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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHIs the 996 even worth it?
Leading reported evidence
Replace on a time schedule
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Fluids need to be changed on a time schedule for cars that don't get driven regularly.
Leading evidence: 'Replace on a time schedule' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend buying' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Avoid at all costs, plus they need a mandatory top end before 50k miles because of the crap material they used for the valve guides and Porsche NA knows this!"
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Suggestion
the 996 is a a lot of car for the money, i would just recommend buying on that is already running and has been sorted.
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Suggestion
The car should have had all the fluids changed according to the schedule, etc.
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Suggestion
Dropping the motor to clean it and replacing vacuum fittings that probably have a thousand hours of service life left in them falls under the "messing around with" category rather than work...
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Suggestion
Dropping the motor to clean it and replacing vacuum fittings that probably have a thousand hours of service life left in them falls under the "messing around with" category rather than work...
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Suggestion
I understanding asking about a rebuild if you own the car or have a loan on it, but why would someone buy a "roller' for $8-$10k then put a $15k engine in it as a point of entry for Porsche ownership when they could buy a nice "running" car for the same money.
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Avoid at all costs, plus they need a mandatory top end before 50k miles because of the crap material they used for the valve guides and Porsche NA knows this!"
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55 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Hello,
I keep seeing 1999-2001 996s going for real cheap (just saw one on Craigslist for $12,500-the seller says the engine stopped running and he doesn't know why...)
I'm assuming it has blown its IMS bearing.
The way I see it, the plusses of these cars are that they are beautiful (especially with the Aero Kit), they are modern, handle better, and are faster compared to most of the earlier non-turbo air cooled cars.
The downsides are the cheap interiors, and of course their mechanical reputations.
Do you think given time they will be remembered as being "oversold" and a great bargain now? Or are they destined to go they way of Enron stock?
Also, what is the preferred option for engine replacement currently? If I'm replacing the motor, I might as well go big and get a 3.8 of some variety. Aftermarket engine management system?
BTW: I live in an area of Virginia where California-style state inspections of smog stuff are a non-issue.
Thoughts?
Thoughts are the logic is fuzzy.
You assume it's IMS automatically.
You think it has a cheap interior.
You know and feed into the mechanical reputation.
First you want cheap yet want to go big with 3.8L and then worry about resale having a potential modified mk1 with most likely over $30k dumped into it all said and done?
Not too much done with aftermarket efi on this platform unless you want Bisi to build you a m96 turbo monster utilizing the AEM engine management system. He's just showed off a 1000hp Honda Odyssey Minivan utilizing an Infiniti ECU, so yes I think he knows what he's doing.
It sounds like there are more cons for you regarding the 996.
I have a 2000 996 and love it. I've done a lot of research and even tyook the m96 engine building seminar from FLAT 6 Innovations (Best money I ever spent...a great opportunity to learn more than you'll ever need to know)...anyway... teh failure rate is between 3 and 5 %...since these cars are relativly inexpensive......they're worth the chance, when you need a clutch or other repair, since the cars are so inexpensive it's worth doing the IMS bearing upgrade......these are truly great cars....
^^^ I agree ^^^
They are pretty much "throw-away" items, similar to a used Kleenex. Once blown, toss 'em. (hmmm... maybe that wording doesn't sound quite right)
Only a fool would even vaguely consider buying a 996.
Little known fact about 996's: The "full leather" mentioned above is actually a synthetic material made from recycled condoms. And that is the most expensive part of the interior. You don't even want to know what Porsche used for the gear shift lever, otherwise you would insist on wearing gloves every time you drove one.
Hey first time poster. I think $12500 for a car not running is expensive not cheap. Very expensive if you can't get it running yourself. Why would you ever consider buying it in the first place when you can get a runner for under $20000? This is a dumb thread.
Idea of Motor Coasts :
Boxster (986) Models 1997-2004 -> MSRP of $19,152.34, now $13,995. Carrera (996) Models 1999-2004 -> MSRP of $19,490.28, now $14,995. Carrera 3.6L w/Manual (997) 2007-2008 -> MSRP of $18,814.39, now $14,500. Carrera 3.6L w/Tiptronic (997) 2006 -> MSRP of $18,814.39, now $14,500. 911 Turbo w/Tiptronic (996) Models 2001-2004 -> MSRP of $38,400.79, now $31,000. 911 Turbo X51/GT2 w/Manual (996) 2001-200 5 -> MSRP of $35-42,000, now $26,000-$31,000. 911 GT3 (996) w/Manual 2004-2005 -> MSRP of $37,950.28, now $31,000.
I understanding asking about a rebuild if you own the car or have a loan on it, but why would someone buy a "roller' for $8-$10k then put a $15k engine in it as a point of entry for Porsche ownership when they could buy a nice "running" car for the same money. BTW a car that actually runs BEFORE you buy it makes it easier to PPI the things you need to PPI while the car is RUNNING.
I agree...it was getting boring in here but I must have wandered under a bridge 'cause I smell troll.
Yup gotta be a troll.........These posts are completely useless. The guy wants to pay Pinto money for a Porsche than will complain about the cost to fix things. That's why I say if you can't afford to fix it don't buy it because you think you can afford it......your head is in the sand.
BTW......I love my 996!
[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:]
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SkyjnlpQg1A/S3_eMOwzy8I/AAAAAAAABM4/WLL3NElFTws/s400/csb2.jpg
Three offers, all within $1k. Good cars sell.
No I did not find out the ultimate failure, frankly was tired of the whole 996 engine blow up thing, so decided to move on. Great car though other than that, working on a TT or GT3 next.
You know, I accidentally stumbled on to this thread and I have to laugh. I've been on this board for a looooonnnnggg time and this crap just never stops. So let me summarize all the "haters" for all the different 911 years and their complaints:
911 SC "don't buy it or you'll be doing a valve job after the famous 'money shift' for the crapy 915 gear box" Oh yeah, chain tensioners - they let go and you're out $20K" "exhaust studs break all the time"
911 Carerra - "Chain tensioner upgrade and broken exhaust studs. Great motor but expense when one of these goes wrong. That dam 915 gear box money shift." "watch the broken head studs and exhaust studs, as this is BIG money - they need SSI headers too...."
964 - "Whoa! Stay away! That belt in the dual distributor lets go and you'll hole a piston. Avoid at all costs, plus they need a mandatory top end before 50k miles because of the crap material they used for the valve guides and Porsche NA knows this!"
993 - "Premature valve guide where. Don't touch a '95. The suspension is really difficult to set up right. Stick with the SC or torsion bar cars." "The mass airflow sensor is crap and only last 45k miles."
Now the haters have moved onto the 996. OP, Porsche's are expensive. A top end on an air-cooled motor will set you back $12 - 18K depending on the work you have done. Ton's of people track 996's and Caymans with the M96 motor and if it were as bad as talked about you'd just see one giant blue cloud at every DE.
Just wait 'til they attack PDK, PASM and "all the electronic gizmo's of the 997's". That's what they say about the Cayenne and the 928. If you had listened to all these haters you'd have missed out on some awesome deals.........like the 996.
Bring the flames haters! Go hate on that nimrod Miley Cyrus and her twerking fetish.
I agree, when I had my 1974 911S, I was told that the 2.7L was the worst engine Porsche had built. Most recently, while watching a auto related show on TV, they were saying that the 2.7L engine was one of the best engines from Porsche. Boo Hoo for the Nay sayers
Porsche builds a great car and you gotta love it
To the OP:
Is the 996 worth it?
It is if:
1. You are a great DIY'er with lots of special tools.
2. You have several thousand $$ set aside for repairs.
3. You love to work on a car more than actualy drive it.
4. You will never ever consider using the 996 as a daily driver or drive it in the rain.
I know this from experience. In my first year of ownership and @2800 miles, I have spent many $$$$ and none of it was on labor. Some have had an even worse 1st year with IMSB CEF and the replacement costs that come with it. Good Luck, Bro!
KK...that was hilarious! I added an asterisk or two for you.
** Even if the repairs are not needed. Preventative maintenance=complete rebuild
*** Or plan on moving it into your living room
**** Because I have a $30K paperweight
* Or you ARE a tool.
Didn't mean to sound like a jerk with that comment.
the 996 is a a lot of car for the money, i would just recommend buying on that is already running and has been sorted.
Don't want OP to think we are bunch of arrogant bastards,
While a roller needing an engine would be difficult to PPI it does have one big advantage. If you can pick it up cheap enough you can send the (an) engine to a reputable rebuilder and have it rebuilt exactly how you want it with no mysteries surrounding its past. All the weaknesses taken care of and make it 3.8 while you're at it. I've actually considered going this route myself.
Agreed. Even if OP doesn't KNOW he's a troll, he's a troll. I can't imagine rolling into some other car forum and, as my first post, explaining I'm aware of how that vehicle is known to be mechanically deficient and wondering if it's remotely worth overlooking the car's obvious shortcomings.
WOW!!!
I read the entire thread and that just goes to show you how much Porsche owners love their car
. I know that I love mine
. I have owned a 914 2.0, a 911S, a 928S and a 928S4 and now my 911 996 C4 and have loved them all
IF IT HASN'T BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY, THEN IT'S PROBABLY WORTH LESS THAN YOU THINK.
Fluids need to be changed on a time schedule for cars that don't get driven regularly. A 9 year old car will need new tires, despite the fact that the originals only have 160 miles of use. Old tires become brittle and don't handle like they should. The car should have had all the fluids changed according to the schedule, etc. If they weren't, then there could be other issues. This car could be an incredible buy for somebody, or it could be a maintenance nightmare.
Is this a multiple choice question, where only one answer is true? I think #1 is correct; the rest don't make sense.
What the hell do you even spent "thousand $$" on? The most expensive thing I've had were tires...
#3 is completely off-base for anyone who only performs the necessary service and normal PM. I think we need to clarify that "working on" means performing work that needs to be done. Dropping the motor to clean it and replacing vacuum fittings that probably have a thousand hours of service life left in them falls under the "messing around with" category rather than work...
