Looking to join the Porsche club

huesey1974 · 29 Jun 2013

Hi,
I have always wanted a 911 and for one reason or another never got one but now im going to.I currently drive a Mercedes CL500 and an older Saab turbo for work. Im going to sell the Merc and have the Porsche as my toy and weekend car. Im unsure of what to buy but im leaning towards the facelift with 3.6 engine probably black or dark blue with black leather. What would I be best looking for when I go to view? I know about the rear seal leaking but apart from this they seem pretty bullet proof. I will keep you updated with my decision and potential cars. Heres one im thinking of looking at.

£10,989Porsche 911 2dr Carrera 4 Coupe 3.6 2002

T8 · 29 Jun 2013

As it's a high mileage car that one seems pretty sensibly priced for a dealer sale. Get an independent inspection done for your own peace of mind and try to talk the dealer into supplying a proper warranty.

What's your budget? Bear in mind that 10 year old + cars will probably need £1.5k-£2k spending on them each year to stay on top of servicing and replacement items.

Sadly the good old RMS issues are the least of buyers concerns nowadays with the 996, and early 997s, but as hundreds of thousands of them were produced there's always a good chance that buyers will get one that's not going to experience a major problem. Unfortunately it's all a bit of a lottery with low mileage cars and fpsh cars just as likely to be blighted as the 'old nails'.

Use the 'Search Forum' function on here to research IMS and 'bore-scoring'. IMS bearing failures and evidence of scored bores are the potential issues to be aware of nowadays.

eg >> click on this >> http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=84330&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=ims

Good luck :thumb:

cheshire911 · 29 Jun 2013

As T8 says, I'd really recommedn an independent PPI - worth every penny. These cars can be a lottery and a PPI won't give you any guarantees around future mechanical issues that can result in the engione going 'pop' and needing a rebuild at £10k - the purcahse price of this car.

Checkout the warranty very carefully - especially if it is an Insurance product provided by a third pary such as AA Gold etc. The wear n tear caluses often rule out the things that are most likely to go wrong - and remember there is NEVER such a thing as a free warranty - the dealer builds it into the price of the vehicle.

Finally, keep an emergency fund in addition to a service fund. I'd say £2-3k for the former and £1k for the latter.

Good luck.

Stokepotter · 29 Jun 2013

As others have said, it is sensibly priced, I bought my same year C2 in October for about £500 more but it has covered 10k less miles.
I have so far spent maybe £1500-£2000 getting her up to what I consider a suitable standard and also on servicing and essential maintenance including -
Front end re-spray (was covered in stone chips)
2 new Michelin PS2 rear tyres (MOT advisory)
New key fob
New window regulator
Professional paint detail
New Audio unit
LED bulb upgrades (will eventually replace entire rear light units to LED)
Service including Spark plugs
New Oil Pressure sender unit

Now, Just when I thought I could spend a few months re stocking my bank account, a recent OPC health check revealed a leaking IMS Seal which means it is now in Sport & Classic having a new clutch, RMS & upgraded IMS Bearing fitted at a cost of £1800.

I am not moaning and am happy (sort of) to pay out but to give you the benefit of my experience, yes you can certainly get hold of one of these super cars for circa £10K but if like me, you then want to get it how YOU want it and intend keeping hold of it, then be prepared to fork out another maybe £2-£3K.

Hopefully, I am anticipating annual service costs to average out at maybe £500-£750 per year.

Given what I have spent and am going to spend this week If I were to put it on the market, I believe given the service history and recent spends it will be one of the best examples around so would not consider selling for less then £13K. The thing is, I have no intention to sell so I guess that justifies the spends (well that's what I tell my partner!)

huesey1974 · 29 Jun 2013

Hi
Thanks for your thoughts guys, I am aware of the IMS issue but my thoughts are you would have to be very unfortunate as it is a small percentage so therefore not to worry about it or I probs wouldn't drive the car through fear.Most cars have potential catastrophic failures but its down to luck I guess. Any way I don't mind some problems as im very handy and as a hobby fix up cars, My current CL500 was awful when I got it but after a lot of hard work drives perfect. Trust me , If you can strip the full ABC suspension on a CL with no ramp most jobs will seem easy( few scary moments). I will keep you updated with my search. One thing, Im 6"6, will I fit ok?
thanks again

chimp911 · 29 Jun 2013

Not if you're planning to sit in the back :bandit:

:welcome:

huesey1974 · 29 Jun 2013

chimp911 said:
Not if you're planning to sit in the back :bandit:

:welcome:

HAHA :floor:

Seems like a 996 has nearly 2" more than my Mercedes

Stokepotter · 29 Jun 2013

You'll be fine, I'm 6'5''

smigga · 29 Jun 2013

Stokepotter said:
As others have said, it is sensibly priced, I bought my same year C2 in October for about £500 more but it has covered 10k less miles.
I have so far spent maybe £1500-£2000 getting her up to what I consider a suitable standard and also on servicing and essential maintenance including -
Front end re-spray (was covered in stone chips)
2 new Michelin PS2 rear tyres (MOT advisory)
New key fob
New window regulator
Professional paint detail
New Audio unit
LED bulb upgrades (will eventually replace entire rear light units to LED)
Service including Spark plugs
New Oil Pressure sender unit

Now, Just when I thought I could spend a few months re stocking my bank account, a recent OPC health check revealed a leaking IMS Seal which means it is now in Sport & Classic having a new clutch, RMS & upgraded IMS Bearing fitted at a cost of £1800.

I am not moaning and am happy (sort of) to pay out but to give you the benefit of my experience, yes you can certainly get hold of one of these super cars for circa £10K but if like me, you then want to get it how YOU want it and intend keeping hold of it, then be prepared to fork out another maybe £2-£3K.

Wise words, sorry about your bill but at least it will be really sorted, deffo a keeper! :thumb:

Dave

stod · 29 Jun 2013

if you have always wanted a 911 don't spend too much time looking on forums. if these cars were as bad as some make them out to be, Porsche would never have been able to sell any.
my advice would be find one, buy it, drive it. then look on forums to find out how to fix problems if any rear there ugly heads.
they really are a hoot to drive. 8)

Stokepotter · 29 Jun 2013

Cheers Dave,
I could have just had the clutch and seal done for half the price but I have heard so much talk about the ims bearing that I thought I just want to rule myself out of the discussion once and for all and have peace of mind, plus I think it will add value long term anyway.

GT4 · 30 Jun 2013

At this age, there will be no RMS issues.

They either be water tight from the factory (OK, oil tight) or else they will have been replaced with the leak-proof metal reinforced 2005 PTFE version.

PeterS · 30 Jun 2013

Going back to that first car, on the face of it it appears decent.

Some claiming it is a high mileage car.

IMO nearly 90K for an 11 year old car is not high mileage, just a car that has been used.

Just remember that when you come to sell it it will be over the psychological 100K barrier, but if you enjoy your 996 as much as I do mine, you won't ever sell it anyway.

And

:welcome:

Stokepotter · 30 Jun 2013

I agree with Peter, wasn't 10k a year always the barometer for the annual average mileage?
Meaning that a 11 year old car should now have averaged 110k, anything less is a bonus although I agree about the psychological 100k comment.

huesey1974 · 30 Jun 2013

Thanks again guys,
I don't think 90k is high either, Just back from holiday and 2 Mercedes taxis had done 1 million KM so well looked after these engines last. Im defo hoping to keep it long term and perhaps down the line get a turbo. The 911 has always been my favourite car and the question is, Where would I go after one? Ive always had performance cars M5's etc but always had somewhere to go. Im going to make sure I get the right one and will look after it. Let the search begin. Only down side is Scotland has very few and they are IMO overpriced so will be doing some travelling.
Thanks again.

Looking to join the Porsche club

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