996 3.4 what do we really think?
996 3.4 what do we really think?
Author
Discussion

nine6four

Original Poster:

313 posts

241 months

Friday 29th June 2007
quotequote all
Hello chaps

What are the realities with buying and running a 3.4 996 for around the £20k mark?

Be looking at 70k-100k on the clock at that value I suspect. What sort of annual costs can I expect over 12,000 miles?

Driving a very sorted 964 at the moment so any comparisons would be appreciated.

All the best,
James

Edited by nine6four on Friday 29th June 21:40

oldtimer

300 posts

287 months

Friday 29th June 2007
quotequote all
Ran a previously owned 996C2 ( Nov 97 build) from Aug99 to Jan 2006 , miles going from 8k to 80k ,traded in for £20k....so experience in the ballpark you are asking about. Also running a 964RS from Aug 2001 to present day , not strictly same as a 964 but close enough to comment.

The 996 was cheaper on service cost than 964, tyre wear was good , 18 inchers lasted 10k miles on rear , 20k miles on front , overall mpg 26.4 so not thrashed . Electrics ( big spec , lots of switches ) very reliable, oil consumption negligible - none added between 15k miles servicing.

However, the hot oil pressure on tickover dropped from 2 bar to 1.3 bar between 60k miles and 80k miles , no oil leaks (RMS OK) but I felt that the bottom end was not going to do 120k+ miles without attention. You can get an exchange engine for 7k or so so its not really a big issue when rest of the car is still going strong.
Still a bargain for £20k.

The 964 electrics are definitely more temperamental , even with the minimalist 964RS with 'electric nothing', service interval comes up quicker at 12k miles ,and big service ( tappets) more expensive than 996. Tyre wear cannot be compared in my case as the 964RS gets driven in a different fashion. 964 uses more fuel ,uses more oil , again mainly a feature of how its driven.


So my opinion is that a cheap early 3.4 996 with no major faults will be a bit cheaper to run than a 964. As a bonus the 6speed manual box is a step up on the 964's 5 speed box , as are the bigger brakes. The 3.4 watercooled engine crankcase / bottom end is not as bombproof as the 3.6 aircooled , but the aircon and general ventilation and comfort level are a lot better. Oh , almost forgot , 996's handle well and the rear end is pretty well behaved so you can push on without having to be a driving god.
Hope this helps !

nine6four

Original Poster:

313 posts

241 months

Friday 29th June 2007
quotequote all
Very informative indeed, thanks.

So is the consensus that at about 120k these will often need some form of bottom end attention (in the same way the 964 usually needs top end attention at the same miles)?

Cheers

Ragtop

919 posts

276 months

Friday 29th June 2007
quotequote all
I agree with the above.

Have a read of Baz's site for all you need to know:

http://www.hartech.org/buyers.html

nine6four

Original Poster:

313 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
Being lazy and sure a bit of searching reveals the answer but what what is the max age / miles that the opc warrenty will cover?

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

244 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
nine6four said:
Being lazy and sure a bit of searching reveals the answer but what what is the max age / miles that the opc warrenty will cover?
the last warranty you can buy is on the cars 9th birthday for its 10th year. mileage limit is upto 125000 miles

nine6four

Original Poster:

313 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
Very useful, cheers.

So my serach now is narrowed down to no older than 99 car with no more than £100k on the clock. I could do with some easy to budget for motoring for 2 years after running the 964 and spaking £11k in the same period on maintenance.

I think for £20k though i'll be very lucky to get one meeting that crieria??

CAB

554 posts

249 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
oldtimer said:
Ran a previously owned 996C2 ( Nov 97 build) from Aug99 to Jan 2006 , miles going from 8k to 80k ,traded in for £20k....so experience in the ballpark you are asking about. Also running a 964RS from Aug 2001 to present day , not strictly same as a 964 but close enough to comment.

The 996 was cheaper on service cost than 964, tyre wear was good , 18 inchers lasted 10k miles on rear , 20k miles on front , overall mpg 26.4 so not thrashed . Electrics ( big spec , lots of switches ) very reliable, oil consumption negligible - none added between 15k miles servicing.

However, the hot oil pressure on tickover dropped from 2 bar to 1.3 bar between 60k miles and 80k miles , no oil leaks (RMS OK) but I felt that the bottom end was not going to do 120k+ miles without attention. You can get an exchange engine for 7k or so so its not really a big issue when rest of the car is still going strong.
Still a bargain for £20k.

The 964 electrics are definitely more temperamental , even with the minimalist 964RS with 'electric nothing', service interval comes up quicker at 12k miles ,and big service ( tappets) more expensive than 996. Tyre wear cannot be compared in my case as the 964RS gets driven in a different fashion. 964 uses more fuel ,uses more oil , again mainly a feature of how its driven.


So my opinion is that a cheap early 3.4 996 with no major faults will be a bit cheaper to run than a 964. As a bonus the 6speed manual box is a step up on the 964's 5 speed box , as are the bigger brakes. The 3.4 watercooled engine crankcase / bottom end is not as bombproof as the 3.6 aircooled , but the aircon and general ventilation and comfort level are a lot better. Oh , almost forgot , 996's handle well and the rear end is pretty well behaved so you can push on without having to be a driving god.
Hope this helps !
One of the best running reviews of an early 996 that i have yet to hear - nice one!

bull996

1,442 posts

240 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
nine6four said:
Very useful, cheers.

So my serach now is narrowed down to no older than 99 car with no more than £100k on the clock. I could do with some easy to budget for motoring for 2 years after running the 964 and spaking £11k in the same period on maintenance.

I think for £20k though i'll be very lucky to get one meeting that crieria??
Just sold my spotless (and I mean spotless-not even a stonechip) 99 C2 for 20k. It had 9 months OPC warranty, full OPC history etc etc 72k miles, ocean met blue with black interior, sport chassis, hardbacked sports seats, upgrade hi fi, elec roof, new PSE with switch and unmarked GT3 wheels. So yes, its is possible to get a fantastic car for that budget.

graeme36s

7,230 posts

248 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
Hi James.
Not wishing to turn this into an air head thread but certainly buy 2000 on. Build quality and problems much improved.
Drive a 996 and make your own mind up. Personally they just don't do it for me. No offence intended Give me an air head any day

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

302 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
I've got a 2000 C2 3.4.

Done almost 40,000 miles in 2 years.

It is GOD of a car.


I've posted pretty much everything on my profile blog.


DO IT.



Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Saturday 30th June 23:03