If you are in the USA you must be talking about 99-2004 cars, right?? 95-98 were 993...not 996

996 are ugly, have cheap looking interiors, cheap interior materials that deteriorate like no other car I have seen, the engines are crap and have no ties to the race cars...

And before I start getting hate email or PM... I had a 2002 996TT. At least that one had the right engine. Still could not get used to the interior, even with the full leather treatment... but it was frigging fast!

If you are looking at a 996, my recommendation would be to look for a 996TT (or a GT3) and forget the rest...

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/996tt5.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/996tt3.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/996tt2.jpg

since I am making my opinion on these - I will share my old car too SmileWavy..


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360679202.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360679229.jpg

Some other things that are wrong with the 996:

- the head studs do not crack in half
- the rubber clutch donuts do not blow up
- the rod bolts/nuts do not loosen or distort

Good One!

Doyle

Wanted to add that the early 997 suffer from the same issues as the 996 (engine wise). But they look 100 times better, the interior bits were also improved... I believe that Porsche moved to a new normally aspirated engine on the 997 by 2009... I think that 2009 was also the last year of the Turbo with the engine that dated back to the older cars (and the tracked cars).

Ya, the 996 is a real headache because of all the problems mentioned above. I'd like to add a few of my own:

It has this heinous "AC" button that if accidentally engaged, will blow COLD air directly at the passengers. The sunroof button isn't hidden. I hear a lot of stolen sunroof panel stories. The shifter, although a little rubbery, doesn't feel like it's attached to a John Deere tractor. And, above all, if you back off the throttle in the middle of a turn, the damn thing will usually just tuck in and go straight. What was Porsche thinking?

I am guessing you own one?

A Honda Accord does all those things.

Not puttimg down the newer Porsche. And has nothing to do with being water cooled...I just hated the game Porsche played with its customers when they came out with such an inferior car as the 996...

I would love to see the day when they go back to racing what they sell....

Having said that, would not mind owning a 997 TT or a '09 or newer 997 (base or S). Love the looks on those.

Same with the new 911.

No, I was poking fun and riding RWebb's coattails. I drove a 996 when they first came out. I wasn't really impressed. Yes, it was fast and comfortable, but nothing at all like an air-cooled Porsche.

I believe the eccentric qualities of the pre-996 911's are what make them so unique. I have never owned a car with as much "character" as my 911SC.

Having said that, they are selling for less than new econobox money. If one could be found with the known issues remedied, it might be a good buy for someone who doesn't want "eccentric" and "daily driver" in the same sentence.

I can't think of a better DD than a 996. Decent feedback, pretty good power, and superb handling/braking. With the aerokit, they look really good.