Sean F

This thread has officially jumped the shark

JimB

Actually I apologize for my part in taking this thread off into pissing match land. I admit I go a little crazy when people that know next to nothing about the water cooled 911s go off on there “it’s not a real Porsche” rants. I am off my soap box and back to work before I start challenging people to grudge match pick slip races.

To the OP. 964s are great cars and you’ll love it. If you’re buying a fairly high mileage one for $17k plan to spend some money. 996s are great track cars. If someone tells you otherwise ask them how much track time they have in one. If you’re buying a fairly high mileage one for $27k plan to spend some money.

Buy whichever one makes you smile. It’s pretty hard to go wrong.

Have a good day.
Jim

Gary R.

No, no, no. it's the 944's and 928's that aren't real Porsches!

Sean F

Besides, it's better to learn to drive on a low HP car with non-synthetic oil wearing a HANS and driving a dually tow vehicle

FredC

**** disturber you!

Paul 996

Can't we just all get along? LOL

Jumped the shark now that is funny.

Phokaioglaukos

Easy for you to say.

James-man

I can live with such lies.

Chulo

Is that done while wearing a 5 or 6 point harness??

Johnny911

Wow, I guess since I started this mess, I shouldn’t shy away from the debate! Remember, it’s about bang for the buck, but is also about reasonable cash outlay. I can’t just throw money at a car so I’m looking to find the best compromise I can get. As I mentioned originally, I need to be able to drive it to and from the events, otherwise I would certainly consider a fully prepped SC. 993s are still priced way up there, sometimes even more than 996s, so I skipped the 993. As for 996s, is the difference between the 3.4L and the 3.6L enough to make one say, “You gotta get the 3.6L!” If it is, then that answers the 996 question as the 3.6L is out of my price range. So then, if not, I’m back to the “is the 3.4L 996, as a track car that has only mild suspension modifications and weight reduction worth the extra $10K plus than a 964 with similar modifications?” Put it this way, both cars go into a turn with the same entry speed and exit at the same point with both cars at full throttle, how much sooner does the 996 arrive in Chicago? Or does it?

trackjunky

Johnny911, buddy you are exactly where I was about 2-3 months ago. The one thing that I can tell you is that some of the stuff about 996's is more folk lore than fact. I've been doing some exhaustive research (got myself a new pocket protector) around the 996, specifically the 3.4 liter motor.

Here's what I know. The early 3.4 liter's blew up. Some of them had porus cases, some of them had problems with the upper cam/timing shaft, or whatever. But, in all reality, it was somewhat of a small percentage.

If you did nuke the motor and had religiously taken your car to the dealer and had it serviced there and this was not your first P-car, then the engine was most likely cover gratus by either Porsche themself or your dealer. I called 4 dealers and spoke with people I know in the service department, that is my source.

Now all of the 3.4 liter motors and some of the 3.6 liter motors had/have oiling issues at high g's. This is where the PMNA oiling mod comes in. Don't need it for the street, but most likely need it for the track. The caveat here is that only a few 996 racers actually have the oiling modification so WTF?

If you loose the motor, you can replace it for about $8,250 + your labor. All of the motors coming from Porsche have a superseded part number to 2005. So you may get a 997 motor! Anyway, all should have been improved to at least the 2005 knowledge base of Porsche.

So here's the question: If you get a cheap (relatively speaking) 1999, can you afford to replace the motor in the next 6-12 months if you are going to DE or race it hard? If not, don't buy it. If you buy a 964, will you be prepared to shell out money for a top end or re-seal in the next 6-12 months? If the answer is no.......don't buy it. Now if you spend 20K for a fullly prepped SC or Carerra you will hopefully have denero left to repair all the crap that will go wrong with a 20 year old car.

Confused.........welcome to my world. Now go buy whatever the hell you want. Whatever class you run in, someone will always have a faster car. At least that's my excuse. (HWFM racing app to follow)

Johnny911

Interesting that the engine blowing up, either on the 964 with the top end re-build, or the 996 and this oiling problem, always seems to come up. The most I ever spent on the 3.2 was a $4K valve adjustment (I think) and that was in the middle of putting on about 30K track/driving back and forth miles. Trying to keep engine costs at a minimum is why I want to keep it stock. Is this a 50/50 prop or have I got better odds do you think? I've always heard that the SC's 3.0 and the Carrera's 3.2 motors were damn near bullet proof. I guess I've been spoiled!

RSRRacer

Wow. I just cant believe educated people are saying the 996 is not a true Porsche. Then to take the lunacy further try to say a 964 will give a 996 a run for its money.

Give me a 996 prepared to the extent of the PCA rules and bring on any air cooled non turbo non GT class porsche, also prepared to the extent of the rules, and they will be sent packing.

Of course they are not as good as a GT3!!! They are not supposed to be. But they are better than a 964 and a 993 on the track.

Sean F

I think it was said that an SC would give the 996 a run for its money

RSRRacer

There is a pharmacy down the road for whoever wrote that garbage.