Discussion
996 911's
I quite fancy a C2 or C4 Manual 996 I would rather it be the 3.4 from a price point and a little bit less of a problem (so I'm told)
Will/can I get a decent one for 11/15k? They will all be approaching 100k or some even over 100k, is this a ticking timebomb or will I actually find a nice reliable car for this money?
When I looked a few years ago there were several clear dogs out there but these days it seems they all look quite presentable!
Any input is appreciated
I quite fancy a C2 or C4 Manual 996 I would rather it be the 3.4 from a price point and a little bit less of a problem (so I'm told)
Will/can I get a decent one for 11/15k? They will all be approaching 100k or some even over 100k, is this a ticking timebomb or will I actually find a nice reliable car for this money?
When I looked a few years ago there were several clear dogs out there but these days it seems they all look quite presentable!
Any input is appreciated
mirandamilly said:
I bought one 3 years ago, which had a Hartech rebuild. Used daily and problem free. Amazing value at £12,000.
I guess that's the issue, very few have had Hartech rebuilds (my old one did which I sold) Having said that very few are for sale with rebuilds so they can't be that unreliable!
I'm biased (996 3.4) but I think yes Def.
Some people get scared above 100k miles but as long as it's been looked after you should be fine. Any potential problems would have shown up by now.
Just get a PPI. Actually, I say that but I didn't - I just bought the first one I saw! 2 years later and it hasn't missed a beat.
Some people get scared above 100k miles but as long as it's been looked after you should be fine. Any potential problems would have shown up by now.
Just get a PPI. Actually, I say that but I didn't - I just bought the first one I saw! 2 years later and it hasn't missed a beat.
skinny said:
I'm biased (996 3.4) but I think yes Def.
Some people get scared above 100k miles but as long as it's been looked after you should be fine. Any potential problems would have shown up by now.
Just get a PPI. Actually, I say that but I didn't - I just bought the first one I saw! 2 years later and it hasn't missed a beat.
Likewise!! The plan was to not buy the first car I saw, and get a PPI, but a very tidy C2 3.4 manual coupe came up for sale so I bought it! It's low miles and has recently had lots of money spent on it, new clutch, brakes, suspension, rads etc etc. I will get a PPI done though. Some people get scared above 100k miles but as long as it's been looked after you should be fine. Any potential problems would have shown up by now.
Just get a PPI. Actually, I say that but I didn't - I just bought the first one I saw! 2 years later and it hasn't missed a beat.
ForzaGilles said:
Likewise!! The plan was to not buy the first car I saw, and get a PPI, but a very tidy C2 3.4 manual coupe came up for sale so I bought it! It's low miles and has recently had lots of money spent on it, new clutch, brakes, suspension, rads etc etc. I will get a PPI done though.
Out of interest mate was it from a specialist or private sale?Had my 3.4 for 7.5yrs, they are fantastic cars.
Hartech rebuild is desirable but not essential, read the thread on here about the 996 with mega miles on it for starters.
As others have said, find one you like & get it inspected, sadly they have reached a price point where people have started 'barrying' them & generally not looking after them properly, they are more expensive to run than the purchase price would have some believe! Saying that, they are not mega expensive either.
Hartech rebuild is desirable but not essential, read the thread on here about the 996 with mega miles on it for starters.
As others have said, find one you like & get it inspected, sadly they have reached a price point where people have started 'barrying' them & generally not looking after them properly, they are more expensive to run than the purchase price would have some believe! Saying that, they are not mega expensive either.
Bought mine July 2015 ( manual 996 3.4 C2 with aero kit ) and paid £12,500
The car had 100K on the miles but had received a replacement engine from porsche at 28K.
Only outlay has been on consumables ( discs / pads / exhaust ).... utterly reliable daily driver.
Mine is 2000 so creeps in on classic insurance and cheap tax into the bargain..... highly recommended
The car had 100K on the miles but had received a replacement engine from porsche at 28K.
Only outlay has been on consumables ( discs / pads / exhaust ).... utterly reliable daily driver.
Mine is 2000 so creeps in on classic insurance and cheap tax into the bargain..... highly recommended
ForzaGilles said:
Likewise!! The plan was to not buy the first car I saw, and get a PPI, but a very tidy C2 3.4 manual coupe came up for sale so I bought it! It's low miles and has recently had lots of money spent on it, new clutch, brakes, suspension, rads etc etc. I will get a PPI done though.
That's the sort of car to buy. As others have said, at the price points we are talking about, and bearing in mind that these were below £9k not so long ago, maintenance is often neglected. Even at indie prices one can easily sink £5,000 into rectifying all the faults. I would also concur that just because a car has low miles., this doesn't mean it won't have, or develop, any engine maladies. Lots of city driving could manifest itself by piston slap at idle,for example. So paradoxically, the engine is actually more worn by that than by lots of motorway miles.The 3.4 is no doubt a safer buy. Plenty of 3.6s still go pop even now. Which is why I bought a 3.4...could've had any number of cheap 3.6s at the time.
rubystone said:
That's the sort of car to buy. As others have said, at the price points we are talking about, and bearing in mind that these were below £9k not so long ago, maintenance is often neglected. Even at indie prices one can easily sink £5,000 into rectifying all the faults. I would also concur that just because a car has low miles., this doesn't mean it won't have, or develop, any engine maladies. Lots of city driving could manifest itself by piston slap at idle,for example. So paradoxically, the engine is actually more worn by that than by lots of motorway miles.
The 3.4 is no doubt a safer buy. Plenty of 3.6s still go pop even now. Which is why I bought a 3.4...could've had any number of cheap 3.6s at the time.
Yes, I agree with you re mileage. It was more the fact that it has recently had lots of money spent on it, with lots of key parts being replaced that sold it to me. It's also just a very clean looking, tidy car. PPI booked for next week, fingers crossed! It'll be interesting to see the over-rev data....The 3.4 is no doubt a safer buy. Plenty of 3.6s still go pop even now. Which is why I bought a 3.4...could've had any number of cheap 3.6s at the time.
Would you bother with a borescope, Rubystone?
Having always wanted a 911 and armed with no direct experience and a bit of interweb research I bought a C4 manual 3.4 2001 with 80K miles privately just over a year ago for £10k. It had quite a bit of work done before I bought it - e.g. brakes, clutch, ims, coffin arms, suspension. Not the most desireable but I like it. It's a tidy example and everything works as it should and I've had no problems. Engine is strong, doesn't use any fluids and doesn't smoke. It's my first one, I do tinker and have found it's surprising well engineered. There was some wear to the bolsters so I did tart the front seats up with a leather care/dye type kit which worked amazingly well. I was going to buy a more expensive 997 but glad I didn't. I would have thought you could achieve your aim.
Cpt Stirling said:
Having always wanted a 911 and armed with no direct experience and a bit of interweb research I bought a C4 manual 3.4 2001 with 80K miles privately just over a year ago for £10k. It had quite a bit of work done before I bought it - e.g. brakes, clutch, ims, coffin arms, suspension. Not the most desireable but I like it. It's a tidy example and everything works as it should and I've had no problems. Engine is strong, doesn't use any fluids and doesn't smoke. It's my first one, I do tinker and have found it's surprising well engineered. There was some wear to the bolsters so I did tart the front seats up with a leather care/dye type kit which worked amazingly well. I was going to buy a more expensive 997 but glad I didn't. I would have thought you could achieve your aim.
10k is a bargain, well done
ForzaGilles said:
Yes, I agree with you re mileage. It was more the fact that it has recently had lots of money spent on it, with lots of key parts being replaced that sold it to me. It's also just a very clean looking, tidy car. PPI booked for next week, fingers crossed! It'll be interesting to see the over-rev data....
Would you bother with a borescope, Rubystone?
Have you already bought the car? Fwiw I didn't bother with a PPI when I bought my 996. These are often an excuse for them to scare you with lots of issues that are without real foundation Would you bother with a borescope, Rubystone?
rubystone said:
Have you already bought the car? Fwiw I didn't bother with a PPI when I bought my 996. These are often an excuse for them to scare you with lots of issues that are without real foundation
Yes, got the car a couple of weeks ago, and it's booked in at Dove House for a PPI in a couple of weeks. I was thinking that as it's a 3.4 with 55k miles, it's not worth getting a borescope done. Dove House have said it's a 111 point check, which sounds similar to the OPC one?ForzaGilles said:
Yes, got the car a couple of weeks ago, and it's booked in at Dove House for a PPI in a couple of weeks. I was thinking that as it's a 3.4 with 55k miles, it's not worth getting a borescope done. Dove House have said it's a 111 point check, which sounds similar to the OPC one?
Aren't they a car sales place or have they started to offer servicing? If you're going to bother, use a recognised and respected specialist. Even if you need to travel a little bit further.Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff