996 essentials

Hi all, new to the site so please be gentle! After losing a fortune on my M3 I've decided to defect to Porsche ownership in the guise of a 996 C2 to pander for my love affair with rwd cars! However I was hoping to draw on the wealth of experience available here to get some "real world" answers as oppose the £ weighted answers I get from my OPC!! So, could you please help me on the following... Is there any really noticeable difference between a 3.4 and 3.6?? My budget will allow for a low mileage 3.4 or higher mileage 3.6. PSM - Do you need it? My DSC (BMW's equivalent) stays firmly swithched off in the dry but goes on in the wet. I've had Elises in the past which are interesting in the wet(!) and I must admit to being a little nervous of the engine over the back wheels on a slippery roundabout!! What are the essentials for re-sale?? After losing a lot of money on the M3 in a relatively short space of time I am keen not to repeat the process with a 911. What are the most important things that people look for when buying a 911 (996)? Lastly, is it realistic to fit the GT3 Aerokit to a car and how much do they cost?? I adore the look of the GT3 but can't quite stretch my budget for a real one that far so was wondering if this was an alternative? Thanks in advance for your help and if you know of anyone who wants a dark grey M3 give me a shout [ ] Thanks again

It is worth stretching to the 3.6 'facelift' if you can (2002 MY >). IMO the nicest spec would be a C2 Coupe (6-spd) with PSM, 18" wheels, PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust), sound upgrade, etc. Plus, full OPC history and, ideally, extended warranty. GT3 kit is down to personal choice. If you find the right car with it - great. If not, then it probably isn't economical to fit afterwards. Might be worth advertsing your M3 on the For Sale forum. It's the sort of car that may appeal to some Porsche enthusiasts

I haven't driven a 3.6 but I read that there is a fair bit of difference between the 3.4. and 3.6. I've got the 3.4 C2 and it's awesome. PSM - I have Traction Control (which was an option I believe), I'm not sure how that differs from PSM - as far as I'm concerned it's essential in the wet. What I like about it is that when TC is turned on it does still let you play a little but keeps you in check, nothing like some of the other systems e.g. my previous Merc which stopped all the fun! I think the main thing with regards to the depreciation is making sure you buy right in the first place. I ended up with 2 cars on my shortlist, one low mileage, one high, all other things pretty much being equal. I ended up buying the higher mileage car because I reckoned that the cost of ownership over the 2 or 3 years I may have it would be lower taking into account depreciation/repairs etc. The higher miler had had a lot of the work done at the previous owners expense that I would have been paying for on the lower miler if you see what I mean. Enjoy the hunt, they are superb cars.

The main differences for the facelift listed below to help you decide if the differences over the 3.4 are worthwhile. Turbo style headlights. Engine up 200cc to 3.6L - increase to stroke (but not bore.) Variocam became Variocam plus. Power up approx 20Bhp. Changes to induction and exhaust manifolds and exhaust system inc. larger dia tail pipes; exhaust note more, dare I say, [&:] 'air cooled like' as a result. Slightly different front and rear spoilers. 3 spoke sports steering wheel as std. Addition of glovebox and integral cupholders under the central air vent. The key fob has an extra button to remotely unlock the boot! The 3.6 is noticeably more torquey at lower revs than the 3.4 but I wouldn't let that influence your choice too much. Regarding the GT3 aerokit, if you want, you can just fit the side-skirts. (See my avtar) Cost me £800 painted & fitted. The full aerokit is quite costly.

Dunno about the difference between a 3.4 and a 3.6 as I have never driven a 3.6. As a matter of commonsense it seems to me that if depreciation is a real issue go for the 3.6 as it will always be a more "modern" car than a 3.4. IMHO PSM is a must and a real no brainer. Unless you are Derek Bell the chances are you are not as good a driver as you think you are and PSM will help you out in those unforeseen sticky situations that come along every so often in the winter/bad weather. You can always switch it off if need be. http://www.autoperform.co.uk have a nice 3.6 for sale for under £40k. I bought my 996 from Marcus and he was a pleasure to deal with (also gave me a good price on my Boxster S)

Thanks Alex, I chose not to have the PSM option[ ] Regards, Derek Bell. [ ]

You look different to how I remember... [ ] #14 Derek Bell Pittsburgh Pirates | Roster | Statistics | MLB Index Age: 36 Height: 6-2 Weight: 233 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Pos: RF Born: December 11, 1968, Tampa, FL Full Name: Derek Nathaniel Bell College: None Experience: 11 years

But surely, Derek, PSM hadn't even been been thought of, let alone invented, when you were driving !

I mean this Derek Bell from The Chieftains who died in Phoenix because he didn't have PSM fitted [FONT=courier new"] D erek [size=+2]B[/size]ell Born: October 21, 1935 in Belfast, Co. Down, Ireland and died October 17, 2002 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Alex You seem to resemble Me Bell in his prime[ ]

Ted He is my younger brother[ ]

i don't have PSM on mine and it is not a problem, just don't give it large portions in the wet! I don't know many people who actually thrash their 911 in the wet so why the need for it? As long as you go steady-ish on slippery surfaces you will be fine!! just my 2p worth

Tend to agree with Chillo although PSM serves as a safety net if you do overcook it! OT: Moderators; Might I request the SLB post above (#8) be either released or deleted, if you get the chance (or the inclination!)? I know curiosity killed the cat, but the suspense is killing me[ ]

Likewise. PSM has never (to my knowledge) intervened on a dry road in decent conditions, despite my best efforts [ ]. In the wet, the little light has made its presence felt but only when I thought it was going to, if you get my "drift". Mine is a 4 not a 2, though.