First Timer

After years of wanting to, I am about to purchase my first Porsche. It will probably be an 03 C2, maybe an 02 CS4. I have read many of your entries with interest particularly those concerning build quality/warranty etc. Having always associated thecar with "high quality" I was rocked today when a "specialist " said that the 996 didn't come near the 993 for build quality and that I should always ensure full warranty coverage as major engine failures are not uncommon! As I have never spent 45/50K on a car before I would appreciate any feedback on this issue. Do you renew your OPC warranties annually ? I anticipate only doing 6/7K per year. Many thanks in anticipation. For a newcomer like myself the contents of this forum is invaluable.

I think the suggestion that a succesfull company like Porsche would introduce a new 911 type which is worst than the one it replaces is proposterous. Nevertheless, all expensive cars are expensive to maintain. It would be silly to assume that one buys a £100k car and expect to cost the same to run as a £10k car. That is the reason you buy the insurance policy called OPC Extended Warranty, for peace of mind that if something expensive goes wrong the Good People of OPC will fix it for free. The only thing you have to do is enjoy the ride.... [ ]

I've had a succession of 911s including two 993s and two 996s. There are aspects of the 993 that appeal to traditionalists and many people will regard it as the last and best of the classic 911s. The 996 was the most significant evolution of the 911 and was effectively a brand new car. As such there were a few early niggles, but my experience has been entirely positive. Certainly the 2002> 3.6 'facelift' cars are very well sorted and there is another recent thread that should assure you about the build quality. The OPC Warranty is definitely worth having for peace of mind and it can be renewed each year. However, I believe that major failures are rare.

Just to reinforce the post by Oliver. I've also owned a few 911's over the years (and enjoyed them all for different reasons) including a 2001 996 C4 which was a great car and fault free. Take your time looking and find something that ticks all the boxes for you, then use it a lot and enjoy!

I have just purchased a 53 plate C4S also my first Porsche, I cannot reccomend highly enough, I would say that the build quality maybe a little suspect as I have had a few teething problems. Try and go for one with a sports exhaust they are the business! and so is the car. Go with the warranty I think it is around £750 per year for a 3 year old model. .

The level of complexity in the 996 is higher, so there are more opportunities for issues to arise. A 993 and a 996 are very different cars, really from different eras. Cars (like most products) are a trade off between style, design, materials, timing, cost and most importantly for a sports car, weight. Most of the comments relate to material selection and design. The interior is not as solid as some other cars, the indicator stalks do initially feel cheap and flimsy, but they do the job and don't weigh much. On the earlier 996's the plastics were not that great. But this is not what the car is about - it is not about luxury. It has enough to remain broadly competitive, but it is not its strongest point. Mechanically, the engine is more sophisticated, with variable valve timing and variable lift, electronic throttle, traction control, stability control, etc. The gearbox for the 996 was redesigned to handle more power yet weighs less than on the 993. I posted on the 993 forum a while ago a detailed comparison between 996 and 993. The shell of the 996 is much stiffer than the 993, so give a better platform against which to work. The car is more modern all over, so it is not really a fair comparison. The 993 is a fine car with a distinct character, and I would love a 993 GT2, but I can't have everything. All cars have issues, whatever you pay for it. The JD power survey shows (together with anecdotal evidence) that many prestige brands do less well than more mundane brands. However, Porsche consistently does well. Although some people have had issues, many people have not. The most common thing seems to be oil leaks, although not all cars are affected. Engines have failed, but compared to the 10s of thousands of 996's sold, not that high a proportion. The issue is that if something big does fail, it costs a lot of money. This is where the warranty is to be recommended. You can renew every year, up to 9 or 10 years old and 100K miles (although someone posted recently this is now 125K, but I am not sure if this is just for the 997). I genuinely believe that you will almost certainly be OK, and no worse off that with any other car. Regular use is the best thing for it. Certain precautions are wise to ensure optimal use, such as allowing the car to warm up before using max throttle and revs, making sure the oil level is OK at all times, drying the brakes after washing the car, not braking hard then sitting with your foot on the brake (baking the pads onto the discs - use the handbrake), trying to be smooth with your inputs and not missing gears.

Since my initial posting I have spent most of this evening going through all of the pages on the forum which has been an education in itself. I'm sure all my initial fears can be cancelled out by going through the annual warrenty procedure and as other people have already responded just enjoy the car for what it is Many thanks.

Hi Jonot, Ive done 25,000 miles in my 2000 996 C4. And the only bill from OPC I've had is £250 for a 36k service. 996 N4 tyres I managed to get 4 for £480 from Bracknell tyres. My Ford Galaxy (3 kids etc) has covered less miles and has cost be 3 times as much. Good luck and great choice of car. It's a buyers market out there. Go for a C4S. It's worth buying from an OPC because of piece of mind. You take risks buying from elsewhere. I'm sure some will disagree. But i know mates of mine who have paid a lot less by buying from Autotrader and ended up spending a fortune putting things right. Simon[ ]