foxhound_666

Hi Rennlist! New member here!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a 1999 Carrera, and I am hoping I can get some input from the pros!

Here is a link to the Craigslist ad: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/n...573106986.html

Overall, the condition is very good. The owner states that the most recent Carfax report was a PPI done on request of an out-of-state buyer. I am now trying to obtain a copy of said report. The outside can use some TLC but nothing unexpected for a 17 year old car.

I'm looking to have this as a low use daily driver during the warm months of the year. I live about 25 mins from work, my route is a 2 lane strip through the rolling hills of Northeast VA. I work from home 2 days a week and usually don't stray far from home on the weekends. If I do travel, we take my SO's Toyota, she's not a fan of long trips in my current car, a Subaru BRZ.

I don't have plans to track the car, but would like to do some low-impact modifications (MK1 Aero, wheels, etc).

My main concern is the reliability of the car. I can see where some may think this is an oxymoron, but I'm a firm believer of prolonging a vehicles life through regular maintenance and inspections. I understand that no 996 is exactly the same as the next one but it looks like the main problem areas have been addressed in this specific car (rear main seal, LN IMS retrofit, clutch, amongst others).

I'm hoping I can be provided with some advice on what to look for, words of wisdom, and any suggestions!

Thanks!!

Howaboutthat

Buy it, replace the water pump, and drive it. And drive it ...

Slakker

I'm a little biased but I think it sounds like a great car. Strangely enough I've read that ad before but I can't remember when. So he will probably be willing to bargain some.

The 99 is arguably the quickest and nimblest of the 996's. And the earlier the model the better. I believe most of the ones with a 4 spoke steering wheel were manufactured in early '98 and then shipped over for the '99 Model Year release. Mine has a 3/98 production date.

Don't get me wrong, all of the 996s are absolutely awesome and a blast to drive. But the '99 is the least expensive and has some really big pros.

johnireland

But it and enjoy it. At that price you cannot lose.

5CHN3LL

The '99 is light, has a robust you-know-what bearing, and has a mechanical throttle instead of drive-by-wire. The problems the '99's are known for, such as case porosity, should have evidenced themselves after 17 years, so there shouldn't be any surprises.

I have had my '99 for four years; I have never once regretted the decision, and I still have not spotted a car I would rather have. I often play the "parking lot" game - where you try to find a car in the lot you'd rather have than your own. Sure, I've seen some killer Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but the '99 996 is a car I can afford to maintain properly and it's the physical manifestation of every childhood car dream I ever had.

I am certain that 10-year-old-me would be over the moon to see what we wind up driving when we grow up..."wait, you mean I wind up with that car AND I get married to a chick with awesome *****? THIS IS EPIC!"

An aerokit 996 is IMO one of the sexiest narrow-body 911's...there may be plenty of cool cars in SoCal, but I can stare at this thing for DAYS and not get sick of it...

Woodman71

Mine was born in 10/98.

Woodman71

Dumb question, but why is this considered one of those things you do when you buy a 996?

My indy guy said my water pump looked fine in the PPI.

5CHN3LL

When the water pump starts to get loose with age, the vanes can contact the block and pieces break off. If they lodge in the head, they can cause localized hot spots, which can lead to cracks.

Changing the pump as soon as you notice any leaks from the shaft or any play at all is much cheaper than waiting for the car to tell you that it needs a new pump on its own...

kromdom

The WP is a "wear item"...some recommend replacing it every 60K miles at a minimum. A big headache (and could be expensive) if/when it craps out without warning. Hence, preventive/proactive fix is suggested.

Woodman71

Ah yes, the little plastic or metal pieces. Right.

Crap, now I want to replace the water pump.

5CHN3LL

You need to find your comfort level for preventive maintenance. Some people go completely over the top and replace perfectly good parts; others do no PM and wait for something to fail. Everyone has their own risk threshold. Ideally, you and your mechanic will work out a strategy that makes sense to you - even if you plan to do the work yourself. My indie knows that I'm a fairly capable DIY, so if I have the car in and there is stuff he thinks need doing, we make a list of "sometime soon" versus "someday in the future" and determine which of those things are best for him to do and which ones I can deal with myself.

So far, the AOS, the clutch, the IMSB retrofit, and resealing a leaky cam cover were the things I decided to have him do; everything else over the past 4 years I've done myself in order to save money.

Woodman71

I have 63,000 on what I believe is the original pump. They did replace the water reservoir around 55,000 because it was leaking.

On that not, the cap is a part ending in "03" which I found interesting, as they are on the "04" number now.

I will keep a close eye on coolant level, may just do the fix anyway later in the year.

5CHN3LL

Take off the serpentine belt and spin and wiggle the water pump pulley. If it it turns smoothly, doesn't have any side-to-side play, and there is no evidence of coolant leaking around the shaft, the pump is probably in great shape.

Woodman71

This is sage advice.

I did clutch, IMSB, RMS after purchase. Feel pretty good about it but definitely checking coolant level often!

JimmyB

I talked quite a bit with the seller of that car, seems to be on the level. Car sounded to have been decently maintained by well-regarded local specialists, too. I didn't get around to viewing it he took an out-of-state deposit, and then I decided to look for a C4.

I have a Carfax for this car if helpful? (but not a PPI though). More importantly it sounds like you're pretty local, so once you buy it we should get together.

Good luck!