by "conrader" (conrader)
Published 03/09/2017 at 12:33
by "conrader" (conrader)
Published 03/09/2017 at 12:33
Tags: porsche
; 996
; 911
STARS: 2
I’m thinking about going to look at a 2004 996 911 in my general area and was wondering if anyone would be willing to lend any advice? I’m looking at value vs price vs whatever and would just appreciate any knowledge dropped on me.
It’s stayed relatively local and has 32,000 miles on the odo. Options are sunroof, Bose, 6 spd manual, navigation, heated seats. It *may* be a 40th anniversary, but I’m not sure of that.
"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker)
03/09/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 1
I’m in the market for a 996 right now and honestly 32k miles is scary-low. IMS failures are apparently much higher in lower mileage cars. If a retrofit for an LN bearing or similar has been done then maybe not as much of an issue, but with such low mileage I would imagine that hasn’t been done.
Price is tough because it’s a low-mileage very clean example of a car that’s at the nadir of its depreciation curve. For a plain old C2 maybe $25k is what I might expect it to go for? I think a “good” deal would be somewhere closer to $20k.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
03/09/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
Find out if it’s had the IMS bearing done, and budget for getting it done if it hasn’t.
Maybe you already know, but you didn’t mention it in the OP and that’s probably the most important thing.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
03/09/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 0
The IMS advice from others is spot on. Also look for oil leaks. The Rear main seal is a culprit, the air/oil separator is another, and there are a few other places where it might leak or or make the exhaust smoke. If you see evidence of any of that, pass on it. If not, buy it and fix the IMS ASAP.
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
03/09/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 0
IMS for sure, also verify the water pump has been replaced. If it doesn’t have a short shifter, budget accordingly
http://www.suncoastparts.com/product/99742498300.html
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
03/09/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 3
How much do they want for it?
if it’s anywhere near 30k, you should be looking at 2005.5 997's instead.
As suggested by the other comments here, low miles in a 911 is not always a good thing.
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 0
I’ll be checking maintenance records for sure, and I’ll keep any eye out for water pump! I hadn’t heard that one yet, what’s the issue?
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
That’s definitely lower than I was expecting. They’re asking ~$35k. It is a C2, I believe. And I don’t think its the anniversary. If the IMS hasn’t been done, but is working just fine I could still get it done ASAP and be ok, right?
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Yeah, that’s my biggest concern. I’ll be looking through maintenance records very carefully.
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Do you have a general idea where the air/oil separator is located to check for leaks?
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
03/09/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 0
Well, they start leaking around 50k-60k miles and need to be replaced. Even at an indy shop it’ll cost you $1k or more to replace it (and you HAVE to use Porsche coolant). Chances are the car you’re considering has the original water pump, but do use the impending replacement for negotiation purposes.
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 2
Where are people finding these 911s in the 30k range? I’m in Kansas, but I’m seeing early 997s way higher than that (mid-40's and up). This one is asking $35k, which from another poster sounds high too! Am I missing something?
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 0
Very good to know, thank you!
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
03/09/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 3
In order to get to it you need to remove the entire air intake assembly. So it’s not easy to speficially check the A/O separator however if it’s failing you’ll get blue smoke and you’ll likely see oil under the car. Let it get warm and really step on it a few times during the test drive. 4-6k RPM is where it pulls. Spend some time there. Then get under the car after your drive and make sure nothing is wet, or worse — dripping.
Also make sure the coolant is pink, not green or blue. It likes a certain brand and mixing them does not make for a happy engine. Also, Mobil1, either 10-w40 or 0-w40, should be in the engine.
You’ll see that the oil pressure gauge is real high on start up and slowly comes down while you drive, and the voltage gauge will move around a bit too. This is all normal.
Happy hunting.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
03/09/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 0
I’ve seen a ton of 997's in the low to mid 30's.
There was one in my area I was thinking of looking at before I bought the one that I did - pristine ‘06 Carrera 4 with 36k miles on it, asking $35k.
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
Alrighty, maybe I need to keep looking or push super hard for a more reasonable price! Thank you!
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
03/09/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 2
$35k for a 996, it had better be a mint, perfectly maintained C4S.
"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker)
03/09/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 2
Yeah and a qualified independent Porsche mechanic should be able to tell you if it’s too late and has already had an issue.
To be honest on price I don’t really know if what I said is accurate or not, but higher mileage 3.6L cars can be had for high teens, so I think $25k seems pretty fair for a lower mileage car. They obviously think it’s worth more than that, but most of the cars I see in the 30s are low mileage C4Ss. Heck, for 35k you can almost get a higher mileage Turbo. Tough to say, though.
"Nisman" (nisman)
03/09/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 0
I’d recommend making a Rennlist account and browsing their forums. Gonna get better advice than here on Oppo although most of the comments seem fair.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
03/09/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 3
That’s way too high. I’ve been looking at 2002-2004 996s off and on for months. The low miles are nice, but for that price it needs to have the IMS already done and be either a C4S or 40th anniversary. For only a few grand more, you’re starting to get into 996 Turbo territory.
I second the other comments, that’s maybe a $25k car.
"mjswee" (mjswee)
03/09/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 4
I owned a 2004 996 for about a year and traded it to a 997.
For a 996, I would go for something with more miles and less expensive. These cars like to be driven, and as it has been mentioned the IMS bearing tends to be more of an issue on low mile cars. For that money you can get into a low-option early 997 or even a higher mileage (and sometimes not perfect) 996 Turbo.
As someone who has owned both a 996 and a 997, the 997 is better in every way and should be the one you buy at that price range.
Also, you can take the VIN and enter it here to get the full option build sheet for any Porsche https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Porsche
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
03/09/2017 at 14:56, STARS: 2
I think 996 values are starting to level off. With that one’s low miles, make sure the LN IMS retrofit has been done, or budget for it immediately. With the ask on that one, you can land a 2006-2008 997.1, albeit higher mileage. Downside is they don’t have the serviceable IMS bearing, but upside is that the failure rate is very low, they look better and have a nicer interior.
EDIT: I’m not a big 996 fan, but think they do look great with the factory Aerokit. If I was you and wanted a 996, I’d hold out for one of those. A great-looking one on BaT right now.
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 0
Thank you, hearing from someone who has owned both is definitely helpful!
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
03/09/2017 at 16:53, STARS: 0
a 2005.5 997.1 has the serviceable bearing, and looks the same as 2006-2008 997's. They’re usually cheaper too, of course you have to make sure that the bearing has been done.
Before I bought my C4S, I looked at a 2005.5 997.1 C2S Launch Edition at my local dealer. had 23k miles on it, they were asking $45k. Car looked brand new. We went to take it for a test drive, and the sales lady drove it off the lot with me in the passenger seat. Soon as the car was off the lot, she romped on it and nearly hit redline, when the car was still cold.
Nope, decided right then and their I wasn’t buying it. Especially at that price.
"dootch" (dootch)
03/09/2017 at 18:46, STARS: 1
I have a 2003 c4 cabriolet with 23,000 miles. Bought it at 19,000 miles and it had the IMS already done when I bought it. Mine is loaded with full leather interior, nav (useless now), Bose, 18 carerra tires, blah blah you get the idea....I think if this basic C2 is loaded up with full leather and other doo-dads maybe could be $30 MAX. SO I think $25K is low end if basic but because of miles $30 possible if IMS done, options, etc. $35K is too high. by the way its so much fun...
"Kirk" (kirkbroadhurst)
03/09/2017 at 21:10, STARS: 2
2000 996 C2 with just over 100k miles and paid about $15k for a good specimen. If you look around and take your time these cars are very reasonably priced.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
03/09/2017 at 22:34, STARS: 1
Well if you are willing to ship it then you can search all of craigslist
http://www.searchcraigslist.org/
"conrader" (conrader)
03/09/2017 at 22:43, STARS: 0
Thank you! I’m definitely going to have to do that (or talk them down in a BIG way!) :)
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
03/10/2017 at 09:23, STARS: 0
Was that at a P-car dealer? They should know better. Last one I test drove, the salesman let me give it the cold start, then we walked around the car as it warmed up.
Good point on the 2005.5 cars - the only thing a buyer would need to be concerned with then is the serial number stamped on the engine. I have the number saved in a notepad somewhere that indicates which ones have the serviceable vs non-serviceable bearing.
"EFX1138" (efx1138)
03/10/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1
No matter what car you end up falling for make sure that you get a pre-purchase inspection from a quality independent Porsche shop or at the very least a dealership. It’s the best $300.00 you’ll spend!
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
03/10/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 0
Yes, a p-car dealer. I was not pleased.
I was okay not buying, my heart was set on a widebody anyway.
"Dsscats" (dsscats)
03/10/2017 at 23:27, STARS: 0
Get a 997. It’s worth it