Moley

iTrader: (9)

Am considering something a bit different to the Impreza, and have always fancied a 911.

I'd be looking for a 996 3.4 manual, but what in particular do i need to consider?

I've heard good and bad things about the 3.4, but a 3.6 is out my price range, so not really an option anyway.

Anyone had any experience of the cars, either good or bad?

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

Gary,

Have a chat with Charlie at Surrey RR..

Simon

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Get yourself over to Porsche section on PH - best place to start

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

yep thats a good call

zip106

Search PH for 'Hartech'.
The owner, Baz, is the man with all the knowledge you'll ever need.

Even give them a ring - I'm sure they'll help out.

Also, have a read of this - http://www.total911.com/news/996-eng...ou-be-worried/

If you find a car you like the look of you really MUST have it fully inspected with a leakdown test and even better, internally with a borescope.
It'll cost, but not as much as a new engine.

Good luck!

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

A borescope!!! flipping heck, I thought Porsche engines meant to be strong....its not like they are a Lancia

zip106

You'd be surprised!
The 3.4's aren't the best Porsche engines.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Cheers for the advice folks.

Simon - i'm at Longcross on the 23rd driving a 997 Turbo, so will pop in and see Charlie when i'm down there. (and try to blag a drive of his 996 Turbo!!!)

Interesting what you've said Zip106 about the 3.4, i was told by a guy at work who has aslo been looking for one that the 3.4 isn't the best.
Saving the extra and going for a 3.6 could be a better option after all.

stuart148

iTrader: (12)

im also been looking and have seen the 3.4s with 150k on the clock so cant be that bad can they ?

stu

zip106

Stuart - there's good and bad engines in every car.

It's just a known thing in Porsche circles that the 3.4 is more fragile than the 3.6

That's not to say that the bigger engine doesn't suffer it's own problems though.

In essence, the best engines are the ones derived from the GT1 - that is, the turbos, GT3 and GT2 cars.

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

3.4 suffer with oil leeks gaz even when they was brand new engine seals 8-10 hrs labour .If you are going for one try to get 1 that's had a engine change to recent spec or try get one with fsh and as low miles as poss ..

I was at xtreme yesterday test drove 996 turbo in grey was sweeeeet Deffo save for this modell gaz ...

alfamarc

From experience of both Lancia is far better...

Do a search for rms failure on water-cooled porsch forums..

You'll end up with a 993 oil cooled before you know it

Moley

iTrader: (9)

One day mate, that's what i'd go for if i had the cash.

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Air cooled

I have been looking at getting a 911 for years.
Went to look at a 964 cab in 2001 and after looking into them, forums reported they were the worse porsche, engines no good (3.6) rms etc etc
993s were a bit more then

Now they (964s) fetch more than 996s and 993s are 20k +

I dont work (job wise!) like I used to so looking at boxsters

Now the forums are putting me off them - rms / ims

The missus used to have a MX5, 5 years no problems and im thinking of getting one of them now and a scoob

might as well forget the whole thing

MMT WRX

Gary, I'd do what zip said and have as look at the Hartech site. They have loads of info regarding the weak points on all Porsche. I was looking at getting a 3.6 a year or so ago and was frightened off by all the rms, ims and complete engine failures on Pistonheads - stickies on the Porsche section. So now its a Turbo or nothing. Having said that you could easily be chucking 3-4k a year at a turbo too, even if you start with a good one costing £35-40k

zip106

I spent £4k (not including rear tyres) on my turbo in 2 years and mine WAS a good one!

MMT WRX

What sort of mileage have you done in the two years Zip? I think I would put 3k in a maintenance pot and/or do the sports and classic/Hartech maintenance scheme. Some years you may use it others you won't but I think eyes wide open is best. Yours was a minter not just good wasn't it.

zip106

12k miles in 2 years.
Mine was on the S&C plan but you still have to pay for parts.
£1200 bill included on the £4k was parts and labour from before I was on the plan and done at another garage.

hodgy0_2

what I find amazing when I see a late 80's early 90's porsche is just how small they look, on the road

they seem the same size as a new Mini Cooper S, in terms of road presence

MMT WRX

You know I've just quickly calculated that my R33 Skyline has cost me £3.5k already and I've not had it six months, although a chunk of that is upgrading.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Gary, have you considered a Cayman if you can't stretch to a 996 Turbo?

Wouldn't consider either at the lower ends of the price range as they can be costly if things start to go wrong.

Cocker

iTrader: (3)

6 weeks ago my mate spunked 53k on a 2008 911 c2 conv. Already been back to the dealer twice with a flat battery and something to do with the injectors. Oh and he had a blow out on the left rear - let Porsche Assist deal with it, they changed both rears with a bill of £720

I dd try to tell him to get a GTR.....

hodgy0_2

my word -- that's alota spunk

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

I say i spent 100k easy on parts servicing on subarus last 12 years so 4k in 2 years i can live with,Thats the cost of a few re maps and md and u still got choclate piece ****e engine lol

How can you spend 40k on a car and it last me 11 laps tells a story ...
35k at tsl in my grey type r went to see gary it lasted 2 laps oil surge for a change (( ..

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

I had the same question a year ago. i posted in here a few times. I ended up with a e46 m3.

Now im saving a few more pennies for a 996 turbo having bought another m3 for the track.

MMT WRX

I was saving for a turbo but I might have to go and have a little look at an Exige now.

I wouldn't mind getting one and doing a few track days...nips across to PH classifieds.

alfamarc

If I was to do the 911 thing again I'd go for a cheap 964 3.6 c2 and budget for a top end rebuild and supercharger or billet head and 3.8 conversion. As much as I loved my 993 the 964 was just as good a car (providing you spent a bit on leaks / fire rings etc

9meister in Warrington (Colin belton) is a good guy to speak to. His na 3.8's are awesome! - half price than the dealers and much better service.

By the way lhd 911 feel much nicer to drive

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

Also turbo money puts you in Noble range. They are potent on track and turbo so you keep your subaru boost fix

to me the 46 felt like a different league to the 996 c2 i tried. But the turbo is a step up again. (and 400 quid a year cheaper on insurance!)