Rebuilt 996TT value & 77 930 project... WWFPD?
 

Greetings everyone,

Apologies in advance for the long winded post...I've been mulling this over for a month now and am still torn as to what to do, looking for advice and guidance and thought... WWFPD? What would Ferdinand Porsche do? :) Figured this was the best place to discuss! I unfortunately have the passion of a rich car collector who wants to keep everything, but the budget of the mechanic that I am~ This is good and bad as I can do a lot myself, but parts still add up, hence my dilemma...

I have a 996TT that has been a car I have lusted for, for quite some time. Although recently all the stars aligned and I had the opportunity to buy a 77 930 Turbo barn find which I could not pass up(another dream car I NEVER thought I would own since the market boom). Hence the dilemma...I'm a projects guy, I fix cars, I part cars out etc. but I have to pick my battles. I wasn't sure what to do at first other then acquire the car, but now I've spent the last month cleaning the 77 and have become attached to it, kinda like the older brother I never had as it was born exactly 2 years before me! Down side is I'm not even sure the car was in a barn as it is ROUGH. I've been buying up parts left and right (Many from here on Pelican, thanks everyone!!!) and it is adding up fast. Unfortunately i'm down to it and car had been sitting 15+ years, motor is out, leak down is terrible and needs a full rebuild on top of everything else.

The subjects in question:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612106323.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612106323.jpg

On a side note, i'm a fairly impatient person when it comes to projects and hate to see them sit. While I could do the 5 year plan and take my time rebuilding the 77, it is not in my nature. I guess this is what I'm torn about as I don't want to sell the 996, but am impatient, didn't hit the lotto, and don't want to sell any investments for obvious reasons so the only way to speed up the process is to sell it... but I'm not going to give it away, so I wanted to check with the community and see what you think my car is worth before putting it out there.

I bought my personal dream car the best way I could afford, 2003 996TT through Copart about a year and a half ago. Car had apparently been off track at Road Atlanta I would presume and took a good hit down the entire passenger side of the car. Anyone recognize it??:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612106829.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612106829.JPG

As such I have no prior history on the car, what I saw was what I got. Bought it not knowing if it was fixable for a price I could live with ($20K after fees) and if it was to mangled to fix I would just part it out. Anyway got the car and took it to a respected body shop as well as alignment shop to make sure there was no major damage and proceeded to repair/restore the car. I went through the state of Georgia process of repairing the car and had it inspected by the state, so it officially has a "Rebuilt" Georgia title, not a salvage title. Here are the details on the car as I got it and work i've done:

2003 996 Turbo base with minimal options
108,900 miles
Silver/Black leather
6 Speed Manual
Radio removed by PO and have not replaced
Aftermarket silicone boost hoses
Bilstein PSS9? Suspension
RSS Lower control arms
Adjustable sway bars
Stainless steel brake lines
Brakes were cooked (that is why you wrecked buddy~)
Motor seems stock otherwise and only shows about .6 BAR on 3rd-4th gear so don't suspect any other performance modifications.
Possible upgraded clutch???

My repair/restoration work:
Brakes full rebuilt, new pistons, new seals, powder coated fluorescent green with silver Porsche script.
Front passenger finder replaced with used arctic silver factory fender
Passenger door & mirror replaced with arctic silver factory door
Inner door panel airbag replaced, panel replaced with vinyl (should be leather... priorities man)
Rear passenger fender pulled and hand hammered metal done professionally by local well known shop with great talent!
Intercooler duct access panel replaced with used (intercooler and ducting OK)
Replaced passenger side radiator with Behr unit (due to recent leaks also currently replacing drivers radiator with Behr unit and installing upgraded CSF unit for center rad.)
Wheels were checked, repaired and refinished professionally - New General G-max tires installed.
Headlights professionally restored and clear coated to prevent hazing.
Almost all fender liners replaced with new
All passenger side upper control arms replaced
Passenger side wheel hubs replaced with used 40K mile units (also have one for left rear)
New front lower lip and L&R rocker panels which I am planning to install once I'm done with the radiators.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612110118.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612110055.JPG

I've put about 1500 miles on it and the car currently has about 110,200 miles, it drives well but still needs some things which I have not had the time to address/investigate further, here are those items:

Left rear suspension still about -1 degree off negative camber, alignment shop recommended replacing upper control arms, just haven't had time.
Noisey Throwout bearing... once the car has been driven a bit and are sitting at a light in neutral, a slight noise can be heard from the transmission which goes away once the clutch is depressed, suspect either upgraded clutch setup or possible bad throwout bearing. Clutch operates very well but may be a lightweight setup as it grabs sharply, but car has the power assisted clutch so not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Additionally on occasion a noise can be heard similar to the T/O bearing noise from just below the shifter which I suspect to be the front drive shaft.
Power steering pump makes a slight knocking noise? Operates fine, but suspect it could need replacing.
One waste gate actuator rod is broken and currently "Rigged". I have a set of 40K mile GT2 turbos I had planned to install which can also be included.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612111015.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612111015.jpg

Thanks for taking the time read through my post, very interested to know what the community thinks it is worth.
John

Sell the 996TT and invest in the 77.

You may not like this...

A real nice low mileage 996TT in a good color is arguably 60k.

Yours has a few negatives
Branded title - salvage, rebuilt, no one cares. It’s toxic -25% easily.

Color. Silver.
Doesn’t put people off, but doesn’t excite them either. Let’s not take off the $3-5k I’d argue is a fair adjustment since it’ll just be contentious.

It needs at least 5k (shop price) of work.

110k miles is considered real high. -10k.

Your turbos are knacked. Even stock you should get 0.8bar.
2-3k to replace both. It might be less but at that mileage I’m guessing they need swapping.

Brakes are offputting unless you find someone that doesn’t care about stock. I won’t deduct any $ but IMO it narrows the prospective buyer pool.

No radio - deduct $1k. Yes I know there are cheaper options but you are competing against ones that aren’t missing the stock one.

With that math I’m down to $27k, which is too low unless you want a real fast sale, but I’d be surprised if you get more than $32.

That said, I hope you do. I have a TT myself.

I appreciate your input... this is the way I am leaning and glad to know i'm not the only one who thinks it is a good idea! :)

I appreciate your input and don't think you are far off. I'll have to check the boost levels again but I just don't have space on public roads to do much more then a quick 3rd-4th pull so it may boost better... Also waste gate adjustment could be an issue... either way I do have a pair of 40K mile GT2 turbos for it. The car runs well~

I'm in no hurry to sell it if I do. I'll keep fixing little things and try to figure out some of the other known issues.

At the end of the day it is worth more in parts then it is as whole car but think it would be a shame to chop it up... hopefully i'll have time this week to finish up the radiators and cooling system then start working on the other issues.


Thanks for your replies!
J

Greetings everyone~

I found another car I want so I'm kicking around the idea of selling the 996TT again. Trying to find comparable prices these days is not so easy so figured I'd dig up this thread. It is an awesome driver, not a garage queen cream puff collectors car... that said...

I've addressed a few of the issues it had since I posted this, but mostly just been driving it... All radiators have been replaced (center upgraded to CSF). Wastegate issue is fixed, now makes 1.0 bar+ on the gauge, car is fast! Also has almost 117K miles now and will be due for 120K service soon and has some other things that could be addressed at that time.

Still no radio, enjoy listening to the car :) Throwout bearing still rattles when it is hot out. Figured out the noise I thought was from the front driveshaft is actually one of the actuator flaps in the HVAC system. Power steering pump has been fine but I'd still replace it during the next service just to be safe.

Few quick current pics, had it parked around the back of the house while I was working on another car in the garage. A bit dirty but still awesome :)

So what say ye? Where is the driver/project 996TT market at these days?
Thanks
J

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658069844.JPG

I don't have the slightest idea as to the car's worth, but I'd love to take that powertrain and put it in my '72 RSR that's been converted to a water cooled SBC...

Unfortunately it is my wife's turn for a new vehicle.

Car looks really nice btw.

Thanks Ryan!

Tell you what I'll swap you for the F-15, F-18 or the F-35 straight up... assuming you have free and clear title to them ;)

I assume one of those is your daily... you're living the dream man!
Thanks for your service!
John

Great looking driver 996TT…… nothing wrong with a little “interesting “ history!

Regarding value, I believe the original comments still hold true and will impact the current value accordingly (along with a possible market softening that’s occurring right now).

Still, very nice car!