A bit of 996 buying advice please.

[Dixie]

Hi all

I'm currently driving myself mad trying to find a 996. Budget is about £14k so there's plenty of choice it's just finding the right car.

It's very tempting to push for a 3.6 as there are a few leggy ish examples in budget.

A few questions:

Am I better to try and get a 3.6 over a 3.4? From what I've read the 3.4 seems to be a slightly safer bet on the scored bores front. Am I wrong in thinking this?

The 3.6 I looked at yesterday worried me slightly. Upon startup there was some (not a lot) of blue smoke from the near side exhaust. There was also a slight ticking from the off side bank. The car has been stationary for a while. Do I need to worry about it or is it something that should clear after a decent run? The car has excellent dealer history so you'd hope that would help prevent the dreaded scored bores.

The 3.4 I'm looking at today has the GT3 aero kit on it. Looks nice although I'd quite like to remove the rear wing in favour of a standard item. Is this a big job assuming I can acquire the parts??

Any recommendations of any cars out there? I'll happily travel a good way for the right car.

Cheers

Matt

[MrC986]

I suggest you speak to Baz/Grant at Hartech as one of the reputable engine rebuild specialists...the ticking noise is something my BIL had on his 997 & it was a costly bill.

As for removing the aero kit wing, you will need a complete replacement engine cover though you might be able to find a painted replacement that can be bolted on without too much cost. I'd strongly recommend that although you don't like the wing, that you dont sell it separately as there is a following for aero kit equipped cars & given many buyers are looking for originalility (mine was one of the exceptions) they might expect that all the original main "kit" is still on the car unless it is a replacement for wear and tear purposes...I had one and one of the reasons the PHer bought it from me was the Hartech engine and the aero kit (mine had the engine done before I got it BTW. The alternative, if you don't like the big wing, might be to go for a ducktail replacement instead?

Good luck with your search, there are plenty of cars out there & as the sun comes out, more will come to the market

[Trev450]

Dixie said:

There was also a slight ticking from the off side bank.

The ticking can be a symptom of borescoring and the o/s is the bank that is most prone.
As cmoose says, have it boroscoped or walk away.

Edited by Trev450 on Sunday 8th March 13:30

[JM1962]

Trev450 said:

The ticking can be a symptom of borescoring and the n/s is the bank that is most prone.
As cmoose says, have it boroscoped or walk away.

I thought it was the offside bank and the nearside exhaust. Either way, blue smoke from only one bank suggests problems. I would try to fine another that doesn't smoke.

[Trev450]

JM1962 said:

Trev450 said:

The ticking can be a symptom of borescoring and the n/s is the bank that is most prone.
As cmoose says, have it boroscoped or walk away.

I thought it was the offside bank and the nearside exhaust. Either way, blue smoke from only one bank suggests problems. I would try to fine another that doesn't smoke.

My bad - senior moment!! Yes it's the O/S bank that is the most prone which is the one the op mentions is ticking.

[m444ttb]

The 996 exhaust crosses over so it would be the n/s exhaust for the o/s bank.

[Shaoxter]

Wouldn't even bother with a boroscope, just find another one which doesn't have blue smoke, there's plenty of options out there.

And either get one with a factory aerokit or without, mixing bits and pieces is a bit frowned upon as most people aim for originality.

[Dixie]

Hmmm. Such a shame as the car is pretty much a perfect fit. I did get a feeling that the dealer just wanted rid of the car. I'm guessing we're talking £5k plus to resolve it properly?

Drove a 99v plate c4 today. On paper it looked very good but was far tattier than its mileage and receipts suggested it should be.

It had the sports seats fitted but the heated function didn't work. Nor did the memory function. Boot/bonnet release trim came off in my hand. The accelerator had a lateral wobble. And there was a strong smell of hot rubber when we returned from the test ride. Oh and the aero kit just didn't seem right. The rear wing was gt2 ish. All looked a little after market. I'm all for keeping it as it left the factory.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...


If only I'd bought the first car I drove. It ticked all the boxes but annoyingly got sold whilst I was away on holiday.

Fingers crossed for the next one. Which to be fair sounds spot on.

[Magic919]

You get used to the hot rubber smell.

[Rockster]

Dixie said:

Am I better to try and get a 3.6 over a 3.4? From what I've read the 3.4 seems to be a slightly safer bet on the scored bores front. Am I wrong in thinking this?

The 3.6 I looked at yesterday worried me slightly. Upon startup there was some (not a lot) of blue smoke from the near side exhaust. There was also a slight ticking from the off side bank. The car has been stationary for a while. Do I need to worry about it or is it something that should clear after a decent run? The car has excellent dealer history so you'd hope that would help prevent the dreaded scored bores.

You should have answered your own question.

You should have subjected the car to a decent run, within reason.

You should had the seller take you on a test drive then a test ride. The route should be 15 miles in length and give the driver a chance to demo the car in a variety of driving scenarios. You want to experience the car like you intend to use it.

After the test ride back at the starting point -- never shutting off the engine -- then you take the car out as the driver and cover the same route, drive the car the same way.

If there had been any issues the odds are they would have made themselves known during this test ride/drive.

And you would know if the slight ticking would have cleared after a decent run.

Even if you had decided to not buy the car you would have gained some experience in how to check out a used Porsche.

[jimbobs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

There are certainly plenty of scruffy ones out there but, personally, I think the advantages of a 3.4 (reputedly a lower IMS failure rate, no bore-scoring) outweigh the hassles of trying to find a good one.

It took me a while, and I saw lots of dogs, but I found a very tidy 3.4 in the end and I'm extremely happy with it. Haven't had my first bill yet though...

[monthefish]

Dixie said:

It had the sports seats fitted but the heated function didn't work. Nor did the memory function.

Sports seats don't/can't have the memory function, and that looks like a Misha rear wing, definitely not a genuine Porsche item.

The Factory rear wings looked like this

(996.1 only)

or

(996.1 & 996.2)
(I have one of these for sale if interested)

[Dixie]

jimbobs said:

There are certainly plenty of scruffy ones out there but, personally, I think the advantages of a 3.4 (reputedly a lower IMS failure rate, no bore-scoring) outweigh the hassles of trying to find a good one.

It took me a while, and I saw lots of dogs, but I found a very tidy 3.4 in the end and I'm extremely happy with it. Haven't had my first bill yet though...

It would seem that the earlier 996s are the least likely to keep me awake at night. It seems like whatever I buy I'm going to need to set up a Hartech savings account up just in case the apparent inevitable happens.

Any owners out there that have enjoyed 1000s of happy problem free motoring in a 996 feel free to chip in and tell me everything is going to be OK!! There are some right????

Whats the reasoning behind the rubber smell? Is it a case of they all do that?

[LordHaveMurci]

Dixie said:

It would seem that the earlier 996s are the least likely to keep me awake at night. It seems like whatever I buy I'm going to need to set up a Hartech savings account up just in case the apparent inevitable happens.

Any owners out there that have enjoyed 1000s of happy problem free motoring in a 996 feel free to chip in and tell me everything is going to be OK!! There are some right????

Whats the reasoning behind the rubber smell? Is it a case of they all do that?

Had my 3.4 for 5.5yrs, now on approx 89k mls & no problems so far...

That rubber/hot oil smell panics you to start with doesn't it! Yes, they all do that Sir (as far as I know anyway).

[Dixie]

monthefish said:

Sports seats don't/can't have the memory function, and that looks like a Misha rear wing, definitely not a genuine Porsche item.

The Factory rear wings looked like this

(996.1 only)

or

(996.1 & 996.2)
(I have one of these for sale if interested)

I wasn't convinced the wing was a standard item. The skirts looked a little non oem too upon closer inspection. There were a lot of question marks around that car actually. The instrument cluster cover was clearly a tan coloured item that had been attempted to be recoloured black. The seats also just weren't right (Why would Porsche fit heated seat and memory buttons when the seats don't have those features. It really felt very tired for it's 70k miles.

Definitely crossed off the list.

monthefish, please send me some details of what you've got. I'm a fair way from you but i can travel if it's the right car. Dear god you really are a long way away!!

[Magic919]

Dixie said:

Whats the reasoning behind the rubber smell? Is it a case of they all do that?

Hot exhausts right behind the tyres.

[ashgt4]

Do it! I was looking for a 996 for 6 months did loads of research read loads on the ims fail, but you must remember people only whine if somthing is broken so think about the thousands of others than haven't.

I went for a 3.4 as reading up them seem more reliable and after driving the one I bought it had a fabspeed exhaust so the noise was amazing and I was hooked.

Keep some of your budget aside for any unforeseeable problems. After a month of having mine the rack started leaking and I was left with a hefty bill.

If you don't like the aero boot you could sell this on or px for standard they are worth good money

[ashgt4]

Do it! I was looking for a 996 for 6 months did loads of research read loads on the ims fail, but you must remember people only whine if somthing is broken so think about the thousands of others than haven't.

I went for a 3.4 as reading up them seem more reliable and after driving the one I bought it had a fabspeed exhaust so the noise was amazing and I was hooked.

Keep some of your budget aside for any unforeseeable problems. After a month of having mine the rack started leaking and I was left with a hefty bill.

If you don't like the aero boot you could sell this on or px for standard they are worth good money

[poppopbangbang]

Dixie said:

Any owners out there that have enjoyed 1000s of happy problem free motoring in a 996 feel free to chip in and tell me everything is going to be OK!! There are some right????

Quite often do a couple of thousand miles a week in mine. Well over 200K miles now, all still working perfectly well, original engine and box (neither have ever been opened). Gets a few track days a year too. Needs some top mounts and is coming up to it's second clutch replacement soon but it just keeps going.

Engine is starting to show a little wear as it has 10 seconds or so of rattle from a cold start but has managed over 20K miles since this started without any further problems and oil consumption is still very, very low (250ml per thousand miles or so) and makes a hair over standard power on the dyno..... I put that down to experience

It's the most reliable thing (not just car but anything) I have ever owned and I don't even look after it that well!

[thegoose]

poppopbangbang said:

Quite often do a couple of thousand miles a week in mine. Well over 200K miles now, ......

It's the most reliable thing (not just car but anything) I have ever owned and I don't even look after it that well!

Is yours a GT3 or Carrera(/C4)?