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I wanted to thank everyone for their help and input. After about 2 months of research and about six weeks of searching I finally found my 996. It's a 1999 (10/98 build) slate grey Carrera coupe with 36K miles. Stock except for new mufflers, full leather black interior that looks pretty close to pristine, dual row IMSB replaced a few years ago. The PPI at Black Forest here in San Diego found no issues (the guy has a 996 with 240K miles as a daily driver). Everything works but the horn (I needed that on the drive home) and the headlight washers. The seller still had a loan on it so that was a bit of a pain.It passed smog on Friday and AAA got it registered yesterday. It's now all mine and a blast to drive!
My plan is to drive it to work a few times a week, drive it on the weekends and on longer trips out to my family, Vegas, etc where it makes sense. I'm figuring on 5K miles/year. I want to keep it stock except for the stereo. I want to put something in that has CarPlay so I'm not futzing with navigation, etc on my phone while I'm driving. It seems like the PO was decent about oil changes but wasn't a stickler for the scheduled maintenance items. I'm hoping to start working my way through the one year, two year and annual stuff soon. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions. I also need to fix the horn.
Now for the obligatory pictures. This is my first time posting pictures in the forum so hopefully they're the right size...
Ok, the horns are easy to replace. I ended up buying both the low and high tone horns since they were cheap. I also cleaned out the front radiators and AC condensers once the bumper was removed for the horns replacement - makes it easy to just do it all at once.
As for the stereo - that’s also super easy. I did a single DIN Alpine, super easy, plug and play.
My 99 also didn’t have a lot of preventative items replaced that I could tell. I replaced all the fluids (coolant, trans/diff, brake fluid, etc.). I also ends up doing plugs and coils, motor mounts, things that were old but not broken.
Much of said work is pretty easy for DIY if you are so inclined.
Congrats! I too just bought my first 911 after 30 years of delayed gratification. It's a weekend car for me. I tell my wife any day I am driving my 911 I am happy. Period.
Ok, the horns are easy to replace. I ended up buying both the low and high tone horns since they were cheap. I also cleaned out the front radiators and AC condensers once the bumper was removed for the horns replacement - makes it easy to just do it all at once.
As for the stereo - that’s also super easy. I did a single DIN Alpine, super easy, plug and play.
My 99 also didn’t have a lot of preventative items replaced that I could tell. I replaced all the fluids (coolant, trans/diff, brake fluid, etc.). I also ends up doing plugs and coils, motor mounts, things that were old but not broken.
Much of said work is pretty easy for DIY if you are so inclined.
I'm pretty sure I'll have to replace the horns themselves. The PO already fixed the rubber bushings in the steering wheel. He said it blows fuses when you try to use it. I put a fuse in and it does click but no sound. Supposedly that means the relay is good. I still might replace that to be sure. One of my questions was going to be what else should I do while the bumper is off.
Don’t be surprised if it becomes your daily driver.
When I bought mine, I kept my BMW 135i for three months, and the sold it since I’d driven it to work about 5 times over the three months.
The BMW 135i (modded to 500 hp) was faster, but the 996 is still more fun.
Now the only car I could buy that would have a chance of being driven often is another Porsche.
One of my questions was going to be what else should I do while the bumper is off.
Check out the posts about relocating the emergency release cable for the frunk. You might need to use it some day if the battery dies while the car is locked, or if the lock breaks.
Congratulations! Per your question of what else should (maybe can is a better term) you do when the bumper is off. I had to remove my front bumper so I took the opportunity to install a center (third) radiator kit. Overkill, probably... You likely will be changing out the coolant anyway so... Also check the coolant expansion tank, if it’s yellow you might want to tend to that as well while the system is drained.
I'm pretty sure I'll have to replace the horns themselves. The PO already fixed the rubber bushings in the steering wheel. He said it blows fuses when you try to use it. I put a fuse in and it does click but no sound. Supposedly that means the relay is good. I still might replace that to be sure. One of my questions was going to be what else should I do while the bumper is off.
03-10-2020, 10:07 PM
I'm Now an Owner!
