Allan-BilletDesign

I am currently on the hunt for a nice 993TT at a reasonable price and am getting increasingly frustrated with these cars/owners/sellers.

Let me give you some examples. First we have this car:
http://http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=307560269&dealer_id=64888909&car_year=1996&sownerid= 626782&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1997&model=911&showZipError= n&pager.offset=25&search_lang=en&start_year=1996&dma=LOS_ANGELES_SO&page _location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=used&body_code=0&first _record=26&isFlashPlugin=true&distance=0&default_sort=priceDESC&address= 90210&rdm=1329967108655&marketZipError=false&sort_type=priceDESC&make=PO R&num_records=25&seller_type=b&cardist=1243&standard=false

Not my ideal color combo as I hate black, but figured could work with the color as I like the mods. Speaking to the sellers, the car is perfect, wont find better etc etc.. As I was going through the service records they themselves posted I had to laugh to myself as the records indicate on 9-24-09 the car had 24,010 miles. On 11-2 09.. the car went back to the future with 23,131 miles..

Allan-BilletDesign

Then you have this car..
http://http://platinumcars.autotrader.ca/used/Porsche/1996-Porsche-911-13cbd5840a0a000201e852bed8cdb6a6.htm

Car is in Canada, but originally a U.S. car. Figured it might be worth a look. On first call, owner informs me this was his personal vehicle, no expense spared etc. Great, i say. I enquire, who did the work, what are the exact mods done to the car, service records etc etc.. Im told, no idea on the mods or who did them, and that I shouldnt expect anyone to keep service records on a 15yr old car. All I needed was a clean carfax.

Allan-BilletDesign

Then its off to this car..
http://http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=315959185&dealer_id=56681308&car_year=1996&systime=& doors=&model=911&search_lang=en&start_year=1996&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep =&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=13 29966583600&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display =&sownerid=626782&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1997&showZipError =n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=LOS_ANGELES_SO&page_location=findacar%3 A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_s ort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=90210&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&ma ke=POR&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=1912&standard=false&rdpage=t humb

Seems pretty nice, again not my ideal color combo, nor are the mods, but I figured with the low miles it was decently priced, and I could sell off some of the mods it had done (like wing,wheels) etc . So I find out the car just got out of service from a complete transmission rebuild. Really? a 21K mile car that needed a full rebuilt? Are these cars really that weak? Pictures were sent to me of the underneath that looked like the car was driven in the winter, and didnt look like a 21k mile car..

Allan-BilletDesign

This car has been discussed on another forum, where the owner said it has had some paintwork/accident history. I figured it still worth taking a look. Have called several times.. No replies...

http://http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=310730653&dealer_id=66807343&car_year=1997&lastBegin ningStartYear=1981&end_year=1997&model=911&showZipError=y&pager.offset=5 0&search_lang=en&start_year=1992&dma=LOS_ANGELES_NO&page_location=findac ar%3A%3Aispsearchform&scarid=310909206&search_type=both&body_code=0&firs t_record=51&isFlashPlugin=true&distance=0&default_sort=priceDESC&address =91302&rdm=1329716600343&marketZipError=false&sort_type=priceDESC&make=P OR&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=127&standard=false

Allan-BilletDesign

Few more questions on these cars.. How reliable are these cars with a some bolt on mods? Ie turbos/exhaust/headers/ICs.. Ive been told that these motors due to age and being air/oil cooled need to be resealed after 40K miles as they are prone to oil leaks? Is the 96 transmission really a weak point?

ca993twin

Headers, mufflers, and big intercoolers seem to be fairly worthless on most, lightly modified 993TTs. Resealed at 40k miles? Not usually. The 1996 transmission does not like a drag-race, side-stepped clutch type of launch. But then neither does the 1997 transmission which has an ever-so-slightly stronger 1st gear.

Reliability with bolt-on mods is entirely dependent on the quality of the tune and aftermarket stuff.

If the only issue with one of your examples was the "back-to-the-future" odometer reading, please note that mistakes are very common when the smog shop reports the miles. It not always a nefarious plot.

<edit> Rufus (490+ HP) and 130,000+ miles has never had the 1996 transmission opened, and it shifts like butter.

Good luck.

Slate993tt

Hi Allan...sorry to hear about your frustrations. Unfortunately for me none of the links worked. I think leaks in 993s in general can be expected but my Tech just told me Friday he thinks thats nonsense and says these cars over-all are terrific and really get a bad rap. My car has 69K miles and is terrific...so good that I'm adding about 100hp to it as we speak(hoping it fires to life again today!)....so I'll keep everyone posted on how this affects it but I bet with reasonable driving habits it willbe as happy as can be.

As far a the 96 transmission....as long as you don't do 6K clutch dumps you'll probably never have an issue as it's the high rev drag launches in 1st that bends the input shaft...at least thats what I found out when researching the issue.

Stay vigilant in your search. Every once in a while a member here sells his car and that usually becomes a win-win for all.

Chad

Oh yeah +1 to what Steve said regarding Headers, mufflers & IC's. The mods I'm doing have nothing to do with the Headers or IC's. In my case I did previously remove the Mufflers...no noticeable performance gain but sure sounded a lot better and taking 50 lbs off the *** of a 911 can't be a bad thing.

sblaylock

Allan, edit your posts and remove the extra "http://" from the links. It's a common mistake when creating links.

Not sure how long you have been looking, but as many people will tell you it can sometimes take the better part of a year to find the one you want. That can include multiple PPIs.

Be patient, and don't get discouraged.

Scott

Allan-BilletDesign

Sorry! I think links should be fixed now..

Allan-BilletDesign

Also, the records in question are not from a smog station. they are service records..

ca993twin

Doesn't really matter who might have screwed this up... service writers are pretty sloppy. Not defending anything, its just unlikely that someone would dick around with an odometer to remove a couple of hundred miles. Way more likely its just an error.

Allan-BilletDesign

Im going to disagree on this one.. especially knowing the ease with which the odometer can be disconnected on these cars.

ca993twin

Allan,

I have no dog in this race. It is getting harder and harder to find really nice 993TTs. If the only reason you don't like this one is the slightly crazy odometer reading, then consider... disconnecting the odometer does not take any mileage off. I'd be more concerned with that service order that seems to read: "customer states that 2nd and 3rd gear are inoperable". How did that get resolved?

andrewlunka

Alan I feel your frustration. I have been looking since late August, spending 1-2 hours a day searching and reading everything I can find here on R-list. I have missed out on a few cars and had similar problems with sellers. Many cars at this age have missing records, I think the best thing you can do if you find a car you like is get a very thorough inspection. As far as what to look for depends on how nit picky you want to get, but I try and stick to the big things. Ask about oil consumption (indication of valve guide problems), clicking in transmission (1st or 2nd gear problems), oil leaks, and master cylinder leaking in trunk. Also get a porsche dealer to hook it up to see if there is any error codes coming up.

Allan-BilletDesign

Exactly. this just goes along with the Low mile factor. What car which such low miles needs a transmission rebuild.