Is every uk 996 now a rusting hulk?

mingmangmong · 12 Jun 2025

Hi all,

I’m toying with the idea of getting back into a 996. However, having looked at several recent thread around rust occurring on 996s given their advancing years, I’m starting to wonder if it’s such a good idea.

Just wondered what UK owners’ views are of how their cars are faring and whether I am justifiably worried or am in need of a good talking to!

Thanks in advance.

T8 · 12 Jun 2025

Like any car of advancing years it's the metal that's hidden beneath the covers that causes the big issues. As enthusiasts rather than just owner drivers start to buy these cars they take off plastic undertrays, wheel arch liners etc that haven't been disturbed in 2 decades and discover all sorts of things that previous owners didn't know/care was there.

I guess it's all part of what buying into 'Classic Porsche' ownership entails. Cautious buyers will probably start insisting on such checks being a part of a standard PPI.

Alex · 12 Jun 2025

Some 997s are now rust buckets. All down to exposure to moisture, not age.

Easel · 12 Jun 2025

It will all depend on what sort of 20-27yr life the car's had and how much TLC the previous owners have afforded it.
Evaluate each car on it's own merit, get it independently inspected by someone who knows what they're looking at, buy a good one and enjoy!

mingmangmong · 12 Jun 2025

Thanks for the replies - Portiacraft have got a nice 996C4S on (and a 997.1 with an engine rebuild - but let’s not get started on that) within my budget. I’m sure they’d let me put it on a ramp to take a look but not sure what I’d see without removing the under trays and wheel arch liners.

I guess the state of the jacking points may be indicative of the general state of the car but it’s a bit of a gamble really.

mingmangmong · 12 Jun 2025

And would a PPi cover the covered bits? Presumably by the time you can see bubbling on a wheel arch the inner skin is a horror show

bananaz · 12 Jun 2025

Mine is very good underneath even after 22 years. Whenever I see anything superficial there I take care of it with wire brush and zinc-rich paint.

However, all cars will rust eventually if you use them on the road, and in some cases even when carefully stored off it.

At least the 996 was galvanized from new. 40 years ago cars on the road would look rusty after just a few years, and be scrapped due to corrosion between 10 and 15 years.

There were two particularly rusty parts on my 996 - the power steering rack pipes, one of which sprung a leak this Saturday. Horrible job but at least I got to do some other stuff whilst under there such as reconditioning the anti-roll bar and rebushing it.

mingmangmong · 12 Jun 2025

Thanks for all your replies - I appreciate it’s a bit of a pointless question!

sim996 · 12 Jun 2025

bananaz said:
Mine is very good underneath even after 22 years. Whenever I see anything superficial there I take care of it with wire brush and zinc-rich paint.

However, all cars will rust eventually if you use them on the road, and in some cases even when carefully stored off it.

At least the 996 was galvanized from new. 40 years ago cars on the road would look rusty after just a few years, and be scrapped due to corrosion between 10 and 15 years.

There were two particularly rusty parts on my 996 - the power steering rack pipes, one of which sprung a leak this Saturday. Horrible job but at least I got to do some other stuff whilst under there such as reconditioning the anti-roll bar and rebushing it.

Was just about to say this.

There's a bracket above the PS rack for the pipes iirc, I had to give that a right going over.

Between the top mounts and strut tops you might find surface corrosion. Seams under car.

If you remove the engine, up in the tunnel are some brackets that get a bit rusty.

All your intercooler and radiator brackets are worth sending for powdercoating.

Tank straps, rear suspension cradle (though I changed mine for an alloy GT2 one) plus other suspension parts.

Bilt hamber is what I use, plus epoxy mastic paint. I've checked since I did it in 2018 and still looks OK. Brackets were powder coated and I changed out all the rusty fasteners for SS316 (A4). It's also worth looking at your heat shields, the holes rust so they become unfixed.

Every now and again I get under it and spray rust inhibitor like ACF50 or equivalent. I've got various ones. There's a guy in dudly who will spray the underneath, that will last around 2 years, it's not waxy or permanent, just an inhibitor.

drunkpanda · 12 Jun 2025

Looked at 2 996's at the weekend, year 2000 car with double the miles of a 2002 car.

The newer, lower mileage car was in considerably worse condition, ( i put my finger through the outer sill) and no rust on the older car other than some paint bubbling on the corner of the hard top.

Got to have a good poke around no matter what the age. If you like a bit of rust, buy an Mx5 - any mx5

Kersidan · 13 Jun 2025

There are plenty of good 996 examples out there but also some horrors. Make sure that any car you're considering is a C16 built model (it's on the build label). C16 UK cars had much better anti corrosion finishes underneath. There were some 'imported' new cars that were not C16 models (a way to get round waiting times from new). These cars were destined for other right hand drive markets (Malta e.g.) and don't fair well with UK weather and salt.

Harryblue · 13 Jun 2025

No mate, they're definitely not.
I'm having one built and the donor car was in exceptional condition, it didn't even matter so much because it is a complete bare shell rebuild but as I said, for a 20yr old car it was in surprisingly good condition.

However, the potential for a rusty old nail is very much there, you'll get these hairy chested blokes who keep their cars outside and drive them all year around, through the salt and rubbish on UK roads, if they look after them and regularly replace parts then fine, but many won't and they'll be horrible nasty messes underneath.
The UK is a wretched place for car corrosion and longevity.

I have cars abroad where it very rarely rains and the UK and the UK cars are horrible underneath, the abroad ones are like new.

Choose wisely.

mingmangmong · 13 Jun 2025

Once again - thanks for all your responses. Now if someone could just choose me a car and guarantee the bodywork against rust for the lifetime of the vehicle then that would be awesome!

Harryblue · 13 Jun 2025

mingmangmong said:
Once again - thanks for all your responses. Now if someone could just choose me a car and guarantee the bodywork against rust for the lifetime of the vehicle then that would be awesome!

No problems, I can also give you this weeks lottery numbers and a picture of my sister in her best briefs.
Just PayPal me the £25k and I'll collect the car and drop everything off to you in the morning.

I know where there is a 2006 Cayman 3.4S for sale in an Indy Porsche garage, it's the best car I've seen for the money since, well forever, it's not my car, they're just my mates, they've literally rebuilt this whole thing, lightweight rebuilt engine that goes like it's on fire.
I live abroad for most of the time and the only reason I don't own it is I was picking up my 930, I was only in the country for a couple of days, they were going on holiday and we just couldn't match our diaries, but I was going to buy it and put it away, just because it's so good it's daft not to.

But that's the type of thing I'd be after, buying from a reputable indy that loves the cars and will stand behind what they sell you, otherwise you really need to know what you're looking at and be confident that you can spot a bad one.

Skoosh1970 · 13 Jun 2025

Harryblue said:
No problems, I can also give you this weeks lottery numbers and a picture of my sister in her best briefs.
Just PayPal me the £25k and I'll collect the car and drop everything off to you in the morning.

I know where there is a 2006 Cayman 3.4S for sale in an Indy Porsche garage, it's the best car I've seen for the money since, well forever, it's not my car, they're just my mates, they've literally rebuilt this whole thing, lightweight rebuilt engine that goes like it's on fire.
I live abroad for most of the time and the only reason I don't own it is I was picking up my 930, I was only in the country for a couple of days, they were going on holiday and we just couldn't match our diaries, but I was going to buy it and put it away, just because it's so good it's daft not to.

But that's the type of thing I'd be after, buying from a reputable indy that loves the cars and will stand behind what they sell you, otherwise you really need to know what you're looking at and be confident that you can spot a bad one.

Sure they've still got it H...? I was there last week and didn't see it.... i'm dropping mine off on wednesday evening for a few things to be sorted and i'll have another look for her. ... she did sound like a bit of a beast.