996 on 19" rims...opinions on this car please

I'm still hunting for the 996 for me......Ive seen a very nice one for sale in the autotrader..... I's a T reg 996 C2, with very nice techart kit and 19" alloys....asking price is £35995 which is steep given that the mileage is 57k+...but the car looks absolutely stunning in the pics......just what Im after really... http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=PORSCHE&model=911&variant=&keywords=gt3&min_pr=35000&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=le2+5pd&miles=1500&max_records=200&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH What do guys think of this car on the assumtion that all is OK with the car? How do 19" wheels affect the handling? How much should I offer for a cash purchase? Any advice welcomed!

Purely my opinion, but I prefer my Porsches to be in ex-factory spec. No experience of Techart, but the wheels, suspension etc, could seriously compromise the ride and handling. Mind you, it depends on your taste. You would need to drive it on a variety of roads to be able to judge. I'm sure a lower mileage/original spec. 996 would be a better buy.

Ow Ow my teeth have just fallen out. [ ] OK the wheels are nice but so are some of the factory ones and they wouldn't worry me or hurt my dental work. You'd just have to drive it - a lot - to see what you think. The dealer is not a Porsche specialist, I note. Price seems high. My view is that trade price = A + B - C, where: A is the price of a standard car for that age & condition B is the extra value added by the mods C is the price equivalent of the hassle factor caused by the mods, i.e. insurance, reliability worries, etc etc. C is usually = B but may be > B. I think the trader is on price = A + B......

Arent they all, but if you sell it to a dealer they would rather it were standard Any excure from them and you will always be wrong

There's been quite a bit of corresspondence on Rennlist about 19/20" upgrades on the 996. General consensus is ....don't. It corrupts the ride, tramlines and needs very smooth roads for comfort.

Oh yes - I bet it was A + B - C for whoever he bought it off [ ] I remember being told by a dealer that the 5 I was selling was not a tempting px for them because it was a manual. People who want 5s prefer auto, you see, .... if it had been auto they could have given me another £1000 on the px price. Specifying auto when new would have cost me £1200..... [ ]

But the 997 comes with 19" wheels doesn't it? And I would be surprised if there is any significant difference in basic setup. I know you can get the active damping, but basic handling should be the same (tramlining, etc.).

But the 997 comes with 19" wheels doesn't it? And I would be surprised if there is any significant difference in basic setup. I know you can get the active damping, but basic handling should be the same (tramlining, etc.). [/quote] I have 19" alloys on my e46 BMW, and the ride and handling are fine, the only gripe I have is over long journeys, where the slight tramlining becomes increasingly noticable... I gues the best bet is to go for a ride in the 996, but I know many of these non-porsche type dealers are very coy about giving test drives, unless they are almost assured the sale.... I am a big fan of the kit/looks though....in my mind every 996 should look similar!

I would have thought that, throughout the 997 development programme, Porsche (and its approved tyre manufacturers) would have refined and tuned the suspension and steering to optimise the fitment of 19" wheels/tyres. However, early reports suggest that the ride/handling compromise on the 997 is in fact better with the 18" wheels, and the E46 M3 was definitely inferior on 19" wheels. And, don't forget the vulnerability of some 19" wheels to kerb damage. Aside from the wheels, I'd actually be more concerned about the 'after-market' Techart suspension set up. Only an extended test drive will tell you if it's to your taste.

Blimey.....I notice that it has just dropped in price now to £33995.....a drop of £2k....! Have the owners been reading this forum I wonder!....

Sorry but that is rubbish. I have had 19" Khan's on my cab for 3 years now and never once have they made a difference or given me problems. I just went to Spain and the car was put to its stress tests good and proper in the Spanish mountains. Anyone whe went will tell you same. The trip was 2800 miles and the ride was fantastic. The 19" wheels IMHO hold the raod better and if you get decent tyres like Goodyear Eagle F1 GS/D3's they last for over 12,000 miles and that's fitted to the rears. There is no corruption in the ride and I never tramline. I will however sucome to the fact that it is a slightly harder ride but it still does not affect comfort. This car looks fantastic but that sort of money for a T reg is too much IMHO. If that's the case my 2000 C2 Cab with all the mods and only 46k on the clock must be worth £45k......I wish!

Cheers for that Berny.... So how much do you guys think is a realistic price for this car....£30k?....more?......£32k?

£30k is about right. But no matter how much an inspection should be carried out prior to even thinking about buying the car.

There is no doubting that the 19" wheels look great on that car but i am also one for keeping the wheel size that the car was designed for (that same design somes in 18" too). OFF TOPIC (a bit) Would disagree that M3 is better on 18s though - my original M3 was on 19" ( hartge classics after the originals were stolen) and they rode well with the right tyres and the CSL is on 19"s .. but then i think the M3 (and CSL) was developed on 19"s BACK ON TOPIC.. its a buyers market for 996 right now (witness the number of cars that comes up on the search!!) and I would advise much caution in paying too much unless the car is low mileage and original (GT3 body kist a must unless you really dont like it - I do) with PSH at least for the first 3 years. Also in my experience the ruffled leather (that this one has) does not wear as well and I also find the sports seats more comfortable and supportive (can have sports seats and ruffled leather i think?). Paragon recently sold a similar age car with a factory 320bhp upgrade, GT3 seats, body kit , sports design 18's etc for i think 32ish and that was a special car. So i would think the one you are looking at should be 30? Unless of course the 19's and kit are really what you want. All inmho of course [ ]

19 inch rims are fine... if anything the responsiveness is better... Just shod them with good rubber - thats very important and will affect how the car handles.

Actually, to achieve more progressive handling, you need a bit more rubber in the sidewall (ie a higher profile). I've run Carehams for many years and the best and fastest cars (R500s etc) run on the smallest wheels (13") although Caterham offer sizes up to 16". As Andy Noble put it, "The difference between the 13" wheels and the 16" wheels (on a Caterham) is like going for a jog in a pair of running shoes or a pair of brogues. One lets you feel what is happening, the other doesn't". For the same reason, that's why many people prefer Porsches on smaller wheels. But, it is personal.

What I meant to suggest was that turning into a corner felt more responsive/sharper. I have always thought this was due to there being less flex in the tyre wall with lower profile tyres"¦ but maybe this isnt the case????

Actually, you are correct. Although there are a lot of factors that influence understeer, oversteer and turn-in, etc, stiffer, lower profile tyres tend to grip better and respond more quickly. However, whilst that may sound perfect, many people actually prefer a tyre that is more compliant and loses its grip more progressively. A car like the '73 2.7RS runs on modest 15" wheels with 70 and 60 profile tyres. Yet, these cars, correctly set up, provide superb handling with amazing feel and, on modern rubber, high levels of grip and progressive breakaway. Fitting big wheels and low profile tyres would ruin an RS. IMO the fashion for ever bigger wheels and lower profile tyres is a symptom of 1) Aesthetics and 2) Performance cars getting lardier.

Still on this subj

What is it with this [Awaiting Approval] malarky? It's getting on my nerves this. Is Freedom of Speech to be curtailed in the agreement with the recent PAG/PCGB merger. Smacks of Mein Kampf is you ask me!

Berny, have you not seen the [ Awaiting Approval] thread in the new PCGB Members only Section?

The price seems high for a T reg though it is low miles. For not a lot more/same you could have a face lift. I have just sold my 996 C4 with 143k on the clock and wouldn't let miles put you off. In my experience go for as new as you can get. The 996 had sport suspension and it was too hard for me - the replacement has standard and is much more bearable. Just thought I would share that with you.