Porsche help requested

Peter Coomaraswamy

Peter Coomaraswamy

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Well, we have all heard of "buyer's remorse" but I have "seller's remorse". About a month ago I sold my beloved '86 911 Targa Carrera and I am really bummed out. I feel like a family member has gone away- no comments on that one please- Anyhow, I started poking around my local craigslist and found a 2001 Turbo and was hoping to get some input. I really don't know that much about Porsches, my '86 needed very little work and I only drove it on occasion but it was always so smooth and well behaved although a little heavy on the steering. I would be grateful if some of you knowledgable Porsche folks would render an opinion on the car attached;

Thanks!

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5183021737.html
 
Most people agree that you can do better than a 996

But that's not a bad price for that car.

HTH
James
(96 993) + Sahara :) I drove Sahara to work today
 
I don't know much about Porsches, but AWD and Austin Texas seems like you are dragging around needless complexity. Perhaps there is no drivability penalty with Porsche AWD?
I am partial to Caymans myself.
 
I'd stay away from the 996 purely based on looks (cannot say anything as to how mechanically solid these actually are) and desirability.
You can pickup a 997 S (pre-facelift) for about the same money, if you fancy a modern Porsche (and way better looks).
 
i drive a 997s as a daily driver. buy a 997. the 996 and the 986 (boxster) had issues with an intermediate shaft bearing ... very expensive to fix if (when) the bearing goes bad. definitely an issue with the 986, i assume the same is true with the 996 (same engine design - just different displacement) ... you have to split the engine halves to replace the bearing ... read very expensive.

there are 2 versions of the 997 - the c1 (2005 thru 2008) and the c2 (2009 thru mid 2012). within the 997 there are various sub models and all come either in coupe or convertible ... and there was a targa variant (but not like the old one) -
the carrera (350hp) - 2 wheel drive
the carrera 4 - 4 wheel drive
the carrera S - (385 hp) - 2 wheel drive
carrera 4s - 4 wheel drive
turbo
gt3

there are some differences between the c1 and c2 - the side mirrors are bigger in the c2, the lighting is different ... the automatic in the c1 is 5 sp tiptronic, and pdk 7 speed in the c2.

what makes the most difference in costs are the options.

i love the looks of the 911, but i prefer the drive of the 987 cayman s. but if you get a 987, get the c2 version ... goes up from 295 to 320 hp
 
Last edited:
Nicad said:
I don't know much about Porsches, but AWD and Austin Texas seems like you are dragging around needless complexity. Perhaps there is no drivability penalty with Porsche AWD?
I am partial to Caymans myself.
Click to expand...

no drivability issues with AWD on a 911 carrera 4 or 4s. there are some wonderful hills around Austin ...
 
Well, I'm no Porsche expert. And if I were to buy one, chances are it would be a 914 to make use of the d-jet factoids I've accumulated!!!
But based on some seat time and some reading a 996 turbo is lot of car. Rather an ordinary guy's super car - for ordinary guy's money. BTW, the engine is entirely different than a regular 996 - so doesn't share the 996/986 problems. (But I won't try and argue that it's a looker...)
Here is a nice read. http://jalopnik.com/here-s-why-the-996-turbo-is-the-best-porsche-911-you-ca-1665776219
 
yep 4.0 seconds 0-60. my 997s w/ pdk is 385hp and 0-60 in 4.1 seconds ... if you press the sport chrono plus button. just sit back and nail the accelerator, the pdk shifts at redline. god is it quick.
 
Buy one

No IMS bearing problems in turbos and GT3s.

The turbos are a ton of car for the money.

Keith Martin recently bought a 996T for that very reason.

A 997 is an even better car, although the early non turbo 997s also have IMS bearing issue.

Scott
 
Thanks for all the input, I'm going to look at her on Friday evening but she may be gone as someone is looking at her on Thursday. There are allot out there so I think I'll eventually find a good one. Sorry to pollute the water but I'll post here again if I find an interesting one.
 
GM motors

So shop for a nice 996 with bad engine and get the kit. Didn't know about these. Neat!
But their website also shows LS conversions for a 914. Geez! Spam in a can...
 
996 Turbo

While some don't like the looks of the 996 Turbo, I think everyone respects the performance. This car looks like a good one. If everything checks out it should be a safe place to put your money and a blast to drive.
 
That's the great thing about buying a Porsche - it's basically a "free loaner car" if you buy it at the bottom of the market. And the 996 is definitely at the bottom of the market.

Cheers
James
 
914

Twistinglane, yell if you get serious...74 914-4 no rust project here in NC land...dry storage since paint in 95, long story...I don't need eight cars.
Dave V. in NC
 
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