I found a 996 in my price range and figured i'd bring it to this board for advice. Please review the the C4 Cab in this link and give your opinion. I've been approved for financing and warranty, but i have some reservations about the high miles and the k&n air intake which has been modded on.

I'm interested in

1. what to look for on the test drive
2. what to expect from a 996 with miles in this range
3. any other caveats
4. if it just looks to be a bad deal

also

1. how much would a porsche dealer charge to review the car prior to purchase.
2. is there any way to find out if the rear main oil seal has been replaced. I see that that is a problem for the 1999s.
3. and, honestly, i rake in only 52k a year (no kids or wife, don't plan on either)... will this thing destroy me? I've looked into boxsters and i'm nervous about the mid-engine, i think it'd be more of a problem than a 996. and the insurance cost difference is negligable between the two.

any info helps.

*I had to repost this because I originally posted it in the 997 forum and couldn't figure out how to move it.*

 

I would only buy a higher mileage car that has all the documentation to go along with it. You need to go to and independent Porsche mechanic and get a pre-purchase inspection done. Make the sale contingent on that after you have negotiated the price.

The seats and shifter look pretty rough, but the rest looks good. It has the leather dash and interior panels which is an unusual and nice feature and from what I can see they look to be in good condition. You don't get new looking for $20k.

If the care hasn't blown up by now it probably won't. However, higher miles should mean more frequent repairs and Porsche parts cost more than Honda parts. Many things are easy to do yourself though. The serpentine belt is a 15 minute job. Brakes are a piece of cake. Oil is simple. I've been able to do most everything myself and this is the first car I've owned I can say that about. This car is definitely easier to work on than the Boxster.