Waynes_box

I'm thinking of moving from my boxster to a 996. I've been looking around ebay and craigslist. Found this on ebay and sounds decent, the new engine (or new a few years ago) doesn't sound too bad.. Wanted to get your guys opinion on price and shape of the car since you all are the experts...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...fCarsQ5fTrucks

call911s

I find it interesting they would have replaced the engine for the RMS...honestly, for that price, you'll probably be able to find an '00 or '01 with average miles and better history after a bit of hunting.

ivangene

not uncommon to replace motor for RMS - the early blocks had the crank craddle off center and the concentricity between the block and crank was so excessing there was no way to seal it (so the story goes - though I am surprised they were driven some amount, THEN diagnosed as scrap)

but that's a real thing that happens(ed)

RF5BPilot

There are more opinons than experts around here.....{I am not excluding myself....}

Subject to a PPI, price seems reasonable; the replacement engine is a big plus. You'd still want to consider getting the IMS replaced. There are lists floating around of standard wear parts that probably should be swapped out if you have the transmission out for the IMS. Since the engine is newer, you probably won't need to do the water pump soon....but you might see 2-4K in tidying up the car so that wear parts are current.

My only concern is his doing the 60k service and flushing the coolant. You're now depending on his skills. More than one guy has run into trouble trying to flush the cooling system without a vaccum to pull the coolant through without creating air pockets. You may need to consider repeating the 60k service.

But the price is good enough that if the rest of the car is in good shape, you could plan to put some $$ into it to assure it is solid....and then you'll probably only see scheduled maintenance and minor repairs afterwards.

Hard to do on Ebay, but if you're close enough for a test drive, have him take you for a drive and get a sense of how he's treated the car. The transmission is a pricey wear point for those with poor technique. Is he letting the car warm up well before pushing the engine beyond 4k? Does he double clutch when he downshifts? Is he driving along, letting his right hand rest on the stick shift? Etc. This isn't necessary to find out; buying a used car from a dealer's lot doesn't let you see how the previous owner treated it. You just hope that some evidence of this comes out in the PPI.

Good luck.

cardsrule

I would buy that car for 18K-19k....

pissedpuppy

get a PPI and if it checks out - DO IT! the 996 kills the Boxster, and if you like the options, color, etc. climb aboard

for me, personally, I am always suspect of cars with tinted windows (weird, I know) - especially from SF, becasue it doesn't get hot enough to warrant a real "need" then again this thing may have started off in AZ.

theporscheguy

I would ask for better pictures and get a PPI before making any decision. Not a bad price range for a '99.

Eharrison

'Out of spec' means the drive shaft was not centered and that meant "new engine".

If you have time you can always look forever. I don't think anyone I know that has the means to buy one, actually drags the search out very longer after commiting to buying a "Porsche".

I actually had to keep bitch slapping my buddy since he put deposits on cars he fell in love with as soon as he saw it. Luckily he waited and got a pristine 88.


But I digress, this car is less than what I would take for mine, but I'm selling for slightly higher.... Selling and still thinking of RS mounts, and the X74 suspension.....

achtung911

it looks ok, not sure what wheels does it come with...

mikes_996

looking at the carfax or ebay version of carfax looks like he didn't put too much milage on since when he got it.. looks like he bought it with almost 61k miles in 09 and now at 63.2 after over a year.. not too bad if you can get it at 18.5 the engine replacement is a plus..

francars

Is he selling with both wheels? Looks like the exhaust was updated? With that kind of miles I will say $18k range. Get definetely a PPI. There is shop I take my car to about 20-25 miles from San Francisco if you decide to go for it. You will be very happy about the move from the boxster.