Can I afford a 996tt?

Westy · 06-09-2015, 05:15 PM

I also posted this on the 996 forum, but there's a lot more action over here.

It's not a silly question, I'm just still up in the air about these cars. If I had a problem and it cost me 5k to fix it, I wouldn't be happy, but I could do it. Simple stuff I can do, and even changing out a pump or some vacuum lines, even replacing some suspension is all doable. Getting into the complicated motor and drivetrain stuff I would have to pass and take it to my mechanic. If it was 5k every year I would dump it and take my losses. I DO like that Mezger motor, and I'm pretty confident it will increase in price, but there's always that doubt. My other option would be to pick up a regular 996 for about half the price, and if it detonates I would lose a lot less money. Either way, it would be a 3-4k miles car a year (after that first year!).

samsnead · 06-09-2015, 06:00 PM

if you have to ask....

Matt Monson · 06-09-2015, 06:08 PM

A gearbox refresh is about $4-5k. A gearbox "issue" will be $8-12k. But if you buy a car that wasn't flogged both the engine and gearbox should go 100k before they need anything.

Mitch from Cobb Tuning is selling a really nice black one right now.

Westy · 06-09-2015, 06:11 PM

Yeah,,,stuff like that dampens my mood, and my SC doesn't do it for me anymore. I must ponder,,,,,,,I might be out of the Porsche game. Ouch!! Saying that hurt more than I thought.

Rick Brooklyn · 06-09-2015, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westy

and my SC doesn't do it for me anymore.

What's wrong with your SC?

Westy · 06-09-2015, 06:18 PM

Absolutely nothing, Rick. Lots of new stuff, all upgrades, alt/reg, top and interior redone, paint is gorgeous. It's everything I 'used' to want. Now I was performance AND comfort with an AC that blows cold and gets decent mileage. Back is pretty much shot, and I have joint pain where I didn't even know I had joints!!! I'm not even sure I want my Z28, and it's on the verge of being 100 restored. Maybe I'm just fickle. Always want want want!!!!

Matt Monson · 06-09-2015, 06:26 PM

A 996 or Boxster gearbox costs almost the same to refresh but if something really had happens there are $3k cores all over the place.

I'm currently researching the engine side of the m96 based cars. Crate engines are no longer available so used or rebuilt is where you end up. It is definitely influencing my approach. On a $7-15k car if the engine pops I can dump out to someone looking to build a spec racer. Cut my losses and walk. Or put it under a tarp for a year or two until I find a 3.4 or 3.6 at the right price.

I would suggest considering the 996. An old Koni Challenge 996 was the first car I ever took over 150mph. They can get up and go. They are plastic interiors. But they still drive like a 911.

Westy · 06-09-2015, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

On a $7-15k car if the engine pops I can dump out to someone looking to build a spec racer. Cut my losses and walk.

This is kind of my train of thought. I know I can find a pretty nice 996 with the IMS, RS, and AOS done, and drive it. If it blows, I've lost about the same amount as any brand new car after 2 or 3 years. It won't have the lines of the tt, but it'll still look great and handle nicely. I might lean in that direction. Sometimes I wish I had no common sense. Those people seem to be really happy!

There's even a guy on this forum that for a small fee could find me one. I'll take baby steps. I'm in no hurry. Had the SC since 2004. and have had 3 offers, one at $27k sight unseen. It should sell pretty easily.

Matt Monson · 06-09-2015, 07:28 PM

Look for a C4S if you like the wide hips of the turbos.

TH_DUDE · TH_DUDE's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Look for a C4S if you like the wide hips of the turbos.

But you don't get the Mezger with the C4S.

Matt Monson · 06-10-2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TH_DUDE

But you don't get the Mezger with the C4S.

Did you actually read the whole conversation?

TH_DUDE · TH_DUDE's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Did you actually read the whole conversation?

Absolutely, Matt. Always do.

I took note in Westy's initial post that he was attracted to the Mezger "motor". I was just making it clear that, while you gain the hips of the turbo with the C4S, you lose the Mezger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westy

I also posted this on the 996 forum, but there's a lot more action over here.

It's not a silly question, I'm just still up in the air about these cars. If I had a problem and it cost me 5k to fix it, I wouldn't be happy, but I could do it. Simple stuff I can do, and even changing out a pump or some vacuum lines, even replacing some suspension is all doable. Getting into the complicated motor and drivetrain stuff I would have to pass and take it to my mechanic. If it was 5k every year I would dump it and take my losses. I DO like that Mezger motor, and I'm pretty confident it will increase in price, but there's always that doubt. My other option would be to pick up a regular 996 for about half the price, and if it detonates I would lose a lot less money. Either way, it would be a 3-4k miles car a year (after that first year!).

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

I got one last Fall.

It was a $130K plus car, new. and that means one thing: repair costs are more or less the same no matter what you pay for the car. So I paid in the $40K range, and if I want my car to stop randomly (though rarely) popping out of 2nd on hard deceleration, it's $3K or so to fix. If/when the coolant pipe fitttings deteriorate on the engine, it's $4K or so.

On the upside, I sold my last longhood hot rod for 2X what I have in my 996 TT. There is a 996 TT on Rennlist the guy uses - a lot. He has over 350K miles on it.

Bang for buck, there's nothing like it.

Westy · 06-10-2015, 09:14 AM

^^^ I don't need to hear stuff like that!! I rely on this board to talk me out of my poor decisions. Although 4k for coolant fittings helps discourage me!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westy

^^^ I don't need to hear stuff like that!! I rely on this board to talk me out of my poor decisions. Although 4k for coolant fittings helps discourage me!

My mechanic has never seen a coolant pipe failure, and he services a few 996 TTs with well over 100K miles on them. But you know how the Internet forums are - everything is a horrible crisis.

TH_DUDE · TH_DUDE's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by techweenie

... There is a 996 TT on Rennlist the guy uses - a lot. He has over 350K miles on it.

Bang for buck, there's nothing like it.

That's "T2" on the Rennlist. As of last October....

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2

431,000+

For the Non Believers - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Westy · 06-10-2015, 09:27 AM

I was this close >l l< to making an offer on a tt. But the more I find out, the more that gap grows. I'm pretty much just a common guy who has had a romance with Porsches since 1975. Can never get them out of my stable for very long. Like a guy told me 30+ years ago. Anyone can own a Porsche, maintaining them is a whole different story. And I thought my SC was pricey! I just might be out of my league. But at least I get to rub elbows here with the big leaguers!!!!!

Matt Monson · 06-10-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techweenie

My mechanic has never seen a coolant pipe failure, and he services a few 996 TTs with well over 100K miles on them. But you know how the Internet forums are - everything is a horrible crisis.

In my experience the failure is isolated almost 100% to track cars. The vast majority of ones I know of are GT3s, which makes sense since they get tracked all the time and TTs not nearly as often.

Westy,

I went engine shopping last night after I posted here. Used TT engines are $12-16k on Ebay. 996 Carrera engines are roughly half that. But like everyone is saying here, the chances that you have a problem with a TT engine are so much lower than a Carrera.

And to TW's reference to the 2nd gear popout? I fully agree with the internet crisis part of that issue. It was an issue from the factory. If the car had the issue it happened in the first 25k mi or so. Almost all of those were replaced under warranty with crate gearboxes. If a high mileage car is popping out of 2nd gear it's because the synchro teeth are totally shagged from bad downshifting. They will look like this upon disassembly:

BTW, it's an issue on BOTH 996TT and Carrera. You don't miss this one by buying one over the other. But don't buy a car that pops out of 2nd and problem solved.

Bill desrcibes when it happens. When you test drive the car, run it up for 5500-6000rpm in 2nd gear. Lift with no brakes. Do that half a dozen times. If it doesn't pop out, no issue. If it happens 1 in 6 it has some wear. More than once, keep looking for another car or factor the repair into your offer price.

Westy · 06-10-2015, 09:51 AM

I thought you were on MY side Matt. Now you and Techweenie are ganging up on me! Remember,,,tt bad,,,,,,,,996 good. Remember???

Westy · 06-10-2015, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TH_DUDE

That's "T2" on the Rennlist. As of last October....

For the Non Believers - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Nice discussion on Rennlist. Regardless, he's sunk some money into it over the years. I also noticed he never addressed the issue of the cost to rebuild that motor. Although I could never put that many miles on a car in my life. My 85 Toy 4x4 had 185k, and I didn't maintain it that well, but it was getting weak. Regardless, Mezger apparently really knew what he was doing.