Best `non` turbo 996 variant to buy

[bigkeeko]

Is there such an option or am I being a big blouse? I technically can afford to buy a 996T but I can`t get my head round £40k for a 13 or 14 year old car so i`m looking at the N/A models.

Maybe not thinking this through and so can anyone convince me either way?


regards

[Adam B]

Manual C4S coupe with Hartech treatment (or budget for it)

[bigkeeko]

Maybe do a bit of reading on Hartech now that I`ve seen that name a few times.

[Shaoxter]

GT3?

But in seriousness, the 996 C4S would be the best option especially as it's the best looking of all the 996's (in my biased opinion). Yes there are possibilities of IMS and bore scoring issues but it's not as common as perhaps some other variants.

[Adam B]

Shaoxter said:

Yes there are possibilities of IMS and bore scoring issues but it's not as common as perhaps some other variants.

How so? Same engine as cooking C2 or C4, and last C4S owner I chatted to needed the full Hartech treatment

[bigkeeko]

Thanks for the replies gents.

GT3. I see what you did there. Special car though but I`d be smashing piggy banks selling stuff for that one.

[Shaoxter]

Adam B said:

Shaoxter said:

Yes there are possibilities of IMS and bore scoring issues but it's not as common as perhaps some other variants.

How so? Same engine as cooking C2 or C4, and last C4S owner I chatted to needed the full Hartech treatment

Sorry meant compared to a 997.1 S or Cayman S, not other 996's.

Considering their age, I don't think they're as troublesome as the 997.1's. That's just going off very vague internet mumblings, not any concrete statistics.

[James44]

Went from a 996 C2 to a 997T (both manual) and to be honest in 95% of the time the 996 was more fun.

I think the narrow bodied, rear wheel drive only, manual gearbox is the pick of the range.

J

[bigkeeko]

I`m guessing the RWD car would slightly quicker than the 4WD car? Or no discernible difference?

[FeelingLucky]

bigkeeko said:

I`m guessing the RWD car would slightly quicker than the 4WD car? Or no discernible difference?

Depends on the weather / road conditions.
As others have said C4S, EASILY the best looking 996

But, wouldn't you be better off upping the budget and going for the Turbo?
Cast iron residuals at the mo (if anything they're rising) and no engine worries.

[g7jhp]

Manual 996.2 C2 coupe in Seal Grey.



I'd go for the purest manual, RWD, narrow body, coupe as these features are always desirable in a 911 (especially in as they get older and become sort after by enthusiasts).

But the 996 C4S does look good and would be my preference if you want AWD.

[cseven]

40th anniversary, as standard:

C2
x power kit
LSD
lowered suspension

a few other bits too

[bls1]

As always, depends what you mean by 'best'.

Aesthetically, most people seem to be prefer the wide-body turbo-look C4S model the best, followed by the other facelift models. Prices reflect this already. But as the 996 gets older and starts to be seen as more classic, there's a minority but growing body voicing their preference for the original 'pure' narrow-body look. Anyway, its all personal, you'll have your own opinion.

Others have strong opinion C2 (2wd) v's C4 (4wd) ... in short, weight & rwd purity v's security in poor weather etc.

Others have strong opinion manual v's auto, with the majority preferring manual. Again, its purely personal opinion.

On the other hand, if by 'best' you meant 'most reliable', the general consensus seems to be very earliest models have the most reliable IMS bearings (with other issues like D-chunking being generally an random issue occurring early in life so not a major concern now).

http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=102070&po...

http://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/739103-ims-be...

A car with Hartech engine rebuild should generally overcome reliability issues ... but in my opinion, the higher asking prices of these cars is perhaps greater than "probability of engine failure x cost of rebuild".

Finally, don't forget these are all old cars now, so definition of 'best' might well be 'best condition and best looked after', regardless of model !

For what its worth, I did absolutely masses of research and ended up with a 1999 manual. I love it.

[Sandy59]

bigkeeko said:

Is there such an option or am I being a big blouse? I technically can afford to buy a 996T but I can`t get my head round £40k for a 13 or 14 year old car so i`m looking at the N/A models.

Maybe not thinking this through and so can anyone convince me either way?


regards

Early 3.4 C2 with factory sports kit option (lowered, LSD, TC, sport seats, 18" wheels), quite a few had the GT3 aero kit as well, problem is finding one.

[528Sport]

Sandy59 said:

Early 3.4 C2 with factory sports kit option (lowered, LSD, TC, sport seats, 18" wheels), quite a few had the GT3 aero kit as well, problem is finding one.

I found a nice early 3.4 (Jan 1998) with aero kit. Amazing machine :-)

[bigkeeko]

Good input and thanks for the links.

[996lee]

Sandy59 said:

Early 3.4 C2 with factory sports kit option (lowered, LSD, TC, sport seats, 18" wheels), quite a few had the GT3 aero kit as well, problem is finding one.

this is the route I went too and absolutely love it! (factory aero kit was on my must have list)
however I cant comment on the turbo so I think you should test drive both and see what you think

[g7jhp]

The engine concern does make you think what would you do in this position.

[bigkeeko]

g7jhp said:

The engine concern does make you think what would you do in this position.

F**k it. I`m back looking at Turbos.

[996TT02]

I never wished for a Turbo. Plus at the time I was considering everything from a 3.2 to a 997.

But a Turbo 996 what I bought.

My only regret (too late for that!) is not buying a GT2, but purely for the value, on second thoughts I'd probably be dead by now!

I don't think you need to spend 40k on a Turbo.