Never thought I'd own a 996...
04-18-2016, 06:04 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Never thought I'd own a 996...
Never say never, isn't that what they say?
I've owned some great 911's over the years, including the ones currently in the garage. Been around these cars for the last 40 years or so, know the model generations pretty well, and just never cared for 996. I guess being a purist I was bummed when they dropped the air-cooled 911 and changed the headlights to those designed on the 996. That has clearly changed in my mind over the years, as I come to appreciate the car for what it is and the water cooled 911 models. I almost bought a 996 TT a few years back but acquired a very nice 964 coupe instead. After 3 years with the 964 (one of the best 911's Ive owned) I was lucky enough to acquire a really nice 997.1 GT3
At this point I figured enough was enough, I have everything I could want.
Never say never, right?
Ran into an old friend last Fall who was telling me he might sell his 996. He says, "I never drive it, wife doesn't care for it, I need something I can use everyday, like the new Cayenne". My friend is a prominent Doctor in town who bought a 996 C4S new for his 50th birthday back in July 2003...at my suggestion as he "always wanted a Porsche". Pretty much every option you could add for a C4S at the time, including full leather and sport exhaust, with a msrp of $93500.
A month ago my Doctor friend emails me photos of the new Cayenne Turbo he wants to buy, says he is going to trade the C4S in etc. I come by his house, look it over....for the first time in 10 years or so. Car is mint, pristine condition. Just needs a good detail to make it look showroom and a few mods. I go for a quick test drive, thinking damn...I think I like this car.
Now rationale comes into play, I don't want another silver car, in fact I hate silver! Being Polar silver, I think, well it's a bluish silver. I don't need another Porsche! Well that's a given,...however this one only has 12,000 miles and its a one owner, garaged right down the street with all the records etc.. Ok, cleared that hurdle. Now I'm thinking my friend will want a mint for it. I tell him the range I think it's worth. He smiles and tells me he will check with dealer first on value. OK. Week goes by, dealer low ***** him a range 5000 lower than mine. The Doctor and I make a deal and I now own a 996 C4S, full circle complete!
So far, I've had the IMS bearing replaced, L&N single row. Old bearing looked fine, spun free, with no metallic particles in oil filter. Better safe than sorry.
For a baseline during the IMS replacement, I also had a new clutch T/O bearing installed, flushed coolant, Redline gear oil trans/diff, new AOS, spark plugs, air filter, bled clutch and brake sys, Joe Gibbs DT-401 5w-40 oil. Ready to drive !
Car is fantastic, solid, planted and feels almost new. Love the leather couch feel to the full supple leather....a true luxo-cruiser!
The Doctor's car
Driven it more in a month than it averaged it's entire life.
Next up is lowering the car, installing new wheels/tires. Need to lose the stock ride height. I think the Turbo twists are a uninspiring wheel, especially on a silver car. I've got a custom refinished wheel coming that hopefully will make the car pop a bit.
Bumper plugged for a wiper delete option, about the easiest mod there is on these cars.
Waiting on new wheels and tires. Yes I washed the car just prior to this so the rotors have that fresh washed surface rust look.
Here are a few photos thus far...
I've owned some great 911's over the years, including the ones currently in the garage. Been around these cars for the last 40 years or so, know the model generations pretty well, and just never cared for 996. I guess being a purist I was bummed when they dropped the air-cooled 911 and changed the headlights to those designed on the 996. That has clearly changed in my mind over the years, as I come to appreciate the car for what it is and the water cooled 911 models. I almost bought a 996 TT a few years back but acquired a very nice 964 coupe instead. After 3 years with the 964 (one of the best 911's Ive owned) I was lucky enough to acquire a really nice 997.1 GT3
At this point I figured enough was enough, I have everything I could want.
Never say never, right?
Ran into an old friend last Fall who was telling me he might sell his 996. He says, "I never drive it, wife doesn't care for it, I need something I can use everyday, like the new Cayenne". My friend is a prominent Doctor in town who bought a 996 C4S new for his 50th birthday back in July 2003...at my suggestion as he "always wanted a Porsche". Pretty much every option you could add for a C4S at the time, including full leather and sport exhaust, with a msrp of $93500.
A month ago my Doctor friend emails me photos of the new Cayenne Turbo he wants to buy, says he is going to trade the C4S in etc. I come by his house, look it over....for the first time in 10 years or so. Car is mint, pristine condition. Just needs a good detail to make it look showroom and a few mods. I go for a quick test drive, thinking damn...I think I like this car.
Now rationale comes into play, I don't want another silver car, in fact I hate silver! Being Polar silver, I think, well it's a bluish silver. I don't need another Porsche! Well that's a given,...however this one only has 12,000 miles and its a one owner, garaged right down the street with all the records etc.. Ok, cleared that hurdle. Now I'm thinking my friend will want a mint for it. I tell him the range I think it's worth. He smiles and tells me he will check with dealer first on value. OK. Week goes by, dealer low ***** him a range 5000 lower than mine. The Doctor and I make a deal and I now own a 996 C4S, full circle complete!
So far, I've had the IMS bearing replaced, L&N single row. Old bearing looked fine, spun free, with no metallic particles in oil filter. Better safe than sorry.
For a baseline during the IMS replacement, I also had a new clutch T/O bearing installed, flushed coolant, Redline gear oil trans/diff, new AOS, spark plugs, air filter, bled clutch and brake sys, Joe Gibbs DT-401 5w-40 oil. Ready to drive !
Car is fantastic, solid, planted and feels almost new. Love the leather couch feel to the full supple leather....a true luxo-cruiser!
The Doctor's car
Driven it more in a month than it averaged it's entire life.
Next up is lowering the car, installing new wheels/tires. Need to lose the stock ride height. I think the Turbo twists are a uninspiring wheel, especially on a silver car. I've got a custom refinished wheel coming that hopefully will make the car pop a bit.
Bumper plugged for a wiper delete option, about the easiest mod there is on these cars.
Waiting on new wheels and tires. Yes I washed the car just prior to this so the rotors have that fresh washed surface rust look.
Here are a few photos thus far...
Last edited by TYPE911; 04-23-2016 at 10:26 AM.
04-18-2016, 06:34 PM
#5
Gorgeous. I love the rear wiper option, wish more cars had it, but I understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea.
It's definitely interesting how the general opinion surrounding the 996 is changing over time. Glad to see it getting the appreciation it deserves.
It's definitely interesting how the general opinion surrounding the 996 is changing over time. Glad to see it getting the appreciation it deserves.
04-18-2016, 07:11 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Excellent! I went to the local Porsche GTG last Saturday, and I have to say, I really like the look of the 996.2 headlights. The 997's really don't do anything extra for me....but that's probably just because I've been on here for 1.5 years.
Now the yellow GT2 that was there.....that's a car I would like to own!
Now the yellow GT2 that was there.....that's a car I would like to own!
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04-18-2016, 07:44 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
Congrats! Looks like your C4S tail lights haven't developed the all so common vertical stress cracks yet.
