Question to the 996 C4S owners.....
03-28-2015, 05:57 PM
#16
Drifting
Lots of good points brought up in this thread. I find myself pondering a daily driven 911 to add to the stable all the time... It's true that maybe holding out for the 997.2s is a "safer" bet...Here's my dilemma:
A. Sell wife's perfectly suitable car and buy newer, bigger, more kid friendly, hot-rod SUV and keep driving a sub 5K daily driver...
OR
B. Keep wife's car, sell $5K daily driver and buy a low/mid-30s 996C4S...
I think I know the answer though!
A. Sell wife's perfectly suitable car and buy newer, bigger, more kid friendly, hot-rod SUV and keep driving a sub 5K daily driver...
OR
B. Keep wife's car, sell $5K daily driver and buy a low/mid-30s 996C4S...
I think I know the answer though!
Last edited by boman993; 03-28-2015 at 11:15 PM.
03-28-2015, 06:59 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Lot's of good points brought up in this thread. I find myself pondering a daily driven 911 to add to the stable all the time... It's true that maybe holding out for the 997.2s is a "safer" bet...Here's my dilemma:
A. Sell wife's perfectly suitable car and buy newer, bigger, more kid friendly, hot-rod SUV and keep driving a sub 5K daily driver...
OR
B. Keep wife's car, sell $5K daily driver and buy a low/mid-30s 996C4S...
I think I know the answer though!
A. Sell wife's perfectly suitable car and buy newer, bigger, more kid friendly, hot-rod SUV and keep driving a sub 5K daily driver...
OR
B. Keep wife's car, sell $5K daily driver and buy a low/mid-30s 996C4S...
I think I know the answer though!
(Subsection to option C: lawyer-up!!)
03-28-2015, 08:57 PM
#18
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
My 996 has 345000km and the cylinders still look fine. Have the engine completely apart. High mileage seems to be a benefit with these engines. The only thing one should change around 250K km are the variocam chain tensioner pads.
03-28-2015, 10:05 PM
#20
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Love my C4S. I've had it since 2006 @ 39,000kms. In 2011 @ 106,000kms, original engine was diagnosed with a scored cylinder #6. It was totally rebuildable and the quotes I got from reputable indies around town was pretty reasonable (for a Porsche!). FYI: IMSB which was replaced the year earlier with the LN unit was 100% OK with no wear.
But thanks to my job and having excellent contacts in the right places at the time, I was able to get a brand new factory X51 with warranty for the same as the quoted rebuilds.
No brainer; went for the new engine which has the beefier IMSB found in the 997 (after 2006) along with all the better bits of the X51 PowerKit package. Why did the original engine suffer that fate? Who knows, really. But with any used car, no matter how diligent you are with the PPI and how you treat it subsequently, you will never know if the previous owner(s) did something once or routinely to initiate the damage. Yes the tolerances are very tight and maybe the extreme cold weather precipitates this scoring (as it is happening on Cayennes, Panos, Boxsters, etc...), but I really don't think that a well maintained 996 is any less reliable than a newer or older 911. Remember that the newest 996's are now 11 years old!
But thanks to my job and having excellent contacts in the right places at the time, I was able to get a brand new factory X51 with warranty for the same as the quoted rebuilds.
No brainer; went for the new engine which has the beefier IMSB found in the 997 (after 2006) along with all the better bits of the X51 PowerKit package. Why did the original engine suffer that fate? Who knows, really. But with any used car, no matter how diligent you are with the PPI and how you treat it subsequently, you will never know if the previous owner(s) did something once or routinely to initiate the damage. Yes the tolerances are very tight and maybe the extreme cold weather precipitates this scoring (as it is happening on Cayennes, Panos, Boxsters, etc...), but I really don't think that a well maintained 996 is any less reliable than a newer or older 911. Remember that the newest 996's are now 11 years old!
03-29-2015, 10:50 AM
#21
Racer
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My dad has a 996 C4S and my cousin had a 997 C4S - is yours a 2 or 4? I'd also consider the TT over the 996 especially since you have a 997 - I found a big difference in the interior fit and ergonomics of the 997 vs the 996 (mind you the 997 had sport seats).
Regardless, has been a great daily driver, excellent in the snow. His had very low km when he purchased it (only 19,000) and no has only 40,000km.
It has been quite reliable and he loves it - he did have the clutch replaced last fall and did the IMS at the same time.
Regardless, has been a great daily driver, excellent in the snow. His had very low km when he purchased it (only 19,000) and no has only 40,000km.
It has been quite reliable and he loves it - he did have the clutch replaced last fall and did the IMS at the same time.
I do agree that the interior is quite the let down as compared to the 997 series. Still on the fence with the anticipated fears of cylinder scoring, IMS, RMS, 11 yr old car, etc, etc......
04-01-2015, 12:22 PM
#24
Pro
Have not been on for a while, missing my Porsche.
Loved the 996 C4S and would never buy a 996 or pre DFI 997 other than Turbo or GT3 again. Period.
Its all fine until it happens to you. Sure some guys are getting great miles, and i think the more you drive it the better. Mine had 80KM on it, very very well maintained, IMS done and everything else maint wise performed yearly no expense spared. Motor blew, main bearings, just driving around town.
Again the car is amazing, but the cost of a new engine is astronomical unless you get a reman or used one. Quotes on a PROPER rebuild ranged from $18k low to $28k high including the small stuff and re and re. Nothing could change my mind from this...and i WAS one of the guys that always said if you maintain it they are great etc.
BTW a properly modded interior in a 996 looks great IMO (early 997 are not the greatest quality either).
Loved the 996 C4S and would never buy a 996 or pre DFI 997 other than Turbo or GT3 again. Period.
Its all fine until it happens to you. Sure some guys are getting great miles, and i think the more you drive it the better. Mine had 80KM on it, very very well maintained, IMS done and everything else maint wise performed yearly no expense spared. Motor blew, main bearings, just driving around town.
Again the car is amazing, but the cost of a new engine is astronomical unless you get a reman or used one. Quotes on a PROPER rebuild ranged from $18k low to $28k high including the small stuff and re and re. Nothing could change my mind from this...and i WAS one of the guys that always said if you maintain it they are great etc.
BTW a properly modded interior in a 996 looks great IMO (early 997 are not the greatest quality either).
04-01-2015, 02:32 PM
#25
Racer
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Thank you for all your input. I'm not too keen on the prospect of "impending" doom.....so I will continue to drive the 997 this summer until I find another toy that interests me. 
04-01-2015, 05:22 PM
#26
Captain Obvious
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If a main bearings goes, why would the engine need a full rebuild? It can be repaired for a lot less than a rebuild. I'm doing this right now to my 996.
And for the 997, I thought it had the same potential to fail as a 996. They are essentially the same engine.
And for the 997, I thought it had the same potential to fail as a 996. They are essentially the same engine.
04-01-2015, 05:33 PM
#27
Team Owner
i think the PRE-dfi engine on the 997 is essentially the same engine and yes it has scored cylinder and IMS issues too , although from what i have seen considerably less. the 997.2 is an all new engine. No IMS .
04-01-2015, 08:28 PM
#29
Captain Obvious
Super User
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