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Hi everyone, first Porsche advice

wafcarl

New member
Joined
23 Nov 2017
Messages
4
On Friday I'm going to get a 2003 911 Carrera 996 3.6.
69,000 miles, full Porsche or specialist service history.
The car is just short of £20k.

First of all I'm excited, I really want it. I know from past experience, on driving a car like this I won't be able to resist unless I know something is wrong.

So, can I ask you for any information & or advice on buying this car. Anything I should look out for & check.

Thank you all.
 
:welcome: to 911uk

Well done on finding us before buying a car. :thumb:

If your knowledge base is zero you really do need to read as much as you can on the 996 sub-forum and especially the FAQs.

This single thread gives a good summary.

Click => http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=58018&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

This is especially crucial if you fear that you will otherwise jump in and buy the car. There are lots of things that you need to be aware of so that you can go in with your eyes open.

I'd certainly advise that you take someone with you to keep you 'grounded' and if you really like the car organise a professional pre-purchase inspection before parting with your money. It may cost a couple of hundred quid but it could save you thousands.

Good Luck.
 
Exciting times indeed. I was in the same position as you six months ago and now the very happy owner of a cabriolet version of yours, same miles, price and history. There is a very good video on youtube by an indy detailing what to look for:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUUEVeyy5hI

I took copious notes, checked everything as well as i could and took the car for a test drive. I took a bit of a gamble not having a PPI but the car was from a specialist with a good reputation and had done their own check. And I guess I was just lucky.
However I would suggest taking someone knowledgeable along and the 150 quid or so for a PPI is money well spent - I later took mine to OPC Brooklands for the recent 911uk open day inspection and the car was ok so fairly relieved.
Best of luck. :)
 
Thanks everyone. Last night in work I sent an email to the selling garage asking if anything is found wrong by my local Porsche specialist I could return the car.
The response this morning was hugely positive. I can go on Friday & they will deliver it to the Porsche specialist. Anything wrong I can return it.

Great response obviously confident of the cars condition. I'm going out to see the local specialist & near to where I live a gentleman has one but only takes it out at weekends if dry. I've only seen his car once.

I'll keep you posted & hopefully post some pictures if all is well. :thumb:
 
:welcome:

Good luck with it :thumbs:

Will keep fingers and toes crossed for you :thumb:
 
Take someone with you that's knowledgeable specifically 911, if we know where you are there's plenty of members that'll go with you if it's local to them.

Then if it seems good to the eye DEFINITELY get an independent inspection for its age 996.

Good luck :thumb:
 
Check out the exact terms of the warranty. Claim limit per claim of £1000 per claim and labour rates of £50/hr are useless with these cars.
Ask for a copy of the warranty and study the legal contract that you'd be entering into if you purchase the car.

The PPI is an essential part of the process, check for accident damage, have the engine bores examined (borescope), download the ECU data to validate driving style and mileage and a good indy will do all of this naturally. It will set you back around £300 but its money well-spent that you have to be prepared to lose if it shows a car with too many faults that you then don't want to buy.

A poor example can easily cost several thousand pounds putting right immediately, with other bills pending in 12 months of ownership!

Good luck. Put on your poker face from start to finish!
 
As Cheshire wisely suggests with the 3.6 it really is advisable to ask the indy to borescope it as well as do a PPI it might add £100 to the bill, but it will be the best £100 you will ever spend on the car.
read the threads about IMS bearings and Borescore and armed with that knowledge you will stand the very best chance of getting a good one.
Good Luck keep us posted on progress :thumb:
 
At least Phil997 is in agreement with my recommendation for the borescope.
One suggestion is to ask for the borescope first - if it passes that ask him to progress to a full Pre-Purchase Inspection.

I'd also say that if the scope looks bad (subject to interpretation and not easy) or the PPI is showing its a dog, just walk away - don't try and persuade yourself to sink shed loads of money into it - there is still plenty of choice out there.

It is easy to get carried away. I once accompanied a forum member to see a dog of a 996 Turbo all the way down to Essex - f&cked gearbox, oil leaks, tatty wheels, tatty calipers with all the lacquer come off them, discs probably needed changing also - but he was enquiring about "how much to fix this, that, and what about those other bits and bobs?" he asked the guy who did the inspection - well sort of inspection - the forum member paid for an hour labour for the guy to examine the guy and he got no written report, the guy just turned to his jotter where he had scribbled a few things. I had to tell that member to just WALK AWAY! Find another car - which he did a few weeks later.

Its easy to get carried away with enthusiasm but it can end up costing you a lot of money if you end up buying a dog car that is a money-pit.
 
Thank you every one for all your help,
I've spoken with the seller & they will allow a pre delivery inspection.
Porsche specialist mentions putting on ramps and doing bore scope. They have agreed to it.
The specialist says, 'I've had people in tears who have had to remortgage, so not to get complete inspection is a disaster waiting to happen"

I'm going to see it tomorrow, but it's obvious to allow myself get carried away
would be stupid. I'll test drive it etc then walk away. Then I'll arrange transfer to Porsche specialist near me for pre delivery inspection.

That mentioned about ECU sounds a good thing to pick up driving style the cars had.

Cheers once again.
 
I got a printout of the ECU download data for rev ranges (only two ranges for 996 Turbo despite some who talk of ranges 4 and 5), number of operating hours, avg speed and validated with mileage.

A thorough PPI will lift carpets, remove headlamps, examine welds to look for crash repaired wrecks (they are out there as an Indy assures me).

If the car isn't right in the test drive, save yourself the PPI.

If a car passes your scrutiny and test drive, then proceed to burn £300-£400 on PPI and borescope.

Good luck and keep us informed.
 
A week since your test drive, so how did it go? Result of PPI?
Have you bought the car?
 
Hi, this car sold. So looked at 911 977 at Porciacraft. That one is sold too.
Low mileage examples don't hang around, it's a case of waiting for the right one & getting in first.
 
For the next car you have enough information to make a move faster.
Consider making a deposit over the phone subject to a PPI so that you hold the car.

Plenty of choice - not exactly a low volume model you are after.
 

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