I'm thinking of getting a 911 either a late 996 c4s or and early 997. I do prefer the 997 style even though it looks like a beetle and also sounds like one.

Has anyone had one or got one to tell me about your experiences with them... Ive read all the horror story's overs on the 911 forum but like all forums it's mainly doom and gloom.

It will be a 3rd car (also have a ktm enduro that I'd use before it too) so mileage will be low per year.

Hi, I had my 911 for over 10 years and sold it last year to get a more sensible family car for the weekend. My own experience was with that 1992 air cooled variant but knew a lot of people in the Porsche club and forums that had the water cooled type. The 996's had more problems and were costly to service. They also had a number of well known issue with them. The 997 would be a better choice but if I were going to get another one (which I will do one day) I'd have another air cooled. I actually sold mine for £5k more than I bought it for 10 years earlier and the running costs averaged under £1k per year for service, insurance and all break fix work. Plus the sound is awesome-115db !!

As long as you set aside£3k per year for servicing etc then def get the 997 as completely diff car to 996

Graz wrote:

Hi, I had my 911 for over 10 years and sold it last year to get a more sensible family car for the weekend. My own experience was with that 1992 air cooled variant but knew a lot of people in the Porsche club and forums that had the water cooled type. The 996's had more problems and were costly to service. They also had a number of well known issue with them. The 997 would be a better choice but if I were going to get another one (which I will do one day) I'd have another air cooled. I actually sold mine for £5k more than I bought it for 10 years earlier and the running costs averaged under £1k per year for service, insurance and all break fix work. Plus the sound is awesome-115db !!

I agree I do love the early 911's and they do sell fore more than some 997's, the one will smith drives in bad boys is cool

We'll I've got the work horse, then I'd get the "family wagon" which is now the sport so the 911 would be the treat for the odd weekend but if I work it out on paper it would be cheaper to hire one. Although that's not the same as actually owning one is it.

Andyjay123 wrote:

As long as you set aside£3k per year for servicing etc then def get the 997 as completely diff car to 996

If you are only looking at doing that mileage then get an aircooled. If you go with a 997 the depreciation will make it cheaper to hire one let alone the servicing. Plus (and I am a little biased) but having driven both aircooled and water cooled, the difference is like chalk and cheese. If you want a 911 get a proper one, not one that was redesigned to suit an accountant's spreadsheet!

^^^^^ Ill take your point on board.

£3k per year to run one? That feels really high to me. I ran a 996 Turbo (3yrs) and then 997 Turbo (2yrs), and never spent anything like that on either of them per year. They we're young cars in warranty, but nothing really went wrong on them.

My advice is buy the best one you can; 997 engines don't suffer from RMS (rear main seal) failure as much as the 996 did (not the Turbo though as that was a defendant of the GT1 block). As most have said the 997 would be the better buy, and personally I think it's classic looking headlights will ensure it doesn't dive as a low as 996s in price.

Their values as so strong you shouldn't lose much on either. If you can make it I'd always jump into a Turbo as their residuals are rock solid after around 4 yrs, but you don't mention a budget, so it might not be what you're after.

Good luck mate!

I was looking for a 996 earlier this year but was put off by the horror stories of the intermediate shaft bearing failures and catastrophic failures. I dont believe its as bad as the forums make out and it can be modified (at a cost!) to stop it happening. In the end i bought a TVR chimaera instead and up to now am loving it. Its as quick as a 996 and because its as simple as a horse and cart, it can be maintained at home
Paul Current fleet
2011 Discovery 3.0 sdv6 XS
2008 Range rover sport HST tdv8*gone*
2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 convertible
1996 TVR Chimaera*gone*
2004 Vauxhall combo van*dead*
2003 ford ranger double cab

Hi,

I had a 997 C2S for nearly 4 years. no major issues. defo didn't cost me £3K a year to run. I'd say £1200 on average (not including insurance). there are lots of good indies. pretty much the same as running a high end bmw.

I now have a 997 Turbo. only had it a couple of years. again not costing me anywhere near £3K a year to run. once some of the consumables come up for changing i reckon it'll average to £1500 a year (not including insurance).

late 996s and all 997s have a two year 20,000 mile service interval.

911uk is a great forum. lots of info and helpful people.

I'd say a 996 Turbo is the best value for money 911. you won't have the worry of the IMS, RMS, engine blowing up. not that it's much of a worry. only a small percentage of engines blow up. If you can't afford / don't want a Turbo then look for cars with Hartech rebuilds and they have been "upgraded" to avoid the bore scoring happening again which leads to the engines blowing.

I like modern motors, therefore have never got into the earlier air-cooled ones. 993 are stupid prices. 964s are going that way. earlier models are a dog to drive IMHO.

I also had a 944 for a bit. that was a hoot. don't discount 944 turbos and 964 club sports. they are cracking Porsches too and no way near as expensive as older 911s.

Cheers

Pav

I do have a love for the tvr's but the tiny rear seats in the 911 would do for the kids.

The Tuscan is nice but I've always been put off tvr when it says engine rebuilt but it had only done 20k.

I think the 996 rms seals and bearing story's are everywhere on the 911 forum which is why I've taken them with a pinch of salt.

There are some good ones with about the 75k mark miles on for cheap money but head says I could be buying a load of trouble which I can't sell on.

gadgetJunky72 wrote:

Hi,

I had a 997 C2S for nearly 4 years. no major issues. defo didn't cost me £3K a year to run. I'd say £1200 on average (not including insurance). there are lots of good indies. pretty much the same as running a high end bmw.

I now have a 997 Turbo. only had it a couple of years. again not costing me anywhere near £3K a year to run. once some of the consumables come up for changing i reckon it'll average to £1500 a year (not including insurance).

late 996s and all 997s have a two year 20,000 mile service interval.

911uk is a great forum. lots of info and helpful people.

I'd say a 996 Turbo is the best value for money 911. you won't have the worry of the IMS, RMS, engine blowing up. not that it's much of a worry. only a small percentage of engines blow up. If you can't afford / don't want a Turbo then look for cars with Hartech rebuilds and they have been "upgraded" to avoid the bore scoring happening again which leads to the engines blowing.

I like modern motors, therefore have never got into the earlier air-cooled ones. 993 are stupid prices. 964s are going that way. earlier models are a dog to drive IMHO.

I also had a 944 for a bit. that was a hoot. don't discount 944 turbos and 964 club sports. they are cracking Porsches too and no way near as expensive as older 911s.

Cheers

Pav

The tuscans/cerberas/t models have TVRs own engines and are known to be very high maintainance. That is the reason i went for the older chimaera with the old faithful rover v8. Dont get me wrong, my dream TVR would be a Sagaris but unfortunately the good ones arent available for under £45k and that is more than i can justify on a weekend toy. If i replace the Chimaera it would be for a 996 turbo. Always lusted after one of those and as Pav said they seem more reliable than the non turbo? Until then i will stick to my blackpool special .
Paul

Click image to enlarge

Paul, have they all broken down on a Sunday run out?















Only kidding, we get a few TVR's join us on our runs out Your welcome to join us on our next run out as i see you are only down the road from us.

, yes it was a breakdown mans nightmare. Cool, you will have to keep me posted  Current fleet
2011 Discovery 3.0 sdv6 XS
2008 Range rover sport HST tdv8*gone*
2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 convertible
1996 TVR Chimaera*gone*
2004 Vauxhall combo van*dead*
2003 ford ranger double cab