Seriously looking at a 996 Turbo
Discussion
Good afternoon (well it is here in Dubai) Porsche Peeps,
Thought I'd pop in here and see if I could find some good advice, tips and pitfalls.
I am unexpectedly looking at a 2003 996 Turbo MY 2003.
Now please be kind and let's assume I know very little about these chariots.
It's white (trust me it's a good colour here, for some reason it really works) with a kind of red-ish brown interior. That wouldn't have been my first choice but in all honesty it's not horrible and I think it would grow on me.
I really have only given the thing slightly more than a cursory look, the missus was with and I didn't want to show all my cards. However the saliva dribbling down my chin may have given away more than I'd intended.(That might also have been because I had just climbed out of a Gallardo Roadster!)
So I managed to sit in it, loved the way the windows dropped when you open the doors, nice touch.
This car did not feel or look abused inside or out to my albeit inexperienced eyes.
It is totally unmolested and stock, aside from the TechArt rims and door sill covers.
One thing surprised me though, I noticed the tyres were 265's IIRC, or maybe 275's on the rear. Would that be right?
I just would have expected bigger boots than that.
Anyway folks, any big tickets items too look out for that I can check myself etc, etc.
I will obviously get the car checked by the dealer, Al Nabooda, over here.
George Lucas gets his inspiration from the arabic world
Thought I'd pop in here and see if I could find some good advice, tips and pitfalls.
I am unexpectedly looking at a 2003 996 Turbo MY 2003.
Now please be kind and let's assume I know very little about these chariots.
It's white (trust me it's a good colour here, for some reason it really works) with a kind of red-ish brown interior. That wouldn't have been my first choice but in all honesty it's not horrible and I think it would grow on me.
I really have only given the thing slightly more than a cursory look, the missus was with and I didn't want to show all my cards. However the saliva dribbling down my chin may have given away more than I'd intended.(That might also have been because I had just climbed out of a Gallardo Roadster!)
So I managed to sit in it, loved the way the windows dropped when you open the doors, nice touch.
This car did not feel or look abused inside or out to my albeit inexperienced eyes.
It is totally unmolested and stock, aside from the TechArt rims and door sill covers.
One thing surprised me though, I noticed the tyres were 265's IIRC, or maybe 275's on the rear. Would that be right?
I just would have expected bigger boots than that.
Anyway folks, any big tickets items too look out for that I can check myself etc, etc.
I will obviously get the car checked by the dealer, Al Nabooda, over here.
George Lucas gets his inspiration from the arabic world
dazren said:
996TT will have left the factory with 295 rears and 225 fronts.
As a note 996GT2's left with 315 and 235.
As a note 996GT2's left with 315 and 235.
Not creating the best impression of myself posting here am I. 
Another back pedal here, yep 225's on the front sound right too. Ooops!
My excuse can only be that sitting in that Gallardo and having it firing up from the pilot's seat must have done something to me!!!
Sorry guys, there something else that happened last night when the sales guys started the car.
For about the first minute the car seemed to have slight trouble idling.
It didn't sound lumpy at all, it was just sounding like it was just going to conk(?) out.
The guy caught it just in time a couple of times, he then throttled to just over the idling speed held there for a while then it was ok.
Well, sort out of because it sounded like the revs it was now steady at were maybe 3 or 400 higher than what would be normal, to my ears anway.
The explanation given for this was that the car hadn't been started for several days, that it was not abnormal.
Does that sound like car salesman tosh, something maybe more serious or something that would shake out from the dealer inspection?
Cheers,
V.
For about the first minute the car seemed to have slight trouble idling.
It didn't sound lumpy at all, it was just sounding like it was just going to conk(?) out.
The guy caught it just in time a couple of times, he then throttled to just over the idling speed held there for a while then it was ok.
Well, sort out of because it sounded like the revs it was now steady at were maybe 3 or 400 higher than what would be normal, to my ears anway.
The explanation given for this was that the car hadn't been started for several days, that it was not abnormal.
Does that sound like car salesman tosh, something maybe more serious or something that would shake out from the dealer inspection?
Cheers,
V.
Well thanks for the responses so far guys.
So no major issues to be aware of then on a 2003 996 Turbo, good news then.
Okay, one last and perhaps predictable one, as I would be using it going to and from work and anything else in between, can I broach the old one about how the car likes (or not) being a daily driver?
Yes, I know the non-turbo 911's can take it and more, I just want to get a consensus on the Turbo variants please. Presumably when stock and properly maintained they are engineered to a less than stressed specification.
Thanks again and cheers,
V.
So no major issues to be aware of then on a 2003 996 Turbo, good news then.
Okay, one last and perhaps predictable one, as I would be using it going to and from work and anything else in between, can I broach the old one about how the car likes (or not) being a daily driver?
Yes, I know the non-turbo 911's can take it and more, I just want to get a consensus on the Turbo variants please. Presumably when stock and properly maintained they are engineered to a less than stressed specification.
Thanks again and cheers,
V.
The 996 Turbo is a seriously complicated car. The problems when it was started could be serious , or not, I wouldn't wear the seller's explanation. Don't buy a 996 on your own if you don't know a lot about the cars and don't rely on a few correspondents (such as me) . You are spending heavy money. Get an expert opinion. See if there is a buyers guide (Peter Morgan sells a lot and the 996 may be amongst those issued of and they are excellent. He advises exactly what to look for). Finally ensure a full dealer or known specialist history goes with the car, back street garages cannot look after these be prepared for large service bills and when you do buy, have the car seviced immediately. Finally, you cannot run these cars on a shoestring and you cannot miss servicing (make sure your partner understands this if you want to stay together)
If you are set on a turbo,talk to Bob Watson He is the Porsche Club GB Turbo consultant and well respected
If you are set on a turbo,talk to Bob Watson He is the Porsche Club GB Turbo consultant and well respected
Laffalot, many thanks for the response and the words of caution.
I already own one fairly high maintenance car (I made it high maintenance though) back in England so I understand well where you're coming from.
Though I am now looking at a few Turbo's now the one in question does have full dealer (Dubai based) service history.
I would also have them perform the pre-purchase full inspection too if (when
) I go for it.
As for being alone, no choice with that I'm afraid, just relocated here from Russia via a few months in India.
Having been here before years ago though and bought/sold 2 cars, using dealers, getting inspection reports and a reasonable level of general car knowledge (though sadly none at all on Porsches), I'll have to cautiously do my best.
I know what you mean about having someone with you. Better if they know about the type of car but even if they don't it still gives you at least a sounding board.
I don't know Peter but I do know Bob and he knows me! He knows my car even better. The guys who look after my car have their workshop in the same place in Steeple Aston. Bob's watched the development and expense that's gone into my Corvette an almost a daily basis over the last 5 years!!!
In fact his own engineering expertise may well have gone into some of it too on an ad hoc basis!
I don't have his number, I could get it through a guy and another guy, but if you have it and don't mind perhaps PM it to me through my profile.
If you don't I'll start sending smoke signal a bit later!
Okay, well thanks again Laff and cheers,
V.
I already own one fairly high maintenance car (I made it high maintenance though) back in England so I understand well where you're coming from.
Though I am now looking at a few Turbo's now the one in question does have full dealer (Dubai based) service history.
I would also have them perform the pre-purchase full inspection too if (when
) I go for it. As for being alone, no choice with that I'm afraid, just relocated here from Russia via a few months in India.
Having been here before years ago though and bought/sold 2 cars, using dealers, getting inspection reports and a reasonable level of general car knowledge (though sadly none at all on Porsches), I'll have to cautiously do my best.
I know what you mean about having someone with you. Better if they know about the type of car but even if they don't it still gives you at least a sounding board.
I don't know Peter but I do know Bob and he knows me! He knows my car even better. The guys who look after my car have their workshop in the same place in Steeple Aston. Bob's watched the development and expense that's gone into my Corvette an almost a daily basis over the last 5 years!!!
In fact his own engineering expertise may well have gone into some of it too on an ad hoc basis!
I don't have his number, I could get it through a guy and another guy, but if you have it and don't mind perhaps PM it to me through my profile.
If you don't I'll start sending smoke signal a bit later!
Okay, well thanks again Laff and cheers,
V.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff