Entry Level Porsche 911: The 996

Photo credit: autoevolution.com

The Porsche 911 has long been the pinnacle European sport's car. It's classic shape, rear engine layout, and benchmark setting performance has made it a desirable car for many. While 10 years ago, most 911's over 5 or 10 years old were affordable for the average middle class person; the price's of most classic 911's have shot up through the roof. Even the once very affordable 911's of the 1980's are now regularly being listed for over $40,000, even not restored. This has made 911 ownership for the masses a difficult stretch. One era of 911 hasn't been received so well however, the 996.

History

The Porsche 996 was the 911 variant made from 1999 to 2004. The rather short production run for the 996 shows what this was car up against, and many people's disapproval from the traditional 911. First and foremost was the lack of an air cooled engine. The 996 broke away from a 30 some year tradition by going water cooled. The second major problem was a cosmetic one. While the 996 kept the iconic 911 shape, the legendary round headlights were changed for a different look. As with most 911's, the 996 included the typical range from Carrera's to Turbo's. Eventually, the 996 was evolved into the 997 variant. Despite some modification to the interior and the return to the classic round headlights, the two variants are almost identical in looks and similar in performance.

Models to Look For

Many will agree with all variants of the 911; the base models tend to be the best. While the 996 Turbo is certainly a wonderful car, and has proven to be reliable runner as with the other 996's, the value's of these models are in the range of 997's now. The Carrera and Carrera 4S both had 300 hp 3.4L flat sixes, later bumped up to 3.6L and an extra 15 hp. These cars would do 0-60 in around 5 seconds, along with top speeds north of 170mph. Typical 911's characteristics are abound; great steering, and swift acceleration. While by today's standard's the 996 performance is rather average, it is a more than capable car that will put a smile on any one's face.

Problems to Watch 

As with most cars of this type, a full service history is a first. Luckily, 911's make great daily drivers, so high mileage isn't really a problem as long as the car has been maintained. Car's with miles on the high side of 150,000 are fairly common. The most famous problem with these cars is the IMS bearing which affected about 8% of production cars. Many owner's have already replaced the bearing with a retrofitted unit so most car's are considered "safe" in the regard. If the car has high mileage and the bearing hasn't been replaced, more than likely the engine is not affected and the bearing will not explode the engine.

Standard wear items also need occasional attention as well. When buying car's of this caliber, it is always worth it to have a pre purchase inspection done (usually $150-$300) by a certified technician. Worn clutches, corrosion, and other common 10+ year old car problems affect these Porsche's, however the repair bill's can be rather expensive compared to your average Chevrolet or Toyota. My general rule from experience is that a car that has been driven regularly with higher miles will be much more reliable than a garage queen that has had some maintenance skipped since it doesn't hit the road much.

Photo credit: autoevolution.com

Most will not have the rare Navigation option.             Photo credit: autoevolution.com

Pricing

As of February, 2017, 996 has been the lowest I have seen them. These car's constantly pop up for sale, so take your time and look for the best one you want, it shouldn't take long for one to show up. Convertible models tend to be a little cheaper since they are less desirable. The all wheel drive 4S model is a popular one I see for sale, and if you want a great all season car, they tend to also be a little less than the rear drive models.

$30,000 - $35,000

This price range should get you a low mileage, later model Carrera or Carrera 4S that has had excellent service history. You can get a Turbo in this range, but keep in mind that it will likely need some work. I would be wary of car's in this range if everything isn't up to snuff. This is top dollar for these car's, so they should be turn key and ready to hit the road with no up front maintenance.

$20,000 - $30,000

This is the price range I would look in, although careful and patient searching could get you a better deal. Car's in this range will have higher mileage, some near or over 100,000. The good news is that these car's will have likely been maintained, and shouldn't have many problems. Expect to spend a few thousand with some preventative maintenance and peace of mind. Most 996's in this range are the earlier models, but don't be put off by that, the differences are negligible.

$15,000 - $20,000

This is definitely the low end for any year of the 996. I have seen earlier models sell for as little as $10,000 that needed minimal maintenance. For anything in this range or lower, I would leave room for some major maintenance work, possibly in excess of $5,000. These are the bargain cars, so choose carefully as there are plenty of contenders. Be patient and look for a motivated seller who has their car listed on the low side in hopes of a quick sale. It is still worth to have the pre purchase inspection done, even if it won't budge the seller's price, you at least know what you will need to spend to make the car 100%.

Summary

Don't buy a 996 to store away in your garage and wait for the prices to rise. 911 prices have been on the rise, but even the 997 cars have stopped dropping around the $35,000-$40,000 mark. With that being said, the 996 will eventually start going up in price, but I don't foresee that happening anytime in the next 5 or 10 years. Buy this car to drive. Don't worry if you have a 150,000 mile car, they will last if maintained. Most owner's are surprised that as long as the car is maintained properly, the running cost's can be lower than expected.