a few questions

Hi there I'm thinking of changing to a 996 (a C2 as my daily driver and to be kept outside), and have just a few questions I hope you can help me with: 1. are the early 996s suffering from any body corrosion (ie rust), or are they too young for that? 2. is there a baby seat for a newborn (preferably in the rear) for the 996, and does the 996 have ISOFIX points? 3. can anyone tell me what wheels these are at this link. I think they are 17"? Were they standard spec on the early models? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/784895.htm Thanks for your help.

Hi Phil I have a 6 week old and use a Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix with an Easyfix base in the rear behind the passenger seat. It took a bit of getting the base into a good position, but once the base is in it is very secure (you only need to put the base in once then the Cabriofix clips into and out of it). The base is held in using the seat belt (there are no Isofix points on the 996), but it holds in very tightly. It does mean that you need to have the passenger seat nearly all the way forward, which doesn't leave much leg room for the passenger. My wife is 5 foot 7 and manages to fit in, but it is a tight fit. Will have more room when can move to a forward facing seat though, so can put up with it until then. Re rust, apart from the door striker rust caused by the original door striker design not having a rubber gasket (search re this and you will find quite a few posts - I repaired mine myself but I don't believe the cost to get it done professionally is huge), there is no rust on my '98 C2. Hope this helps. Greg

Phil, I agree with Greg that there are no other known/regular rust problems with a 996 apart from around the door hinges/shuts. Naturaly you should have a thorough look around and inspection as any repairs not done correctly could result in rust. The cars are galvanished so there souldnt be a problem. Mine is a 98 with 110,000 and hasnt been garaged for 5 years and is a daily driver with not a sign of rust. Not sure about the wheels, dont think they are original Porsche design though. Good luck, Rob

The wheels look like what Porsche call 17" Carrera 4's (fitted to the C4 as standard).

Richard is right (as usual)![ ] They are the standard 17" Carrera 4 wheels. You don't see too many around as most people seem to have gone for 18" wheels of varying sorts. Mine has GT3 type (Sport Design) wheels, for example.

Hi Phil I will drop you a pm.... but I'm just about to sell my 996!!! 1998, C2, Ocean Blue, Savannah interior. 15000 miles. Complete history. This is a gorgeous car! I'm not just saying that as I'm selling it either!!! I wouldn't be selling it except for the fact I need a Targa! Richard had a very similar car so can look at this post and I'm more than happy to add lots in open forum. As I said I will drop you a pm however. Mine does stand head and shoulders above this car at Portiacraft. No disrespect to them! Mine has the 18" "GT3 type wheels" or Sport Design wheels. These look really nice and fill the arches setting the car off in my opinion. It has just had a major service. New tyres. New discs and pads front and rear. Comprehensive check. The list goes on. NO RUST ANYWHERE OR ANY SIGNS! I don't ever recall anyone saying this as being a problem?? In fact the bdywork is spot on! Always valeted with Zymol. Currently trying Swissvax. Equally as good! You get a tub of Vintage Zymol too!! This stuff is fun! Hard work but worth it!!! Looking at the finish after is fantastic! Originally purchased from Mark Pearce at www.stirlings.co.uk who is very highly thought of. 2 owner car .. both of us "enthusiasts" so the car has been properly looked after and always had the engine warmed before "pushing on" as it were. All of the things that really look after these cars which sometimes you just don't get! Well that's enough for now. Any comments from anyone will be happily answered! Cheers, David

no!! lol [ ] I boughg it with 7000 miles. Stirlings speciale in these sort of cars. I've had it as a "fun" car so it hasn't done commuting mileage. 2 owner car ... Both of us enthusiasts who love the car. Drive it for ummm "fun" ... properly. It just doesn't get that heavy mileage the day to day run around gets ... with the 2 bouncy Welsh Springers too!! Hence it looks, smells and drives really well. Feels very tight and is a top car! Wish I didn't have to swop it!

I have a '99 C2 Tip 68k miles with no rust. Even the B pillars are fine. I have a Maxi Cosi baby seat behind the passenger seat for the 8 month old. It stays there all the time. The 2 and a half year old has a Porsche Junior seat behind me. I was loathed to buy it but it did give her a lot more room. When she was younger, I used a Maxi Cosi Tobi behind the passenger seat but the passenger seat did have to be moved quite far forwards. Porsche have launced new seats that are available from April and are cheaper than the older ones. The OPC had an older seat in stock and sold it to me for about £360 which is £140 less than it normally retails for. Get Sunshine Kids seat back protectors from Halfords to protect the seat backs when the kids start kicking away.

bit off topic, but why do you "need" a targa, when your's sounds so looked after - have you grown 2ft or something ?

nope not off topic at all! Mine is the "perfect" car .. knd of! Oh lordy it took me ages to find it! Searching Autotrader ... etc, etc................... I had a 944, but was still naive to an extent! Looking at the "hundreds" of 996's out there I wanted to get a car that wasn't going to explode or die or cost me an arm and a leg in a month!!! Saw mine at www.stirlings.co.uk ... spoke to Mark there. Felt very assured. A few days in St Ives and buying a 911 rather than a stick of rock saw my dream come true! After 3 years of totally trouble free motoring I am having to make a tough call! Sooooo ... to answer your question!! The reason I'm swopping to a Targa is..... I'm a wheelchair user. When I'm by myself I transfer into the car. Pull my wheels off my chair. They go behind the passenger seat. The frame I lift over me onto the passenger seat. 2 mins later I'm driving away [ ] However when I'm with my wife the chair sits behind the two front seats. Sliding a driver/passenger seat forward/back .. wheels on top of the frame ... well its a big phaff. Hilary also has a bad back so wellllllllllllllllllll.................. If only I'd known then what I know now!!!!! hey ho All in all a Targa will make life oh so much easier and enjoyable!! So I would love to keep mine but .... Anyway the market may decide the outcome on this!!!

Mine has 2 tiny rust spots on the bottom of the front wheel arch, about the size of a breadcrumb each. I have been refused a claim by OPC as they say its natural wear and tear from stones hitting the arch thrown up by the wheels. They really are tiny but obviously they will only get worse. Whats the best way to deal with it? Thanks

De-rust / repaint and then cover it all up with mud flaps!!! [ ][ ][ ]

Ah, I see. I used to work with a chap who was a wheelchair user with no use of his legs at all. He drove an M3 SMG gearbox with modified hand operated brake and accelerator. I had so much admiration for the effort he made to get himself and wheelchair into the car - like you say, not an easy operation But its nice to see such users still enjoying their performance cars. Good luck with the search - I guess there are not a lot of targas around in 996 form, though.