mickfluff

Here is where I am at. I love my Honda s2K, best car I have ever owned and longest car I have ever kept before turning over to a different car. But I want a change, ultimately to an Acura NSX 2003+ model but that won't happen for a year or two. In the interim I want a new ride for a year or two so and thinking a used 911...... I only really want to spend maybe 35K max 40 but again rather closer to 35K..... I know nada about the 911 reliability wise, differences in models from 1999, 2000 and 2001..... I know in my price range I maybe only looking at 1999's and maybe a 2000 at best with mid miles (30-50K miles wise). I love cars my friends and like owning different cars over time, etc... I like the NSX much better and that's my within reason dream car at roughly 55-60K used and that will come soon enough but in the meantime just looking for something new and exciting for summer of 2007! Also note I have given this some thought and don't want other options like a new 350Z for the same money, or loyuts elise etc... really want to give the 911 a try at ownership unless I hear complete horror stories about these years, service, reliability, etc.... Thanks

if anyone has any 911 forums you could refer me to as well that would be great....

any advice, what to look for, what to avoid, comments on the 911 in those years, ideas, what ever I am wide open. some great minds on this board so value the input... Thanks!

Chris Stack

You'd be looking at a pre-facelift 996. Try the 996 board at RENNlist.com. You can also try 6speedonline.com, but they are more into the mods and bling, it's a little less mature than RENNlist.

Have you thought about an e46 M3? That would be probably less expensive, and almost as fun as the 911, but as a Porsche lover, I will happily endorse the 996 as a good choice.

s2kpdx01

I guess it depends if 35k-40k is a lot of money for you or not. If it's not I would say buy the 99-00 Porsche, but if it is a lot I would be afraid of the repair bills on a car like that. If you get a really nice specimen maybe it's not a big deal, but everything costs a lot and that's a 6-7 yr old porsche at this point. Good luck.

JonBoy

Z06-KLLR is selling his 996 C4 for $39K right now. About $10K in mods and in good condition. Check it out in the For Sale forum.

CoastS2k

If you are looking at the early 996s, it would be a good idea to learn up on the "rear main seal" issue. I'm sure you'll find a great deal of information about it on any of the 911 boards.

Standing Room Only

I've always loved the cars, but here at work 3 different friends have bought and then sold their used 911s within 1.5 years. Two cars were 2002, one was 2000. In every case the reason cited was the significant expense of repairs / maintenance. They loved the cars but couldn't stomach paying for the "little" things that came up. All 3 had deep pockets and went out and bought more expensive new cars under warranty. That is one of the reasons I didn't shop the 911 and went with a less expensive "fun" car - the S2K. One of these guys now owns a brand new Cayman S - I wish I had both the S and that car...

Chris Stack

Rear Main Seal is not really a big deal. It leaks a very small amount of oil, so a repair really isn't THAT necessary. Most owners just wait until it's time to do a clutch replacement to fix the RMS. If you have your heart set on a 996, don't let a potential RMS issue stand in your way. However, if you are anal and can't deal with a drip pan underneath your $35k+ car (which is understandable), to fix the RMS out of warranty IS expensive, and there are cases of new engines being needed to cure an RMS issue. Sometimes Porsches picks this up, even out of warranty, sometimes they don't. Caveat Emptor.

Fanman

Stay away from the 99's, as it was the 1st year for the new 996's and had some sqeaks & rattles that for fixed for the MY 2000+. I had a 2000 and loved it. Maitenance was not bad at all. Once a year, or about every 12,000 miles usually a few hundred bucks, but beats every 3 months, 3,000 miles and $30-$40.

Axel6

As has been stated earlier, the RMS is a non-issue. Yes, it affects some cars, but the severity of the "leak" is typically small. In fact, most times it's not a leak at all and more of a weep. As long as there are no drips on the garage and the oil is monitored regularly, the car can be driven with a weak RMS for many miles.

That being said, I would opt for the 2002+ model year. The 1999-2001 are great cars, but as in all things, significant improvements are made along the way. The 2002+ has more hp and better looks from the front. Also the structural rigidity is higher. Aside from the improvements, the earlier cars appear to have a higher frequency of engine repairs/replacements.

My opinion is to go with a 2002+ model with a CPO warranty, which will cover you for 2 years/100k miles.

As a last note, don't be too surprised when you start missing your S2000 as I do. The 911 is a fantastic automobile. However, for the $$$, the Honda is a great value.

Amit

[QUOTE=Fanman,Dec 13 2006, 03:16 PM] Stay away from the 99's, as it was the 1st year for the new 996's and had some sqeaks & rattles that for fixed for the MY 2000+.