Got the green light today! 996!

Hello Gentlemen! This is my first post and I am proud to say I got the green light today to buy into the 996 club! (the little woman has freed up a few bucks for me to get a new car.) A little history, I live in los angeles, currently I drive a 3 series BMW. The only porsche I have ever had was a 95 993. I loved it and hated to give it up but I found that living in LA it was too difficult driving a stick in LA traffic, so I traded it for a automatic BMW. While the beamer is very smooth and nice it lacks a certain.... well you guys know what I mean. So I have decided to split the difference an go for a tiptronic 996. This car will be my daily driver. I am looking at purchasing a silver 2000 996 C4 tip- $49k. 24k miles on it and porsche certified. Thanks to this board I am aware of the RMS issue but beyond that I don't know what other problems to look for. (I saw a brilliant post here about a low milage-low cost pcar that someone was looking at and a member here pointed out it seemed to have been hit on the front end, due soley to the fact the previous owner tricked it out with all the aluminum trim but the car had a four post steering wheel- he correctly deduced the airbag had been reset! Amazing.) I can spend up to 50k and want the most car for the money, what should I get? Is the 2001 much better than the 2000? Any advice for a newbie?

You might be able to do a little better than 49k. Shoot for low to mid 40s. Good luck!

Price sounds a little high to me.

Chilly, I was like you back in May - my wife gave me an anniversary card that had "Let's go buy that Porsche you always wanted" written in it. Maybe that's why I let her go to skiing with our friends in Colorado this weekend while I take care of the three little 'uns. Good luck with whatever you buy. If it is certified and has a warrenty then you should have no worries. One thing to consider - if there is any way that you can push it to a 2002 model you might want to consider it just because of the upgrades, however I think a well maintained 2000 is better than a thrashed 2002+ from a Ford dealer... Best regards, Barry

See if you can get to the model year 2002. Its a different car.

I agree with the others that '02's are much improved. See if you can get on of those. Plus it will still be under warranty.

I'll echo what everybody else is saying - 2002 or newer oh yeah - that's friggin awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know you said your budget was up to $50k and you probably did a search using the www.porsche.com website for a pre-owned vehicle. HOwever, just remember that there is always room for negotiation. If you put in up to $60k and see one for (say) mid-50's then I am betting that some haggling would get it into your price range.

Thanks everyone for your input! Yes, I would love to get a 2002- that is my first choice but I am not sure I can afford it right now... though I am looking. I do think the 49k is high for the 2000 C4, but that is before negotiations (everything runs high $ in socal) I would like to get that car for $45k. houldsworth1, ::droooool on your c4s::: ok, yeah I thought of going a little higher and working my way down to around 50k but to be honest my wife oked me for 40k and I told her about the 00 C4 for $50K and talked it up a bit (you know hon, it is much safer with four wheel drive. HA HA!) I am really hoping not to spend more than 45 and with taxes and upgrades (I really want to put a good alpine GPS dvd system in it and maybe some other niceties)Then I would hit the 50 mark. Well I am still looking....

Cograts!, Whatever you get you earned it, green light or none.(I also had to wait for the light)

I think we all had to wait for the green light! PS - the 99-01 are plenty fun, and don't forget to squirrel away a few $k for some minor mods and little gremlins (unless you have the warranty). In that case, still keep some $ set aside for service, and other wear item replacement.

I'm colorblind, so I must have missed the green light. I only remember getting a phone call at work from my bride telling me there was a flatbed unloading a 996TT into the driveway. I knew there was something I forgot to tell her (P.S. I'm a trained professional....don't try this yourself)

Lewis, you the man. PS - I test drove a 997 last week, and if you had anything to do with the system in that thing, you are REALLY the man. That thing cranked! All I could say was WOW! Where was that 5 years ago. Nice.

Thanks. Yeah, that's mine as well. Same H/W in all MY03+ 986, 987, 996, 997 & Cayenne. The only thing different is the S/W. Sent you a Red Sox PM........

even if you have to save more money, or wait a year more for the prices to come down, get a 2002 or after car. so many improvements on that modell year for the non-turbo 996s. (m96)

My friend in work seems to get more new cars than anyone I know so I asked his secret - which is surprisingly simple. On his wife's computer he changes the wallpaper and screensaver to a picture of a car he is thinking of buying and leaves it like that for about a month. When the cars shows up in the driveway it is not a shock to her since she is already used to seeing it around Here's a couple more just cos I feel like sharing...

H1, you need some aluminum pedals in that bad boy.

if you guys have to ask the wife if it's ok to spend your money on your car, you guys need to find new wives... come now, it's your money, go out and buy it.. if she doesn't like the car... she can leave, i think you all should know your priorities.. 1) car 2) modifications to car 3) wife

Bob, I wish it was that easy! Happy New Year! Chris

Yeh, she'll leave with the car and half of everything else you own. I never got any green lights so I ditched the wife and bought the P-car. Might of been cheaper to keep her.

Chilly, Happy New Year and Good Luck on the purchase. C4 or C4S, great choice. I'm partial as you can see. It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$. I get a kick about the haggling advice on this board. No one wants less for their car and everyone says haggle! Always amusing. Let's all make 05 our BEST. Ciao

well you did sign a pre-nup right? so if she did decide to leave you, she shouldn't be entitled to a single cent.. that's the way it should be with women...

Nope...Now every ten years, or so, I just find a different woman and give her a house..Much cheaper that way and I always get to keep the P-car.

carbonissimo- you speak the truth! I have always felt it's ok to pay a fair price, In the end it's not about the money, it's about the car. bob- you're not married are you> hee heee. Actually what is great about letting my wife do the finances is I never worry about anything and she usually let's me get whatever I want.... right now I am working on getting that 2002! I mean it's only 10 thousand more than I want to spend , but in ten years whos gonna care? oh by the way carbon, please stop posting that sexy c4s, I almost can't stop myself from cashing in my daughter college fund to aquire that one!!

I would agree...02 or newer... its just a better car...not to say that anything pre 02 is not!