investigating porsche 996 ownership

redbull · Aug 17, 2009

hi there guys this is my first post so a big hello to you all ,i hope you are well,
i am currently looking to maybe purchase a 996 "s"reg 911 in jamuary of next year depending largely on a bonus offered at work,i currently drive a very very clean toyota supra twin turbo but have itched for a porsche since i can remember and love the look of the 996, i wander if anyone can give me a few pointers of what i should look for on these beautiful cars and what one actually "goes like " on the road,this will bear a big part in making the decision to part with the 365 bhp supra i currently own thanks for your time fellas i look forward to reading your views and opinions.. james baughan

Richard_Hamilton · Aug 17, 2009

Welcome James! There are a couple of documents here which might be a good starting point: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=269468. I'd suggest that you go for a test drive in one to start with. The experience will be totally different to your Supra, and you need to find out if you like it or not first! Having gone from a Subaru WRX to a Porsche 993 I know that it is a huge change in feel. The weight distribution and power delivery, for example, are poles apart. But there is nothing like the feeling you get being behind the wheel of a 911. And nothing like the feeling when you take that backward glance when you walk away from it.

redbull · Aug 18, 2009

thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions richard that is apreciated,i agree i love the look of the 911 from the sc right through to the 996/7 but budget limited i think i will have about 15-16k available. i guess you are right i need to get behind the wheel of a 996 and see how it goes,going back to normally aspirated aswell will take some adjusting to .i have seen a car i like the look of at dove house porsche in northampton,do you know of any dealings with them ?and am i right in thinking the 3.4l 996 was 320bhp? thanks again [link=http://www.dovehousecars.com/stock/details.asp?VehicleID=837]http://www.dovehousecars.com/stock/details.asp?VehicleID=837[/link] here is the car i like the look of what do you think? james

Paul Fraser · Aug 18, 2009

Personally, I'd get a car with the door speaker option but depending on your attitude to incar 'sounds' you might disagree

Sports classic wheels are either a nightmare to keep clean or I was just too lazy to do mine as often as I should. Might be worth asking to get him to send the option codes that are on the car, and what is the service history like? Also (my car is slightly older), clutch, RMS, aircon condenser, variocam replacements, MAS, seat bolster condition if there is any paperwork or visual evidence? None of this is necessarily deal breaker stuff just items that floated into my head based on what has happened to mine and what I've read about others.

Richard_Hamilton · Aug 18, 2009

My nephew recently purchased his 997 C2S from Dove House, and his experience was very good indeed. That car looks like a very nice example, but as Paul says, check out the service history, and it is worth getting an independent inspection by a specialist - I would recommend that to any first-time Porsche buyer. I know what Paul means about the speaker setup, but there are things you can do to upgrade them at a later stage if the car is the right one. The 3.4 litre engines are ~300bhp - it's the 3.6's that are 320bhp.

minny · Aug 18, 2009

Hi Redbull, I was in the same position a couple of years back. I had an Impreza Turbo but was still hankering after the 911 after 10 years. Of course the Impreza wouldn't be as quick as the Supra but the driving experience between the 996 and other cars are very different. If it is outright acceleration you are looking for then the 996 may disappoint. My Impreza to 60 was probably quicker than my '99 C2 Tiptronic but its the tactility that is on a different planet. The only way for you to understand it is to take one for a good drive on mixed roads. Even our MK5 Golf GTI which is highly rated feels a little numb with the artificial throttle response and steering feel or lack of it. I compared over 20 cars before deciding on the current one and got a professional inspection done before I got it. The 996 buyers' guide book by Peter Morgan was quite good for background information but look at the 3 different Porsche magazines available ( GT Porsche, Total 911, 911 &Porsche World) that also do buyers' guides which are quite informative. I settled on an S reg with fairly basic spec (3 spoke steering wheel, full electric seats, rear wiper, xenon lights on top of usual spec) as the car was a good one. At a later stage I had a an Oettle sports exhaust and 18 inch Sport Design alloys fitted, both of which are a must in my book as the exhaust makes the car sound like a 996 should and the 18s really sets the look off. Till today, I still sneak a glance when I walk away and there is not one thing about my car I would change, maybe apart from a nicer head unit from Becker. Happy hunting!

jetbox · Aug 18, 2009

Hi Redbull, I recent changed from a Subaru wrx prodrive to a 996 C4... Acceleration off the line feels a bit slower (and is on paper) but the main thing I find is the totally different power delivery and the good low down torque on the C4. For me its no longer about the perofrmance alone but the whole driving experience or even the experience when not driving and its sitting in the works car park or on the driveway on a sunday having a wash. The lightish front end feels a little strange and un-nerving at times but I love it... If you have had the itch since childhood like I had you will not regret it!!!! Good luck on your search and the bonus!

redbull · Aug 18, 2009

jetbox.mini,richard! thanks all so much for taking the time to let me know your experiences coming into the world of 996 ownership,the supra is balisticly quick but i agree its all about the feel and the "im driving a 911" factor. i also live very close to autofarm porsche and know one of there old mechanics i may get him to take a look before considering anything.what is the actual top end of a 3.4l on paper? and is there anything common fault wise that pops up on this model engine? thanksyou again james

minny · Aug 18, 2009

If you look at various forums or google 996 engine problems you will probably be shocked. Like any car/engine, things can go wrong. RMS leaks are actually a minor inconvenience as the leaks tend to me just small drips and don't affect the oil level. It can be fixed when the clutch is changed. Mine is a tiptronic so I just live with it. To give you an idea, mine is damp with the occasional drip and the cam covers are doing the same but my oil level stays steady between changes (although I change my oil 6 monthly and do about 8k miles a year). Bores can crack and intermediate shafts can give up. Most cars are out there running fine and you have to weigh the fact that bad news always gets reported more. The reason a lot of people were annoyed when their engine gave problems had something to do with the fact Porsche PR probably wasn't ideal and never really offered goodwill for a replacement engine even on low mileage, fairly new examples with full service history. New engines are about Â£12k but places like Autofarm and Hartech can repair them. Also Hartech has a warranty that is cheaper than OPCs. Get the Peter Morgan book or look up the various Porsche magazines' buyers guides for more info. Just remember, all cars have a set of problems that are more common to them but Porsche were not cheap new and when something goes wrong, regardless of how minor, people get annoyed. The RMS problem is an example as its minor but its reported in any magazine as a problem to look out for. To be fair, it is relatively common and probably shouldn't occur on a Â£60k + car.