Should I look at a 1999 996?
 

I know it's a 996, for all the good and bad that includes, but I'm tempted to look at a 1999 Coupe advertised in my local paper. It has 39,000 miles, a six speed and 18 inch wheels. Otherwise is stock. The owner is asking $32,000. I don't know any other details, I thought I would get some advice from the board before I called. Doesn't this sound like an extremely good deal assuming everything else is in good shape and it is well cared for?

Opps, wrong thread

great! if you haven't been before, you'll be blown away by the rarity and quality of the cars. it was my first time and certainly wasn't my last!

look forward to meeting. look for a silver '70 that'll be me.

Why not take a look? It will be different than an earlier car, but if it does what you want...

And even if it has water in its veins, the engine is in the rear, and it is a flat 6...

I'm with nostatic. Take a look. I looked at a black/black 996 a year or two ago, didn't buy it but thought about it a lot. It had 11K miles and was priced at 44K. Really nice car.
I ended up with a 993 and am glad I did but the 996 was a great car. Never thought I'd own a newer 911 but I changed my mind.
I'd never get rid of my early 911 but I like the idea of having
a really good early and late model air cooled car.

Sounds like a great deal if it checks out. At 39k the original shocks may be getting tired, and make sure that the clutch is strong. Rear tire wear is not uncommon. Different, but fun!
Good luck.

I drove a friend's '99 996 and it was really nice. Luxury, fast, but still makes some nice noises in the rear.

Sure you should take a look. It's going to be your car, not someone else's.

Why go there??? For the same money you can have a 993.... better looking... better sounding... and will probably hold its value better in the long run.

I owned a '99 996 for about a year and sold it to buy a SC or Carrera. I ended up with a Carrera and have not regreted selling the 996 once. It was a nice powerful car no doubt, but to me it was way to similar to the BMWs I've owned, waaaayyy to refined. It is a porsche but without a sole. I felt no connection to the car. The one saving grace is the power. Drive it you may love it.

Thanks for the thoughts. Any issues with early 996s that were sorted out in later cars, or are all 996s pretty much the same?

Hi there,

I've been looking at 996's for a while now. No major issues. If you buy a later '99, you will have clear lights all around, as opposed to the yellow turn signals. Also, 32 is a great deal if the car pans out. I guess prices are still dropping a bit each month.

They are indeed a blast to drive. Not many issues either. You will hear much talk about the Rear Main Seal issue, but even that is less than 600 or 700 to fix.

best of luck,

The 996 is a great car... I love my 99.. as Jon mentioned the RMS is a issue.. but that issues has followed every 996 as well as Boxster to this date. The late 99's have clear lights only the early 99's are amber. Also the 99's had the speckled grey interior parts which changed in 2000. The price sounds great the miles are a little high also they are known for the Mass Air Flow sensors failing.. A $350 dealer part, if you get a check engine light its most like that. Find out where it was serviced and have the current owner give the permission to pull the service records, also make sure all TSB's are up to date.. (Tech Service Bulletins or recalls)

Be quiet and let him take the 996. It's people like you who help keep up 993 prices http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat3.gif

The price is pretty good if the car checks out OK.

Personaly, I wouldn't touch a 996, since I would be at the mercy of the Dealer whenever it needed work.

My god that's cheap. 996's are still in the (US) $120,000 in ozzieland. You blokes are luckier than you realise. Water cooled or not.

That's rice money over here!