I am new to this forum please bear with me as I have not owned a Porsche in 20 years. My question: I am considering purchasing one of the feared 996 cars. As I'm doing my research I'm trying to determine if this is the original engine that came with the car or if it had been replaced early on in its life. The current owner purchased it in 2002 from the local Porsche dealer with 8,000 miles on the car. The car currently has 19,000 miles. It looks and appears like new. I'm wondering if the original owner who traded it in with only 8,000 had the engine replaced due to IMS failure. How would this be determined?

 

try getting the VIN checked by a dealer for its serviice/repair history.

P.S. "feared 996 cars"...never heard that phrase before

 

Look at the serial number on the block just above oil pan.

 

Thanks for the reply! As far as the feared 996 most everything I've read online regarding the 99-01 models people suggest you stay away due to all the inherit problems. I'm working with a local Porsche facility to due a PPI so will see what comes from it. The car has been well maintained as the second owner has had it for 11 years and this same shop has done all his service. I used them years ago when I had my 930. Thanks again

 

I see nothing substantial that would make me stay away from a 99-01 assuming the price reflected the difference between those years and the 02-04's. I have an 02 but I also paid more than I would have for a 99-01. The differences were worth more to me. And I was able to afford the difference. That being said, if I was looking 3 years earlier I probably would have ended up with a 99-01.

In other words, there are differences between the Mk1 and Mk2 but nothing earth-shattering that makes one a must buy and the other a must avoid. A lot of people online say a lot of stuff. Many of those people are simply regurgitating information they heard without the data to back it up.

A car that has had the same owner for 11 years has not been a troublesome car. No idea if it needs anything (or everything) now, but unlikely that it had continuous issues throughout its life, any rational person would have dumped it long ago...

You should however have a different shop do the PPI than the one that has serviced it for 11 years.

 

if there is an 'AT' in the block serial number that suggests it is a factory remanufactured engine.

However I would not necessarily consider that a negative.

Mike