Hi guys,
I need just some advice that i'm about to be seriously purchasing a 996TT very soon. The car has 66,xxx mi on the car and is no longer under warranty. The car has a clean title, has been auctioned, 2 owner, but VERY clean inside and out. The car had passed Porsche inspection. I've seen the receipts and several things have been repaired/replaced:

-Trunk switch
-Diff bearing
-Cam sensor
-a few more

I've done research on here on the precautions of buying a 996TT. I get people saying 996TT's are very reliable and also say the opposite. At 66k mi, should i worry if the car is safe to buy?

Is it safe to buy a car that is NO longer under warranty and being sold "As-Is"? If so, what extended warranty do you guys recommend for my situation?

I'm just afraid to get a car and have to pay any surprise expenses like a new engine, turbos, tranny (2nd gear pop-off), 60K mi tune up after i get the car.

Here a link to the car for sale:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Does anyone know this car or its history?
Tell me what you guys think?

More potential cars on PAGE 3

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

 

Well,usually 03 models have navigation as (almost)standard...Also it has wheels of Turbo S and painted front/rear grills...It looks ok but PCM2 is missing...

 

Looks like it has the Becker head unit not Bose (prolly a good thing).

Possibly the seats have been recovered - considering how the fit seems to look.

Get an independant thorough PPI.

GL with your quest and purchase.

 

it's a reasonable price but i would definitely get a second ppi done; don't let them tell you that it has "passed porsche inspection". with these cars you should be choosy and patient -- esspecially one that's sitting on a used car lot. my feeling is hang tight and wait for a 6speeder to get bored of his car that he has painstakenly modded. this here was a recent crazy deal.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ing-turbo.html

 

Kevganzon,

I had no idea you sold your Supra...she was an epic beauty! (hopefully she still is at a new home).

On Supraforums come over and read my thread in the Other Cars sub-forum about owning a 996TT for a year. I compare it to the Supra in a few ways and chart all the things that I've done with it and experienced with it in the last year...will probably help you out a bit.

Best wishes and good luck!

 

How can i get a PPI done while still at the dealership? They wont let me do a test drive unless i show them cashier's check of the full amount.

My main concern is if anyone knows of a company that will cover for an extended warranty???

 

Wow, I wouldn't buy the car from them then! My mechanic is in Pasadena, he can do a PPI if they will let you take it. Maybe they can take it for you...

I'll PM you his info.

 

Notice that the black bits around the bottom of the rear bumper and doors have been painted to match... I only point this out, because as skandalis pointed out the front bumper grills were painted and for some reason the front bumper looks off in the center to me. Am I the only one? It doesnt seem to line up with the trunk lid the way others do. Also note those pieces are very flexible and if the wrong paint is used it will flake off (or be scratched off- that's why they were black plastic).

I'll be honest, this car seems as safe as any other 60K mile 911 at a non-porsche dealer with no maint history and a binder full of receipts of items replaced while on the lot (assumption- sorry if it is wrong). I wouldnt be opposed to buying it, but $40K almost seems like too much given that there is nothing special about this car- no sport seats, X50, PCM, carbon fiber, PCCB and 66K on the clock.

I will also point out that yes they are reliable, but when something breaks its an arm and a leg to fix. I had the sunroof break on my new to me 12K mile car while it was at the dealer for service- $2K under warranty to repair!! If the clutch hasn't been replaced, I would expect that to be one of the first things to go... so be ready with the extra 5-10K in cash to fix anything that pops up.

 

This is a way better deal that just flew out the window it was listed at $45K....

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...me-911-go.html

 

The rear bumperettes has been painted body color. This could mean the previous owner simply didn't like the black bumperettes and had them painted or it could be a sign to a bigger issue (i.e., perhaps the whole rear bumper had to be replaced/repainted at some point in the car's life).

Also, if you look at Pic 6, the seat bolster seem wrinkled, but in Pic 8, they appear fine on the passenger side. Doesn't seem like normal wear to me. Could be the driver seat was recovered and they didn't do a good job on it.

Since the ad claims that all services are up to date, I would demand actual proof of that. If I recall correctly, the 60k mile service is the big one and many things need to be replaced.

At $40k, it isn't an amazing deal, but it isn't a bad deal either provided everything checks out. If you can accept an MY01-02 car and wait a little bit longer, you can probably find a car with a lot less miles, more options/mods, and clearer history in the for sale section of this board.

 

Ooops, forgot to comment on reliability. I wouldn't say the 996 Turbo is unreliable, it's just that when the few well documented issues do arise, they can be costly to fix either due to the cost of parts or the amount of labor required to get to the problem.

For example, the hydraulics to the rear spoiler is around ~$1,800 to replace from what I've heard. Most of it is cost of the parts. Opt for a fixed rear wing and never have to deal with the problem again.

The clutch accumulator is a poor design and can dump pentosin all over the place.. The part itself isn't expensive, but it is a pain in the *** to get to it. Opt for the GT2 conversion kit and eliminate the problem all together.

Change the coilpacks every time you change the plugs (or every other time), since you are there already.

The 2nd gear pop out can be examined during an extended test drive.

Other than that, I can't think of other big issues with the car. The engine and the turbos seem to be durable.

 

VERY IMPORTANT if they wont take/let you take the car for a ppi then walk away

 

Just keep in mind the "dealer" in this case is a friggin USED CAR LOT!!!!

Totally discount ANYTHING they SAY. make them write it down and agree it forms part of the purchase agreement. All of a sudden that "60k service their in house mechanics did" will disappear....

As you have read, there is no such thing as "A Porsche PPI"...every dealer does it different. And NO porsche dealer ever pulls the DME data to look for overrevs unless the buyer demands it.

If you'll be modding the car, skip a warranty.

Auction? Not for me....

A

 

I agree with the above...


Jeff

 

When I was ready to purchase my 996tt I flew to Miami FL to see a car. It was mint, paint was gorgeous, had 20" Velano wheels, dropped, gorgeous looking car inside and out, i could swear it was going to be perfect. When I asked for a test drive they first asked me for a cashiers check for 1/2. that was not happening. Then they asked to charge my CC $500.00, again that wasnt happening either. I then asked if I could sit passenger while they drove the car, they wouldnt do it..... Maybe I looked young, or whatever the case was, I was 90% ready to purchase that car but because i couldnt drive it, or get a ride in it I walked away and never looked back.