nick49

Interesting take on the 996, from an article posted on the 997 forum.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/por...e-911-996-3-4/

Having owned a Boxster for over 8 years and a 996 for nearly 7, I can't step up and defend Porsche on this one. I will say, that I think the Boxster and 996 are great cars and in over 40 years of car ownership including many semi exotics, the 996 Cab was my favorite.

Marc Gelefsky

This comment was particularly inane...


How to you compare value on a 1998 993 C2S, a pretty rare and desirable car with a plane jane 99 996?
pretty sure the 993's are not fetching as much $$ as they used to anyways but still.

chsu74

First, I love my 996 aero.

However, from a consumer's perspective: Would you rather buy a car that Porsche was losing their shirt on with producing that particular car or one that made so much money where it allowed them to R&D new products?

Divot

I have to disagree with you here. I don't care if they make more money for R&D when I buy a product. I would rather see them lose their shirt, so I get a better value. The 996 is a better value, imho.

frisbee91

The author of that article seems particularly bitter. He must've got burned pretty bad on some repair down the line. Quite a rant, but it sure seems biased.

LVDell

Ah for f@ck's sake, not this crap again. Another doomsday article on a small percentage of 9X6 owners have suffered what guys like this claim plague the line. And to compare a mass produced 996 with a total redesign to a small production 993 that was the 40 year evolution of perfecting the non water cooled outdated motor is just ignorant. If the 996 was produced in the same number the 993 was, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Buy one or don't. If you are in the market, articles like this are your best friend. You can get so much for the money it's not even funny. The 996 is better than the 993 in every way (except current pricing).

himself

Guys sounds like he complains about everything and the 996 was on his radar this time. Disregard it.

-td

roadsession

I have to laugh when I read articles like this. It is an article written by a human - not based on FACT - but largely based upon his literary freedom to write his sentiments. And then people take them to be facts.

There are so many silly factual errors all lined up to make his case - that it would take longer than I have time to address.

Agree with 'himself' - disregard it. Drive your car and enjoy it. If you commiserate with him, then sell your car and be done with it, if you don't own a 996 yet and believe him, don't buy it.

P7

I read this article yesterday along with all the comments from different people - I did not want to post it here as it got me really upset and did not want to upset other 996 owners. Even though I bought my 02 996 two months ago and was familiar with all the potential issues as I have been on this forum for a long time, I have to say that I got really upset after I read all this especially the part of cutting corners in production. I beleive articles like this will help tank the prices of 996s even more - oh well - that's life

My car is a cpo for 2 years and I will worry about it after that but for now, I am enjoying the unique driving experience

mikey55

I've been driving Porsches on and off since I got my first one in 1971, a 1959 356. I had four more in the 70s, including one 912. Then I took some time off for the family and last February got my 1999 996. Since I got it, after some initial maintenance, I have put 11K miles on it and not even burned a quart of oil. The car is solid, reliable, fast, a joy to drive and I don't regret getting it one whit.

This June I drove it to the west coast, from Kansas, with my Granddaughter with no difficulties, even after my brother took it out on the "Bay Road" for some cornering and sliding. In one more month, my wife and I will take it on another 6K trip.

The horror stories I read here are certainly not my experience.

papachili

I've purchased new a 1982 Targa, purchased new a 1991 C4...and just purchased a used 2004 996 (taking full advantage of current pricing) and its by far the best of the 3. Faster, more efficient, everything works...i purchased it with 65k miles and have added 5k in just 2 months with a few road trips. While some have truly had a bad experience with the 996...I think the real numbers are no where near as horrifying as presented. Bad news sells. I just read a post where 996 owners have heart problems every time they hear a noise...just knowing it must be the bearing failure finally happening to them. SAD...if and when my bearing fails, Ill have it fixed. In the mean time I am driving the SH!^ out of my new toy and IT is enjoying every minute of it as much as I am!!

rpm's S2

While I generally like and read TTAC, the simple factual errors in this article really hurt its credibility... RMS leaks cause $15,000 engine replacements? And the author just ignores the fact that the 911 series has always had issues with reliability... remember stretching timing chains and exploding air boxes? What about the 3.6 motors in the 964 that Porsche decided did not need a main gasket?

Comparing any Porsche to more mass-market consumer vehicles is just not relevant. Sadly, the lease-happy financial programs of the 996 era pushed the car out of dealerships at a rate unseen in previous 911 models. A much high percentage were driven daily (the kind of mileage that kills sports cars), and subsequent owners just don't put the money in maintenance. This reality must also be a part of the 996 discussion.

As for Porsche quality - you have only to look at the rock solid reliability of the Cayenne series to see that these guys can build a car. But when asked to create an uncompromising high performance vehicle, one must make trade offs between reliablity and performance. The cutting edge is a dangerous place.
That said, many of the criticisms related to interior parts quality and commonality with the Boxster are true. Every buyer/owner just has to make their own calculation and move forward. I think the members of this forum have chosen wisely.

Marc Gelefsky

Cayenne's most definitely have their issues as well.
But all cars do!

Dennis C

Yeah, the Cayenne guys would get a kick out of that...

I have found our 996 and our Cayenne to be some of the most reliable cars we have ever owned.

redridge

the author is way off.... must be that time of the month. Most of the people who hates the 996 never even drove one, let alone owns one.