is 65,000 miles alot for an 1999 996

what should i be worried about ? out of the 1999 and 2000 models which one is better ? where they different in any way ? no glove compartment ? when did they go to a 3.6l ? thanks v-tach

Glove Comp., Face lift and 3.6 in 2002. 1999 interiors look cheap IMHO there is a night and day difference in interior changes in 2000. I would not bother with a 99' if you can afford to pay a little extra for an 00' or wait. The small things will make a big difference. Go and test drive both examples.

65K miles is definitely a lot. Check the dealer service history to see what work has been done on the car, and have a PPI done.

The 02 3.6 also had Variocam which boosted the Hp, Torque and milage. I have heard from the Excellance mag tech editor that 99 had more of the famous RMS problems. That is a lot of miles but I hope to get 100000 plus out of mine. Will

There is no empirical evidence (at least none that I have see published by a credible source other than hearsay from owners of the opinions from mechanics) that the '99 cars have more RMS leaks/problems than any of the other year cars. If there is such reliable and credible statistical evidence please point me in the direction of it. v-tach, There is another current post here on the 996 board about an article in Excellence on the durability of the water cooled engines that may be interesting to you. There are definite difference between the 99 and 00+ cars; BUT there is nothing to indicate at this time that any year is better from a durability stand point than another. The mileage question is interesting (FYI currently I have 52k on mine). There are some polarized views on this board, with numbers in each camp with regard to these cars�some will not own one out of warranty and there are others that just drive them and don�t worry. Where you fall is your decision. There are horror stories out there but the fact is there are horror stories for almost any car made. As for differences between the 99 and 00 cars. Most are cosmetic, such as different materials utilized in the interiors. There are also small changes like e-gas on all cars (not just the C4), the availability of PSM as an option on the C2, the addition of small LED lights that light up the ignition, changes to the trunk and engine compartment latch release, the addition of cup holders at the top of the center stack (in 00) and the movement of the climate control module to the bottom, etc. The glove compartment and redesigned cup holders came in 02 with a host of other enhancements such as more HP, redesigned aerodynamics that increased cooling, a stiffer/rigid chassis, and some other things. There are many satisfied 99 owners out there. Buy the car that fits your budget and needs. The old Porsche saying to get the newest car you can afford still applies to the 996 as they are refined and improved a little each year, but if the 99 is at the top of what you want to spend don�t be afraid to purchase it merely because it is a 99. As always history and a thorough PPI are important.

Was there no Variocam in the 99? My 2000 has Variocam.

Variocam came on all the 99-01 cars. 02 saw the introduction of Variocam Plus.

if you think about it - 65K for a 7 yr old car is less than 10K miles/yr. i'd think that is about an average # of miles for that yr

My 99 has 49k, no history of rms, and yes I did buy the waranty. I paid $3,600 for 3 yrs, and since March, so far they have covered a mass air flow($611.00), and today a left bank cam ajuster.($840.00) it was a GOOD decision. Good luck...

I'm about to turn 46000 on my 1999. 99 had the coolant tank problem which will be replaced with the reinforced later model tank when it happens. Mine failed last August at about 39000. Under $300 total. I looked for a 2000 when I was searching. I bought a 1999 because it was the best condition car I could find after looking at 25 cars. There is no substitute for looking/driving a lot of cars. This will involve time and driving to look at a lot of examples. Print out your autotrader and ebay sheets and carry them with you when you go look at cars. When you find the one you want use the sheets to negotiate a lower price on the best car you can find.