go lease a NEW car, then you have NO issues and NOTHING to worry about.

 

One of my boys leased a 991 Turbo.. $2850/month. So the only thing I'd worry about was my wife killing me.

 

That is the $66 thousand dollar question.

What is a "good car" to buy? One that has low miles and has been babied in the garage? Or one that has been driven daily, modded, with service hx?

From what I can decipher, a good PPI and prior service hx is not a guarantee the vehicle will be solid unfortunately. Seems like the PPI is useful as a negotiation tool to see what the car currently needs, and everything after that re: maintenance is a crap shoot.

I could be wrong, but it almost seems like the best predictor for a reliable 996tt is a lack of history of anything going wrong.

997.1tt has the same fundamental engine/transmission as the 996tt; I know people with 997.1tt with cracked rods that require engine rebuild, 2nd gear pop out, blown coolant pipes, etc.

996tt seems to be the smarter buy since it's about $25k less than 997.1tt

OP, given this is the 2nd time around, what things would you be on the look out for?

 

If I leased a 991 Turbo at $3k/month, my wife would likely have ensured the end of my manhood.

 

A lot of what you said is dead on. Finding complete service history and not finding an encyclopedia of work, so one that doesn't look like it's been a pain. I would definitely drive it hard, check boost, coast down a steep hill in 2nd, use ALL of the electronics just to make sure there aren't hidden shorts or electrical gremlins... I think one final thing and it's pretty subjective, buying from someone you trust. I didn't trust the guy I bought my first one from, so lesson learned.

Yeah for sure, my boy that leased the new turbo is single, no kids and no ex so he answers to himself only.. my wife would chop me into small pieces and stuff me in the boot of the car.

 

Don't overpay a few thousand just for the privilege of paying another few thousand for the CarMax warranty, unless you are somehow related to Doug DeMuro and are getting a kickback on the side from CarMax. You can pay correct market value for a good solid car and add an extended warranty from any good aftermarket company of your choice. If you are doing that you might as well go to a CPO option (maybe 08s still qualify).


I'd also add to only get the 997 if you want the 997. I love my 996TT and I saw zero reason for me to pay up to get into the 997.

 

my first year of cpo coverage that pcna ponied up was +14k. not much to think about there

i cant even remember how much they paid out on my 993, but i'm sure glad it wasn't me

..and this is the only the second used car I've had in 25++ years. so i'm used to loaners and haggling with svc managers and even PCNA themselves. i've gone soft though, but have a tech on full time retainer now LOL

good luck, i'd take whoever just said get a new one and just lease its advice. it's the least expensive route for sure, if equity in a toy isn't an issue ( and it shouldn't be ).

as for me i wanted something i could thrash daily with impunity and like you, i had a 96t already so i pretty much knew the associated run costs. they are not the same for the guys that keep them and driven mostly on sundays. but every day is sunday for me and will be for you if ya live long enough lol.

good luck but if you can? agree, definitely get one warrantied, i know nothing of carmax etc, only new and cpo. GL

 

How long is that lease for and what down= would pay for a 996tt and normal maintenance for quite a few years? I personally would never lease a vehicle unless its a write off. Admit is easy with no headaches.

 

I think one of the great things about 911s is that often when something does break, there is a replacement part that not only fixes the car, but makes it a better car. It takes a bit of the sting out of it when you get a fix and upgrade at the same time.

Of course this doesn't apply if you are the purist, all original type.

 

you can probably get into a 991s ( no slouch, but no turbo either ) with 5k down and write it off as a company lease 36 mo's or whatever... been done forever.

agree with the above comment also that breakage is opportunity to upgrade, absolutely. i rarely fix what ain't broke.

well.... hah

 

Great article In the new pca issue about an 02 996 turbo with over 550,000 miles on the odometer. Never any mechanical issues on it.

 

if you want reliability get a bone stock 996t with under 40k miles and drive it on the weekends. never mod it. if you want mods then get ready to pay for them. its a 15 yr old car. just bringing the car to acceptable standards with new rubber fluids and suspension rubber can run a few grand. add in coolant fittings, radiators etc and the cost keeps getting higher. face it porsches are expensive to maintain. the car was 130k$ new and now 40k$ but maintenance is still for a 130k$ car. spending money is part of the ownership experience. 996 or 997 your going to part with $$. the only porsche that doesn't require any maintenance is the porsche thats never driven

 

sure, and i expect that also, but many many parts replaced? what was their tire count again? 400? lol. all i remember is three fuel pumps

 

Agree less maintenance is required for the weekend car. I do things like air filter-oil change every year and do fuel filter, brake flush etc before scheduled time. I go over car regularly checking for anything needing attention. My point any car kept in above average condition is going to cost.

 

Again, I'm not looking for an Accord but my last 996 made my old Range Rover look dependable... not what I expected. I understand that basic maintenance on a $130k car is going to cost more but I wasn't happy about the constant problems(outside of maintenance), huge difference.