Porsche 996, the hated one.

MadMardigan

MadMardigan

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I’m getting to the point where I’m looking at a midlife crisis car. I’ve owned mustangs and corvettes in the past, but I’m wanting something different. The 996 (1998 to 2004 911 Carrera) seems like the ideal for a cheap to get into sports car.

There was a motor bearing issue that was effecting 1-5% of the cars, the fix if caught before killing the motor is like 600 bucks to fix.

These cars can be had sub 18,000. The purist hate them (first water cooler 911 and mass produced), so they aren’t the collector series of Porsche, but since they share parts with the boxster, and mass produced, plenty of spare parts to find.

So, anyone with experience with them?
 
Ive been eyeing them...
No, they arent as desired as the aircooled, but they are reliable and easy, from what I understand.

Yeah, you can get a good condition one for under 20, vs a ratty aircooled for close to the same price...
 
I always liked the look of the 944 when I was younger but no experience with them.
 
I also keep an eye on them but realistically with three kids still at home and two of them now driving, I won’t have one soon. Dad has a 997.2 Carrera 4 cab that I can drive just about anytime I want so I can get my fix. I know a couple people that have 996’s. One had a bearing failure and the other did the fix beforehand. Replacement engine for the one was $22k a few years ago.
 
Came very close to buying a 996 with the aero kit years ago, absolutely beautiful car.

Button Pusher said:
I always liked the look of the 944 when I was younger but no experience with them.
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I have a love/hate relationship with 944/951s, love the look and how they handle, hate the maintenance. Had two 944s and currently own a 951. Feel free to drop me a PM if you ever think about buying one, I'll change your mind lol.
 
The prices are great on them and like all Porsches, at some point everyone will want them and price will skyrocket.

There's a Carrera4S around here that is so sweet. The 4's look better as they have the fatter ass end. I'd love to own one!
 
ill sell ya a 2015 Caprice PPV!

I never knew the 996 was the hated Porsche; everyone I know with one loves it.
 
NKD said:
The prices are great on them and like all Porsches, at some point everyone will want them and price will skyrocket.

There's a Carrera4S around here that is so sweet. The 4's look better as they have the fatter ass end. I'd love to own one!
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Yeah, I’m looking at getting something later this year or early next year (likely early next year). This would fit the bill for a fun car, and in the right price range for something I could take up to the blue ridge parkway and take to work on occasion.
 
MadMardigan said:
Yeah, I’m looking at getting something later this year or early next year (likely early next year). This would fit the bill for a fun car, and in the right price range for something I could take up to the blue ridge parkway and take to work on occasion.
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Seems like most have had the IMS bearing attended to already.
Real bargains right now, just be prepared for the service costs. My buddy got a few eye opening bills. But at the end of the day I think he paid like 16.5G for a very clean cabrio with under 30G miles. So the maintenance hit isn't so bad.
 
NKD said:
Seems like most have had the IMS bearing attended to already.
Real bargains right now, just be prepared for the service costs. My buddy got a few eye opening bills. But at the end of the day I think he paid like 16.5G for a very clean cabrio with under 30G miles. So the maintenance hit isn't so bad.
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That’s what I am seeing them run for, which puts it in the price range for me. Lol
 
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HMP said:
Ive been eyeing them...
No, they arent as desired as the aircooled, but they are reliable and easy, from what I understand.

Yeah, you can get a good condition one for under 20, vs a ratty aircooled for close to the same price...
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Didn't Erik have a red one? I remember riding in it once or twice but I think it was non turbo if I'm correct.
 
DCGallim said:
Didn't Erik have a red one? I remember riding in it once or twice but I think it was non turbo if I'm correct.
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He had a 944, non turbo.
Not one of the 911 models. But, surprisingly those are rising in value right now. Really, all things Pcar are.
 
They're beautiful cars, but just the maintenance & repair costs would scare me away. German cars are too damned expensive to take care of, especially the high strung Zuffenhausen beauties.

My mother's husband had a '05 997 Turbo AWD. That thing frightened me & I rode a demented a ZRX1200R at the time. He tossed me the keys & I tossed 'em back. Said I'll go for a ride, but I ain't drivin' it. Man... you'd be pinned to the door or console in a curve, unable to move, then seemed to lift just a hair & teleport to the next turn. Woof. Too much car for me & way too rich for my blood.
 
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I considered a used 996, but really the only 996 that I lust for is a turbo, and they aren't cheap. I will say that there are bargains to be had in general with the 996, but clean examples still get a bit of a premium. I recently got into the used "exotic" ownership realm with an Aston Martin Vantage and although porsche parts aren't totally astronomically priced, keep in mind that when something breaks it's not a $20k car to fix, it's an $80-$100k car to fix. The parts and time for my "cheap" Aston have added up nicely. I don't want to dissuade you from purchasing, just pointing out what you probably already know.

For me, I'm on the hunt for a clean 997 next. I just can't get over the interior on the 996. Plus the fried eggs and all. :D
 
MichaelHK said:
I considered a used 996, but really the only 996 that I lust for is a turbo, and they aren't cheap. I will say that there are bargains to be had in general with the 996, but clean examples still get a bit of a premium. I recently got into the used "exotic" ownership realm with an Aston Martin Vantage and although porsche parts aren't totally astronomically priced, keep in mind that when something breaks it's not a $20k car to fix, it's an $80-$100k car to fix. The parts and time for my "cheap" Aston have added up nicely. I don't want to dissuade you from purchasing, just pointing out what you probably already know.

For me, I'm on the hunt for a clean 997 next. I just can't get over the interior on the 996. Plus the fried eggs and all. :D
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Ah the fried egg front...yeah, not as classic as the round/oval buld
 
MichaelHK said:
I considered a used 996, but really the only 996 that I lust for is a turbo, and they aren't cheap. I will say that there are bargains to be had in general with the 996, but clean examples still get a bit of a premium. I recently got into the used "exotic" ownership realm with an Aston Martin Vantage and although porsche parts aren't totally astronomically priced, keep in mind that when something breaks it's not a $20k car to fix, it's an $80-$100k car to fix. The parts and time for my "cheap" Aston have added up nicely. I don't want to dissuade you from purchasing, just pointing out what you probably already know.

For me, I'm on the hunt for a clean 997 next. I just can't get over the interior on the 996. Plus the fried eggs and all. :D
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Having owned some higher end German cars most of which were bought used. With a lot of these cars there is a point where the depreciation $$$ bottoms out. This is a good point to buy but to actually use/drive these cars you need to have enough money on hand to repair and maintain them.

Parts alone can kill you. Also you have to consider your area and is there a good reputable independent who know how to work on your car or can you do the work yourself. They have to have the right diagnostic tools to work on the car. In some areas this is no issue in others it is tough.

IMHO Having 20%-25% on hand for repairs is reasonable. Tons of people buy these type and then don’t have the money to properly maintain and repair them.
 
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wvsig said:
Having owned some higher end German cars most of which were bought used. With a lot of these cars there is a point where the depreciation $$$ bottom out. This is a good point to buy but to actually used/drive these cars you need to have enough money on hand to repair and maintain them.

Parts alone can kill you. Also you have to consider your area and is there a good reputable independent who know how to work on your car or can you do the work yourself. They have to have the right diagnostic tools to work on the car. In some areas this is no issue in others it is tough.

IMHO Having 20%-25% on hand for repairs is reasonable. Tons of people buy these type and then don’t have the money to properly maintain and repair them.
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That’s the good thing about the 996, shares parts with the Boxster, so finding parts is easier. My MIL is looking at some auction listings for me...
 
MadMardigan said:
That’s the good thing about the 996, shares parts with the Boxster, so finding parts is easier. My MIL is looking at some auction listings for me...
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Yeah parts availability is a huge part of the equation. So that is a major plus.
 
Think my mother's husband said a spark plug change on his 997 Turbo was in the neighborhood of $3500 at the dealer- lift the car & pull the rear wheels & fender liners to gain access. Woof.
 
MadMardigan said:
That’s the good thing about the 996, shares parts with the Boxster, so finding parts is easier. My MIL is looking at some auction listings for me...
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Let me know how that works out for you
As I said, Ive been saving money for a while. While I dont have 996 money yet, Ive been looking at used cars (Turbo MR2, E91 BMW Wagons mainly), but if you got a lead on a slightly cheaper option(s) on a 996...Im interested.

As someone said, yes, parts and labor can be high, especially labor. But if youre mechanically inclined then a lot of that isnt an issue.
The cars themselves arent a ton different from anything else. It's still just bolts, nuts, etc

A few guys on YT Ive watched buy salvaged exotics and talk about parts for cheaper (ie: a Ferrari shares a few things with an Audi...the Audi part is 4x cheaper than the F part...)
 
HMP said:
Let me know how that works out for you
As I said, Ive been saving money for a while. While I dont have 996 money yet, Ive been looking at used cars (Turbo MR2, E91 BMW Wagons mainly), but if you got a lead on a slightly cheaper option(s) on a 996...Im interested.

As someone said, yes, parts and labor can be high, especially labor. But if youre mechanically inclined then a lot of that isnt an issue.
The cars themselves arent a ton different from anything else. It's still just bolts, nuts, etc

A few guys on YT Ive watched buy salvaged exotics and talk about parts for cheaper (ie: a Ferrari shares a few things with an Audi...the Audi part is 4x cheaper than the F part...)
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Mine will be from the scratch and dent sector, lol.
 
MadMardigan said:
Mine will be from the scratch and dent sector, lol.
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Brother, I just want to own. Scratches and dents can be fixed later haha
Im a poor state employee, scratches and dents save me money upfront
 
HMP said:
Brother, I just want to own. Scratches and dents can be fixed later haha
Im a poor state employee, scratches and dents save me money upfront
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My 2013 Genesis is a scratch and dent, also paid for. So if a 996 in good condition runs 18k, a scratch and dent might be well below that,
 
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MadMardigan said:
My 2013 Genesis is a scratch and dent, also paid for. So if a 996 in good condition runs 18k, a scratch and dent might be well below that,
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If I got a 996, Id like a later, the 996.2, where it doesnt have the orange for the turnsignal lenses, just the bulb.
But, as I said, Im too poor to be too picky ;)
 
HMP said:
If I got a 996, Id like a later, the 996.2, where it doesnt have the orange for the turnsignal lenses, just the bulb.
But, as I said, Im too poor to be too picky ;)
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Me too, lol, I’m turning 39 in a month, and wanting a sports car again.
 
MadMardigan said:
Me too, lol, I’m turning 39 in a month, and wanting a sports car again.
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Just turned 37 and havent owned a sporty car in a decade (Turbo MR2, 1993)...Ive got the itch.
I dont have 996 money (so I really dont have 964 money lol), but Im working to save up. I actually have a "911" account that I put a little into , and no, I aint talking about 'emergency' money lol

But Im looking at cars
Want something 'different' or not super common (ie: mid90s MR2 and the BMW wagon etc)
911 is a dream car, but it might have to wait till closer to retirement, who knows
 
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