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YOUR RESEARCHFirst 996 purchase. Advice needed!
Leading reported evidence
Replace (a real pia otherwise) and a few other things
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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0
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1
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Read evidence and context
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
While it was out I had the coolant tank replaced (a real PIA otherwise) and a few other things.
Leading evidence: 'Replace (a real pia otherwise) and a few other things' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check /' (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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Suggestion · Original poster
My plan was to find one I liked and assuming it�s not local negotiate price contingent on a clean PPI from a local to the area Porsche Mechanic and then have it shipped to me.
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Suggestion
Frequent oil changes (6 mos or 3K miles) with UOA's and filter inspection while you save.
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Suggestion · Original poster
My plan was to find one I liked and assuming it�s not local negotiate price contingent on a clean PPI from a local to the area Porsche Mechanic and then have it shipped to me.
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32 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
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Hey Gang! I�m looking for a 2002-2004 911 base carrera with auto in either silver grey or blue . I�ve saved/budgeted 30k for this so that leaves with me around 25k or less for the car and another 5k in any potential repairs both necessary and preventative. IMS replacement goes without saying. Because I�m looking for an Auto non-Convertible finding one local to me is probably out. My plan was to find one I liked and assuming it�s not local negotiate price contingent on a clean PPI from a local to the area Porsche Mechanic and then have it shipped to me. This will be a weekend cruiser exclusively and I don�t plan on putting more than 4-5 k on it yearly. I found really nice looking 2004 Lapis Blue 4S for sale at a Porsche dealer in Connecticut but they are asking 29k for it. The brand ambassador at the dealership I am in contact with told me that there is no way to tell if the IMS bearing has been replaced. The mileage is where I would like it 57k but for 29k I feel like the car should have a lot of the faulty issues already addressed. I�m not sure how much wiggle room I would have on this car in terms of getting the price down. I feel this car should be no more than 25k. Any input, advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! My initial plan was to buy a Cayenne but always wanted a 996 and deep down I would be settling. Being this won�t be my DD I feel I would be able to keep yearly maintenance costs to 1-2k a year if I am careful in this buying process and purchase the right car.
Here is the 911 4S I am looking at. Looks gorgeous!
https://my.dealersocket.com/NewEbroc...d=v6Uu0sWxlMI=
I was thinking it was WAY overpriced until you said 4S.
That’s not a bad price for a 4S...with a tip.
You should be able to talk them down...tell them the tip is less desirable and no one wants one but you.
Get a full PPI
WITH
borescope from the sump.
If all is good, then buy it and install The IMS Solution and enjoy worry-free-ish ownership.
It sounds like you certainly have your head on straight with doing the PPI first and then deciding. I thorough bore scope would be a must do unless you want to have the possibility of engine replacement sometime down the road. 29k seems like a bit much for an auto in my opinion. Where all have you looked? I'm new to the porsche game as well, but when I had my IMS done the shop put a sticker on my car.
Welcome to the club! $29K for a C4S is about the going rate right now. The model seems to have become more desirable lately and prices are on a slow rise. With it being an Tip however, that may have a slight neg effect on the price. $25-$27K I think would be fair. And as said above, get a PPI.
You can run the VIN here, not entirely accurate as some dealers don't send in the forms
http://imsretrofit.com/ims-check/
IIRC,
it might be bit more expensive to replace IMS with a Tip because the whole engine comes out
M/T's can just drop the transmissions -
others should help here
but with engine out you have a chance to get to all the PM items, maybe at a less expensive rate
Find an indy, get the PPI
nice car
Thanks for the input guys! Really looking forward to this. Now back to the 996 4S as much as I love the wide body the cost after PPI/Shipping/Everything else basically kills my year one budget. So even assuming everything looks good on the PPI the potential IMS issue will still be relevant and considering the cost for a tiptronic replacement this might be something that would have to wait until next years maintenance . You guys think that would be too risky? Keep in mind this won’t be a daily driver.
I have it mentally ingrained that I need to be doing all of this at once. Alternative to that would be see how the PPI looks, get the little things taken care of or have it deducted from the cost, have the car shipped, take it to a local Porsche indie in my area to have everything looked at briefly and just keep my fingers crossed for a year or so!
find an indy and get the PPI - some data you can work with to negotiate a price - the car may need nothing, it may need everything
or ask a member here to do a Rennfax, then decide if it's worth the cost of a PPI
I think there's a form floating around or use a Porsche CPO form - with exceptions of course
have the tech look the car over for the FSI sticker (mine is in the door jamb) and thru the service receipts -
it's at Porsche Dealer - they might do some small fixes just to move it
that C4 is in Connecticut - we don't know your location - but maybe fly and drive ?
these are wonderful cars, sturdier than you think
I've had a C2 coming up on 6 years and the only PM $$$ I've spent was for the IMSB, a thousand miles after I bought the car
the rest has just been upgrades
Drive it before you buy it, and get a thorough PPI. 4s prices are apparently going up slightly, better deals on c2, and better deals on tips. No shortage of 996s for sale. Resist the impulse purchase as tough as it is. Enter with eyes wide open!
The low mile cars that don't get driven much are the ones that see problems. Try to negotiate the price first. $25K would be a good start...And be firm!
Frequent oil changes (6 mos or 3K miles) with UOA's and filter inspection while you save. Drive it hard and drive it often!!
I bought my 2005 C4S in 2014 with 52k miles did a PPI but no bore scoping because I did know it could be an issue. Also had no knowledge of what an IMSB even was so I'm guessing it was original. After purchase I learned of the issue, but decided to take the chance. Drove it until bore scoring caught up to me in 2019. F6I took care of those problems last year! Is it a risk to run an original IMSB? Yes. Stats are 8-10% failure rate. Realize that a failure will take the motor out. You must assess your own comfort level with delaying this item. If it keeps you up at night, stops you from enjoying and driving the car then do it. If not...roll the dice with knowledge of the possible outcomes. You will love the C4S if you make the purchase. As others have said there are plenty out there maybe keep looking and find one with more issues addressed. Good Luck.
My Plan was to offer 24k initially and stand firm on 25k contingent on PPI. That would give me enough wiggle room to have the IMS situation sorted out properly sooner rather than later. Got the carfax from the dealer and it was a four owner vehicle with owner 2 having an accident. No way to know the degree or severity of what happened. Asked the dealer and he had no idea either(or isn't telling me). All I know is that after the accident a few months later the car was sold to owner 3.This all took place at the end of 2012. Dunno how worried I should be about this? The fact its being listed by a Porsche dealership gives me a little more confidence(but not much) Regardless, If there's any fallout it will probably be revealed in the PPI. Accident should hopefully give me the wiggle room I am looking for with the price.
Thanks! and yea I'm def not waiting too long on the IMS! Will def limit the amount of driving time until I have the chance to take care of it or I will drive myself crazy lol. Agreed there are plenty popping pall the time. Would be nice to nab this C4S as it looks like a beauty but there are other beauties out there that can potentially be less headache down the road. Must not be too eager or I'll pay for it later!
Actually drive and drive would be my plan now lol. My initial plan if this moves forward would be to have it delivered but Connecticut is only a few hours away from me(I'm in south jersey) and I'd be stupid to not drive it before going ahead with the purchase.Didn't realize I was only 3 hours away from the dealer. I'll just have a friend drive me. Yes I'd def want any small fixes taken care of and if there's anything major going on I'm def walking from the deal.
Won't get enthusiastic about any 911 I find until a PPI is performed. Otherwise I could end up with an expensive driveway ornament that I woefully stare at from my window!
That's a nice looking C4S, and not a bad price IMHO. You should confirm the wheel sizes though. The listing says 17x7 and 17x9. This car should have 18s and they should be wider than 7 and 9.
Thank you sir! I actually found a 4s local to me(also manual) that I'm going to check it out this weekend to compare the driving dynamics. I'm not the best stick driver in the world but it will give me an idea. Ironically enough this will be the first manual 911 I've ever driven lol.
"
I'm not the best stick driver in the world
"... That's always what I want to hear when someone test drives my 911 with the incredibly stout synchro rings they put in these things...
My 4s handles like a video game, point the nose and get on the throttle. Brakes are awesome too. Never a thought of back end getting away from you even when pushing hard through curves. Enjoy the 6MT, especially 3rd gear.
I also noticed that Ct car had listed 17 inch wheels. Should be 18x8 in front and 18x11 rears. It�s also missing factory sports exhaust which is a nice option when found.
That car looks great.
As OP have said, if it is not what you want, there will be another.
That said, that car has a lot of +s, I watch the market pretty regularly and for that nice of a car it is fair priced.
Do a PPI and enjoy.
I also have a C4S in northern NJ. Here is the craigslist post if you are interested (PPI welcome):
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...070935976.html
You will see that the major work has been done already. In fact I am picking it up from a full detail today (Wednesday).
Comes with the a hardtop.
Nice car. Seems priced to sell, good luck. With factory sports exhaust i didnt even turn my radio on for first month+, eventually upgraded to touch screen, iPhone compatible unit but still drive mostly with it off.
you are nuts if you think a Porsche dealer or any dealer for that matter is just gonna take 5k of the price of a car. If you got that car down 28.5 you would be super lucky. Even a Porsche dealer taking 800 bucks off nowadays is not common. Its not the old pre internet days where you make some arbitrary offer. Everything is priced to sell nowadays or else nobody will even bother looking at it.
Thanks. The Lapis Blue is incredible. With the 19s that would come with it, it really is a nice car. I get LOTS of thumbs up driving down the road. More than my Meridian TT.
I'm just waiting for a serious buyer.
With the Tip, both engine and trans have to come out, making this a little more expensive (so I found out). While it was out I had the coolant tank replaced (a real PIA otherwise) and a few other things.
Keep paying sticker. Folks are getting decent amounts off vehicles listing price all the time. Are you a car dealer? Generally when comments like that are made by dealers.
I guarantee the dealer bought (or traded) low and has plenty of room to wiggle if they want a sale. I've never paid sticker price for a car, used or new!
The internet make negotiating so much easier these days.
I sold cars in the mid 2000's for a Dodge dealership. They make more money selling used cars vs new...
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