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BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 10:02 a.m.

Well, we're about to find out.

I have been looking for a budget, ok, cheap 996 for a little while as I missed having a 911 and the aircooled one has migrated outside my budget shortly after I sold my last one. Originally the idea was to get one as an Auto-X/track car but the idea morphed into using one as a daily driver after a particularly painful episode of Evo driving. I had to pick up my wife from the San Francisco airport and ended up having to take pretty strong prescription pain meds for several days afterwards because the trip had messed up my knees so bad.

On said trip home from the airport we had to make a slight detour to look at yet another 996. This one was perfectly daily driver spec (enthusiast spec, not so much) and as a tiptronic car, my wife would also be able to drive it. Carrera 4 Cabriolet Tiptronic, to be precise. I loves me some convertible out here, so that was a bit of a bonus. Looked pretty good, drove OK and it was pretty cheap, so I bought it. The difference between book value and buy-in is big enough to allow for some repairs and if I remember anything from the last 911, it is that no matter how carefully inspect it before you buy one, you'll spend a few grand shortly after buying one.

Of course, I also did the PPI myself rather than paying someone. Do as I say, folks, don't do as I do.

Picked the car up last weekend and got to race a snowstorm back home. I came in a distant second and got to drive through a couple of miles worth of slush on well enjoyed Pirelli P Zeros. Made it without ending up in the ditch, so that's good.

A couple of snaps from the trip back. Sorry, bad cellphone pics:

Currently, the car is residing at the local Porsche specialist for a Post Purchase Inspection, aka the wrong type of inspection. I should get the proper verdict today but from a chat with them last night it sounds like I may not have bought a dog, but whatever it turns out to be, it still occasionally howls at the moon.

So far, it needs a new water pump - the one on there is weeping - some catching up on delayed maintenance (fuel filter, various air filters etc and other minor stuff). Oh, and there is also the minor detail of the front diff that needs looking at. That one felt OK until I drove on the slippery stuff, at that point it became noticeable that all was not well when the front drive train was engaging.

The plan going forward is to fix the big issues, then keep driving it, work out the smaller kinks and give it a couple of months to see if it makes a decent replacement for the Evo.

TL;DR - BoxheadTim throws caution into the wind and buys a cheap 996 without professional help. It needs professional help.

wearymicrobe
wearymicrobe SuperDork
10/31/14 10:05 a.m.

How many miles. I used mine for almost two years with no issues. My old boss has a 996S and almost 180K miles with minimal service.

The tiptronic cars hold up very well. Seem to have less IMS issues and tend to be driven in a more controlled manner so they survive very well.

G. P. Snorklewacker
G. P. Snorklewacker MegaDork
10/31/14 10:07 a.m.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
10/31/14 10:09 a.m.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 10:09 a.m.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

110k, so it's most likely survived long enough to have a good IMS and RMS.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce PowerDork
10/31/14 10:16 a.m.

That's optioned exactly the opposite of what I'd look for (fixed top, C2, manual) but it will be interesting to see if that plays in your favor or not. I think this could be a very fun thread to follow for a lot of us.

Swank Force One
Swank Force One MegaDork
10/31/14 10:19 a.m.

How cheap, if you don't mind me asking?

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 10:23 a.m.

In reply to mazdeuce:

For the aforementioned Auto-X/track car, I'd be looking for exactly what you describe, however for a daily driver, out here I'm better off with a C4. So far the Tiptronic seems to work very well and it means we'll also have a second car my wife can drive while we either fix up or get rid of her garage ornament 500SL.

Mad_Ratel
Mad_Ratel Reader
10/31/14 10:23 a.m.

yeah how cheap.

I've always avoided thanks to my dad's experience...

ebonyandivory
ebonyandivory SuperDork
10/31/14 10:26 a.m.

I recently posted a video (his shop in highlighted in this site) of a guy who dd's his 911. And tracks it too.

But then again:

[URL=http://s265.photobucket.com/user/derekrichardson/media/Working20on20Truck20unsafe.jpg.html][/URL]

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 10:27 a.m.
Swank Force One wrote: How cheap, if you don't mind me asking?

A bit less than $17k with and engine and transmission service and new front brakes. 2001, the original owner went a bit nuts on the options list, too.

Swank Force One
Swank Force One MegaDork
10/31/14 10:28 a.m.

Oh damn. So it's feasible you could get a C2 manual for under $20k.

Well then!

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 10:36 a.m.

You can find them for that, they'll be early cars (usually 99) with at least a 100k miles (which is considered good, Internet lore suggests it's most often the low mileage ones that blow up), some deferred maintenance and often in a less desirable color (Camry beige, although I have seen a couple of Speed Yellow ones). I have very occasionally seen 150k-ish C2s for similar money to my C4.

At this price point you'll have to budget several grand to address potential issues, though, and it probably won't have some of the desirable options like the Litronic headlights, which do make a big difference.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce UberDork
10/31/14 10:37 a.m.
Swank Force One wrote: Oh damn. So it's feasible you could get a C2 manual for under $20k. Well then!

This is absolutely a possibility. I've see them. The tip cars are generally cheaper though.

Mad_Ratel
Mad_Ratel Reader
10/31/14 10:40 a.m.

http://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/4724839944.html

17.7k manual cab. c2. new motor with 14k on it. (if new should have the fixed IMS/RS)

http://greenville.craigslist.org/ctd/4698809220.html coupe manual, 88k miles. black with "upgraded rims yo".
17.9k.

totally did not know these were going for that kind of money...

Dad bought his 1983 in 1996 for 8k...

nderwater
nderwater PowerDork
10/31/14 10:41 a.m.

Keenly interested. I've been keeping my eye on 996s for ages now, but have never had the opportunity to bite. Please detail your maintenance expenses here.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
10/31/14 10:54 a.m.

Funny pics aside... I have a friend who did exactly what you did with a C2. Bought in pretty cheaply sight-unseen on ebay, fixed a few things... (clutch, suspension stuff) and he has been DD'ing and doing HPDEs with it for 2 years now. By his account it was a fantastic idea. He is not spending big bucks to keep it going and is totally in love with the car.

nderwater
nderwater PowerDork
10/31/14 10:57 a.m.

Uggh. Just found a local 2001 Carrera for $15,000
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4716352119.html

Maroon92
Maroon92 MegaDork
10/31/14 11:07 a.m.

I find it a much better experience to teach the Significant Other how to drive with a proper transmission than suffer the harshness of a Tiptronic.

Looks like a nice buy. I'm still considering that white 964 that is floating around town...

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim UltimaDork
10/31/14 11:10 a.m.
Maroon92 wrote: I find it a much better experience to teach the Significant Other how to drive with a proper transmission than suffer the harshness of a Tiptronic.

She won't even consider learning that. Given what she puts up with, I can put up with that.

BTW, the Tiptronic in the cab doesn't feel harsh at all. Hope that it's not a sign it's broken .

Maroon92 wrote: Looks like a nice buy. I'm still considering that white 964 that is floating around town...

You haven't done so already?

Mad_Ratel
Mad_Ratel Reader
10/31/14 11:11 a.m.

my wife learned manual when we bought her her mustang gt... :D

she hates auto's now. with a PASSION.

Mad_Ratel
Mad_Ratel Reader
10/31/14 11:14 a.m.

Is the OP's car Adventurine Green?

Woody
Woody MegaDork
10/31/14 11:25 a.m.
mazdeuce wrote: That's optioned exactly the opposite of what I'd look for (fixed top, C2, manual) but it will be interesting to see if that plays in your favor or not. I think this could be a very fun thread to follow for a lot of us.

I don't really care for C4s or Cabriolets or Tiptronics, but the original owner of a car like this would most likely be the polar opposite of the driver of a low optioned C2 manual coupe.

I think this was a smart buy. It's a really nice car that probably saw an easy life. If you don't think of it as a track car and just enjoy it as an insanely nice daily driver, I think that you will be very happy with it.

wearymicrobe
wearymicrobe SuperDork
10/31/14 12:30 p.m.
BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to wearymicrobe: 110k, so it's most likely survived long enough to have a good IMS and RMS.

Have they gone into the heads

upwardlymobilehome
upwardlymobilehome New Reader
10/31/14 12:48 p.m.

I will be following along....

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