1998 996 C2

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ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
I've just bought this Porsche and thought I'd ramble on about it bit. Few pics below too. It's a bit tatty but overall it looks straight. Has some tricky KW suspension, performance friction brake pads, stiffer roll bars and bushes apparently.

So I decided to buy one of these because there is a lot of chat on the here about how good the early cars are. I've had a few Porsches and my most recent 981 is a bit dull or lacking in steering feel. This is definitely not. Its hard to explain just how good the steering is. It is almost too sensitive. You barely need to think about moving the wheel and the car is already turning.

I've had a bit of blast this morning and I'm starting to gain some confidence. It really can throw you out of the seat - in a bend or braking. The brakes are strong and it only needs a small amount of pressure on the pedal to have the car slow down.

So I guess in summary the steering and brakes are very responsive and exciting. The engine doesn't have a massive amount of power but easily enough to have some fun. The car feels like it could easily cope with a lot more power which is good.

So yes I quite like it.






Seller's description:




1998 Porsche 911 996 Carrera 2

For sale is my 1998 Porsche 911 996 Carrera 2. Manual, red leather interior with Arctic silver and 18" 5 spoke alloy wheels.

The car has had a significant amount of work done to it recently including a full engine rebuild and suspension rebuild with a number of quality and tasteful upgrades.

This 911 is a 1998 coupe with no sunroof and received the face lift clear front indicators and rear lights at some point by the previous owner. The car has covered 113k miles (which will increase as I use this car most days) and has an MOT until July 2017

Engine - Full engine rebuild of the original factory engine due to a cracked cylinder head 5k miles ago. The cracked head was scrapped and a replacement sourced. Both heads were refurbished with new valve stem seals, dipped and valves re-seated. The crank cases were dipped and rebuilt with new bearings, stretch bolts, gaskets and new chains. All chain guides were replaced including the variocam pads. Cylinders and pistons were checked for condition and all found to be within tolerance. All spark plugs & coil packs and coil heat shields were replaced with new items. A new 3 piece clutch kit was installed upon rebuild along with a genuine Porsche X51 baffled sump. Engine mounts were replaced during the rebuild due to wear. The engine is leak/smoke free and pulls very well

Exhaust - Original factory system was replaced with a new stainless steel Dansk sports exhaust with Porsche Cup exhaust tips 5k miles ago. The exhaust is not too loud but sounds fantastic!

Suspension - The suspension has been extensively rebuilt. All lower arms have been poly bushed and all 4 corners have received new ARB links with an uprated Eibach rear ARB and bushes. The car is also fitted with a set of KW Clubsport coilovers. These 2 way adjustable coilovers are arguably the best coilovers available for the 996 and were very expensive at £3750. The car is lowered by approx. 25mm which make the car sit at a perfect height and they are fitted with new KW top mounts.

Cooling System - Within the last 5k miles, both front radiators were replaced with new units and a new water pump. Various rubber pipes have been replaced and a low temp thermostat was installed. The expansion tank was replaced about 3 years ago with the updated version.

AC System - Both front condensers were recently replaced along with a new receiver/drier. A hole was found in the underbody AC piping and both pipes were replaced with new genuine Porsche parts. The entire system was vacuumed and refilled with oil & refrigerant. The AC now blows ice cold air.

Wheels/Tyres - All 4 tyres were recently changed. Fronts have about 6.0mm and the rears have about 5.5mm.

Brakes - Discs and pads were changed 6k miles ago and show very little wear. The pads were replaced with specialist track pads and the entire braking system was flushed and filled with Castrol SRF racing fluid.

Interior - The red/terracotta and is in fantastic condition with very little wear to the seats. The rear seats look almost unused. The original factory cassette unit is still installed and working. The CD changer is no longer present but it has been retro fitted with an auxiliary input which can be connected to any phone/MP3 player. I was going to replace it with a newer and more modern looking unit but I decided that the original look was better and works just like any other modern unit that has an aux. input. The original 4 spoke steering wheel has been replaced with a Momo GT2 RS steering wheel. AC system works as above and blows cold air. All other electrical items work. No sunroof. Several of the window seals were replaced with new Porsche items.

Bodywork - Bodywork is good but it does have some age related marks including a scratch to the front driver’s wing. The front bumper has a few minor scuffs but nothing major. I was going to get these res-prayed but I never got round to it. The rubber boot on the retractable spoiler was recently replaced with a new genuine Porsche part. The alloys have a couple of minor marks but again, nothing major.

Other - The car has a FSH and a huge folder full of receipts and work completed. It is HPI clear and drives fantastic with the suspension setup and I recently completed a trip to the Stelvio Pass in Italy with it. Both keys are present (1 key is new). Test drive/inspection is welcome but I do require proof of insurance and license before a test drive. With the suspension/engine rebuild plus other work, this car has had in the region of £10k spent on it within the last 18 months/6k miles.


Pics from seller of engine rebuild





















Edited by ATM to fix pic links


Edited by ATM on Friday 27th April 09:50

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Sounds great!

Can't believe how cheap I sold my 996 C2 with all the trick parts (carbon seats, titanium coated dampers etc) a few years back (£12k)!

Are you running this alongside the BMWs or is something (the V8?) on the block now?

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Nice car!

stuckmojo

2,955 posts

187 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Amazing, well done.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
dom9 said:
Sounds great!

Can't believe how cheap I sold my 996 C2 with all the trick parts (carbon seats, titanium coated dampers etc) a few years back (£12k)!

Are you running this alongside the BMWs or is something (the V8?) on the block now?
Currently have 4 cars outside the house.

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
ATM said:
Currently have 4 cars outside the house.
Snap! Something is going to have to give here soon as we need to move house in April and may not have the space!


ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
dom9 said:
ATM said:
Currently have 4 cars outside the house.
Snap! Something is going to have to give here soon as we need to move house in April and may not have the space!
Do not move!

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
ATM said:
Do not move!
No choice frown

We'd love to stay but our landlords are moving back from the ME and want to do some building work and move in...

We've been looking to buy but inventory round here is almost non-existent. Also need to see what's happening at work as I am out of contract this month - Joy!

Still, I'll have time to finish the XSi rebuild between then and moving out so all 4 will be on the road!

What's the plan for this 996? High days and track days? I'm guessing it overlaps with the LS V8 a bit, in terms of having a 'fun' car?

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
dom9 said:
ATM said:
Do not move!
No choice frown

We'd love to stay but our landlords are moving back from the ME and want to do some building work and move in...

We've been looking to buy but inventory round here is almost non-existent. Also need to see what's happening at work as I am out of contract this month - Joy!

Still, I'll have time to finish the XSi rebuild between then and moving out so all 4 will be on the road!

What's the plan for this 996? High days and track days? I'm guessing it overlaps with the LS V8 a bit, in terms of having a 'fun' car?
Yes they do. I still enjoy the feel from the e46 as it is old school steering. I have had some offers on the e46 recently which were around 5000. For that money there is no point selling it.

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
ATM said:
Yes they do. I still enjoy the feel from the e46 as it is old school steering. I have had some offers on the e46 recently which were around 5000. For that money there is no point selling it.
I can't remember what you paid but that's a fair bit below, huh?

With good e46 M3s creeping steadily over £10k, I'd hope your LS V8 was worth a bit more than £5k.

People in the UK just don't seem to like 'modified' cars as much as they do in the US... which is probably why I had to sell my 996 so cheap and it went to HK!

Have you got the 'purple tag' steering rack in the e46? That's supposed to make the steering even more fast and feelsome.

Anyway, anyway - back to the Porsche... How are you liking the KW suspension? Had you driven a standard car for any duration, before, to get a feel for how 'different' this car is to standard, with the dampers, bushes etc?

I keep toying with the idea of getting back into a 996 but can't stomach it after 'losing' £15k+ on the last one (self-inflicted). I am also not sure how it would sit on the fleet. I actually think I may end up getting rid of the BMW 545i first but my box-fresh Clio V6 is where the value is. One sporty saloon/ 4-seater and the XSi would probably cover 95% of my bases as the dog won't stay in the boot of the Touring anyway.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
dom9 said:
ATM said:
Yes they do. I still enjoy the feel from the e46 as it is old school steering. I have had some offers on the e46 recently which were around 5000. For that money there is no point selling it.
I can't remember what you paid but that's a fair bit below, huh?

With good e46 M3s creeping steadily over £10k, I'd hope your LS V8 was worth a bit more than £5k.

People in the UK just don't seem to like 'modified' cars as much as they do in the US... which is probably why I had to sell my 996 so cheap and it went to HK!

Have you got the 'purple tag' steering rack in the e46? That's supposed to make the steering even more fast and feelsome.

Anyway, anyway - back to the Porsche... How are you liking the KW suspension? Had you driven a standard car for any duration, before, to get a feel for how 'different' this car is to standard, with the dampers, bushes etc?

I keep toying with the idea of getting back into a 996 but can't stomach it after 'losing' £15k+ on the last one (self-inflicted). I am also not sure how it would sit on the fleet. I actually think I may end up getting rid of the BMW 545i first but my box-fresh Clio V6 is where the value is. One sporty saloon/ 4-seater and the XSi would probably cover 95% of my bases as the dog won't stay in the boot of the Touring anyway.
Purple steering - I dont believe so. It does have stiffer bushes and roll bars too. Its easily worth a lot more than 5000 in bits.

No I have not driven any other 996's. My car buying pattern is pretty simple. I will only drive a car if I want to buy it. So I do my sanity checks first. Then I drive it and if it feels right I have to have it.

If you over think cars then you dont buy anything. Lets face it as a mode of transport buying a car is all about function and price with reliability and then maybe comfort. As a thing to enjoy all this logic evaporates. So I take people's views into consideration. Everyone seems to say the early 996 is the most raw and has the least engine horror stories. I decided to buy one at the cheaper end of the market which had some recent maintenance. I didn't particularly want rock hard suspension but knowing someone spent the money on this car is encouraging and for now its fine as is.

JS1500

579 posts

176 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Looks nice. Glad you're enjoying driving it.
I'm (most likely) about to buy a 2000 996 C4 - I have a specialist inspecting it as I type, so fingers crossed his report comes back favourably..!

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Tried to get a shot of the negative camber going on at the front. Does this pic work?



Edited by ATM on Friday 27th April 09:50

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all

TheRocket

1,510 posts

248 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
ATM said:
Tried to get a shot of the negative camber going on at the front. Does this pic work?

Yep I think that works quite well, I wonder is that circa. -1.5 deg ? Car looks nice, also interested to hear about day to day ride quality on the KW's please ?

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
TheRocket said:
ATM said:
Tried to get a shot of the negative camber going on at the front. Does this pic work?

Yep I think that works quite well, I wonder is that circa. -1.5 deg ? Car looks nice, also interested to hear about day to day ride quality on the KW's please ?
Got a print out of a geo setup in the history file. I'll dig it out.

Edited by ATM on Sunday 7th October 09:28

edc

9,230 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
More like -2 to -2.5 as it looks very similar to mine.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Panic alert....

One of my friends just pointed out there are a few small white blobs in the oil filler neck.

mattwhite709

328 posts

98 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all
Love these 996's will cross it off one day and OP this does look like a nice example.

Fingers crossed about the oil filter.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
quotequote all


Edited by ATM on Friday 27th April 09:51