upset other 996 owners. Even though I bought my 02 996 two months ago and was familiar with all the potential issues as I have been on this forum for a long time, I have to say that I got really upset after I read all this especially the part of cutting corners in production. I beleive articles like this will help tank the prices of 996s even more - oh well - that's life My car is a cpo for 2 years and I will worry about it after that but for now, I am enjoying the unique driving experience

I've been driving Porsches on and off since I got my first one in 1971, a 1959 356. I had four more in the 70s, including one 912. Then I took some time off for the family and last February got my 1999 996. Since I got it, after some initial maintenance, I have put 11K miles on it and not even burned a quart of oil. The car is solid, reliable, fast, a joy to drive and I don't regret getting it one whit. This June I drove it to the west coast, from Kansas, with my Granddaughter with no difficulties, even after my brother took it out on the "Bay Road" for some cornering and sliding. In one more month, my wife and I will take it on another 6K trip. The horror stories I read here are certainly not my experience.

I've purchased new a 1982 Targa, purchased new a 1991 C4...and just purchased a used 2004 996 (taking full advantage of current pricing) and its by far the best of the 3. Faster, more efficient, everything works...i purchased it with 65k miles and have added 5k in just 2 months with a few road trips. While some have truly had a bad experience with the 996...I think the real numbers are no where near as horrifying as presented. Bad news sells. I just read a post where 996 owners have heart problems every time they hear a noise...just knowing it must be the bearing failure finally happening to them. SAD...if and when my bearing fails, Ill have it fixed. In the mean time I am driving the SH!^ out of my new toy and IT is enjoying every minute of it as much as I am!!

While I generally like and read TTAC, the simple factual errors in this article really hurt its credibility... RMS leaks cause $15,000 engine replacements? And the author just ignores the fact that the 911 series has always had issues with reliability... remember stretching timing chains and exploding air boxes? What about the 3.6 motors in the 964 that Porsche decided did not need a main gasket? Comparing any Porsche to more mass-market consumer vehicles is just not relevant. Sadly, the lease-happy financial programs of the 996 era pushed the car out of dealerships at a rate unseen in previous 911 models. A much high percentage were driven daily (the kind of mileage that kills sports cars), and subsequent owners just don't put the money in maintenance. This reality must also be a part of the 996 discussion. As for Porsche quality - you have only to look at the rock solid reliability of the Cayenne series to see that these guys can build a car. But when asked to create an uncompromising high performance vehicle, one must make trade offs between reliablity and performance. The cutting edge is a dangerous place. That said, many of the criticisms related to interior parts quality and commonality with the Boxster are true. Every buyer/owner just has to make their own calculation and move forward. I think the members of this forum have chosen wisely.

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Cayenne's most definitely have their issues as well. But all cars do!

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Yeah, the Cayenne guys would get a kick out of that... I have found our 996 and our Cayenne to be some of the most reliable cars we have ever owned.

the author is way off.... must be that time of the month. Most of the people who hates the 996 never even drove one, let alone owns one.

Read some of the authors other stuff, seems to be his modus operandi

The article sure will not help the resale value of the 996, let's hope this doesn't end up in the first page of Google result for the keyword 'Porsche 996 resale value' :S I feel it is really exaggerated but still as an owner you wonder if only 10% is true, no smoke without fire, it is scary. Still my car is now 7 years old, respectable 32k miles on it and it feels like new, the interior is superb, the engine runs perfect. Ok the previous owner had to do the RMS two times, which Porsche should have foot the bill and didn't. But aside of that, the quality seems pretty good. .. finger's crossed

you can't deny that there is some truth there. Low mile cars blowing engines, regardless of whether its a fairly small percentage or not are pretty crappy. interior quality is pretty uninspiring, etc. no more classic door shutting, etc.

My 99 C2 Tip is the first Porsche I've owned. While I purchased originally as a second car and daily drove it, my exposure to DEs has made this car a track baby as well. While doing double duty now, the car has 121k miles and finally had its first RMS leak. While fixing that, we went ahead with the LNE IMS retrofit and replaced other hard to reach components while the engine and tranny were out. All in all, the car has given me more smiles than any other car I've owned and has converted me into a car enthusiast. We drive the car 20k per year and until the engine goes, I'll drive and track the car as often as I can

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Drive your car and enjoy it. If you commiserate with him, then sell your car and be done with it, if you don't own a 996 yet and believe him, don't buy it.

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I do drive my car and enjoy it. No need to sell my car, since its a 993. I don't need to believe him, I've seen it with my own eyes.

It's interesting that the author does not specifically state he actually owned a 996 nor apprently did he experience any of the issues/problems first hand.

I found his comments so negative and biased that I stopped reading.... I love my car and that's all that really matters.

It's the end of the world as we know it! And my 966 feels fine!

maybe he doesn't like his cube at the office

And he didn't mention the headlights?....A@@hole!

Does he mention how 996's have a history of replacing more tires than a 2010 997?

I loved the hype because most of us got our used 996's for a song due to all the IMS & RMS beating of the drum- but you can stop now because we have bought our cars and it is time to let the market rise to where it should be. You fix what is wrong & do the IMS, if you are not a gambler, and you bought a car that is 20-40% under valued. Bad news creates oppurtunity in the market and so do solutions like the LN after market bearing, so don't wait too long untill you act, or the great value may not be there! At this point in time, I like my 996 better than any car I have owned. Life is full of surprises, and I hope that feeling continues. A recent surprise I had was when I pulled my IMS bearing and found that it was perfect. I am a part of a growing number of owners that now have a perfectly good Porsche IMS paper weight. Some posts on forums have ties to Porsche repair shops and vendors. Not that they have a conflict of interest, but if I was one of them, I would beat the IMS drum at least daily to feed the hysteria that helps feed my machine. Nothing wrong with that in my book, and I believe all that is posted is factual. What does not get posted is all the IMS bearings that have been pulled that where in perfect condition. I agree, I wouldn't read a boring post like that.

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So this doesn't even apply to you. Are you a 993 fanboy who is here to bait 996 owners?

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+1

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Dont start that crap here. Thank you.

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I own both & I agree.

I read the article and own a 2001 Carrera. I love my car, just intalled Fister mufflers and my 996 is holding up very well because I take care of it, but what the author wrote is true. The quality is remarkably inferior to that of a 993. The engine trouble is astonishing and his concerns are validated. I haven't had any engine trouble since mine was replaced in 2007. We may love our 996s and I would have written the article in a less hostile and impartial manner, but he's right.

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he's right 100%??? no, not really.... the 996 is a TAG, not a Rolex.... he's making it sound like its a chinese copy of a Timex.

He's right? Oh dear god. The kool-aid some of you lemmings drink is laughable.

+ =

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What is this infatuation with shutting the doors on old Porsches? For god's sake, these are supposed to be sports cars and the 996 is lighter and faster than its predecessor while being more usable on a daily basis, but mention any of that to an aircooled owner and all they want to talk about is doors, headlights, and "nostalgia". No thanks.

:I read the article. I think it's great that someone can express their OPINION. Too bad he's factually wrong and a bitter dumba$$. I've owned 3 911s including an 01 996. I tracked the hell out of it and it was very reliable. Had to sell for $$ to fund my racecar project. I'm currently saving for another 996, I hope uneducated people read this so it drives the price down so I can get one sooner .

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+1. I've had many Porsches including air-cooled early 911s, 930s, SC, Carreras, etc. The 996 is the only car that I've bought twice. At its current price point, the 996 is becoming a good value if not already so.

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Because there is something nice about a really good build quality, Don't get me wrong, I love my 996..I love the looks, the drive and the sound! But compared to my 86 the build quality is a let down, thats not nostalgia it's fact, But that does not make the 996 a poorly built car. The old 911's are tanks!

"Build quality" is rather subjective. What do you use to judge it, other than the sound/feel when you shut the door? I think the front trunk area/fuse box of an early 911 doesn't exactly scream high quality. This coming from someone who's owned many older Porsches and would own more (looking at early 911s now, as a matter of fact), but I don't think the 996 is built poorly, I prefer it, actually. The chassis stiffness is quite noticeably improved over the 911/964 and even 993. Maybe I'm too particular about that?

The build quality is not bad. It's just not what it used to be, but still good. I'll say BMW level of the same era. Despite the lower build quality, it is still the more modern car. Don't get me wrong, I love the older 911s as well and almost bought a 993 Cab before I decided on my 996. But since the purpose of my 996 Cab is more of a family sports car where my small kids will also be riding in, I gave the following the priority in my decision: refinement, lower cabin noise, modern active & passive safety, much modern & comfortable interior, a consistently working A/C, and I get a better performing 911 along the way. I love my 996 and it suits its intended purpose really well.

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They actually do. Plastic coolant pipes, cracking coils, cardan shafts. The first two much more common but inexpensive compared to replacing an engine. First 2 model years have reported electrical gremlins (nothing serious), but ironed out starting 2005.

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jr1966 thats exactly the same thing I did, I was torn between a 993 & a 996 & went with the 996 for exactly the same reasons. Now i'm not so sure i did the right thing considering the value has gone down $10,000 a year, had mine 2 years, and i really liked the look of the 993 with the widebody so much more. At the time i didn't do my homework on what Porsches that held there value more & which ones were the bastard step-child, now i do. But my car has been a very good one & i have had no issues except i can't get that damn ABS & brake light to go off & we have tried everything & still nothing has worked yet.

When we were looking... my wife wanted to Pick up a 993T.... She liked the lines and thought it still retained the "OLD LINES"... The 996 was a better value and turned out too satisfy my needs more... Great car when my son was still small enough for the 3 of us to travel together... Now, it allows me to transform it into a track car... without all the worry about replacement cost. In the current stable we have the 996 & an 06 Cayenne (wifes toy) with no regrets...

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I think you are way off the mark on the value of a 993 these days. Just try and actually get $50k for any n/a 993. The market is extremely soft.

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I bought my 996 when the market was down, therefore, I won't see a $10k/year drop. I don't think it's gonna go any lower and I don't see the 996 to end up a $10k car like the Boxster (well, I hope not). I'm still happy with my purchase as I guess I'm spoiled by modern conveniences. I still do see a 993 Coupe in my future as an addition to the fleet and only a 997 Cab could replace my 996 Cab. I do live in an area where Porsches are rare and not an everyday sight, where a common 996 sighting happens only once a month or a couple of months. I won't see my 996 to drop in value at least in where I live where an ordinary stock '00 996 cab with zero mods recently sold at $40k (from what I've heard).

First, I love my 04 C4S Cab. It is by far the most fun car I have ever driven. However, having said that, after 5 years of ownership and 35K miles, I am a little shocked on how shoddy some of the workmanship is and the quality of the parts (especially electrical) that go into these cars. Let me start the list: oil pressure sender unit, radio works on/off sporiaticaly, heated seats (both, one a module one a heating unit in the seat), complete ECU failure (covered by CPO), 4 batteries ( 2 Porsche, 1 Die Hard, 1Interstate) due to overcharging 14+ volts ( unable to diagnose), cab top cable breakage, all in all, resulting in 4 tow trips to dealer or indy. In contrast, my wife's Toyota, nada, I mean, nada, only oil changes and regular maintenance in 75K miles. I have to agree, with author on the attitude of Porsche, not giving a hoot, about their clinetiele. If the IMS goes before 100K, it chould be covered by the Lemon Law. Their attitude is: "Sell the cars", don't give a darn about the true blue Porsche owners who buy the cars year after year. Some fat cat from Silicone Valley will come by and lease their cars, so why worry. PS, I still love my C4S, with her faults and all.

Sorry to hear that. In all my years of 996 ownership and 110,000 miles, I've replaced one battery, one voltage regulator, and a few sets of brake pads and tires. No leaks, no rattles. The car has run as reliably as any car I have ever owned and is my daily driver, but has also seen its share of track days and autocrosses.