I'm not very familiar with the 996's but plan to search for one in the next 6-8 months... After a little looking I really like the look of the gt2 aero kit on the car (front/sides/rear) and think that's my ideal buy for me... any advice on what years to look for, certain problems to be aware of with certain models/types... plus a good place to get the replacement aero kit if i were to just replace it on my own (or are there are other front/side/rear kits that may look better in your opinion?)

Thanks

 

It really depends on your budget and price range. I love my 99 but some people will swear by the 02+, however as the market will show, there is a slight price jump in 02+ for that reason. I would say bang for buck, there is probably no better deal out there right now than a 996TT, if that is in your budget.

I've heard of earlier issues with early 99s (with amber lights), but no real proof to substantiate this, as all 996s could potentially be subject to RMS and other issues. The key is to make sure you get a solid PPi (pre-purchase inspection). It's worth every dollar and will make you feel better about your purchase in the end. They will check a lot of things you can't do yourself, but it also helps to double check things like bumper screws (to see if it has been removed), of course any body damage, and strange idling from the engine.

It also depends on what type of product you want in the end. I actually prefer the 99-01 lights more than the 02+ (turbo) lights, so I never intended on getting a GT2 or Turbo style bumper, which is a common upgrade for many. But since you like the GT2 bumper, you may want to limit your options to 02+ just to save yourself the hassle of having to find new headlights/fenders, etc.

Lastly, I do plan on adding some aero parts to my car in the future, when funds allow. And from rennlist, I was recommended to a company called DPSmotorsports, as their pricing for the aerokits seems reasonable and over the phone at least, the service has been great. They also pre-paint and have taken care of quite a few rennlist customers already.

There are PLENTY of 996s to choose from, and at the price-point they are at now, a great time to join the porsche ranks. But because there were so many different 996 variants over the 5 years, you can never really run out of variety. The key is not to settle. Find an exterior, and interior that you really like, and run the PPI, and if everything works out, pull the trigger.

My last tip is to find something as close to what you want as possible, as Porsche OEM parts are NOT cheap. Don't buy a car planning to change this and that, if there are already models like it on the market (i.e., try to find an existing aero-kit car if that's what you want, as there are many examples for sale right now). Parts and labor for adding interior and exterior bits can add up very very very fast (especially CF).

But whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Good luck!

 

This questions comes up very frequently. The concensus I've seen is that 02+ have the upgraded interior and the 3.6 engine vs. the 3.4 for the older versions. They're all prone to the RMS leak which cost about $1k to fix but is covered by the factory warranty if still in force. It's a good opportunity to have the clutch replaced while they're in there for the RMS. The coolant reservoir is also prone to develop leaks and is not covered by the factory warranty but costs abour $500 or so.

 

What Kelvin said....

 

buy the newest porsche you can aford. <--- that's good advice.

 

That's the smartest thing you can do.

Buy the newest you can afford...

Just get it checked out by a good shop.

 

Topher, nice to see ya here. You've already seen all my suggestions ...

 

Hey man... bimmerforums Topher?

There's a nice 2002 coupe in the fs section for 36k. Seems like a great deal!

 

Got an 02 C2 Cab for sale that has CPO till 100k/Aug 2008. PM me.

 

buy a better car if u have the fund available for the aftermarket aerokits. if u want to properly convert a C2 to a GT2 look u're looking at at least 10k for decent quality parts. the car might look like a GT2 but it won't look right. trust me. that being said, mightbe better to save that money for a newer car or even a Turbo.

 

Second that!

If you could swing it, go for an 03+ car. The rates of catastrophic engine failures seemed to have decreased gradually from 99-02 and dropped very low for the 03+ cars.

 

good advice it looks like my purchase timeframe is going to be probably oct-dec... i wonder if prices will be lower during the winter...

 

prices does drop slightly. It also depends on your location. In California, the prices haven't really reflected much by the seasons.