New 996 and Porsche Owner
02-21-2013, 11:33 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
New 996 and Porsche Owner
Hello 996 forum,
My name is Ren and I am a new owner of a 1999 996 C2. This is also my first Porsche. My previous cars have been a 1991 Volkswagen GTI, a 1993 Volkswagen Passat VR6 and a Volkswagen Corrado VR6 which I just sold last weekend. I currently have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma that I daily drive so the 996 will be a Friday and weekend car. I have been a lurker on this forum for a couple years and actually found the car on the Rennlist classifieds. I had a PPI done and the car passed with flying colors. The only recommendation was new tires. PPI included compression and leakdown testing. The car interested me because it has had the LN IMS update. It had 77,400 miles when I picked it up from the shipper and I ended up paying $17,700 for it. The car needs new tires and a front bumper respray. It also needs a new console hinge and the driver's side power windows seems to stick halfway while being rolled up. Other than that, it is pretty mint. It drives like a dream and better than I ever expected. To me, it is plenty fast and can't imagine a turbo at the moment. Here is the maintenance history based on the receipts that came with the car:
60,217 miles - Major service, Serpentine drive belt replacement, front and rear brakes replacement, rear struts replaced, four wheel alignment (4/2007)
61,218 miles - Coolant reservoir, level sensor, reservoir cap replaced, radiator fan ballast resistors replaced, water pump and thermostat replaced. (7/2007)
63,483 miles - Clutch replaced, crankcase ventilation valve replaced (1/2008)
65,920 miles - Oil separator breather replaced, idle air control valve replaced (4/2009)
66,533 miles - 3 way coolant hose replaced (6/2009)
72,049 miles - IMSB replaced with updated kit, RMS replaced, rear main crankshaft oil seal replaced, right and left camshaft housing seals, gaskets and cam adjuster solenoids replaced (7/2011)
7X,XXX miles - Air mass meter and air filter replacement (8/2011)
74,645 miles - Coolant manifold hose replacement and oil change (6/2012)
77,155 miles - Ignition coils and spark plugs replacement, bank 1 precatalytic converter oxygen sensor replacement, engine drive belt replacement, coolant manifold hose to water pump replacement (1/2013)
So after having this car for a few days now, I have a few questions:
1. How does the maintenance history look? To me, it seems like a lot of coolant stuff is going on. Is there anything that I need to replace soon for preventative maintenance? Is a year a good interval for oil changes? I realize the manual says to go longer.
2. I realize that the clutch pedal needs to be in for the car to start. I learned this only after I couldn't get the car to start. All my previous Volkswagens started in neutral without having clutch pedal depressed. On this 996, it seems like I have to floor the clutch pedal to get it to start. Is this normal or is there something going on here? Just wanted to check.
3. Do you have any advice for me based on what I have laid out here? Any feedback welcome.
Thanks and I look forward to getting to know some of you.
Ren
My name is Ren and I am a new owner of a 1999 996 C2. This is also my first Porsche. My previous cars have been a 1991 Volkswagen GTI, a 1993 Volkswagen Passat VR6 and a Volkswagen Corrado VR6 which I just sold last weekend. I currently have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma that I daily drive so the 996 will be a Friday and weekend car. I have been a lurker on this forum for a couple years and actually found the car on the Rennlist classifieds. I had a PPI done and the car passed with flying colors. The only recommendation was new tires. PPI included compression and leakdown testing. The car interested me because it has had the LN IMS update. It had 77,400 miles when I picked it up from the shipper and I ended up paying $17,700 for it. The car needs new tires and a front bumper respray. It also needs a new console hinge and the driver's side power windows seems to stick halfway while being rolled up. Other than that, it is pretty mint. It drives like a dream and better than I ever expected. To me, it is plenty fast and can't imagine a turbo at the moment. Here is the maintenance history based on the receipts that came with the car:
60,217 miles - Major service, Serpentine drive belt replacement, front and rear brakes replacement, rear struts replaced, four wheel alignment (4/2007)
61,218 miles - Coolant reservoir, level sensor, reservoir cap replaced, radiator fan ballast resistors replaced, water pump and thermostat replaced. (7/2007)
63,483 miles - Clutch replaced, crankcase ventilation valve replaced (1/2008)
65,920 miles - Oil separator breather replaced, idle air control valve replaced (4/2009)
66,533 miles - 3 way coolant hose replaced (6/2009)
72,049 miles - IMSB replaced with updated kit, RMS replaced, rear main crankshaft oil seal replaced, right and left camshaft housing seals, gaskets and cam adjuster solenoids replaced (7/2011)
7X,XXX miles - Air mass meter and air filter replacement (8/2011)
74,645 miles - Coolant manifold hose replacement and oil change (6/2012)
77,155 miles - Ignition coils and spark plugs replacement, bank 1 precatalytic converter oxygen sensor replacement, engine drive belt replacement, coolant manifold hose to water pump replacement (1/2013)
So after having this car for a few days now, I have a few questions:
1. How does the maintenance history look? To me, it seems like a lot of coolant stuff is going on. Is there anything that I need to replace soon for preventative maintenance? Is a year a good interval for oil changes? I realize the manual says to go longer.
2. I realize that the clutch pedal needs to be in for the car to start. I learned this only after I couldn't get the car to start. All my previous Volkswagens started in neutral without having clutch pedal depressed. On this 996, it seems like I have to floor the clutch pedal to get it to start. Is this normal or is there something going on here? Just wanted to check.
3. Do you have any advice for me based on what I have laid out here? Any feedback welcome.
Thanks and I look forward to getting to know some of you.
Ren
02-21-2013, 11:57 PM
#2
Drifting
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Bastrop By God Texas
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Welcome and congrats on the car. It looks great in the picture. On your questions...
1). It's a 14 year old car with 77k. Stuff wears out. Especially rubber and plastic bits exposed to constant heat and pressure. So the coolant stuff is pretty normal. So is the other stuff for that matter.
2) totally normal.
As for advice, keep up with the maintenance and enjoy driving it. If you are half way decent with a wrench, these cars are surprisingly easy to work on when it comes to basic repairs.
1). It's a 14 year old car with 77k. Stuff wears out. Especially rubber and plastic bits exposed to constant heat and pressure. So the coolant stuff is pretty normal. So is the other stuff for that matter.
2) totally normal.
As for advice, keep up with the maintenance and enjoy driving it. If you are half way decent with a wrench, these cars are surprisingly easy to work on when it comes to basic repairs.
02-22-2013, 08:18 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tampa, Fl
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Congrats on the new ride, seems like a good car at a good price. SST is right, especially the fact that they are pretty easy to work on, especially with the incredible community support and info available for them on the interwebs. There is a switch located on the clutch pedal that has to be engaged (i.e. the clutch pedal has to be fully depressed) before it will allow the car to start. I can hear the faintest of clicks when mine is fully depressed. I also have a '99 C2 and the PO replaced the expansion tank. In the last year of ownership, I have replaced the serp belt that was wearing and needed replaced and a water pump that was failing, and new motor mounts. I also had the FisterD/Gundo hack done, well worth it.
If you get anything more than the slightest vibration at idle, I would recommend having the motor mounts replaced or doing it yourself (again, very easy). The difference between the 14 year old ones that had no shock absorption left in them vs. the new ones is night and day.
Congrats again, good luck with the new car!
DS
If you get anything more than the slightest vibration at idle, I would recommend having the motor mounts replaced or doing it yourself (again, very easy). The difference between the 14 year old ones that had no shock absorption left in them vs. the new ones is night and day.
Congrats again, good luck with the new car!
DS
02-22-2013, 08:59 AM
#6
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
welcome !
someone LOVED that paint - learn to take care of it just as well....it looks completely void of swirls and scratches that so many people inflict on their cars by washing them incorrectly
someone LOVED that paint - learn to take care of it just as well....it looks completely void of swirls and scratches that so many people inflict on their cars by washing them incorrectly
Looks like you got a nice deal on well maintained car.
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02-22-2013, 09:53 AM
#8
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Congrats and welcome!
02-22-2013, 12:47 PM
#10
Former Vendor
Congrats on the purchase 
It looks like you found a great one at a stellar price !! The only thing I might do is get some Euro Side Markers of course 
It looks like you found a great one at a stellar price !! The only thing I might do is get some Euro Side Markers of course
02-22-2013, 01:05 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
Welcome & congratulations Ren, looks like you got a great car at a great price too. Great introductory post too, with good pics. As too your maintenance future, If anything your car needs more excercise so get on that A.S.A.P. Oil & filter needs to be changed every 5000 miles. Search the forum to decide which oil you want to use. Your water pump has 6 years on it so you need to locate it on the engine & check for any leaks or noise & monitor it closely & replace it at the 1st sign of ant issue.
02-23-2013, 09:01 AM
#12
Intermediate
Welcome, Ren. Nice car you got there, & pretty much what I've been looking for.
Might I suggest attaching smaller pix for those of us with worsening eyes & decreasing patience for scrolling to & fro?
Enjoy that car-- I know I would.
Might I suggest attaching smaller pix for those of us with worsening eyes & decreasing patience for scrolling to & fro?
Enjoy that car-- I know I would.
02-23-2013, 09:40 AM
#13
Great example of a 99. The maintenance history looks good and means the PO was taking care of the car. Welcome to the board.
