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(I posted this earlier in the General Discussion section and a member suggested that I would be more likely to get a response here. I wasn’t sure if it was ok to post “should I buy this car” threads in the tech sections)
New here and looking to dip my foot in the 911 pool and I found a nice 99 996 in Florida...
THE GOOD
Car is under 50k miles, has a ton of maint records, LN IMS, new tires, struts, clutch, etc. I had a PPI done yesterday and it came back with only a few of minor issues (debris in radiators, broken tether on the gas cap, slight leak on the bank 2 oil scavenge pump (needs new o-ring), etc.. Car also has 0 over revs. Body is clean, interior is clean.
THE BAD
Vehicle has EXEMPT mileage on title. CARFAX shows a string of services noting mileage before and after mileage exemption. Vehicle was first purchased as "corporate" and owned by the same entity from 12/1998 until 12/2013. Seller informed me that Florida law allows for an owner to claim exempt mileage on a vehicle once it is 10 years old and that is exactly what the "corporation" did.
I've always been a Land Cruiser owner (they just run forever and are fairly easy to sell to fellow enthusiasts) so purchasing a P-car is out of my lane. I've never purchased a vehicle with an eye on how much value it will retain if/when I decide to step up to a 997/991 so the exempt mileage thing kind of scares me.
So... Do I add the 996 to the stable seeing how the PPI went well, CARFAX tracks mileage throughout its life and the fact that the car is clean or do I run away and keep looking?
Addendum:
I might as well add that I am doing all of this from out of state (GA). If I decide I want the car, I'll rent a car and drive down to the dealer early on Sat.
Hi, I’m also a land cruiser guy (two 80 series, a 100 series and a 200 series [current rig]). My two cents is that there are a lot of 996 around and it is worth waiting for a good one. Good documented service history is worth it’s weight in gold. It’s better to overpay for a good one than to spend it bringing an iffy one up to spec. If the one you are looking at isn’t documented as up to date on service and has a clean pre purchase inspection, then set aside another $5k-ish to bring it up to date. There is no shortage of decent 996 on the market. Have cash in hand, and wait for the one that is ideal and then move fast.
Hi, I’m also a land cruiser guy (two 80 series, a 100 series and a 200 series [current rig]). My two cents is that there are a lot of 996 around and it is worth waiting for a good one. Good documented service history is worth it’s weight in gold. It’s better to overpay for a good one than to spend it bringing an iffy one up to spec. If the one you are looking at isn’t documented as up to date on service and has a clean pre purchase inspection, then set aside another $5k-ish to bring it up to date. There is no shortage of decent 996 on the market, have cash, and wait for the one that is ideal and then move fast.
I’m good with everything on this one with the exception of the MILEAGE EXEMPT entry on the title.
Mileage tracks consistently throughout the CARFAX so I am confident on its true mileage. I was just concerned that it would be a major red flag when it comes time to sell.
I started a similar thread to this on a different large forum and people are reporting back that this happens a lot in FL and IL on older vehicles. It appears that it is easier for the DMV employees to enter EXEMPT on the mileage than to validate actual mileage on the vehicle when renewing titles. Since it is the path of least resistance, it is the path often taken.
Does it put the big tingle up your leg? Right color, right int, right options, or very close? Sounds like someone cared for it well with IMS, and reg service. Exempt mileage might be a reason to knock the price down to under $20k. Did you drive it? If not, go drive it - but take your checkbook! haaaaahahahhahahaaaaa
FWIW, I don't think '99s had tethers (at least mine doesn't).
I really dislike blacked out wheels on any car but that's a completely personal taste thing and easily changeable anyway.
The bumperettes were painted to match the car which I do like.
Mileage exempt is common and imo, not an issue, especially if the mileage is fine on carfax.
There are many ways it could happen but sometimes it's because states have different ways of keeping records and when the title is transferred there was an administrative error in the transfer.
Many states are mileage exempt for any cars over a certain age (10 years I think) and if you transfer it to another state, it carries that exemption with it.
My opinion is that it's not even something to think of as a worry. If it's a good deal to you, I would take it and not think twice about the title exemption
Mileage exempt is common and imo, not an issue, especially if the mileage is fine on carfax.
There are many ways it could happen but sometimes it's because states have different ways of keeping records and when the title is transferred there was an administrative error in the transfer.
Many states are mileage exempt for any cars over a certain age (10 years I think) and if you transfer it to another state, it carries that exemption with it.
My opinion is that it's not even something to think of as a worry. If it's a good deal to you, I would take it and not think twice about the title exemption
Thanks for the feedback. It echoes what I am hearing on the other forum I posted this same type of thread on.
Just my 2 cents, but you can buy a lot of 996.2 for $20k+. Not sure a ‘99 is worth that money, unless it punches a lot of tickets for you. The 996.2 is better than the 996.1 in every imaginable way.
Just my 2 cents, but you can buy a lot of 996.2 for $20k+. Not sure a ‘99 is worth that money, unless it punches a lot of tickets for you. The 996.2 is better than the 96.1 in every imaginable way.
Yep! The LED thing wasn’t supposed to be a thing, yet seven years later and orders are still rolling in.
Everyone keeps telling me that we are awash in pristine $20k 996s but I have been tracking 6-8 online sites for the past 6 months and I haven found any close to the one described in the OP.
For this stage of my sports car journey, I don’t care if the back of the rear view mirror is covered in the finest ostrich skins. I don’t care if the headlights look like single cell amoebas. I want a no frills, K.I.S.S. 996 that is mechanically sound, outfitted with the least amount of electronic nannies and delivered with a clean/straight body. Give me a functional AC and an aftermarket head unit and I am good to go.
The 996 in the OP has had the following replaced/repaired/etc. in its very recent past:
Ask for a pic of the white sticker on the inside of the frunk lid. Will show options, then we can tell what you got.
98/99/early2000 is best years.
I’ve already decoded the build codes. It pretty much doesn’t have anything:
C02 Equipped with catalytic converter 424 CD compartment, Automatic heating control
436 3 Spoke Lthr Steering Wheel
437 8-way electrical seat, left
438 8-way electrical seat, right
446 Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
490 Hi-Fi Sound Pkg with Speakers
537 Seat memory, left538 Seat memory, right
586 Lumbar Support- Left Seat
635 ParkAssistant696 AM/FM Radio with CD Player
936 Leather rear seats
982 Supple Leather Front and Rear
P15 Power Seat Package
04-09-2019, 09:27 PM
Would this scare you off?
