I think I have decided to buy a 996 Turbo manual...

[S600BSB]

Has the OP actually bought one yet?

[marky911]

TwinExit said:

The idea of DIY being bandied about on this thread is an attempt to mask the typical costs for proper upkeep.

It is NOT a desirable aspect when someone is looking to buy these sort of cars.

Not at all. No one is trying to mask anything but, whereas you see coil packs at £2k plus vat (which you quickly reduced to £1k plus vat, displaying how scare-mongery your initial post was), I see £300.

I have done exactly as I mention with regard to specialist servicing and big jobs, plus a whole host of DIY’ing.
I usually have a list of people wanting my cars via private message.
The one time I did list a 996 as I decided on a whim to sell it, my phone almost melted.

So as I say, your view is exactly that, just opinion and is actually so incorrect regarding the vast majority of 996 buyers.
They are old cars now and falling into enthusiasts hands. Enthusiasts generally tinker and improve their cars.

If you only buy cars that have been worked on by specialists then great, but don’t be thinking you’re automatically getting a better car. You aren’t.
As I say one isn’t exclusive to the other. DIY usually means Indy serviced too.

Anyway, you have your views and I can see exactly what type of “buyer” you are. That’s fine, I’ve dealt with a few folk like that, but don’t be thinking your way is the only way. I’d say you’re actually vastly in the minority.

Anyway, no more thread de-railing.

OP. Buy a GT3. That’s always the correct answer.

Edited by marky911 on Wednesday 14th December 18:42

[irish boy]

To be fair twin exit has some good points. You’re always going to buy the car that has the bigger ticket items done in the last 3 years over a similar priced car without. And they are not cheap cars to run (look at the £4k per year to run a 997 thread) Some years will be, some won’t.

I disagree that all big ticket items need done at once. And I also would happily buy from someone who’d changed the likes of the suspension or rads etc themselves as long as they had receipts for the purchase of the items.

[plynchy]

A lightly used example…

[freedman]

julian987R said:

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale...

That’s a good looking car

[fourwheeler]

irish boy said:

This manual car close to me has just been reduced by £7k. Very reputable dealership too.



https://www.hollybrooksportscars.com/detail/used-p...

So boys and girls.. I happy to announce that I am currently en route collect this car.

Massive shout out to "Irish boy" for bringing this to my attention as I hadn't come across it on here or AT.

I've secured it for a shade less than the asking.

The following work needs doing on it:

- Leak at rear main seal.
- Exhaust flanges corroded.
- Turbo heatshields corroded.
- Turbo actuator arms corroded.
- Brake lines along the floor have some corrosion.
- Tyres have no date.

So a bit of work.. thankfully not massive parts cost but just mainly blood, sweat and f***s

I'll not drive it until I get the RMS and Actuators done. I'll have a lift coming after Xmas and at that point I can get the engine out and do a decent amount of work unimpeded.

I don't know the best way to get the RMS done but I might load the engine into the car and bring to a specialist to have it done.

While the engine is out I'll probably replace all the coolant and charge hoses with silicon (assume available) I might as well pin the coolant connectors too while I'm there.

Turbos mightnt be in great shape so once I've extracted the rotten bolts I may send them off for a refurb.

Can you tidy up the actuators and replace diaphragm or is it just a bin and replace job ?

Also.. what's the story with aftermarket parts for these cars? I'm not talking about cheap pattern parts but things like silicon hoses and turbo actuators etc.. from the like of Forge and others available on design 911?

I know on some cars these things are appreciated but not the 911 is one of them.

I mean why would I spring for expensive porsche parts if actuators from Forge look better and cheaper. I'd only buy if they are actually really better though.

And to address the point of DIY and masking costs etc.. I can assure you that is absolutely the case. This is the 5th car in my collection and I would still only have 1 if I was paying other people to fix them. I've invested a lot in tools and work space and will continue to do so. I'm not skimping at all by any means.

I think I'm going to setup a YouTube channel just to document my ownership and maintenance (and resto) of these cars.

Anyway.. very exciting and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into this.

[Desert Dragon]

^^^^ Thats a really shrewd buy. At that mileage all the weak spots will have been replaced on top of work you're having carried out IMO. Ask them to confirm no boost leaks once completed too

[Desert Dragon]

Also you should pick up phone to Ken or Adam at 9e. They've forgotten more about this platform more than most OPCs. They're always very helpful and knowledgeable. Same with a US guy called Markski. Wealth of knowledge between them and Makski loves DIY people

[nebpor]

Great news OP!

[shantybeater]

fourwheeler said:

So boys and girls.. I happy to announce that I am currently en route collect this car.

Massive shout out to "Irish boy" for bringing this to my attention as I hadn't come across it on here or AT.

I've secured it for a shade less than the asking.

The following work needs doing on it:

- Leak at rear main seal.
- Exhaust flanges corroded.
- Turbo heatshields corroded.
- Turbo actuator arms corroded.
- Brake lines along the floor have some corrosion.
- Tyres have no date.

So a bit of work.. thankfully not massive parts cost but just mainly blood, sweat and f***s

I'll not drive it until I get the RMS and Actuators done. I'll have a lift coming after Xmas and at that point I can get the engine out and do a decent amount of work unimpeded.

I don't know the best way to get the RMS done but I might load the engine into the car and bring to a specialist to have it done.

While the engine is out I'll probably replace all the coolant and charge hoses with silicon (assume available) I might as well pin the coolant connectors too while I'm there.

Turbos mightnt be in great shape so once I've extracted the rotten bolts I may send them off for a refurb.

Can you tidy up the actuators and replace diaphragm or is it just a bin and replace job ?

Also.. what's the story with aftermarket parts for these cars? I'm not talking about cheap pattern parts but things like silicon hoses and turbo actuators etc.. from the like of Forge and others available on design 911?

I know on some cars these things are appreciated but not the 911 is one of them.

I mean why would I spring for expensive porsche parts if actuators from Forge look better and cheaper. I'd only buy if they are actually really better though.

And to address the point of DIY and masking costs etc.. I can assure you that is absolutely the case. This is the 5th car in my collection and I would still only have 1 if I was paying other people to fix them. I've invested a lot in tools and work space and will continue to do so. I'm not skimping at all by any means.

I think I'm going to setup a YouTube channel just to document my ownership and maintenance (and resto) of these cars.

Anyway.. very exciting and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into this.

Sounds like you have the right attitude to ownership. Similar to my own although engine or gearbox out jobs would be done at a specialist, kudos to you for being brave enough

RMS I will assume is down to an oil weep, very common especially if not used often. Actuators on mine were replaced 5~ years back and it wasn't exactly bank breaking, but as you say a good poke around for corrosion of the housings will be beneficial so you know what you are up against.

I looked at forge a long time back (used them for all sorts of upgrades on previous cars) and I remember there being some pro's/con's compared to the stock items for the 996T application which put me off. Might be worth doing a bit of research on it.

Congrats on the purchase. I don't think anyone commented on the wheels, they are a relatively rare option called 'techno twists' if my memory serves me. They are also hollow spoke I believe.

Edited by shantybeater on Saturday 17th December 10:13

[ATM]

ATM said:

nebpor said:

The wheels were a cost option, from the Turbo S.

The turbo wheels are hollow spoke. Are these?

Thanks

I did ask this earlier.

[irish boy]

Glad to hear it. I’ve looked round that car and it’s lovely. You’ll be 2 miles from me when you collect it. All the best with it!

[and31]

marky911 said:

TwinExit said:

But we are talking about a £80K (back in 2003) Porsche 911 Turbo, it's not a thrashed out Nissan 200SX or Subaru Impreza! Most owners would have documented history of work done at Porsche or specialist indies, some work requires engineering expertise which cannot be DIY'ed and it just screams out the owner taking shortcuts otherwise.

No one will offer you £38K for a car that has had most of its work done in your shed with parts you ordered off the internet, when you can pick up an example worked on and sold by a specialist for the same money.

This is opinion not fact.
By using the term shed you imply inferior work quality. And those parts bight off the internet can be the exact same ones a specialist will fit, but without their “bit on the top”.

You want at least the servicing done by an Indy, yes, and I’d say anything that involves opening up the engine or box.

Everything else from, suspension, to brakes, to air-con rads, etc etc is easily DIY’able.
The Indy would check it all over come service time anyway if you needed reassurance.

You can go into much more detail when DIY’ing. Cleaning up fixings, re-plating or coating things, etc. You can get a better finish than a mechanic as doing it DIY means it isn’t against the clock.

But hey, if you aren’t capable or you just like throwing money away, then sure, get your mechanic to all the jobs anyone with half a brain could.

Excellent post.

[Andyoz]

Well done. That dealer generally has good stock but is a bit punchy on pricing but the recent price drop sorted that .

[Digga]

fourwheeler said:

So boys and girls.. I happy to announce that I am currently en route collect this car.

Massive shout out to "Irish boy" for bringing this to my attention as I hadn't come across it on here or AT.

I've secured it for a shade less than the asking.

The following work needs doing on it:

- Leak at rear main seal.
- Exhaust flanges corroded.
- Turbo heatshields corroded.
- Turbo actuator arms corroded.
- Brake lines along the floor have some corrosion.
- Tyres have no date.

So a bit of work.. thankfully not massive parts cost but just mainly blood, sweat and f***s.

Good news.

All that work is just stuff any car of that age is going to need. You could’ve bought one with the work ‘done’ (but perhaps not correctly) or do as you have and bought with eyes open, ready to spend the right time and money.

Brake lines for certain are something any 911 of this age ought to have replaced. Worth also a check on fuel and coolant lines too.

All the turbo associated bits are grist to the mill for a 996 turbo.

Enjoy!

[S600BSB]

Congratulations. Well done.

[Orangecurry]

Congratulations on your new car - as regards all the comments on DIY, and as said above, a DIYer is always going to be able to spend more time, love and OCD care on any aspect of the work.
I know it's at the top end of DIYing, but Jackal's 993 is a case in point.

shantybeater said:

I don't think anyone commented on the wheels, they are a relatively rare option called 'techno twists' if my memory serves me. They are also hollow spoke I believe.

According to Florian, and he's correct on most wheelery, they are called Sport Techno, hollowspoke and similar weights to the Turbo2 hollowspoke.

They do come up (very) occasionally on an auction site near you, but I'd be tempted to find some cooking wheels to hack about on.

http://www.944racing.de/wheelweights.php

Thanks again to Florian Seibold for compiling the Wheel Bible.

[Orangecurry]

fourwheeler said:

- Tyres have no date.

legal/EU/roadgoing tyres always have dates. They are however only printed on one side of the tyre, which may be facing inwards.
But it's unlikely they are all facing inwards.

ETA it has at least one Bridgestone S-02, N3 KZ rated I think, which were excellent tyres, my favourite N-rated on my car, but they stopped making them about 15 years ago!

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 18th December 11:50

[fourwheeler]

Thanks everybody, I am thrilled with the purchase.

There is a system error now preventing the PCM from producing sound, which I rather annoying... I do know that the car sat around for a while, and perhaps it's voltage dropped a bit and made a mess of things.. I am hoping that. Hopefully the amp isn't blown.

Orangecurry said:

According to Florian, and he's correct on most wheelery, they are called Sport Techno, hollowspoke and similar weights to the Turbo2 hollowspoke.

They do come up (very) occasionally on an auction site near you, but I'd be tempted to find some cooking wheels to hack about on.

http://www.944racing.de/wheelweights.php

Thanks again to Florian Seibold for compiling the Wheel Bible.

Thank you for this - yes, I believe the wheels are relatively rare. I wasn't gone on them originally but they are kind of growing on me now.

Orangecurry said:

legal/EU/roadgoing tyres always have dates. They are however only printed on one side of the tyre, which may be facing inwards.
But it's unlikely they are all facing inwards.

ETA it has at least one Bridgestone S-02, N3 KZ rated I think, which were excellent tyres, my favourite N-rated on my car, but they stopped making them about 15 years ago!

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 18th December 11:50

Interesting .. lol 15 years ago..! I guess that's why he couldn't find a date stamp. In any case. I'll do a full assessment soon and sort them out. Last thing I want is to be running around on perished rubber...

[Orangecurry]

Date stamps have been on all tyres since at least the 1990s - probably earlier. I'm sure he could have found them

And there are two sets of Sport Techno on an auction site near you right now - plus three or four singles - how wrong was I? Flipping expensive however.