"Look for an early car with build date be"
08-14-2018 | 12:51 AM
#16
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Chicago, IL
99's are awesome because I can buy parts for the front half dirt cheap (Boxster) and short blocks for under $6k shipped. They are light, simple to work on, and reliable. Not to mention they are quicker on the track than an equivalent built '03. That being said, all 911's are a frickin blast if you are a 911 guy.
08-14-2018 | 01:03 AM
#17
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Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Edmond, OK
Originally Posted by murphyslaw1978
I can’t believe Porsche would make a slower 911 four years later?
08-14-2018 | 06:07 AM
#19
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Joined: Dec 2014
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From: MBSC
Keep in mind that the later cars have slightly larger engines, making slightly more HP/TQ..but also carry more weight. I'm a little biased b/c my 3/98 1999 Carrera 2 is a featherweight with it's only option being an LSD.. the easiest way to go faster is to weigh less 
08-14-2018 | 09:30 AM
#20
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 547
Likes: 9
From: Sedona, AZ
My 2cents
Most internet postings are, well, "opinions"! I say look at the data.
The famous Porsche/IMSB class action suit contained much useful data. It established beyond a doubt that early 996s, as equipped with dual row IMSBs, had a lower IMSB failure rate than the later single row IMSBs. Everything else said is pretty much conjecture that's not based on data.
My 2cents.
Relinuca
Porsches Forever
The famous Porsche/IMSB class action suit contained much useful data. It established beyond a doubt that early 996s, as equipped with dual row IMSBs, had a lower IMSB failure rate than the later single row IMSBs. Everything else said is pretty much conjecture that's not based on data.
My 2cents.
Relinuca
Porsches Forever
08-14-2018 | 09:59 AM
#21
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 240
Likes: 96
From: Milwaukee, WI
Most internet postings are, well, "opinions"! I say look at the data.
The famous Porsche/IMSB class action suit contained much useful data. It established beyond a doubt that early 996s, as equipped with dual row IMSBs, had a lower IMSB failure rate than the later single row IMSBs. Everything else said is pretty much conjecture that's not based on data.
My 2cents.
Relinuca
Porsches Forever
The famous Porsche/IMSB class action suit contained much useful data. It established beyond a doubt that early 996s, as equipped with dual row IMSBs, had a lower IMSB failure rate than the later single row IMSBs. Everything else said is pretty much conjecture that's not based on data.
My 2cents.
Relinuca
Porsches Forever
That being said I think a good PPI will flush out any issues with these cars if you are looking to buy one. Just have a compression test done on them and potentially have I think cylinder number 6 bore scoped. The majority of cars will probably make it to 150K with no significant problems. After that, like any old car all bets are off.
08-14-2018 | 01:25 PM
#23
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,968
Likes: 2,295
From: Cleveland Georgia
We love the 99’s.... l swear Jake can be blindflded and identify a 1999 996 accurately. l keep telling him that he needs to shoot some videos about these things, but he says that he doesn’t want to “end up like all those other clowns on Youtube”.
@808bill
We agree, an increasing number of our purchasers are buying broken cars, and shipping them here to be reconstructed. Sometimes they don’t even see the car before it lands on the doorstep here. We’ve become very good at resurrecting these 996s.
@808bill
We agree, an increasing number of our purchasers are buying broken cars, and shipping them here to be reconstructed. Sometimes they don’t even see the car before it lands on the doorstep here. We’ve become very good at resurrecting these 996s.
08-14-2018 | 02:54 PM
#24
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: L.I. NY
I don't know about the fire theory/myth, but FSI has done enough work on these cars to have plenty of empirical data. That's no myth...If they're saying the '99's are "the best" I have no reason to doubt it. Does the fact that I own a '99 have anything to do with my opinion? Nah, it's got a 2000 engine in it (but it did have the dual row IMSB - it's got "The Solution" now).
08-14-2018 | 03:03 PM
#25
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,968
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From: Cleveland Georgia
I don't know about the fire theory/myth, but FSI has done enough work on these cars to have plenty of empirical data. That's no myth...If they're saying the '99's are "the best" I have no reason to doubt it. Does the fact that I own a '99 have anything to do with my opinion? Nah, it's got a 2000 engine in it (but it did have the dual row IMSB - it's got "The Solution" now).
This is opinion... That’s all.
08-14-2018 | 03:04 PM
#26
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Alabama USA
I believe all of the 99's were before the fire. I think the problem was with the heads. The theory being that heads that had been discarded for quality issues previously were used because the fire prevented them from getting new ones. This is pure speculation, but there is a higher rate of cracked heads in MY2000 cars. Mine has a build date of Jan 2000, so I'm hoping mine is not one of the problematic ones. Also, the 99 had a double-row IMS bearing which is believed to be stronger. Many 2000's and some 2001's also have the double-row bearing.
08-14-2018 | 03:19 PM
#27
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,968
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From: Cleveland Georgia
All these engines failed early under 30k and have all been replaced by Porsche now.
Not “all” have failed, those that were not driven enough when they were under warranty were never given a chance to fail. This is why we see these “stragglers” come in a dozen or so times per year. They are almost always well under 35K miles when they do show up.
The December 2008 issue of Panorama (that first featured our early work with these engines) had a great write up by the late Jim Pasha about the fire and the variables that it created for the 1999 model year cars. Jim visited the factory archives and gathered his information directly. He had just finished his article on this topic when he passed away.
08-14-2018 | 03:59 PM
#28
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Alabama USA
We just had one 2 weeks ago. 24K miles.
Not “all” have failed, those that were not driven enough when they were under warranty were never given a chance to fail. This is why we see these “stragglers” come in a dozen or so times per year. They are almost always well under 35K miles when they do show up.
The December 2008 issue of Panorama (that first featured our early work with these engines) had a great write up by the late Jim Pasha about the fire and the variables that it created for the 1999 model year cars. Jim visited the factory archives and gathered his information directly. He had just finished his article on this topic when he passed away.
I had a customer come in to the dealership (before i retired) for a post-purchase inspection of his cream puff low mileage Boxster he was so proud of and excited about.. The car was literally perfect and i didn't have the heart to kill his dreams by telling him about the potential of this failure (it should have been recalled). It failed soon after.