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Thanks a million everybody. I didn't want to create a debate between 3.4 and 3.6 but I guess I created one with low miles VS normal miles which should average between 30K and 80K miles. As a reference point, I find 30K to be on the low side and I'm not really looking for a 5K miles car. I get the point
Cw, I bought a 99 with 35k miles ablout 20 months ago and couldn't be happier with my Porsche. Other than a bad front wheel bearing, new brake pads and an oil and filter change, I've had zero issues. I now have almost 43k miles...no sign of RMS or other problems.I think it boils down to a PPI and repair documentation along with the overall condition of the 996 you are looking at.GL
I agree, however... My belief about low mileage cars is this:
Low mileage cars are not driven enough to have whatever issue "show up" with the previous owner, hence any (if at all) "upcoming problems" will come up with the next owner's possession.
A car with normal mileage would have had its "problems" show up with the previous owner and presumably taken care off by the previous owner.
Agree. I successfully looked for a higher mileage ex-wife. She was married 10 plus years, so I knew she was capable of long term...ooops O.T.
Does this car have a replacement engine? Try to get the build date on the car first before making a decision. I spoke to this shop when I was looking for my car. They give their own warranty on the car for 12 months I believe and their price is about $4 - $5K over market.
If you are willing to pay that price, I would find a similar car with a replacement engine and add the MK1aero kit with the extra cash saved. I think MK1 aeros are better looking that MKIIs but that's just my opinion.
Here is a thread of happy Mk1 owners... The peformance diff between the 3.4 and 3.6 is very small., the price diff between the two are fairly big... GL, reliabilty is also a big debate over the two.
I got my 02 3 months ago w/ 50K miles for $32K. It was very clean, but had been driven on avg 8K/yr. One of the local dealer guys that also races 944s told me during my search that they see more problems on low milage older cars because seals dry out, exhaust systems have more rust, etc. vs cars that are started up and driven regularly. Just what i've heard... so take it for what it's worth.
A couple of posts in this thread from people that actually have owned low mileage 996's. You have to remember, there is a difference between 2-3k miles per year and driving the car 15k miles in year 1 and then putting it in storage for the next 4 years.
That's BS. This has been commented on in a number of other threads and low miles does not necessarily equal more problems. Do a search and read the comments from people that have actually had low mileage cars.
Actually, no, it's not BS. Porsche recommends that cars be driven a minimum of 7K per year and will invalidate some warranties if you do not drive more than their minimum.
I drive my car less than 7K per year, so fall into the low miles category, but I recognize that good engine health will depend on making sure that it is heat cycled on a regular basis to ensure that seals, gaskets etc are kept in good shape.
Letting a car sit and rot by not driving it is unhealthy for the car - it needs to be heat cycled, otherwise leaks will occur.
I'm yet to meet a Porsche mechanic that does not believe that these cars need to be driven.
That being said, there is a huge difference between driving 2K per year and 5K per year. I drive 5K per year and not a week goes by (except between December and March) when the car is not driven several times. 2K per year is a car that is not in regular use.
Thanks a million everybody. I didn't want to create a debate between 3.4 and 3.6 but I guess I created one with low miles VS normal miles which should average between 30K and 80K miles. As a reference point, I find 30K to be on the low side and I'm not really looking for a 5K miles car. I get the point
I wouldn't worry too much about the debate of low/higher mileage. The truth is nobody here really knows. We have our opinions. You will have yours soon if you don't already. I think there are tremendous bargains on the 3.4's and have considered selling my '03 to get a '00 or '01. That way I could do the mods I want guilt free
It has belonged to a couple of Rennlisters... I forget who has it now, but the guy who was selling it earlier this year was vastly inflating the car in his ad. description... he painted it as a pampered garage queen and gave a long history of the things that he implied he had done, when in fact the previous owner had done most of the work. He also claimed that the car had never been tracked, even though the previous owner had tracked the car (and written about it here on Rennlist)
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