One thing to look out for besides the above is checking the roof drains, I live in Wyoming so rain isn't much of an issue, I recently took a trip and got rained on a lot. what happens is the roof drains get blocked or broken and will flood the rear floorboards of the car. It does seem a harsher ride, I only have my Cayenne to compare it to but I guess it is a sports car. other than that it runs great.

 

I have a 2003 C4 cab with 56k on the clock that I’ve been “close” to listing on BaT for a couple of years LOL. The cab top seals will squeak a bit but can be treated with silicone I’ve read but never done it. Took it out yesterday (no squeaks) but found that both front outer CV joints are cracked and leaking😐 so now I need to fix those. It’s either a messy job to replace the boots if I can find someone willing to do that, or two new expensive axles which first indy thought was best plan.

 

The CV boots take an hour to change. The Turbo guys have been buying replacement front axles for $200/set on Amazon.

 

You can get the whole front CV axle assembly made by GKN from Rock Auto for about 1/3 the price of it in a Porsche box. Dunno about the 996 specifically but GKN is the actual manufacturer for a lot of other cars, no need to pay the Porsche box premium.

 

I am the owner of a 2004 C4S cabriolet with a manual transmission for a little over two years now. I can honestly say that it is the most refined of the four that I have owned. Three have been cabs (1987, 1997, 2004) and one a coupe (1967 912).

With that said, they all have had a very stiff rides. They are, after all, sports cars. Also, because of the rear engine, rear wheel drive (except the C4S), they are much lighter in the front, and they all have a road feel very unlike most other vehicles. What this means is that every nuance of the road surface is transmitted to the driver through the seat/steering wheel combination. This is something I have grown to love, but admittedly, it's not for everyone.

The fact that a vehicle is a convertible, especially an older one, means there will always be more "squeaks and rattles" than a comparably aged coupe. I'm no expert, but I think it has a lot to do with body stiffness as well as aging rubber in the vehicle. This is not something that would keep me from purchasing a vehicle. There is certainly an undeniable pleasure in driving a convertible.

As far as the IMS bearing goes, I purchased mine without it having been done. I was advised, at the time, by an independent mechanic to wait (my car had about 58,000 miles on the odo). I think the best course of action here, is to price out, in your local area, the cost of an IMS retrofit, vs a complete engine rebuild and see what you are comfortable with. I just checked this. According to a local mechanic in my area (Los Angeles), the cost of doing an IMS retrofit (including a clutch replacement, since much of the labor is the same) is around $5,000-$6,000. A complete engine rebuild (also with a clutch replacement) would be in the neighborhood of $12,000. By the way, thanks for mentioning this, since I'm considering doing this myself, depending on whether I decide to keep or sell the car (mine now has 64,000 miles on the odo). Also, the mechanic I spoke with told me that most IMS failures they see, occur in the 100-110,000 mile range. The benefit of having it done after you purchase a vehicle is the peace of mind knowing exactly when and what has been done to the vehicle versus taking someone else's word for it. That said, they do not all fail. Has much to do with proper servicing and driving style.

Also, I will note, although not related to your post, mine has the factory "sport sound" option. This, to me, adds a special pleasure which is very difficult to relate unless someone has experienced it. It is able to be switched off, but I love it and run with it on all the time. I find the engine note especially satisfying at lower speed and torque.

Hope this all helps and good luck finding the right car.

 

Make the tire change. That will solve a lot of issues. I’d like to find a hard top for my 996.2 cab. Any leads would be appreciated.

 

My 2004 cabriolet has 80000 mi on the clock, and no IMS history. I plan to use Oil analysis to help me decide when to get serious about tackling the IMS. Like others, i have no squeaks or rattles, but a firm ride.
My son got his front cv axles (997) rebuilt by CV Source in Atlanta. Very pleased with their professionalism and their work. Nice people, too. I went there to pick them up when they were done. They use only highest quality parts. Just a thought.