Originally Posted by champignon

I also have a 2003, bought about a month ago, and it too, has more than $20K in recent repairs and maintenance (I'm counting the last 2 owners before me, which is over a period of 2.5 years).

People need to realize that these 996TT, whatever their attributes, are not cars for the faint-hearted. I'm a long time BMW owner, and a more recent BMW collector, and the horror stories one reads on BMW forums pale in comparison to what one can see here with one's own eyes. The 996TT is a magnificent but seriously flawed vehicle. There were design choices made in this car that may have been efficient and cost saving when the cars were constructed, but which do not make these cars the best ones to own when service is needed.

Having to drop the engine in order to service and/or replace the power steering system AND the coolant system (as was done in my car, TWICE over 2.5 years) is really not evidence of very practical long term design.

We still love these cars, for what they are. But bring a healthy bank account along with you if you are buying one of these older used cars, especially if you don't really know what has been done to it over the course of its lifetime.

If a potential $10K+ repair bill will shake the underpinnings of your financial future, do not, I repeat DO NOT, buy one of these cars. Really, I mean it.

Originally Posted by rick brooklyn

Just so you know, the seller is active on this forum...

On a separate note, those wheels look different than regular turbo twists, I think.

Originally Posted by Hulley

.........It would be nice to drive a car that I could hopefully sell for what I paid for or at least lose minimal money on while I'm saving more money.

Originally Posted by Carlo_Carrera

A 996TT will most likely fit that program much better than a 997 C2S.

Originally Posted by Hulley

That's what I've been thinking. The 996TT are on the upswing where the 997s are still maybe dropping or holding steady.

Originally Posted by autobonrun

So did you come to the determination that a TT is seriously flawed in the 30 days you've owned it, or did you perform due diligence beforehand, determine it was seriously flawed and bought it anyway? I hope it's not choice number 2.

Originally Posted by treeman911

Once you drive the Turbo, it is hard to be happy with anything else, provided you do like to run the revs up where these motors are made to and like to run.

Originally Posted by champignon

No, I reached that conclusion long before I bought the car that I bought. The car that I bought already had all these things addressed, and recently; hopefully, I will not need to address them again in the next few years. And fortunately, if I do need to address these things, and write a big check, I'll be OK. I can afford it.

But my point is, these things can be very expensive to own, and writing the check to buy one can be just the start of that. If, as a buyer, one does not understand that coming in, then rethink the purchase, is all that I can say.

Originally Posted by Hosewater2

Your car is clearly an exception, in reading others' experiences >$20K is the far right end of the bell curve. I feel much more secure in a 996tt than I would in an early 00s M car of any number.

Originally Posted by autobonrun

Correct. I was going to say something but decided to let it drop. I tuned mine up when I bought it and changed the clutch accumulator. Total about $2k. Other expenses like 2nd set of rims, LWF, tune were not mandatory. Everything made by man has flaws. I have not found anything excessive in any Porsche I've owned. I currently have three. Sounds like you already know what an M car can cost. Fortunately I've avoided the big hitters with my M5(SAI pluggage, Vanos, rod bearings, etc).