The full leather 99 996 I have smells great, but my 88 3.2 Carrera smelled a tad better. These cars smell like a small old airplane to me.

 

Same. And that’s a great analogy.

 

Welcome! I had a buddy in town visiting and I let him drive mine a month ago. And from there he was hooked and asked me to help him find another early build cab. I followed your auction and sent him a link last week, and he would have been bidding if he had his second parking stall arranged yet.

 

I am new to the 996, but have 15 years of aircooled VW experience. The 996 smells nothing like an aircooled VW, because 996 is a much modern car and hardly smell of anything (in the interior). Old aircooled VWs smell of a mix of exhaust, oil and gas fumes. To me it was nauseating at first, then I learned to love it. Now I miss it.

But the 996 have a distinct smell of its own. When I drive my car long or drive it hard and park it, it has a very distinct smell from the outside. The Porsche perfume. It smell familiar, but not the same as aircooled VWs at least. I would say it is less exhaust and petrol smell and more the smell of hot oil and hot engine/metal.
I live in Europe, so I don't know how US VWs or old Porsches were spec'ed, but aircooled VWs in Europe came with durable vinyl seats, never leather. Perhaps that added to the smell too, I don't know.

 

I propose a blind smell test between 1965 VW beetle, 1985 3.2 partial leather Carrera, and 1999 full leather C2

Some C&C should be able to throw this together

results would be very interesting

FWIW my experience:
1985- Old oil, burning oil, and leaking oil
1989 (964)- Leaking oil with hint of leather
1999- Plastics with hint of leather
2003 (Turbo)- Leather and leather conditioner
2015 (Cayenne)- Faded new-car-smell and leather

Favorite is the Cayenne. Somehow intoxicating

 

Throw in a roll bar and rennline aluminum track mats and you get a slight hint of metal which actually adds to the aura in a positive way.

I guess it's all similar to wine and whiskey tasting.

 

So I have the chance to buy the original wheels 7.5"x18" and 10"x18" Hollow spoke wheels. They have been powder coated and look great. No tires. $3500. I wanted a 1999 early build and it feels so right to get the matching 408 wheels, but I'm struggling if it's worth the $$$ to try and preserve it's historic integrity or if I should save the money for potential fixes and try and find a cheap set of solid turbo twists (not 408s, but at least keeps the 99' looking 99.

Any opinons appreciated! (not made of money

 

I'd save your money. The wheels you have look great. Spend money on a set of wheel spacers and it will look like a million bucks. If you plan on being a long term owner, keep an eye out for deals down the road. They always appear when you least expect it.

 

Thanks I think that's the right call. I really want to preserve the early model look though, so will just have to keep out for affordable solids.

 

I agree, wait and be patient. You will probably find a good deal somewhere.

 

Everything eventually comes up for sale at a good price. As interest rayes go up, the economy will slow and parts will become available for reasonable prices. Always happens.

Get involved with your local PCA region and get to know the 996, 993 and 986 guys. Do the same with your local indy. You will be surprised how many parts exchange hands for great prices between friends from conversations over a beer or coffee at an event. The only hurry should be to make sure all the right things have been done to your engine for durability and you will be golden.

 

Good advice. Thank you.

 

You obviously don't fly old Cessna 172s.

 

Just got my 1999 early build this weekend. It doesn't have the OBC stalk. I don't see a TC light (or any button for it-- unless I'm just missing it), and it was optioned with 408s (though sold to me without). The build options are, I don't see a "delete" option..?

• L92U – Arctic Silver Metallic paint
• AS – Black partial leather upholstery
• C02 – US emissions equipment
• X54 – Stainless-steel tailpipes
• X70 – Stainless-steel sill plates
• X71 – Aluminum-look instrument dials
• 139 – Seat heating, left
• 234 – Internal production code related to tires
• 340 – Seat heating, right
• 408 – 18″ Turbo Technology hollow-spoke wheels
• 424 – CD compartment
• 436 – Three-spoke steering wheel
• 437 – Eight-way power-adjustable seat, left
• 438 – Eight-way power-adjustable seat, right
• 446 – Wheel caps with full-color Porsche crests
• 490 – Hi-Fi audio system
• 537 – Seat position memory, left
• 551 – Wind deflector
• 688 – Becker-Porsche CDR-210 stereo

So do I have this (from Page 1 of this thread)?

***FYI, pair an OBC-Delete with TC-Delete (see #4 above) and you have the "holy grail" of zero-nannies, analog modern 911's in the United States. Find one with #408 "Technology" wheels fitted (see #4 second list just below) and you're likely looking at an ultra-lightweight: "one-of-one"

 

Sounds like you picked up a real nice car, and you should post up some pics, but no you do not have what he was describing in that post. He was specifically talking about a car with LSD, but no OBC or TC, which as far as anyone knows doesn't exist. Early 99s didn't come with OBC or TC standard they were an option that came as a package with LSD.