The 996 search - The Chronicles of Ken

It started a little over 12 months ago. Actually, it started the best part of a half a century ago, but has seriously manifested over the past 12 months, when my lifetime best mate bought a cheap 996. Manual. Coupe. The dream has always been there, but never did it really seem attainable. Mortgage, work, kids, ballet lessons (not mine), mortgage, 4wd... a Porsche? Just way out of my budget. But then... everything changed. "What?!! Under $40k? Really? Less than $35??" Our conversation went something like this - a guessing game on the final price of said cheap 996. Sure, it had high kms. But it is a Porsche right? German engineering and all that. A little rough around the edges? Sure... but the sound! And the drive. I wonder what else is out there?!! So Carsales and I became even more well acquainted (if that's possible). Looking, watching, saving cars. "What are you looking at?" from the other room. The bean counter. Minister for War and Finance. Love of my life. "Nothing..." But she knew. She was onto me. There are no secrets. Then in early December, one came up in Sydney, at the right price, not too far away. "What are you looking at?" "Nothing..." "Why don't you just go and have a look at it?" "Really!!!!???" "Yes, I'm sick of you pining." So we went and looked. It wasn't right, but the search had begun. Permission granted. Budget set. Since then a couple have slipped through my fingers for one reason or another. One failed a PPI. Another 2 went from under my nose. Undeterred the search continues. So what exactly am I looking for? Well, the important stuff is 996, manual, prefer a coupe but will consider a targa. Not too fussed over particular options - rather choose the right car based on condition etc. Same with colour, although if I'm honest I'd prefer something other than silver... but again, for the right car. And the budget? Ideal will be sub $50k with IMS done. A tough ask - yes, but hopefully achievable. I've got another car which I'm willing to sell, should the right car be available for not much over. (Incidentally, I was planning to sell this car anyway, until on our anniversary, love of my life declares: "Why don't you keep this car too?" Yes, I hear you - she's a keeper.) Looking forward to becoming part of the community. If you have, or know of anything out there ticking these boxes that isn't already on Carsales, I'd love to hear about it. Cheers Dave

Permission, once granted for such things, cannot be revoked. Good luck with the search.

Silver is hardly noticeable from the inside!

Your budget sounds about right for a series 1. Series 2 you'll probably struggle a little. Remember to buy the best you can afford, not the cheapest unless you're willing to accept the rule of thumb of putting twice the dollars down later in repairs (whether it turns out to be the case or not). I think you would have a high probability of buying trouble with a manual coupe under 40k unless you were expecting to do all the work on it yourself and have a hoist. Keep an eye on this thread for possible candidates -> https://porscheforum.com.au/topic/13105-996-values-coupecab-manualtip/ Good luck with the search

Have you seen the grey .1 on CS for 47.5k? Good luck with the search. Posting on here you will find great guys who are enthusiastic owners. On the market as you would know, the chance of finding a retired dentist that bought the car from new are ones to be pounced on! The fun is being on the hunt and the journey along the way. Don’t be shy of heading along to a catch up as we all like to speak the word of gospel and often when the word is out the right car may come to you!

Well firstly, i didn't want silver either but it's so easy to keep clean and it never looks dirty, from my experience over the last 6 weeks or so. And what Greg said, you can't really see it from the inside. Also i got a car with Zero options and i don't miss it because i don't know what I am missing, if that makes sense. The car still drives great though and still has that flat 6 growl. I also got a car without a PPI and so far so good apart from a new water pump today and a couple of Pilot Sport 4's on the front, i knew i would need tyres and i had a hunch about the water pump when i decided to buy. BTW, the water pump cost me a touch over $600 for my mechanic to do, no more expensive than any other car really, i would have normally tackled a job like this but couldn't be bothered this time around. No IMS done either but i had a conversation with my mechanic and his advice was, just drive it and we will check the oil filter every oil change which i will do yearly. To me these cars are the last (almost) of the analogue cars and are so much fun to drive and a fairly simple design and they haul ass Don't get too hung up on the little things, just buy one, you will love it.

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Yeah, agree. Would like to be able to pick up a 6.2, but reality is pointing towards a 3.4 - not that this is a bad thing! Not really expecting to pick anything up under 40 now... but even so, prepared to swing some spanners myself when necessary. Funny you mentioned the hoist... ...and guess what fits exactly under there... I have actually. That car was for sale in Sydney in December. Took a look at it, discovered a couple of issues, then the owner decided to offload to a dealer down south (probably for cheap) rather than deal with the issues. It is still on the list - if the dealer will ever get back to me... Been fun so far - however the inner child must be restrained from time to time "I want it NOW!!" Will definitely keep an eye on catch ups and head along when I can. Yeah I know - 5 years ago when I was buying an LX470... I wanted ANY colour but a beige one. We all know how that ended up now... I think I'm almost too paranoid about the IMS. There's a silver (again) 3.6 at a dealer in QLD. Sounds like a good car. On currently for about $58k. But no IMS done. Agree, love the analogue nature of these cars. Not the fastest thing for the money, but driving experience is SOO much more than that. Trying not to get hung up - but want the right one! Thanks for all the replies!

😁 That was a great read @daveyoul I shook hands on, then passed on a very nice black 996 (couldn't bring meself to sell my air cooled) that had everything done (IMS etc) and 118,000 kms for under $40k coupla months ago, so they're out there. As @TINGY996 mentioned, just grab one and deal with any potential problems later. As has been well documented on this forum, the IMS problem does arise now n then, yet what car doesn't have certain problems that are 20-30 years old? Good luck with the search...you'll love it when you own one

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Agree entirely, that's exactly the principle I've applied to 12 months of 996.2 ownership and 5 years of 987.1 ownership.  If the engine is ever out I will do it as a precaution, as it wouldn't make sense not to ....  17000kms in just over 12 months in the 996.2 and Mrs has done 51000kms in just over 5 years in the 987.1. I was pretty paranoid initially when we got the 987, but didn;t take long to forget about it and just enjoy the drive.  Just keep the oil changes up and inspect the filter at each change as Tingy's mechanic says.  How does that saying go - be alert but not alarmed?

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Yes exactly what i will be doing i think. My clutch is a little heavy and i was in a 3.6 turbo Cayman track car today and it has a sport clutch and feels so light compared to mine, think Toyota Corolla light, when mine needs a clutch this is what will be fitted to it i think.

Thanks @TwoHeadsTas - part of me agrees with you totally. Then there's the other part that says "yeah, but what if you're one of those unlucky ones..." "will love of my life ever get over that bill?" Analysis paralysis... yes, perhaps!

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Drive it regularly for a month and you'll forget those other thoughts......

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Also recommend stashing a  bit of that 50k away to the side for some replacement bits eg mainly  aged parts with rubber.  Eg OEM tranny mounts  from a 997 and engine mounts and a variant of an entire  997 shifter mechanism   eg 997 stock, 997 short shifter or 997 gt3 short shifter based on what floats your boat.  Recommend you do these early in the piece of taking ownership.   Eg lots of bang for  buck that is noticable when in the drivers seat.

GT Silver, nothing wrong with silver!!!!!!

Nice MR2!

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Except if you like white

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Thanks Rolf, wondered if you were here!

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No idea who Rolf is... My MR2.

My mistake! Know another guy who owns a White like yours and an MR2!

Now the financial boffins are talking about "wealth destruction" in the property market crash , I imagine quite a few toys will emerge in coming months. Cash is king under these circumstances.

I would budget for more then 50K for a nice 996 mk1. The 996 is under rated and if you find a manual coupe for around 40k i'd say snap it up quickly. Eitehr the owner is desperate or doesnt know what his selling. Kind like those that sold there 964 and 993's for cheap.

I bought my 2000 996 about 2 years ago. I spent about 18 months looking at lots of cars before finally settled on one. Be prepared to buy from anywhere in Australia. Some of the best advise I obtained on cars I was interested in came from the mechanics who serviced them. If possible find out from the owner who their mechanic is and ring them for a chat. Definitely have a PPI done, this can be undertaken by an independent porsche specialist. 996 are nearly 20 years old so be prepared to pay for replacing the water pump, thermostat and hoses, if they haven't been recently replaced. Depending upon how the cars been driven a new clutch for a manual car might also need replacing. Good luck with your search, you won't regret buying one.

My first Porsche was a 996.1. 3.4 manual coupe loved it...great car. I never had a pre purchase inspection, never worried about IMS .. I had my regular (non Porsche ) mechanic look over it and bought it. it took me around 6 months to find the one I liked . I owned it for around 2 years and never had any issues except for regular stuff like wheel alignments , oil etc.. I had a lot of fun in it and bought an air cooled one and also bought a 997 Carrera S. Instantly addicted to Porsche after first test drive. Seeing u own your own hoiste , I have one as well, makes for much easier maintaining. I just maintained it well and drove it pretty hard. They are a great car, u will love owning one

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What was it advertised for in Sydney?

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It was advertised for $41500 - engine number was different on the paperwork to the actual engine in the car, so walked away on that basis. In hindsight, I probably should have low balled and picked it up cheap - but it was the first one I'd looked at. I notice it is now marked as sold after being advertised at $47500. Keeping my eyes open, and doing my best to be patient!

Hmm I probably would have checked if was a new motor or a typo? But if a new motor bingo! If a replacement used motor maybe not so. Ah well. One will come up for you soon!

Yeah @Peter John all hypothetical now, but I did some digging at the time, and I believe it was a reconditioned exchange from Autohaus Hamilton, but had no way to confirm that theory. I'm sure too one will come up, and the experience of looking will sharpen my eye and pencil, so that when "the one" come up, I'll be ready.

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Thanks to @LeeM I am now the proud owner of this 996.1. It was the bargain of the year for $38k. The “cocaine dealer” rims have been replaced and I have just fitted new shocks all round. I was seriously looking for a 997 but for half the price you just can’t argue and with the money you save on a 996 you can buy other toys!!! Great bang for buck.

Great buy! Well done.

@Shedpest Nooo... that's just rubbing it in!! Looks absolutely amazing!! For $38?! Wow. Well done! Feel free to post a couple more pics so I can be even more jealous! @LeeM was is a "right place right time" deal? I don't remember seeing it advertised anywhere...

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Congrats @Shedpest . Looks like a ripper deal & at $38K, there’s plenty of upside.  Enjoy - I reckon they’re totally underrated & overlooked.

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Well done, sometimes it's not what you know it's who you know.

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Kinda It was actually via a new PFA member when he of Home Built By Jeff @MFX dropped in to Adelaide to sign some autograhs. @Morpheus mentioned it in casual conversation that he knew of a black 996 for 'Around $40k' at a mechanical shop near his place. Anyway, as I was in one of my semi regular 'I want air conditioning and creature comforts, so I'll sell mine and buy a 996' conversations with myself, my ears pricked up, found out where it was and went to have a chat with the owner. Myself and @PhilH went to have a look the following day, and we were both looking at each other and nodding our heads within a minute or two. Long story a bit shorter, I shook hands on the deal at $38k. I didnt have the money to hand or in the bank, but I had a couple of people wanting to buy my car pretty quickly if I ever wanted to sell it, and the seller was happy keep hold of the car for a small deposit until I sold mine. I chewed on it for a day or few, and after all the HOURS of no sleep and a chat with her indoors (she doesn't care what I do or what I buy as long as I'm happy, yet did make sense with her advice), I decided I couldn't sell my car and pulled out of the deal. Another forum member, Paul,  contacted me about it that his mate was looking for something like this one (I think that's how it went anyway). I rang the owner to see if it was ok to pass on his number and the rest is history and Kym is happy that he basically stole that car. The seller knew what he had and what the values are of a nice 996, yet he just wanted to get a sale without the to and fro Carsales haggling crap. It's bloody clean and has been looked after its whole life with the seller being mechanic (who did the IMS himself) and the prior owner to him being a little old lady (literally) who used it to go to the shops and church on Sundays. If I was seriously in the market for a 996, I would have paid $50k for it no problem and been happy knowing the IMS, new clutch and a few other things had been done. They're out there

Thanks @LeeM - encouraging to know. Partly hopeful that putting the feelers out in a few places, like here, and PCNSW, might turn up a similar story for me. I know that the 2 cheapest cars on carsales (Man, Coupe) currently have offers on them -so now waiting, not so patiently, for the next ones to be listed!

@daveyoul It depends how particular you are with a few things mate. An immaculate car in the right colour with 69,000kms and perfect service history is nearly a unicorn to those who must have A,B or C, yet I'm sure many have them tucked away or ask stupid money for them. I looked at a car of one older gent who was asking 6 figures for his basic 996 last year, yet it sold for $48k. Nice car, but come on mate..... I always think that if you have a budget that isn't at the top of the scale, you will always need to compromise your wishlist or find more cash, as we all want that Unicorn, but have the kind of cash that would probably buy a Donkey with a limp. Not saying lower your standards, just be realistic as seller should be sometimes. If anything comes up here under the radar I'll let you know

@LeeM yes, totally agree, and I think that's part of the learning curve that I'm on. I have a few things in mind that I'd like to have (3 spoke wheel near the top of the list), or not have (Silver really doesn't do it for me), but totally happy to compromise to get the right car. With hindsight, I probably would have picked up that seal grey car when it was advertised in Syd in December. I think I'd have got it for in the $30s. It wasn't perfect, but all fixable. Have learnt from that experience. I know it will turn up - but want it NOW!

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You sound like me mate 😁 The car I mentioned was seal grey too, and I'm a bit partial to silver meself (partly why I didnt buy the black 996 actually) Maybe contact Craig at Buik Motorworks here in Adelaide to see if he knows of anything around

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Engine number doesnts mean its a dud mate, a lot of the 996's had there engines replaced by Porsche due to the law suit. Which meant that the numbers didn't match. It should show it in the books. They replaced the engines regardless of the issue.

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They sure are! That black one popped up literally a week after my 98 C2 manual got delivered- and I managed to get that for just short of 40 too. If I had been quicker I might have had one a lot earlier - I got pipped a few times because I wasn’t organised or hesitated. They don’t tend to last long but they are certainly around.

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@LeeM you sound exactly like i did about 7-8 months ago, i am tipping you will end up with one of these cars, yep i get it, you love what you got but..........

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The black one probably had better tyres on it too Oh I have no doubt I'll end up with a 996 eventually. I do love my old car, and after my recent road trip to Hangar Banger, I can honestly say it was the most comfortable I've ever been in a car doing 16 hours of driving. And the fact that it was a bucket list moment for me to do it in a Porsche. Funny that the second most comfortable drive a few years ago to Melbourne was in my 1958 Beetle with sagging original seats! That was a great trip. I much prefer the shape of old 911's to the 'modern' Porsches, yet there will come a time when I've had enough of the old thing and chop it in for something newer...probably

Thought I'd jump on here and update the search. The news is... ... there is no news! I had a chat with the dealer selling this one: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Porsche-911-Carrera-2003/OAG-AD-16725136/?Cr=1 Being a dealer I didn't really believe much that he was telling me, but gave him a number which would get me on a plane to have a look and a PPI done, and he was unable (unwilling?) to match the number. There's this one: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Porsche-911-Carrera-2003/SSE-AD-5890413/?Cr=0 again up in QLD - has anyone seen it? I like white cars, but quite high kms, and plenty of unknowns make it quite a bit over priced for me. There's also the issue of getting a car with some mods like that registered in NSW. This on gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/malvern-east/cars-vans-utes/rare-2000-porsche-911-carrera-black-on-black-manual-/1210163349?ea=12339107&utm_source=trigger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=saved_search - looks good, with a rebuild - but again a few mods make a NSW blue slip harder, and old mate seems to think he will sell it without a test drive. (Haven't spoken to him, that's from the ad). The cars in the $40-$50k bracket have dried up, and I'm checking carsales like a junkie looking for his next hit. I've also run out of new YouTube videos to inspire me, so I think I've nearly worn out the tape of Jethro's 996. Have I missed anything? Anything out there on the market that I don't know about?

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You'll probably get to the stage where you say stuff it, and budget increases to get into something that's probably not far off what you wanted, but you've paid more for it than you wanted to.  Welcome to the realities of Porsche ownership 🙂 (Don't worry, the reverse applies as well, what ever you're trying to sell won;t be worth as much to anyone as what you want at the time you want to sell - trust me.......)

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Hehe yep... reminds me of my particular gifting in purchasing real estate... 🙄

Be patient grasshopper. But don't! Life is too short! Sell some s#!? work more hours, spend less elsewhere, do whatever it takes. It's just money and as Prince said on money- it doesn't make you happy, but will allow you to buy the things that will!

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Yep, that's part of the story that has me here in the first place. Was speaking to someone at a local cars and coffee recently with an immaculate 986. Long story short he had bought it from a neighbour who had saved and waited a long time to purchase his dream car, only to fall ill soon after and was then unable to drive. Just checking... is it still frowned upon to sell children? 😂

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Not if it’s for the right car!

Sad story to hear. I have heard of a few wives finish off their husbands cars (project) due to their passing. Great to have the car going eventually but the guy didn’t get to enjoy it, at least the wife or siblings will. It can be a hard thing to prioritise but at least I think with P car market you should get your money back if needing to sell, if the held up capital is too much pressure.

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How much you asking? 😀

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@LeeM I had that exact scene in mind as I posted.

@daveyoul hang in there mate! You never know what will pop up. If you are in the box seat, and are willing to take a punt, there will always be opportunities. Just make sure anyone doing work on it actually does it properly- learning the hard way on that now.

Thanks @Morpheus , have really appreciated the wisdom of those in this group. Everyone has absolutely strengthened my resolve to find a car, and it has been helpful to chat when I'm getting frustrated! I know that more will come up, and the right one will be amongst them.

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When you do finally complete your search @daveyoul all I can say is you will be happy with your purchase,for the money spent on buying a 996 they are truly a great car to drive and own.Good luck with your search.

Now that everyone on here knows you are looking i am sure if one comes up that you like someone here can have a look for you. Be patient and also ready to pounce on the right car and maybe take an informed punt, i did and so far it has worked out for me, you will be very happy when you finally land one.

@daveyoul

@Morpheus if it was manual I'd be thanking you... but as it is tip... I'll just thank you for just reminding me that I don't have one yet.

Actually... @Morpheus has helped me work out the mystery of one of the cars currently on Carsales: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Porsche-911-Carrera-1998/SSE-AD-5869747/?Cr=5 It appeared on Carsales in January, at the same time as the seller posted on a Facebook group that he had just bought the car... blah blah. My question why he would purchase it and then list it for sale immediately after was never answered. But then I found this tonight: http://collectableclassiccars.com.au/sold-cars/just-arrived-1998-porsche-carrera-911 and suddenly it all made sense. Picked up for $50k, and list for $63 in the hope of making a quick buck. Seems a good spec too, LSD, sport seats etc. Good luck to him - just jealous it wasn't me who picked it up and has it in the garage. It wouldn't be for sale though!

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Dave. You are digging around huh!

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That's detective Dave to you Not the first time I've been called a d*ck...

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I test drove it for myself when it was at $55k mate. Great car and handled very well. Firm but not race car firm. This car is what convinced me I will own a 996 one day I'll add that there was no way we could know what the paint is like under the wrap, and to be honest, the interior colour, Savannah beige, just didn't look right with the pearl white. I've since seen a couple of 996's at Hangar Banger and love the colour

Yes, I'm not completely sold on the beige interior either... but then again perhaps that's because I drive a beige 4wd with tan interior... ... at least there's somewhere to hang my cardigan!

No. You must drape it over your shoulders and tie the arms around the neck.

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Savannah beige interior cars need a black dash in my opinion. It's just too much and looks like R.M Williams fitted them out 😁 Can be dyed black easily enough though

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Hmm.. even less sure about that one. I think I'd prefer consistency. Even so, we all know you don't look at the colour while driving... oh wait... interior... Just make sure your RM Williams buckle doesn't mark the leather!

@daveyoul You don't wanna know what my missus calls Savannah beige then 😁 If a car was cheap enough, and I mean CHEAP, I could live with it for a while, though it would definitely receive the dye treatment eventually

Savannah beige in the 986 and 996 looks baby poo tan to me - they changed it for the 997 and 987 into more of a soft sandy beige which looks pretty good with a touch of  black and different highlights on the centre dash - just gotta add black floormats to complete it.

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Oh come on - six million Americans can't be wrong...…. They love their baby sh - er - savannah with wood highlights !!

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Americans invented bad taste... and I'm not an American 😁

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Oh, don't start on wood inlays in a 911. The millennium edition is a great car... with an interior only an owner would love. Don't get me wrong, I love a good mahogany interior, or a burr walnut veneer, IN THE RIGHT PLACE. Coming from a long line of Jaguar fanatics (don't judge me - its genetic - I was born this way) I love me wood in a Jag! (Oh wait... that didn't come out right...) But having more wood in a 911 than a 1982 XJ-S just isn't right baby.

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Depends what context you put that in 😁

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I test drove that one I reckon up at collectable classics? If it wasnt that one it was bloody similar - but had black decals on the side. As you say - you have no idea what the paint is like under the wrap. Nice car - just bloody terrible colour combo. Green and savannah beige have not aged well. I remember it feeling very orange inside. I like the look of this one: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1998-porsche-911-carrera-996-manual/OAG-AD-16757465/ Similar to my car, but manual and a rebuilt engine.

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Yes, I like that one too - it is growing on me. Looks to be in very nice condition, and as you say, engine rebuild (if done well) is a positive thing. Still a stretch too far for my budget at this point.

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Same car mate. The silver one has been discussed here on previous pages at length. I was hoping to get there today to have another look, but got called into work so I will try and look tomorrow. It is a clean car though

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Did I hear Millennium !! This was my car back in 2004. Colour  combo looked better in the flesh and suited the era. But I must admit after looking at that photo now, its very much in your face 🙂

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Had plans to buy a 996 turbo in seal grey and boxster red interior.  Just a view but like full  boxster red, if you replace the  carpet on that car ( all including on the doors) in black, transforms the look of the car.

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So agree Tony, I've had 3 Boxster red ints and all except one, the carpet goes pink. Black floormats essential. All of them had contrasting black bits and extensively on the dash and door trims and looked great. Someone a few posts back mentioned Green over tan 996 int and funnily enough I'm not a fan of tans BUT at HB2 I came across a 996TT Green over tan and remarked to the missus geez you don't see that colour combo in a 996, especially a turbo, I'm not a fan. Then I walked around the next cheese vat and wine storage and Boom! there's another TT exactly the same hahah. The more I looked at it and digested the colours the more I liked it and thought amongst all the black and silvers over black interiors of the 2000 to 2015 era it'll grow into it's colours and in 5 or 10 years will be a great combo and a stand out (for all the right reasons)

@Troubleshooter I thought the same with those green 996's. Striking colour under lights, though still not a mega fan of the interiors

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Yeah and if I recall minty in colour and condition and  at a very non minty price  starting with a 6 if we are talking the same car.

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Rainforest green I think …

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Nothing wrong with that. If I had that,  swap the seats out for hardback sport seats done in  tan with the hardback in rainforest green ( paint  if budget allows or a vinyl wrap),  black carpet all round and wrap  the  three front dashboard  strips  in piano black (screw 300 pounds for 3 oem strips and a fair bit of labour to install them) . If on a budget your more adventurous you could  do the center console in rainforest green as  when the hardback seats are either sprayed or wrapped.

Time for an update... As some already are aware from my post in the values topic, I acted quickly yesterday and have secured myself a 2000 C4 Man Coupe, at what I think is, a pretty good price. Pick up day should be tomorrow, but to keep you happy before then...

Well done Dave you must be stoked!

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That's a fantastic deal for a manual coupe and the car looks great! As mentioned, the purchase price gives you some play money, keep us updated on how it turns out.

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Love those wheels!!

@TwoHeadsTas , yes they are pretty nice, and “only” 18s too, so not silly big as many love to do now. @Stepo that’s exactly right. Took a bit of a risk, but there’s plenty of budget left in the kitty, and the minister is happy about that. @Troubleshooter yep very stoked. Not much work happening today, looking forward to tomorrow afternoon.

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Believe me, that's very important.  Ride on my 18's on my 996.2 far more comfortable than than the 19's that were on our 987.  That extar bit of sidewall is great for soaking up the bumps.....

Ok, so time for a bit more of an update. So I've taken a fair bit of a punt on this one, and probably ignored most of the best advice I've been given. PPI? Nope FSH? Nope - old mate doesn't even know where the books are. I might never get them. Don't even know when the last oil change was. But wasn't it advertised as a 3.6? Yes, but the receipt on the invoice for the engine swap stated only a 3.4, so I suspect it is still only a 3.4. The drive felt like a 3.4, there wasn't any extra torque that I'd expect from a 3.6. The good part of that, however, is that I have a receipt for both the new engine number, and the chassis number of the car it came out of. That's some consolation I guess! Allegedly has an IMS upgrade in the new engine, BUT... (yep, you guessed it) no paperwork for that. But then I've followed some other advice. Be ready, with cash, for when a bargain appears Don't over think it - just buy one, you'll love it. The Drive... The test drive was probably about 25 minutes in and around Camden. A reasonable mix of suburban and slightly country roads. Suspension felt good, no rattles or noises over any of the many potholes and patchwork roads. Pulled a little to the left, but likely an alignment issue. Has some kind of aftermarket exhaust on it, but not sure what flavour. Sounds reasonably good - will get it up on the hoist when I get home to check it out some more. Gearbox felt good, if a little vague - as I'd probably expect for a 20yo car. Probably easily improved with some cables, bearings etc. Aircon works well. Has a new VDO head unit, which looks very nice and is in keeping with the period of the car. A nice little bonus. Got a wave from a guy in a 991 GT3... that's gotta be a sign right? After the drive... No untoward noises coming from the engine, but evidence of a little oil seepage from somewhere (Jaguar owners call this rust proofing). Exterior presents very well. Some small blemishes and a few marks, but nothing too bad. Front spoiler looks like a GT3 style bar - nice! The wheels - may not be to everyone's tastes (and that's ok), but I think I quite like them. Given the car has near 260000km, it is never going to be a concours car, so some non-standard parts are fine with me. I'll leave them for a while and see if I grow to love.. or grow bored. Slow to re-start, think a new battery might be on the horizon very soon. At the very least I'll be finding those emergency trunk releases asap. The history... What I know is that the dealer sold the car on Consignment for the owner - who owns a tyre joint down that way. He is an older fella, who is now having trouble getting in and out etc, but has had the car for a while (10yr +) and loved it. His version of loving a car looks a little different to mine, however it reminds me of my grandfather's old XJ-S. As he got older, he did a couple of dodgy things to fix up some blemishes. Still, he did the best he could at the time, and this feels like that. I'll keep chasing him for some things like the books, and second key, but am at peace if I never get them. The dealer... Put some pressure on to get there quickly, citing many other enquiries which I don't doubt. Fair play to them, however, they had the car ready for me when I got there, and honoured the original price advertised on Carsales, having jacked it up while I was in the car on the way out. Didn't once try to fudge it on me. So, I took a punt, and bought "Ken". Can't wait to get him home tomorrow afternoon and have a play over the weekend. I'll post some more photos (if I'm not too busy driving and playing)... but to keep the punters happy for now, here are a few more. Not so sure about the droopy downy tailpipes... it's a bit 90's doof doof for me. A little discolouration on the lens itself (not the plastic). Hopefully they can be pulled apart and cleaned...??? GT3 / Aero style front bar? Interior bling. Some cracking evident on the acrylic coating over the carbon - that's a repair project. And finally, some wheely goodness for @TwoHeadsTas So looking forward to tomorrow - hoping to not uncover any surprises on the drive home! Thanks to all for your encouragement - this is only the beginning!

Congratulations mate well done, now deep breath, everything will work out ok @daveyoul

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He put some good rubber on as you’d expect, P Zero 👍

Awesome mate. Car looks great and love your attitude towards it 👍

I like those rims! You'll have plenty of fun playing with Ken - rub and polish here, wiping a leak there, his gear stick's a bit wobbly, it'll stiffen up with a short shift kit!

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When you get sick of the noise of the P Zero's you can try some PS2s for a bit of quiet..... Wheels still look OK from direct side on, keep'em till you want to change to something different, then keep them for some track rubber....

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It's a car , not a doll

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😂 😂 😂 😂 Dont overlook Nangkang AR1 or NS2R tyres for half the price of just about anything else. @Morpheus just fitted some to his 996

Great looking buy..  I bought my 996 without a PPI and it's been great.  It had an engine swap earlier in its life as well, but the PO put 11k of work into it (including IMS solution) just before I bought it so I felt some what at ease.  I reckon if it, goes, looks and smells right, then generally your onto a good thing.! Enjoy it, and you'll only get to love it more, and many more people are.!  And I reckon  the rims are great. No IMS sticker in the door jam or a tell tale oil feeder line (solution) forward of sump..?

Thanks all for the feedback and encouragement - what a great community to be a part of! @Stepo yes, noticed the PZero on the rear. Vaguely remember it was a different brand on the front, but also a quality tyre. @LeeM thanks mate. I have a good feeling about it - and know that even if the worst happens, I've got plenty of budget left and we'll just deal with it as it happens! Also makes me more willing to spin some spanners on it myself and just have a go. @Troubleshooter ... plenty of carbon bits to rub. Just hope I don't go blind in the process. @TwoHeadsTas yes, have had PS2s on a previous ride and thought they were a great tyre. Will be more than happy to put them on again. And yes, the thought of keeping those for track rubber with some turbo twists or equivalent for daily use has occurred already. Thanks @WOKA , I've read the thread documenting your purchase journey a couple of times, and it is one of the things that has inspired and encouraged me to "just get one". Today's set to be the longest day ever I think! Got some work to do this morning, then my best mate is going to pick me up (probably in his 996 C2 of exactly the same colour as mine) and head down to pick it up. Yes, we'll probably look like w@nkers in our matchy matchy Porsches... but I'm ok with that!

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But neither available in 285/30/18 which is specified 10" rear size?

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Actually tyre size is an interesting thing. I'm expecting that the wheels on the rear are at least 10" - and the tyres are only 265. Yes, they do look a little stretched. Would have thought if you own a tyre shop, you'd be able to put on the right size tyres at least... All part of the adventure.

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Nothing to worry about Dave, I bought mine off ebay, sight unseen, no books, nuthin', 3 years in and I love it even more than I did at the start. Had to put a bit of coin in at the start but since then, 20,000k later it's just been regular maintenance...but oh boy if you drive it, which you will, they do chew through rear tyres. Going to Hangarbanger really made me appreciate the 996, whereas a few years ago taking the 996 to a Porsche event I felt like the fat spotty kid at a new school. Now I think a nicely stanced/shod early 996 coupe in a good colour combo is one of the nicest looking 911's...there you go I've said it!

To some that is the right size. Fashion before function. On the street anyway.

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Perhaps he had them "in stock" in that size.....

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No idea mate. @Morpheus has stock rims on I think, yet maybe he can elaborate further what sizes he has

Well done @daveyoul !! Just enjoy it mate! They are fantastic cars. As @LeeM noted earlier I have recently gone with Nankang NS2R semi slicks and am really enjoying the grip (1000% over the old continentals I had, but there’s a longer story also). Unfortunately I have the stock 17inch rims so I can’t help with what would fit your rims. Congrats in your purchase and hope you get to drive it as much as you can - heat here in Adelaide has left mine in the garage for most of the week (GTI’s aircon is much better, and auto with the Clipsal traffic.....)

So Ken and I have had the past 24 hours getting to know each other. After taking 2.5 hours to drive the 95km to Camden to pick him up, the journey home seemed ever too short. It was great to have the my mate who is partially responsible for this whole shebang take me down there in his 996, which gave me the opportunity to experience 2 cars in short succession. Initial impressions on the drive home: Still pulls left, need to get that alignment looked at in the near future. Small vibration issue at about 110 and above - probably a balance issue in the rear. Similar to my mate's 996, perhaps a little worse. The exhaust is louder than I remember, and louder than the gundo hacked I enjoyed on the way down. That's a good thing. The M2 tunnel is my new favourite place After the obligatory test drive with the rest of the family, and put the kids into bed, I took the finance minister to the garage to appreciate our investment (pun intended) It was better than she expected! (Win) She was really impressed (Huge win) "I really like it" When exploring under the false floor in the front, she remarked - what's in that Mercedes Benz bag? Turned out to be handbook, service records etc.. (Biggest win) Today, in the light of day, Ken has been rubbed, poked, caressed, prodded and rubbed some more: Body is better than I thought - seriously, it is so bloody straight. The thing might have never seen a parking lot! Those 259000km have been kind I'm paranoid about noises. Was that a rattle? A knock? Did someone fart? A clay bar and quick polish later, and the thing looks a million bucks. I like the wheels. They are next to receive some love, but look great. Massive offset, but fill the guards nicely. GT3 style front bar is also great. The neighbours are enjoying the exhaust. (No, they don't have a choice in the matter.) See that Porsche in the driveway? ... That's mine I need new number plates There are a few little things that need fixing, but really... time to get in it and drive. Due to my paranoia, I am going to book it in and get a Post Pre Purchase Inspection - just to have some peace of mind, and know what I'm up for in the next while. Heck, I might even just throw an IMS Solution at it anyway!

Looks great @daveyoul I think it has gone to a great home judged on your posts. Enjoy the journey with the time you have with the car 😀

Looks great - If it was mine, yes I would do the IMS & get the timing exactly right, especially for those Ks. The shimmy is probably a worn suspension bushing. Find an experienced 996 expert who can pick it straight off. Coffin Arms maybe? Haha with the neighbours & noise. I thought my neighbours would get used to my 911 but they havent & they still hate it. Snide comments about "when are you going to sell that tractor". We live near a kindergarten and the young boys seem interested, sometimes stop & look; before their mothers snatch them away from the noisy BAD influence.

That is a very nice looking car mate. Like the rims too 👍 You have some change from the original budget, so the IMS is a no brainer

Looks very tidy. I'm of the view you should spend a few $ now and get the car sorted (not that it seems to need that much). That way you won't be annoyed by the little things. I did that when I purchased my 996 and fixed an window that would need to be dropped into positon after closing the door, and replacing my radio as it's buttons had peeled. Also check the age on your tyres ... not that a 200km car is likely to have original tyres.

Well landed Dave , kens responded well to a spit n polish. Good to see an avid searcher jump in , caution to the wind and actually open the wallet. Who dares wins huh! Been quite a few guys on here over the years who actively search for their first Pcar, trying to overturn a rock for a gem, but seem to drop off, or never report a win, and just fade off never to be heard of again. Aaaah that excitement of the landed prize, nothing quite like it. Make sure your’e up early and into the hills to give Ken a spanking 😎

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I've bought a couple of cars sight unseen without inspections ... when o get it done, I've named them ... API PPI = Pre Purchase Inspection             API = After Purchase Inspection My Porsche dude just shakes his head ...

@daveyoul if your metro based you may want to join the Pcar story telling session as the boys always love a new story over a couple of drinks

@daveyoul car looks great mate spend the extra $$ and get that ims done,enjoy the driving experience

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two must dos if not done recently 1) engine mounts, 2) tranny mounts   3. Any factory  997 shifter variant. Eg 997 stock  997 short shifter 997 gt3 short shifter depending on how you like your throws.

Love it! Quick on the draw, fire the shots, NO PPI... unreal! Looks like a good one, congrats

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Thanks @Tips will see how I go. If not this one, definitely in the future. Love to meet some folk. Thanks to everyone else as well. I'll book in for an "API" (thanks @Dreamr ) - just need to choose which of the well known independent Porsche workshops near me I'll choose. Spoilt for choice! Will also arrange for the IMS to be done shortly - I'd be crazy not to. For now... enjoying every second of the driving experience!

So today is the day of the API (After Purchase Inspection) - Autohaus Hamilton were chosen to give Ken the once over and tell me what I've got myself in for. To say I'm feeling paranoid and nervous would be an understatement. I'm looking forward to finding out, but I keep having the "but what ifs"... Anyway, time will tell and whatever the outcome, the reality is that I'll just deal with whatever is there, one thing at a time.

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I'm a fan of AH.  They will tell it like it is......

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I agree. They recently saved me from buying a lemon.

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As long as they find everything which isn't always the case. I was from Interstate and buying a non AC car which appeared to make all the difference

Hey Dave.. I used to be a regular round these parts but had to sell my old P car.. but in another year or so I'll be trcking down a 996 too. Just wanted to say you sound like a real character and have enjoyed your journey into p car ownership immensely.  Hope the API went ok and look forward to watching your relationship with Ken blossum

So the API results are in. Drumroll please... Aside from a few small items, and some ongoing wear items to be seen to in time, Ken has been given a clean bill of health. 🎉 I think I'm going to do an oil change in the next few weeks. The dealer said they did one, but I think I'd rather know it is done, and know what oil is in it. Good opportunity to check out the filter carefully at the same time. Other than that, the instructions from AH were to just drive and enjoy. They weren't pushing me at all to do the IMSB, so I think I'm going to drive it for 6 months, then book it in for a good service with them, get a few of the items noted on the "API" seen to, and attend to the IMSB at that point in time. Thanks @amanda , don't wait too long on the 996 purchase! The word is out and they are becoming harder and harder to find. I had to come back to work tonight for a few hours - hadn't driven Ken since the API, so was having withdrawals and brought him out, even though it looks like more rain. Car gets dirty... car gets cleaned. Didn't buy a 911 to have it sit in the garage. It's a car... drive the bloody thing!

Joy of joys, someone posted about wanting a 996 and actually went out and bought one.  Congratulations Dave, you're in the minority

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Thanks Carl - loving every moment.

I had my 996 (when I owned one) checked out by Autohause . They never said anything about the IMS either. I asked them about it and at the time they said that they have only ever seen 1 example of a fail , and it was on a car that was regulary tracked... i never had mine done, and gave my Carrera a great time in the high rev range often. ill have to start my own thread shortly... my 997s is totaled after a head butt with a pole at 80plus k an hour a couple weeks ago. Devastated ... plucky I wasn’t hurt i will be looking after I get back from the Isle of Man next month enjoy your 996, they are great cars

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Oh no, sorry to hear about your 997! What happened? Trying to think whether I have any updates on Ken... Oh... new plates have been ordered, "Ken" won't be KEN for much longer. I've added a discreet charging input so I can keep him charged in the garage. I'm sick of the VDO head unit already. It looks good during the day when the car's off, but that's about it. The bright blue backlight stands out like the proverbial during the day... and doesn't dim at night. So that will be removed in the not too distant future. Hopefully for something that has similar period looks, but with some better detail. Got a half full cart at Suncoast with bits and pieces hopefully close that off in the next week or so and get it delivered. Aside from that, I think I'm just driving it. Had a meeting in the southern highlands last week and I had a little spare time after. So I did what any sane person would do... took a quick squirt down to Kangaroo Valley and back. I was relatively well behaved (of course) but had a great time bonding, learning about how Ken likes to be driven. The flat 6 sound echoing off the walls was amazing. Had 2 cars pull over for me to pass on the way down, and a totally clear run on the way back up. So much fun.

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I reckon the Continental is the go for a replacement for the radio.  Looks to be reasonable price, and display is orange to match. http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/c/Continental-Car-Radio/ May be cheaper on Ebay perhaps????  Comes in Bluetooth version etc

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Yes! That's exactly the right style. Thanks!

Ok, time for an update. KEN has been going well - been away for a couple of weeks, so left neglected on the charger in the garage. Interestingly, there seems to be a consistent current draw of about 0.5A - which seems really high to me. Has anyone else had this experience? Any more than about 18 hours and the battery will fall below 12.0v, which isn't great for it. I've rigged up quick access for the charger, but would like to work out what is causing the draw. I did a leatherique treatment on the seats too while I was away, which has put some softness back into them and cleaned them up nicely. Had a nice drive up the hill on the OPH north of Sydney - a little bit more understeer than I was expecting on a couple of occasions. Need to explore that a little more - could be that the front hoops are 2012 manufacture, compared with fairly new rears. Will update as I experiment a little more. Highlight is new plates. KEN is now only by name, the plates have been replaced with something far more appropriate (IMO). Hope you like them.

Is it possible you're not locking it? Or maybe the frunk light isn't going off?

Thanks for the update! When you say hoops you mean the tyres being 2012? If so that would def change things by getting fresh rubber.

New tyres are a MUST mate! They will transform the handling

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Draw seems to be the same, whether locked or not. I've left the frunk open for a long time, and the light has turned off - so I think safe to assume it turns off when closed. Yeah - 7 year old tyres. A little surprising given KEN owned a tyre shop... but then maybe not so surprising... Will deal with a few other things on "the list" first, and then see where that places me in regards to new tyres. They aren't THAT bad... was pushing pretty hard and just needed to reset the throttle to get some weight back on the nose. Will see how much it annoys me in the mean time.

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When it comes to tyre age I tend to listen to the experts https://www.michelin.com.au/auto/tips-and-advice/when-should-i-change-my-car-tyres From my own experience (and searching along with talking to rubber experts) tyres can still be good after the "5 year rule" (tyres should be checked after 5 years, not blanketly replaced), especially if your car is stored indoors. My 2011 manufacture PS3 tyres were just great when my car was unfortunately "parked up" 18 months ago... now that it has been sitting stationary for that period I will replace when I get it mobile again, but there are still no signs of cracking - if you really want to make sure get a shore hardness tester (tyre durometer). Great looking car by the way! Love the series 1 996!!

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@Nugget it seems like you might have a slightly different issue as well. I'd expect that after a 2 hour drive, if your alternator is charging correctly, you should see up around 13v at the battery. I think my alternator is slightly less effective than it should be, but still charges at a minimum of 13.5v and up to 14ish sometimes. Make sure too, you let the battery rest for 5-10 minutes after charging to take a reading.

Yes, I'd be checking your charging rate.

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Just as a heads up, these are the voltages for a fully charged 12v battery: 100% charged = 12.6v max. 75% charged = 12.4v. 50% charged = 12.2v. 25% charged = 12.0v.\ The above voltage values are indicitive of the state of charge of the battery - it is not representative if the battery is in good condition or not. You need to load test it to confirm its good. A 12v alternator charges between 13.5v min to approx. 14.2 max depending on the condition and state of tune of the battery, electrical load etc., so what you are seeing on the voltage gauge looks OK. How are you testing for parasitic draw on the system - 0.5A is a very high discharge rate.....

Thanks @Stephen Tinker , I've always understood that 12.0 was about 50% - seems to be the accepted wisdom (at least across AGMs, where I've had more experience) - at any rate, it is best to keep them above 50% SOC or 12.0v. The battery is in good condition - I have a battery tester and it has tested fine, in fact, I think it got a 97% health rating - which was surprising knowing it has seen at least a couple of high discharges (down to low 11s) I've tested in 2 ways. 1. Measured resting volts across a time period, and calculated the draw based on power taken from the battery over the period of time. 2. Confirmed with a power meter Totally agree - 0.5A is a high discharge rate - which is why I'm investigating. It isn't a big deal when I'm using every day, however, it still isn't right. I'm planning to change the aftermarket head unit in the not too distant future - so that will probably be the first check.

If you want to quickly check where the parasitic draw is coming from and you have a half decent multi meter (MM), 1} Disconnect the + battery cable, select A or mA on your MM and connect the MM leads in series between the end of the disconnected cable and the + side of the battery. (Red MM lead on the battery post, black lead on the cable). With the ignition in the OFF position, your MM should be showing the discharge rate of xxx A or mA. 2) Its now time to remove each fuse and mark down any difference in mA showing on the MM. The frunk & interior lights should be removed or switched off. 3) Add up the discharge mA of each fuse and see what the total is. If what you say is correct (0.5A draw), the offending circuit should jump out convincingly. The difficult bit is tracking down the offending equipment on that circuit.... Hope this helps.

Thanks @Stephen Tinker , that's helpful. Will report back findings (eventually!).

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Agree with Stephen, you should see somewhere around 12.6+v at least after a full charge, charging typically is around 13-14.6v. 0.5v parasitic draw to me means “something” is on or you have a “small short/leakage”.

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Can attest to this. Also, wheel alignment- mine were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out... Love the plates @daveyoul !

Ken has enjoyed stretching his legs over the past week - road trip to the Gold Coast for work meant a quick shuttle up and down the PAC Hwy. Unfortunately I mostly needed to stick to the lemmings route, but managed an early morning blat down the Wootton way through the old Buladelah bends on Sat morning. According to the gps it only added 2 minutes to my journey (and plenty of smiles). Most of the journey was in the rain and the car felt great, even over damp patches when pushing through the bends, plenty of confidence. And the economy for this stuff blows me away. New pb of 8.76 l/100km, and always under 10 when on the freeway. Looking forward to a PCNSW drive next weekend - spose I should wash it, absolutely filthy after last week!

I blame my last post. Everything was going so well... the sun was (metaphorically) shining, we'd just done close to 2000km in a week and the relationship blossoming. Tucked up inside the garage (although not yet washed) for the week and looking forward to getting out again for a blast through the mountains with PCNSW. Forecast is for snow - no problems for a C4! Open the garage on Wednesday evening and Ken's disgraced himself. Pool of red wee below his hind leg. Upon topping up the coolant the drip started again - but there was no way I could find where it was coming from. Above, below, mirror etc... no idea. Dropped it down to the local Porsche Whisperer, and hoped for the best. Surely it was just a hose I couldn't see, maybe a crack in the tank (although it looks fairly new). Hear back from The Whisperer at lunch and the news isn't good. Seems there's a solid coolant pipe that goes from the reservoir to some evil and wretched location towards the front of the car. A crack in the offending pipe is causing the leak. However, due to the wisdom of Hans when he designed the path of the pipe, the whole engine needs to be removed to replace the one bloody pipe. CRAP - This is going to cost me a reasonable little runabout. Not just due to the cost of the repair per se - but of course while the engine is out, we might as well look at... *ahem* IMS Clutch Flywheel AOS RMS... Oh, and can you have a listen to those couple of noises on cold start too... On the bright side - they will probably wash it for me when they are done! If you're looking for me, I'll be curled up in a foetal position in the corner sucking my thumb. 👍

Oh no, do the water pump as well while your there, what's another $600 bucks, makes a cheap car start to look expensive.

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Welcome to the story of my life.

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If it’s any consolation, at 10,800ks, the pool of pink wee. Where the metal pipe meets the flexible. Apparently happens for no reason, there’s an O ring equivalent in the connection that just fails. Thank the lord for Porsche warranty, all fixed at no cost.

Thanks @GC9911 - that does make me feel a little better - at least this one has lasted 266000km!

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If it makes you feel better, I am just doing the same list after hearing a noisy lifter... Based on you, me and @PIC doing the same, I'd say PFA is singlehandedly preserving a large percentage of the 996 fleet in Australia right now... Truly inspirational stuff that future generations of bad headlight lovers will thank us for... 😂

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I think your car might be at the same "Whisperer" as mine? I know there's currently another 996 there undergoing some surgery.

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Quite possibly? Mine's in at Autohaus. I went for a bit of a look at the WIP yesterday. Well worth doing the same if you have the time, interesting to see.

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Yep, mine's there too. They offered to show my the equivalent to my offending pipe on your car before mine came out if I wanted.

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I think there are also some brake lines above the engine that should be inspected for rot if the motor ever comes out. This is very important on an ex-UK 996, but less of an issue on local cars.

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Dave, without wishing to soil your trousers any more than they already are, whilst your engine's out might be a good idea to replace the chain tensioners (or at least clean and test them), variocam pads and maybe the 4th and 5th chains. I'll shut up now.

You guys are as funny as a screen door on a submarine... REAL helpful!! 😂 😝 Before I know it I'll have a full "precautionary" rebuild... where do you stop?!!??

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Not too late to drop this in instead and probably a good stopping point.  Bonus is when you sell the car, take the wrenching hit and put your current engine back in.  I am sure someone around the world be in need of one when the time comes

Haha...yeah nah. Have driven plenty of properly fast cars, yet keep coming back to something with usable performance. More and more I appreciate driving a good NA engine. Sure, it isn't as fast, but I reckon more than fast enough, and you can enjoy the way the engine develops the power through the rev range. @JWM have you got yours back yet? Can you sit down or still in too much discomfort from the damage to the hip pocket?

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Got a call from Chris this afternoon saying it’s all done. I’ve been home, crook as with a cold or flu or something for the last few days, hoping to be feeling up to getting in to work for a while, then going to collect it in the arvo, tomorrow You’re not wrong about the hip pocket pain... but what can you do. Right now I’m just thinking about how much I’m looking forward to getting back in the drivers seat! Any word yet on when they’ll have the parts to finish yours?

Yes, I've only been without mine for a week, and already looking forward to getting back behind the wheel. I haven't actually spoken to them since late last week - figure the parts were a 2 week trip from Germany, so I wouldn't bother them. You will probably see my car there somewhere - it is the filthy dirty black one looking sad! Hope you're feeling better!

@daveyoul I went in yesterday, still feeling more than a little average, so to be honest I didn’t notice much of anything that was in the workshop. All the Panadeine might have also helped numb the pain of paying for it all too. 😄 If your car is like mine when you pick it up, mate you are in for a real treat. Feels like a new car after everything’s been done. My clutch was not too bad they said, but wow the new one is effortless to use, goes a long way to making the whole car feel “lighter” and more fun to drive.

Thanks @JWM , mine is in solitary confinement waiting for the part. Glad to hear the positive feedback.

Just got a call from "the whisperer"... engine is out and transmission is split from it - heading down this afternoon to talk turkey about what needs to be done at the same time.

So it was a fruitful afternoon at the whisperer. Viewed the offending alloy pipe and the pin hole that caused this mess in the first place. It seems as though whoever replaced the coolant tank installed it resting on top of the pipe, which has caused the wear and subsequent hole. Pipe replaced and new tank (correctly installed) should put that one to bed. So, to other business... Seems that clutch has little wear - no point replacing that Pressure plate - clean bill of health Flywheel - excellent condition #winning IMS - has been replaced at some point - going to inspect and remove seal to allow oil in. The whisperer advises not worth replacing. Water pump has a slight stain on it - they are going to price it and leave to me whether I bother. AOS and RMS - might as well do both while engine is out Coil packs are cracked - replace these and plugs They aren't concerned with the startup noises - not worth doing anything for now. Alternator clutch not working - to be replaced. This could be the cause of charge rate dropping as car gets warm. Alternator effectively working too hard and overheating. A few other hoses etc to be replace - starting to get old and bulge a little Might do rear suspension arms - will depend on price. Filters etc replaced, as well as engine mounts and gearbox mount. So, all in all, I'm pretty happy about that. Happy because the damage to hip pocket is limited, but also because there's a clear explanation for the issue in the first place. Whisperer will send me some prices tomorrow and I'll decide how many of the optionals we do now, and what get's left for 'ron. Looking forward to getting it back now - assuming it won't take too long for them to sort and get all back together.

That's a good win for your wallet!

That sounds like a really good result all in all @daveyoul !!

I picked Ken up from the whisperer earlier this week. Following the inspection, and subsequent pricing 😱 the following was done: Originally offending water pipe Expansion tank Couple of other hoses and a new thermostat Engine and transmission mounts Alternator pulley clutch, along with other serpentine belt, pulleys etc Tailshaft rubber All coils and plugs AOS RMS Clutch fork Few other seals Pollen filter Air filter Fuel filter And a new key I'm very grateful that they determined IMS and clutch etc could stay, as I'm going to have trouble sitting down for a few weeks as it is! The cause of the problem in the first place, was an ill-fitted expansion tank. It was rubbing on the coolant pipe as you can see in the picture below, and eventually the plastic wore a hole in the alloy pipe. You can just see the tiny pin prick (with prick being the operative word..) hole in the middle of the shiny part. This is the route that the pipe takes... helps to understand why the engine needed to come out! Ken felt pretty good to drive on the way home from the whisperer, but haven't really had a chance for a proper drive yet. If I'm honest, I'm a little apprehensive about finding another problem now - I'm sure that feeling will dissipate in direct relation to each km I travel, but the fear is real. Couldn't resist stealing this pic from the Facebook page of the whisperer. Ken in good company... Now, if only this rain would stop... time to get out and drive!

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I can only imagine what you got charged for that job, i would guess you could buy a cheap 'ish car for the same amount though............

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Last time I bought a Porsche key it was $900!!!!!!

@TINGY996 you're right. I knew owning a 996 was never going to be cheap, but wasn't expecting this much this soon! @GC9911 it wasn't quite that, but not much short. Still... Cheaper than losing the only key...

Time for a Ken update as we've now had over 10,000km worth of bonding and getting to know each other. Over the last month or so I've had the pleasure of going on a decent run with the PCNSW and also out to Mudgee for a weekend with a bunch of mates, and have continued to be impressed. Once out onto some country roads where you can stretch the legs a little and lean into a corner you realise how capable these cars are. Whether you're slicing through some faster corners, using the torque in 4th or 5th, or getting proper into it stretching 2nd and 3rd and feeling the power rise simultaneously with the revs, hard on the brakes, through a corner to do it all again, he just begs for more. Thankfully there have been no more... ahem... surprises, and he is earning back lost trust and respect. Also at the point where I'm starting to fix up some of the little cosmetic jobs that need to be done - high stop light was replaced a week ago as the original was cracked and in a number of pieces. Some interior pieces to be done next, particularly the dome light lens, surround and sunroof buttons. Have also spent a bit of time under the rear tidying and cleaning things up. You can't really see from any of the earlier pics, but the whole rear / underside of the car was painted in a black "proofcoat" type of substance. Whole exhaust. sump, suspension arms etc... everything. Up on the hoist - scraping, polishing, buffing, scouring, polishing again - we've made some progress returning some semblance of class under there. Still plenty to be done, but progress is progress. Bring on the next 10,000km I say! Gratuitous pics... 1. Leading bunch of mates through Wollombi - before roadworks and looking shiny. 2. Photo stop at Sofala next day - after roadworks - of course we arrived just behind the water truck...

Bloody good looking car mate. Love those rims 👍

Yeah, thanks @LeeM - it's funny y'know, I've had a number of cars through the years, purchases 2nd (or more) hand, and seem to have a knack of picking them up with different/interesting/nice wheels. In the 90s I picked up this AW11 MR2, had loved them since they were released and I was a pimply faced teenager in high school. Just happened to have some pretty nice rims on it: Then in the "noughties" this RX8 filled the driveway. It was already adorned with some tasty enhancements, like AP Racing brakes... and the wheels which are not too dissimilar to Ken's. I think I'll still get a set of twists at some point for Ken, maybe with some sticky rubber, but for daily duties, I'm pretty happy with the look.

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NOOOOOO!!! Sorry, not a fan of them on anything 😁

Looking awesome mate! Are you coming to this, I'd love to see it in the metal!

@JWM , not sure yet. Busy weekend for us so going to play it by ear a little.

One job that has been on the list since I purchased Ken was to do the dreaded radiator clean. Have read plenty of stories implying small children could get lost down there, so had to check it for myself. What better thing to do on a stinking hot and smoky day... A quick YouTube search, check Pelican... how hard can it be... and I hit the garage. Turns out that it is actually pretty easy - bumper came off with relative ease, pulled off the shroud to reveal a significant amount of crud, dirt, leaves etc. Pulled the condenser off to reveal even more muck. A gentle brush and clean up, followed by putting everything back together. No spare parts... so must have done a reasonable job! Bumper came off... to reveal... and... Each side nearly filled a dustpan. And just to prove it all went back together again! If only it wasn't also now covered in ash... Highly recommended for any relatively new 996 owner @JWM @MFX

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I’ll drop the car off at your place tomorrow then? Thanks for the kind offer mate! 😂

I did have a look in there yesterday when I washed the car and it didn't look too bad, but it will be a job to add to the list

@JWM no problems, I'll have a latte ready for you. 🤣 @MFX I didn't think mine was going to be that bad either... It gets so deep in there you can't see without removing the shroud.

You look like you have a different front bar to mine?

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Yes, well spotted. It is a Gt3 / aerokit front bar. Thought it might be non genuine, but has a Porsche part number stamped inside.

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If it is plastic then it is most likely genuine. Aftermarket ones I suspect would mostly be fibreglass.

I had been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. A pilgrimage to "the mountain" to support and cheer for Porsche for the first time AS a Porsche owner! A variety of responsibilities, chores etc meant that it was only going to be a whirlwind trip up and back in the day... but no matter, it was going to be fun! Ken had an extra spit and polish ready for an early start Sunday morning. We wouldn't make it for the start, but would be there before 7 to enjoy the majority chunk of the day. The run up the Bells road before 5am in the morning reminded me why I've been thinking about trying to install a "stealth" light bar, recessed in the spot for a centre radiator. The lights are shocking, and high beam barely any better. Lower speed limits are still in place for much of the road - 60km/h, so it was a doddle, even at 5am. The most remarkable part of the journey was noticing the air temperature hovering at about 31 degrees at this time. That, and the knuckleheads that would go flying past in a 60 zone, only to then hold me up when we got to the 80. About 5km before Lithgow rounding an innocuous right hander, probably about 50 metres behind one of those aforementioned knuckleheads it happened. A dead skippy in the middle of the road, not enough time to react once I'd seen him, so we went straight over the top. Numerous cars had probably already gone over the top without a problem... but not us. Pulling off to the left for a look just after confirmed my worst fears - the thing had made a mess of the bumper skin and front plastics, and worse, there was coolant piddling everywhere. Day over, before it had properly begun. To say I was annoyed was an understatement. Nobody to blame but myself. Cruising along, sticking to the speed limit, and just not paying attention well enough. Would better lights have helped? Maybe... but as I keep telling my 10 yo son - when you make a mistake, you've gotta take responsibility, so that's what I'm doing. Five hours sitting on the side of the road waiting for my mate to come and pick us up was plenty of time for reflection - and admiring the car from the rear - couldn't see any damage from there! Of course the important part is that we're all ok and at the end of the day the car is just a lump of metal and plastic (albeit very nicely crafted!) that can be fixed and replaced. It is at the panelbeater already and have great confidence that Ken will come back looking better than ever, with a greater awareness of nature's chicanes... and maybe even a hidden lightbar. A little while later in daylight, decided to get some pics of location and Skippy for insurance if needed. Some of the damage... Nothing to see here... waiting... waiting Actually highlight of the wait was seeing some of the Group S 911s from the support categories of the 12 hour on trailers heading back to Sydney.

What a PITA good to here you are ok and your car repairs are not to costly

Ah shit, bummer Dave. Coulda been a lot worse etc

Argh, painful! Definitely could have been worse though... Assuming it had a few before, at least you'll have a stone chip free bumper after this!

Agreed the lights on these cars are horrendous, i have been thinking the same as you mate, a nice little led light bar tucked away at the front, good luck with the repairs @daveyoul

That's crap Dave, I had a glancing blow with skip a few months back, took the opportunity for a good refresh, car looks a million bucks now. Re the headlights, I gave them a good polish and put in some Philips 12V H7 55W 130 X-Treme bulbs and they're fine.

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Ha ha, I thought you were talking about the shape.  I had a 911S that I drove on low beam.  High beam was useless, had to get out with a torch to see whether they were on 😁

Hope you pulled skip off the road so no other poor bugger hit it. If so - did you fire him on a road side bbq? Nothing like a bit of road kill for lunch.

Thanks all, yes, pristine new bumper coming up... Will look at getting a couple of other bits and pieces touched up while at the panel beater and maybe a ppf after. Skip was moved, however the idea of a BBQ never occurred to me... No fresh firewood there though, everything already burnt! Did consider taking home some pre-tenderised fillets though!

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I did put some globes/bulbs whatever they are in but it didn't change anything, might have to try this type.

Wow, it's been nearly 12 months since I've updated. Ken returned from the panel beaters looking brilliant. A large number of cooling system components were also replaced as part of the job - so not all bad. (Still haven't done anything about the lighting situation though) Since then there's actually been very little to report. Regular maintenance has been done and we've just clocked up some kms. Had a fun drive with some mates in November, so put some new Michelin PS4 on before that - really happy with them. We're just over 280000km now - looking forward to seeing that 300k mark tick over - probably sometime around the middle of next year.

Great to hear it’s been going well! No news is good news with these! 😅

Absolutely @JWM - hasn't been out of the garage much over the past 7 or 8 weeks, but will ramp up more again now as I've got a 300km round trip once a week for work now. I figure that kind of usage will be pretty much perfect for it. Everything gets warmed up nicely, a chance to stretch the legs and just enjoy driving. Certainly makes the work day much easier to face when you're getting up early in the morning and you know what's waiting in the garage.