Help: Do I need a Porsche?
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Good morning Oppos!
While perusing FB Marketplace, I came across something that I didn't know I needed until I saw it.
A 2001 911 Carrera 4Now, I know these aren't the most "desirable" 911s, but I don't care about that. I'm looking for a fun summer driver .
*Fast
*Manual
*Red
*Fun
*Cheap (VERY relative)
This one seems to check all the boxes.The issue is, I can only justify owning ONE "purely for fun completely impractical" car, due to cost/space/wife, and I would have to get rid of the Fiero - which I've had for 11 years and have put much more money and work into than I'll ever recover. But I'm not overly concerned about the money aspect - it's the "will I regret it" aspect.
I'm looking for a car that I will drive. Not a garage queen investment - I would daily this all summer.
Any 996 owners want to weigh in? I love the classic look of the 911 in any iteration, and I am hearing the siren song of the Porsche right now.....
Here is the link to the full ad (lousy pictures, but it's located in my town, so I can easily go look at it).
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1002339630302844?ref=saved&referral_code=null
Not dead set on buying now, or this exact car.....but once the "new" car bug bites, it's hard to resist. Been browsing and there are several available in this price range, so no hurry to jump on this.Looking for opinions on this car, and on the 996 in general. Worth the $$$? As fun as I've heard/read? Reliability? Anything I should look out for?
Am I crazy?
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That looks really nice. Giving up a car is a tough one though! Especially one that isn't easily replaced.
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@trivet As long as the IMS bearings have been addressed, go for it.
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@ibrad said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
That looks really nice. Giving up a car is a tough one though! Especially one that isn't easily replaced.
That's my real concern. I love the Fiero, but I honestly don't drive it very much. It gets taken out on nice summer weekends, but I certainly don't daily drive it. I know I would miss it, but I also know I would get a LOT more uses out of the 911
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That looks like a nice spec, and isn't in silver/gray/black. The interior looks better than most for-sale 996s. The seats look like the "draped" leather (not sure if that's the official term), which (imho) can look terrible after a while, but aren't terribly worn.
I don't think the tail lights are OEM. Obviously they're smoked a little but also the reflectors look aftermarket. Red is really hard to color match, and I don't see any obvious color differences, so the lights may have been changed because of preference, not because of an accident. Still, I'd look closely.
Have fun!
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@trivet That 911 is pretty f-ing nice. Do a PPI so you know what you are getting into. Anything mechanical on that car costs as much as a used Miata.
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@highlander said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
@trivet That 911 is pretty f-ing nice. Do a PPI so you know what you are getting into. Anything mechanical on that car costs as much as a used Miata.
That's a great idea - but I have no idea who I would take this to. My "go-to" shops are certainly not Porsche specialists, and there are none near me. Which is another big concern.
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It would be nice to have the service history and carfax. The pictures make the car look very good for what they show. But, looking at the center stack of the interior, you can tell there is an aftermarket stereo. While this isn't a bad thing, the install looks incomplete.
If you are serious, get a PPI. If it checks out, and even if the IMS hasn't been addressed, that is $1000, and while you are in there, doing the clutch would make sense. These are all negotiating points to get the price a little lower.
Reading comments as they come in, for a PPI, go on Rennlist and ask for a reference in your area. There has to be someone that would know of a shop that does work on Porsches.
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I once shopped 996s a few years back. This looks about on point for the market, but history, PPI and the IMS bearing are all major factors in this car. If it got a clean PPI, the service history is known and in order, and most importantly the IMS bearing situation has been dealt with, then this seems about right on price. Any of those three things missing and it is really a project Porsche that should be purchased for a whole lot less than $22k.
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@993-5150 said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
go on Rennlist and ask for a reference in your area
THAT is a great idea!
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@trivet you generally won't regret a Porsche especially to drive as often as I do. However, do you need the back seats? Have you heard of our lord and savior 987? Paging @chan @MidEngine
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@trivet The other thing I forgot to mention in my initial reply is the often leaky rear main seal on these cars. At that price, I'd also expect the car to have records of a pretty fresh RMS and clutch.
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@ita97 New clutch after only 88k miles?
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@poor_sh said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
However, do you need the back seats? Have you heard of our lord and savior 987?
Yes - but the reason I'm looking at the 996 is cost. Anything north of $20,000 isn't really reasonable. I'm assuming I can get him down to that or if it gets a clean PPI and everything is as good as it looks, then the extra $2k would be worth it. But that's the limit.
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As others have said, PPIs are recommended and make sure the IMS bearing has been done. Usually the clutch and RMS (rear main seal) is a while-you're-in-there thing when replacing the IMS bearing. The early 996es (99s and early build 00s) had a dual row bearing that has less failure rate and higher miles usually indicates that its less likely to fail.
Rennlist forums are a wealth of knowledge.
I had a 2004 C2 (996.2), which I traded to a 2007 C4S (997.1) which I traded to a 2012.5 C2S (991.1). The 996 is more visceral and more "sports car" while the newer generations move more to a GT car.
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@ibrad Yes, especially on these cars where it is an engine out job.
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@poor_sh I can't imagine the rear seats in a 911 being useful for anything, however, some folks claim it's a must. My somewhat unpopular view: Cayman/Boxster have the engine in the correct place, 911 has been fighting getting rear engine placement balance in the over all feel of the car since day one. After 50 years Porsche has pretty much wrung out all they can to compensate for the engine placement. Pretty much all the supercars have the engine in the middle of the car, for good reason.
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@trivet Real Talk: No you don't need it. But yes.
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@trivet yes you do need back seats? Because good 987s are below 20k...
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@poor_sh said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
@trivet yes you do need back seats? Because good 987s are below 20k...
Let me rephrase that.
Yes, I would consider a 987 - but I haven't seen any near me in that price range. (But I just started looking this morning)
No - I don't need rear seats. Doesn't matter to me either way.
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A backyard engineered turbo miata will be more reliable than this for less money lol. But it just depends on how much wrenching you are willing to do. You say you just want to drive it. I would think something with steadfast reliability would be key. And no I dont mean a Miata, that was a joke. With miatas you cant have both fast and reliable unless you LS swap it. How do you feel about the BRZ/86? Those are getting pretty cheap too. While ive only driven a Cayman, Porsches sure do seem enticing as its probably one of my favorite rentals Ive had. But I had just as much fun in the 86 rentals as well as my Miata. If you are dead set on power, I still think something with a V8 is the way to go. Camaro has gotta be the cheapest way to get there but c5 z06 would be a great choice in around the cost of the 911 I imagine (if not cheaper).
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@trivet Planet-9.com is a fantastic community site and so much easier to navigate compared to Rennlist. No matter what Porsche you decide to buy, make sure the water pump and serpentine belt have been replaced.
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@ibrad said in Help: Do I need a Porsche?:
@ita97 New clutch after only 88k miles?
88k miles on a 911 clutch is not out of the norm.
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@wrong-wheel-drive Different cars altogether, many of the cars you listed have straight line performance in mind, whereas the Porsches have always been about steering, handling, and braking. You'll kick my ass on the straights, I'll own ya in the twisties
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Looks like a pretty clean car and the price is reasonable.
Pull the DME report and check how many stage 4 and 5 overrevs are present.
Verify the IMS bearing retrofit has been done.
Since it's a C4, check the front CV joints.
Last but certainly not least, I would highly recommend scoping the cylinders for bore scoring.
