Which 996?

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Discussion

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
I just made an offer on a 1999 manual coupe - the chap turned me down, so I'm looking again.

Full disclosure is that I'd secretly love a Targa but "the Internet" tells me that they are a blancmange - are they noticeably more bendy than the Coupe?


jkh112

21,889 posts

157 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
I have a facelift 3.6 coupe, owned for 6 years and I still enjoy driving it.
All 996 are getting on a bit now so I wouldn't get too hung up on looking for a particular model or year. Best to keep a more open mind and buy on condition.
I have been in a targa and did not notice much difference to my coupe stiffness wise. If you want a targa then get one.

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
From a quick rifle through the classifieds here and Autotrader two jump out - £18,500 for a 53,000 mile Targa and £13,999 for a 106,000 mile example of the same car.

Both look pretty tidy, both have a full service history - which would you test drive on the weekend if you could only drive one?

CarreraLightweightRacing

2,011 posts

208 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
Not enough detail to ascertain exactly what you look for in a car other than Targa. I'd say the most desirable would be a '98 cable throttle C2 manual in a strong colour preferably with a full Hartech rebuild. But at the other end of the spectrum there are others that I'm sure would recommend a later C4S Cab Tip. No right answer, but to help with your question a few more details would help find you the right solution wink

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
The car I made an offer on today was a 1999 manual 2wd coupe in Lapis blue, sports seats, sports exhaust, 64,000 miles but unfortunately no stamp in the service book since 2012, and a further four year gap in the history before that. I offered £14,500 contingent on a full (including bore-scope) report from Parr's, but he knocked me straight back.

That's the type of car I am looking for, but as I said - Targa has always been a guilty desire. But not if they are rubbish! I've not driven a Targa.

interstellar

3,226 posts

145 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
Worth a look?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122141365297

Car has had hartech rebuild which is good news but I am sure you are aware of
that.

Targa too.

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
I'd buy that tomorrow if it was a manual

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
Dammit said:
I'd buy that tomorrow if it was a manual
Does it have to be a coupe?

Btw, tips are really rubbish. Destroys the pleasure of the 6 speed G50.

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Monday 19th September 2016
quotequote all
I've driven the coupe, I liked it - I'm concerned that a convertible or convertible variant such as the Targa would flex a lot and, much as you say the Tip ruins a fine gerabox I worry that the flex would ruin a fine chassis.

Or I could simply be parroting Car Magazine "wisdom", and the Targa and/or convertible is actually more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

griffter

3,981 posts

254 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I think (but this just based on general internetage) the issue with the targa is when the roof goes wrong. It can leak, operate incorrectly and be expensive and tricky to fix. Like you, I like the idea, but it's one more thing to go wrong. All targas are 996.2 of course.

Don't dismiss the c4. I limited my search to a c2 until I drove a c4. It's not that you "need" 4wd, it's that what very little it takes away in front end lightness it adds in balance and neutrality. Very little in it to be honest.

Are you cutting off your nose to spite your face with the lapis car? Sounds on the face of it every bit a £16k car assuming all checks out, despite no recent service.

jimmy p

960 posts

165 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Dammit said:
The car I made an offer on today was a 1999 manual 2wd coupe in Lapis blue, sports seats, sports exhaust, 64,000 miles but unfortunately no stamp in the service book since 2012, and a further four year gap in the history before that. I offered £14,500 contingent on a full (including bore-scope) report from Parr's, but he knocked me straight back.

That's the type of car I am looking for, but as I said - Targa has always been a guilty desire. But not if they are rubbish! I've not driven a Targa.
So you are saying in 8 years its only had 1 service?? What else has been skipped??? The seller should of snapped you hand off with your offer with that history!!

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Unless you've driven a lot of 996 coupes, I suspect the Targa would feel fine. Nobody complains of chassis flex. Some complain the roof is noisy over bumps, leaks water or fails to operate correctly.

I think the rear window opens, so easier to drop a road bike in. You can get them in a coupe, but not as simple.

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Jimmy P - not quite - the service history looks like this:
8,384, 2000, AFN
15,482, 2001, AFN
23,854, 2002, AFN
30,000, 2003, Porsche West London
Four year gap
36,059, 2007, Porsche Colchester
38,486, 2008, Addspeed
44,120, 2009, Coverdale Mercedes
48,812, 2010, "Porsche Specialist"
54,100, 2012, Mortimors

It's on 64,000 miles today.

According to the owner (a nice chap who I have no reason to doubt) he got an oil change in 2014, but he didn't get the book stamped.

Of course, that might also be what happened between 2003 - 2007, but it's a bit of a concern.

Based on that, and that it needed four new tyres, I thought my offer of £14,500 (contingent on Parr's full inspection) was fair.

Edited by Dammit on Tuesday 20th September 10:31

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I imagine the seller doesn't want to see a huge list of items, which it will be on a car of that age.

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
He said that he'd had an offer of £14,500 without the inspection aspect from someone else, and he'd turned that down as well.

I'd want to be able to negotiate on things such as "needs front and rear discs and pads", but I can understand why he wants to move it for a fixed figure.

LFB531

1,233 posts

157 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
rubystone said:
Btw, tips are really rubbish. Destroys the pleasure of the 6 speed G50.
Er, a bit sweeping? I've driven both versions in a 996 and I'd hardly call the Tip rubbish.

I've a 60,000 mile 2003 3.6 Targa Tip, hugely entertaining car, no body flex that I've noted, the hatch is really useful and that's a sunroof and a bit!

If the Op changes his mind on the gearbox, mine will be sneaking into the Classifieds this month smile

IknowJoseph

542 posts

139 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Also a 996 comes with a G96 manual box, not a G50

/pedant

Dammit

Original Poster:

3,790 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
Unless you've driven a lot of 996 coupes, I suspect the Targa would feel fine. Nobody complains of chassis flex. Some complain the roof is noisy over bumps, leaks water or fails to operate correctly.

I think the rear window opens, so easier to drop a road bike in. You can get them in a coupe, but not as simple.
Just coming back to this - have you succeeded in putting a road bike in the back of a coupe, and if so what size frame?

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
dont forget this:

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

you can see if the mnileage, MOT's etc stack up. An amazing tool

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Yes,mostly size 56. Very last one I did was a slightly smaller Boardman CX and that went in the back ok. You fold the back seats down, put front seats forward and post it in. It's a bit easier if the car doesn't have Bose.