GMG said:...you could buy one and it be fine? However, there is very little way of knowing and I think this is the problem...if you have sufficient spare cash then you can buy one that you like the look of and if it fails then you can fix it and if it doesn't then you win...or why not buy a rebuilt one and remove the risk?
My view is that to buy without the resources to rectify a big problem (if one should occur ?) thinking that everything will be just fine is plain stupid!
But each to their own...
If I were the cynical type I would say that your talking up the failures and scare mongering to make your very expensive and recently rebuilt 996 seem like a good buy!
Jobbo, I drive mine hard, it did many trackdays this year, all with zero issues. - Yes you could get a failure, but you could get a failure on anything you buy, particularly if your buying a circa 20 year old car.
The failures are well documented, genrally by those whom have an axe to grind, however you rarely hear the praise, not because there isn't any but because people in general like to moan and complain.
As Marky said, don't be put off! The 996 is a great package!