I bought mine when it was five years old with 9,000 miles. I used it as my daily driver regardless of the weather and it now has 217,000 miles. It has been amazingly reliable and it's only left me stranded twice once when the fuel pump gave out and once when a recently replaced battery developed a fault. The only major replacements it is needed were a air conditioning compressor valve cover gaskets twice and a leaky master cylinder. Always maintained on time using OEM or better parts first at the dealership and then by a knowledgeable Porsche specialist. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere.
Seems to have basic spec, mine has traction control, tequipment, sub at the front and the extra speakers in the door, which yours doesn't have, rear wiper which is a novelty really, and a sunroof, which I occasionally use. When I bought mine, I had one big issue with the gear cable that was badly worn, Porsche actually changed the design so when I got it changed the ball on the gearbox kept popping out, so had to pop it back in until the specialist I used fabricated metal to keep it all in place. The only other major expense I've had is a misfire on cylinder 5 so just changed all coil packs and spark plugs, which is a real pain to do, but do-able. Otherwise I've just been driving it and doing regular oil changes... it does need some tyres and the handbrake sorting which I won't be tackling. As others have said, they're not too bad to work on yourself. I had a 986 Boxster before this and did a lot of the maintenance myself. The suspension work was very do-able in a day or so, I changed all 4 control arms and the drop links. You can do the brake lines yourself, I used a local garage on my Boxster and used copper brake pipes, Porsche and the specialists use the steel brake pipes, which will corrode again... a little money maker I guess. If the RMS is leaking, I dont think its a massive issue unless its dripping on the floor. It is good to have a decent local garage you can use or reliable specialists for the major jobs though. And youtube tutorials are your best friend!
Complete case of "loss aversion" which only grows as we invest in something we own. Looking back on this after watching the 2024 best buy options you laid out makes it really clear. Sadly know it only because of having lived the very same thing myself.... Ahh, human nature......
Do it ,,,, I have a 97 Manual Carrera and as others have said, they are pretty easy to do a lot yourself, particularly given the amount of tutorials that exist on youtube. Get a good jack, jack stands and a good tool kit. You'll love the process. I am now looking to buy a set of Ohlins Road & Track coilovers for my 996 and looking forward to the job., A silver porsche 911 with a flat six is a thing to behold ... go for it!.. Pro tip ... Go and watch the videos from friends green porsche, they alnost instruct you how to fix the car ... I would actually call Luke and ask for a quote from him, they do that complete brake line & supension overhaul literally daily...
1) You also appear to have a failing first stage fan temp switch, judging by the high operating temperature shown. 2) A priority should be to fix the emissions control solenoid. If the car runs rich, it will dilute the oil with fuel, which will lead to bore scoring.
The only way you will keep costs down is to do everything you can yourself. Indy labour soon adds up at £90+ per hour. Suspension arms are straightforward, brake lines are just removal and then manipulation of new lines using a £30 tool plus a flaring tool to make ends plus bleeding. If you having the RMS done get the one pipe that goes over the trans done at the same time when the engine and box are lowered. Tips cannot have the RMS done in situ the engine has to be lowered too.
Thanks mate. Totally agree, ordinarily with something like this I'd use an indy specialist but it just isn't worth it given the cost of the car. Thankfully I've got a few handy mates who'll be able to help out so fingers crossed a fair amount can be done by us.
@wisetorque you better read up on how to clean the drainage points in the sunroof and the frunk. If they are clogged, water will get in the cabin. It's an easy job. Take the front bumper cover off and clean the rads. That car looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet. Is it worth restoring? I wouldn't. Unless you have a lot of disposable income. It's a tiptronic anyway. Part it out and move on.
Be careful with the leak into the passenger footwell. The immobiliser module is under the passenger seat and if it gets wet you will be into a big bill
Thanks, it was something I checked whilst looking at the car. Its been garaged since then and I pulled up all the carpet I could and wacked the dehumidifier in to dry it all out. I have a feeling it is coming from a dodgy door card membrane. Hopefully get it sorted soon as it needs a wash...
Usually this is due to blocked drainage pipes from the roof. There are a couple of them that come out of the wheel arch. If blocked they leak in the footwell. Super common on 996/997s
The big question is "If you did go for the PPI would you have bought it" my guess is "No" I think you're going to be into it by around 14k and then you'll need to start on the bodywork. I looked at a 2002 manual 996 earlier in the year, surprisingly it was in excellent condition body wise and I'm very very picky, it had done 106k miles but a glance underneath and it was dripping oil so I walked away. I now think I may have been a bit too hasty, especially after seeing your report, it was priced at £10995. I'm still searching. Good Luck.
I totally agree, if I had intended to keep it from the start then I would have done a PPI. I've done so on every car like this in the past. In this instance it was just supposed to be a bit of summer fun but I like it a little too much.. If you're looking to keep a car for a long time I think the best advice is to always get the possible example for your budget and if that means waiting around for a while, then so be it. I'm sure you'll find the one for you soon enough!
Well worth spending the money. Replacement of brake lines which last another 25 years. RMS seal could lead to IMS replacement. Did you get any service history with the car?
I think by the looks of it, it has been a job a lot of the previous owners have been avoiding... Service history was actually okay, just a a bit patchy. Thankfully it had the IMS done in 2021. I thought the RMS didn't cause any long term issues if untreated?
If you love the car and can see yourself keeping it for 5 years or so then start the jobs. If not I'd sell it on. Nothing worse than spending out on maintenance and then having to sell it to the next owner will benefit from all your efforts at both a financial and personal loss to you.
Hmmm difficult one. I always like a project and I'm not in a rush. Totally agree about the other owner benefiting though. I had that experience with my 981 Cayman, I'd just spent a fair chunk on it and then got rid. Hurt me a little bit!
Good luck with the 996, being 25 years old it’s going to have problems. Being realistic you may want to sell it as is. A lot of them jobs listed can be done by non-Porsche mechanics, they are standard and you may find you will get a much better rate if you do proceed. From experience the car will continue to cost you money as there seems a lot to do, but why not get a second opinion?
The sensible thing would probably be to get rid... but I like a project. Totally agree about the non-specialist jobs, already looking at where to save. Thanks for watching!
Buy second hand parts to keep the costs down. Not a financially viable project but you’ll learn a lot. More rewarding than watching UA-cam videos whilst sat on the sofa 🤓
Good idea! I've just been looking at non-oem parts but second hand will be useful as well. Totally agree, definitely a project out of passion rather than profit!
And you think you can shift faster than a tiptronic? Dream on. I own one and it’s seriously quick with no risk of over revs because you cannot over rev an engine with a tip.
All the bills on that car at that price leads to an interesting conundrum so if you want a video idea to help us answer the ‘Is it worth it’ question you could (so we don’t have to) have a look at similar cars at more money to see if there’s an optimum price for a budget 996 not needing so much work. Asking for a ̶ f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶. purely selfish reasons!
I bought mine when it was five years old with 9,000 miles.
I used it as my daily driver regardless of the weather and it now has 217,000 miles.
It has been amazingly reliable and it's only left me stranded twice once when the fuel pump gave out and once when a recently replaced battery developed a fault.
The only major replacements it is needed were a air conditioning compressor valve cover gaskets twice and a leaky master cylinder.
Always maintained on time using OEM or better parts first at the dealership and then by a knowledgeable Porsche specialist.
I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere.
Thanks for watching! Great to hear these engines can go for miles. I think this needs a fair bit of TLC but I'm keen to get her back to tip top shape!
Seems to have basic spec, mine has traction control, tequipment, sub at the front and the extra speakers in the door, which yours doesn't have, rear wiper which is a novelty really, and a sunroof, which I occasionally use.
When I bought mine, I had one big issue with the gear cable that was badly worn, Porsche actually changed the design so when I got it changed the ball on the gearbox kept popping out, so had to pop it back in until the specialist I used fabricated metal to keep it all in place.
The only other major expense I've had is a misfire on cylinder 5 so just changed all coil packs and spark plugs, which is a real pain to do, but do-able.
Otherwise I've just been driving it and doing regular oil changes... it does need some tyres and the handbrake sorting which I won't be tackling.
As others have said, they're not too bad to work on yourself. I had a 986 Boxster before this and did a lot of the maintenance myself. The suspension work was very do-able in a day or so, I changed all 4 control arms and the drop links. You can do the brake lines yourself, I used a local garage on my Boxster and used copper brake pipes, Porsche and the specialists use the steel brake pipes, which will corrode again... a little money maker I guess.
If the RMS is leaking, I dont think its a massive issue unless its dripping on the floor.
It is good to have a decent local garage you can use or reliable specialists for the major jobs though. And youtube tutorials are your best friend!
Complete case of "loss aversion" which only grows as we invest in something we own. Looking back on this after watching the 2024 best buy options you laid out makes it really clear. Sadly know it only because of having lived the very same thing myself.... Ahh, human nature......
Do it ,,,, I have a 97 Manual Carrera and as others have said, they are pretty easy to do a lot yourself, particularly given the amount of tutorials that exist on youtube. Get a good jack, jack stands and a good tool kit. You'll love the process. I am now looking to buy a set of Ohlins Road & Track coilovers for my 996 and looking forward to the job., A silver porsche 911 with a flat six is a thing to behold ... go for it!.. Pro tip ... Go and watch the videos from friends green porsche, they alnost instruct you how to fix the car ... I would actually call Luke and ask for a quote from him, they do that complete brake line & supension overhaul literally daily...
Thank for watching! and I'll definitely check out that channel. Cheers for the advice.
1) You also appear to have a failing first stage fan temp switch, judging by the high operating temperature shown. 2) A priority should be to fix the emissions control solenoid. If the car runs rich, it will dilute the oil with fuel, which will lead to bore scoring.
Thanks for that, potentially another thing to add to the ever growing list... and 100% on the cam solenoid it is already the No.1 priority!
The only way you will keep costs down is to do everything you can yourself. Indy labour soon adds up at £90+ per hour. Suspension arms are straightforward, brake lines are just removal and then manipulation of new lines using a £30 tool plus a flaring tool to make ends plus bleeding. If you having the RMS done get the one pipe that goes over the trans done at the same time when the engine and box are lowered. Tips cannot have the RMS done in situ the engine has to be lowered too.
Thanks mate. Totally agree, ordinarily with something like this I'd use an indy specialist but it just isn't worth it given the cost of the car. Thankfully I've got a few handy mates who'll be able to help out so fingers crossed a fair amount can be done by us.
@wisetorque you better read up on how to clean the drainage points in the sunroof and the frunk. If they are clogged, water will get in the cabin. It's an easy job. Take the front bumper cover off and clean the rads. That car looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet. Is it worth restoring? I wouldn't. Unless you have a lot of disposable income. It's a tiptronic anyway. Part it out and move on.
What's the saying? Nothing more expensive than a cheap german car?
😂 let's hope I can save some money somewhere on it!
Be careful with the leak into the passenger footwell. The immobiliser module is under the passenger seat and if it gets wet you will be into a big bill
Thanks, it was something I checked whilst looking at the car. Its been garaged since then and I pulled up all the carpet I could and wacked the dehumidifier in to dry it all out. I have a feeling it is coming from a dodgy door card membrane. Hopefully get it sorted soon as it needs a wash...
Usually this is due to blocked drainage pipes from the roof. There are a couple of them that come out of the wheel arch. If blocked they leak in the footwell. Super common on 996/997s
Yes its the roofs drainage pipes easy fix but do asap
The big question is "If you did go for the PPI would you have bought it" my guess is "No"
I think you're going to be into it by around 14k and then you'll need to start on the bodywork.
I looked at a 2002 manual 996 earlier in the year, surprisingly it was in excellent condition body wise and I'm very very picky, it had done 106k miles but a glance underneath and it was dripping oil so I walked away. I now think I may have been a bit too hasty, especially after seeing your report, it was priced at £10995. I'm still searching. Good Luck.
I totally agree, if I had intended to keep it from the start then I would have done a PPI. I've done so on every car like this in the past. In this instance it was just supposed to be a bit of summer fun but I like it a little too much..
If you're looking to keep a car for a long time I think the best advice is to always get the possible example for your budget and if that means waiting around for a while, then so be it. I'm sure you'll find the one for you soon enough!
@@WiseTorque I did do a ppi and still managed to get stung.... not always a sure thing..
Well worth spending the money. Replacement of brake lines which last another 25 years. RMS seal could lead to IMS replacement. Did you get any service history with the car?
I think by the looks of it, it has been a job a lot of the previous owners have been avoiding... Service history was actually okay, just a a bit patchy. Thankfully it had the IMS done in 2021. I thought the RMS didn't cause any long term issues if untreated?
If you love the car and can see yourself keeping it for 5 years or so then start the jobs. If not I'd sell it on. Nothing worse than spending out on maintenance and then having to sell it to the next owner will benefit from all your efforts at both a financial and personal loss to you.
Hmmm difficult one. I always like a project and I'm not in a rush. Totally agree about the other owner benefiting though. I had that experience with my 981 Cayman, I'd just spent a fair chunk on it and then got rid. Hurt me a little bit!
@@WiseTorqueYou didn’t read the family planning leaflet properly. Page 22 - don’t feed the Cayman expensive toys.
I know, who reads past page 4 or 5?
These are easy car to work on, don't be scared, a decent tool kit and away you go!.
Parts aren't too expensive either
That's the plan, fingers crossed anyway 🤣
And the IMS bearing? It´s OK? It was been replaced? Pay attention to this issue. Thankyou for the review.
Yes, IMS was done 2-3 years ago. So hopefully no issues with this. Just everything else... haha
Good Luck with the project. I am considering a motorbike or a similar project to yourself! ..... Suckers for pain! right?!
Suckers for pain indeed! I'm confident the pain will be worth it. Good luck with your future project as well!
Don't walk away from this...RUN, if you start digging a hole now you'll end up thinking you can't stop
😂
Good luck with the 996, being 25 years old it’s going to have problems. Being realistic you may want to sell it as is. A lot of them jobs listed can be done by non-Porsche mechanics, they are standard and you may find you will get a much better rate if you do proceed. From experience the car will continue to cost you money as there seems a lot to do, but why not get a second opinion?
The sensible thing would probably be to get rid... but I like a project. Totally agree about the non-specialist jobs, already looking at where to save. Thanks for watching!
Fix it, for the price of a corsa your in a 911! Had my 996.2 C4 tip nearly 5 years and it still give me a buzz 🍳🍳🦆
Agreed you're right. Glad you're still enjoying yours!
Buy second hand parts to keep the costs down. Not a financially viable project but you’ll learn a lot. More rewarding than watching UA-cam videos whilst sat on the sofa 🤓
Good idea! I've just been looking at non-oem parts but second hand will be useful as well. Totally agree, definitely a project out of passion rather than profit!
Please drive with both hands on the wheel!
haha, sorry Nick. Bad habit!
Do you want to sell your seats? I want a set of those. Might make more money breaking this!
haha I'll keep that in mind. Breaking is plan B I think!
@@WiseTorque if it had been an aero you'd have been laughing!
I was the 997th view (where's my internet prize?)
Sorry, you had to be 996th to win a price... 😂
AOS? IMS?
IMS was done a few years back so I doubt it will be that. I've considered the AOS. It needs sorting so will be on a lift fairly soon 😂
I lost interest when I noticed the auto transmission
And you think you can shift faster than a tiptronic? Dream on. I own one and it’s seriously quick with no risk of over revs because you cannot over rev an engine with a tip.
All the bills on that car at that price leads to an interesting conundrum so if you want a video idea to help us answer the ‘Is it worth it’ question you could (so we don’t have to) have a look at similar cars at more money to see if there’s an optimum price for a budget 996 not needing so much work.
Asking for a ̶ f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶. purely selfish reasons!
100% agreed, I'll add the video idea to the list!