Hello all, I am currently looking around for a new car and I have several in mind, one being a 996 Porsche. I have found several in the range I am looking to spend but have noticed most of them do have some mileage on them. I am looking for advice on what to look for or look out for while inspecting and driving this car. I am interested in the 99+ body style, and it will most likely be an n/a model as prices for a Turbo are still out of my range. The car I am looking for must also be a 6 spd manual trans.

I have also expressed interested in a Maserati Coupe, however they seem to be very difficult to find with a 6 spd. Also in mind is an NSX, but I would much rather buy a much newer model car if possible.

After doing some research I have discovered many people have had issues with the heads on their 996 cracking and damaging the engine, also many threads on clutch issues. Obviously I am on a budget and am looking to get into a car that is going to last a long time with no major issues. I do realize these types of cars are much more expensive to maintain and service than other cars, but I do pay to play. I just do not want to get involved with an expensive headache. Also it should be noted this car WILL be daily driven. This will be my go to car, I may also look into a beater car to get me through winter and rainy days, but for the most part this car will do the majority of my driving.

I am new to Porsches but not new to the car world. I would be coming from several different makes and models of various different cars including Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe, pair of Evo 8's, E46 M3 BMW, 410RWHP Ws6.

I thank you for any sincere help in my mission to find the "right" one, weather its a Porsche, BMW, or whatever else catches my eye. Thank you.

 

There are issues with the 996, as there are with any car, but in general it's a pretty reliable vehicle when maintained properly. Yes the odd cracked head does occur, and the periodic IMS bearing does detonate, but the odds are strongly in your favor in spite of the odd horror story. The main issues you will hear about:

- RMS oil leak. Honestly, I haven't heard much about this recently. Even so it was more of an annoyance than a serious issue.
- IMS bearing failure. Yes, this is an issue, in that if it occurs your engine is pretty much toast. **However, completely avoidable. Budget for an IMS retrofit, or IMS Guardian as part of your purchase plan (assuming this hasn't already been done to the vehicle in question) and you're good to go.
- Early 996's seemed to suffer from a higher incidence of cylinder wall cracks. Again, haven't heard too much about this recently.

In general, I would restrict my search to cars that have a complete service history, and I would get a detailed PPI before purchase. Also, I would look for a vehicle with moderate mileage - garage queens *seem* to have higher incidence of catastrophic failure.

 

I agree with Fozzy's comments.

I drive my 996 every day and it is generally very reliable. Repairs can be expensive, so it's a good idea to have a few thousand dollars in your car repair fund when something happens. Also - I'm not sure what you're talking about with clutch problems. This isn't a common issue for the 996.

That being said, a 996 will be in the range of 7 - 13 years old. Any car in this age range will be less reliable than a newer car. If you are really concerned about reliability for everyday use, you should think about this. There will be times when your 996 is in the shop. It's not like a Honda or Toyota or other Japanese driving appliance.

Good luck with your search and have fun.

 

Thank you for such fast, insightful responses.

A question I should have posted in my original post: What are the main differences between the 2S and 4S. Obviously 2S is RWD and 4S is AWD, however, is one generally more liked than the other? Does one model suffer from more issues than the other?

 

Whats been said here is pretty much spot on. To be sure get a PPI done at the local dealr or a good indy, on the IMS, well I would change it out just for peace of mind, runs about $1800 installed and while there throw on a new RMS $45.
Mileage, well the cars that have sat for long periods will have more problems with seals and they depend on the oil to keep them in good shape, and cars that sit tend to gather water in the oil and brake fluid. So for a '99 or 2000 with 80k on it ran about 6k per year. Mt '03 has 33k on it and I drive here every weekend and 1-2 times a week to work. And yes if you do the maintainance they are reliable. Oil change every 5k! LN engineering makes a spin on filter adapter well worth the $150, better filtration and easy changes.

 

Pick up a 02+ and budget IMS/RMS + clutch install for ~2.5k. Or look for a car with similar things already done by dealership on purchase.

 

There are a LOT of generous people on here lately. Considering how many times this topic has come up, search will be your best friend to say it nicely.

 

All relevant info on here, and +1 to what Alpine says. Even if you don't prefer the search function on here, google for it and then type 6speedonline or rennlist after it, and you will more than likely find your answer. Anymore, there are very few topics relevant to 996's that have not been discussed.

That said, enjoy your search. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought the same kind of car, but would have waited until I found one with full leather, I think that is a great option that really makes the interior stand out and age gracefully, just my .02 .

 

I've had 4 996s and 1 NSX. The only car I regret selling is the NSX. I currently have a 996TT cab which is the bomb, but I still miss that NSX every day. I wouldn't worry about an older Acura - they are the easiest to maintain, most reliable supercar out there.

Either way, buy what you love. I loved my NSX, and I love my Turbo now.

By the way, in addition to all wheel drive, the 4S has the wide body turbo look. The curves alone are worth the price of admittance.

Good luck!

 

There isn't a 2S in the 996 series. The only cars with the "S" designation are the 2002 - 2005 C4S.

 

If you can get a C4S, I'd go with that, but that's what I have so I'm partial.

 

I was in the same boat as you. Couldn't decide on the NSX or the 996. One gentleman put it to me this way "The NSX is a collector's car but you will still get a draw from the younger import crowd. The Porsche is life changing. It has strong pedigre and demands a level of respect." At first, I didn't really buy into the comments, but since owning my 04 C4S for the past few months I think it was the best decision I made. I chose an M5 over the NSX years ago and still visited the NSX forum as much as the M5 forum. Now....I haven't been to the NSX forum since. I think my lust for that car has ceased since Porsche ownership. Oh....and before you decide on just a 996....be sure to look at the C4S. Nothing against the NB 996's but nothing looks sexier than the Wide body's backside!!

 

If you are even remotely on a budget, which it sounds like you are, then you should definitely forget about the Maserati! Even though the entry price on a 2002-2005 Cambiocorsa is in the low $20k, the maintenance on that thing is CRAZY! It packs a Ferrari V-8…enough said. Porsches can be expensive, but not that expensive. Most of the maintenance stuff can be done at home and parts are readily available. So while not as easy or cheap as the NSX, it's a fraction of that Maserati.

 

+1 You also want to think about your proximity to service staff that know the vehicle. I can't imagine that there are *that* many Ferrari/Maserati service centers in NE PA, which means you could be stuck towing that thing to Philly or NY in the event of a breakdown. As a daily driver, that could be an issue.

 

Respect! That's what a Porsche garners. It's long history on and off the track is legendary. When I drive my C4S and go into the store, when I come out there is almost always someone looking at her and commenting on what a car she is. The C4S has one of the nicest backsides going. Nothing against the NSX, but it's not a 911
Also with the C4s you can feel her "dig in" when sport driving around corners, like on/off ramps with big curves.