i’ve had my 996 since 2005. i changed my engine oil every 5000km, but still blew up. it wasn’t the ims bearing but still managed to have its cylinders scored. i had it fixed and still sits in my garage.
Yup. Oil changes won’t save your engine from bore scoring. Design flaw from it over heating. It won’t hurt but it won’t stop it happening. Bore score check £300.
Looking at the garbage you follow you don’t look like someone who’d bought a 996 17 years ago! I gave 9 gt3’s and all of them are optioned up with the dog ass pack…the dog ass pack is a motel system exhaust.
We live in a very litigious world, people will try to squeeze a dime out of anything given the opportunity. What’s funny about Ferrari is that instead of being sued by customers, they sue the customers.
There is nothing wrong with a well serviced Tip box. There is too much talk about half a second here a half a second there! What is that about? In normal street driving? You can change down two gears by simply flexing the heel of your hand on the steering wheel button. Way faster than manually changing down! And or up by the way. There is the story of a new car salesman first day in the job. Asked to pick a car up. Came back to the showroom raving about how good the car is, wonderful. Only to be told by the 'old hands'. No that model is rubbish. Its got this spec, the wrong spec. Etc, etc. Oh, says the new guy, now I know! The internet is like that! Telling people what they should believe!
My first 911 was a 2003, 996 in 2006, three years later I replaced it with a 1996 993. Best thing I ever did. 13 years later I still have the 993 and love it more every day.
Would absolutely love a first gen 996 C2 with manual transmission, I really think they’re the last analog 911’s. Or a 996 C4S, what a rear end and love the wide body look on a 996.
I’ve been watching videos and doing as much research as I can on sports car options old & new so I can enjoy one this upcoming summer. Definitely don’t have the endless budget some dudes have but finding a beauty like this or something close to it to buy outright is something I need to do. I’ve loved these cars since I was a kid and I understand the 996 is the most desirable but it’s definitely fine for me, I am going to check out this video and others but I’ve spotted a few close to me, one with just under 60k miles in top shape. Definitely never thought I’d look at Porsches to be honest but I like this car a-lot especially because it’s it’s an affordable option. I’ll keep listening to the haters and the ones that actually love this car as well as my options before I throw down some cash on one. Thanks for the video, very good info for someone who’s owned a lot of cars but not a Porsche.
4:25- Nick driving at felonious speed. Nice video. Plan to get a 911 or Boxster in the next 6-7 years. Waiting for the market to cool off. Will try to get one off of a lease.
The car that started it all for me! A neighbor across the street had a 996 4S that I sat in and the rest is history! Yeah yeah, water cooled, fried egg headlights, bla bla bla, but 5 year old me didn’t know any of that lol
First one I saw was in some guy's backyard. Probably wasn't running but it was a bright yellow 911 with the huge whale tail. Never saw any sports cars where I grew up and that car was etched onto my brain. This was in the late 70's and I have never had a different dream car than the 911.
I find that the Tiptronic is actually an excellent gearbox. The interval between pulling the lever for the downchange and it actually happening is, as you say, about half a second. But I find that, with a manual 'box, the time between slotting the gear lever into the next gear and fully releasing the clutch is pretty much exactly the same interval. So I feel that driving a Tiptronic is actually a very natural experience because of that, and it feels very positive and reassuring as a result. Although the PDK makes a much faster change, this is actually quite an alien feeling, and of course is actually of absolutely no practical benefit whatsoever to a downshift anyway! The faster upshifts of the PDK will obviously make you fractions of a second faster under acceleration, but I can easily live without that! It seems like the PDK is hugely admired for its technical excellence, but I'm really not sure what actual real world benefits it brings over the Tiptronic?
I'd say the triptronic is ok for a regular car. But for somebody who expects a 911 to be a sports car its pretty sub par. Sure it can cruise but can it go 10/10ths no, it can't even go 7/10s.
@@TheChannel1978 really? Can you actually give me something to support that argument? I was followed by a brand new Aston Martin Vantage the other day along a twisty road, and he couldn't stay near me in my lowly Tiptronic 911. Even though he was clearly desperate to catch up once the road straightened out! 😂😂 I'd be very interested to hear your argument.
agree. I get to drive a friend of mine's 996 Carrera a few month ago. I exactly know the delay Nick is talking about. actually that delay gives you a feeling that it is a bigger punch than what it is... 'cause you don't know the exact moment it would hook. ;)
@@AgentGG1967 in what way is it unresponsive? Can you tell me what actual (rather than perceived) advantage there is to the PDK changing gear 0.1 seconds after pulling the lever instead of 0.5 seconds in the Tiptronic, (bearing in mind it actually takes at least 0.5 seconds in the manual)? Therefore the act of changing gear in the manual is no quicker than the Tiptronic, yet you seem to think this is even better than the PDK. There's no logic to your argument.
@@AgentGG1967 I understand that some people enjoy the act of changing gear with a manual gearbox, and that's fine. Personally, I think messing about with pedals and levers like that is more akin to driving a Model T! But to say that the PDK will make any appreciable difference to your ability to control the car, compared to the Tiptronic is simply utter rubbish. You just have to anticipate when you need the next gear to engage 0.4 seconds earlier than you do in the PDK. If you're admitting you're not capable of doing that, you shouldn't be driving any car, nevermind a 911.
I’ve just done just that! C4 tip. Love it. Cost me £10k and the guy before just spent £11k on an engine rebuild. The tip buttons work fine. Just wait a half second and prepare for the corner.
Lots of opinions from people who havent owned and become truly familiar with 996s, let alone Tiptronics. Well, I’ve had three 996.1s and my current is a 2001 Tiptronic and I absolutely love it. It shifts smoothly and quickly, and because I live in overcrowded Los Angeles it makes so much more sense. On top of that I found a very low mileage coupe (41k) that was in pristine condition and I spent the money to replace the IMS, RMS, Water Pump, AOS, spark plugs & sleeves, and of course I had a bore scope done before doing any of it. It was perfect. All in after the preventive maintenance I spent $27,000 and this car will hold its value. If I find myself ready for a 997.2 I can wait until someone who wants what I’ve got, and sees the value.
I think 996 is one of the most beautiful 911, the headlight makes this range the most unique 911 and stands out from the crowd. Also 996 C4S have the best 911 rear ever. Owning 996 show you dont care of what the masses think + in some years I belive good examples of 996 sell for a lot more than now.
Another great 996 review! It must be a famous car. Maybe because it did a cameo in the first 'Gone in 60 seconds' and was a character in the Pixar/Disney animation Cars. Alas, it was not a perfect car, as all 911s are a work in progress. They call it evolutionary. Nevertheless it was a big step forward. I owned one for 6 years and drove it from 60k to 80k. Bought it off a long term lease of 8 years. In the brochure color Artic Silver. I had no major problems. Tracked it for a few DE days which is more fun than a roller coaster. Had the clutch replaced at the Porsche dealer. They replaced the IMS seal. The bearing was good. I went with their recommendation because I knew of no independent garage near me who could do an after-market kit. I added an IMS after-market warning system myself. There was never any oil on my garage floor. Putting the car on a hoist regularly would be useful for checking oil weeps. Other than that, I added a short shifter and cup holders. The rest was maintenance except for a sunroof rack replacement. Sold it for 1k less than I bought it for. Almost priceless.
996 being least desirable 911 works best for me. it's my favorite 911. (to be specific, 996 C4S) It keeps the price down that I need much less time to save up for it. LOL I talked to some Porsche guys about C4S & they said it is not a fast car... perfect! I love it 'cause of the look. not the speed. All I'm saying is... everyone has different taste. this 96 Carrera looks great Nick. Thanks for the video. Always enjoying them. Cheers!
…Don’t give a damn what "keyboard Porschephiles" say (996 C4S tip. owner here)… They surely ignore the fact that the 996 C4S was simply "the fastest NA 911 ever" on the Nürburgring, back then in 2002, when it first came to the market!… Also I care less than zero about the 2.2 seconds slower in a "100 to 200km/h" recovery compared to its manual sibling. If they think they could "go have a coffee and come back" within that time difference, to bad for them all!…
Lol! 996 is a great car! I really like the interior. The Turbos are cheaper too :). The Tip Turbos are even a tad faster than manuals and way easier to drive downtown. They are great cars!
@@rogerl7533 That's so lame... The Turbos have less torque right off the line due to the lower compression. That is what makes constant clutch work a pain in stop and go. The clutch pressure is easy due to the hydraulic assist so that isn't the issue. Have you driven a manual one of these cars downtown a lot or are you just talking out your bum?
996 series 911 was never a bad looking car, in fact I was a bit attracted to its new look compared to the older air-cooled models when it first came out. Is just that as time passes I tend to prefer the old bug-eyed style over the fried-egg lamp. Every generation of 911 is meant to be revolutionary and better than the previous one. Being water-cooled or having egg-looking headlights does not make it less 911. The way it drives and handles is still undoubtedly a 911. However, I cannot say the same for the upcoming 992.2 or the generations beyond, as most countries are passing legislation to make selling new production ICE cars illegal in the next few years - e.g. Canada by 2030 or 2035. Not sure if Porsche’s eFuel can really save their own sports cars. I am not against an electrified 911 (hybrid), but I would rather the 911 die entirely instead of pure electrification of the car. P.S. Still waiting for your next stream Nick!!!
I rented a 996 several years ago in Scottsdale from an "exotic" rental place. Old, ratty, Cabrio Tip, silver on tan. But it was really lovely on twisty roads.
Fun project would be a C4 of the same vintage and build a winter hooligan car. Tiptronic would be fine. Raise it a bit for Winter tires, some killer lighting, could be a lot of fun.
I owned a 2011 panamera for 4 years and the first gen PDK when shifting on steering wheel is same lag as a tiptronic which I also own (base Carrera cabriolet 03). Also I realized owning a tiptronic is better as a daily driver from my experience. People tend to redline or f up stick shifter 911's be careful and get it scanned. With a tip most people dont exceed 4000 rpm as it is more controlled or more dummy proof. The tips are ZF Mercedes tranny and is bullet proof, just service every 5 years with filter and oil replacement. I have done a lot of work on these cars and can say a 911 tip will appreciate and outlast 996 engines. They are more practical as mentioned. Downshifting is faster than stick using a tip. Please no need to downplay a tip!
I owned one. A -99 C4 Tiptronic bought as a winter daily along my 964. I will NOT get another one! Even if this one had 70000USD of maintenance performed over the years, I was plagued by electronic gremlins, mechanical issues and even rust on the doors (inside). The motor had blew and was reinforced with all issues addressed by a prior owner. Never again! Still have the outlawed 964 though. Faster, more fun, louder and just an awesome drive. As an investment if you get it dirt cheap. Maybe. As a car to own and enjoy. No thank you!
Sounds like you got a very worn down one. Have had 4 996es loved all of them the tiptronic of 996.1 is a bit daft. At the moment i own 2 996es and a 997.2. One 996 i converted from rhd to lhd. Yes some age related stuff needs to be done but that is with every car.
I’m commenting on this video late but, Merry Christmas. I’ve actually grown to love the 996. I think my dream 911 (reasonable priced) would definitely be a later 996 Turbo 6 spd of course. In my opinion the 996 is no longer the “affordable” 911. While it may be cheaper if you want only a 911, the 981 Boxster/Cayman is becoming the entry level Porsche. They say buy the newest Porsche you can afford for your 1st one. My experience is with my grandfathers 2019 718 2.0 Cayman 6spd. I’ve loved and obsessed over Porsches since 2011.
The 996 Cab Tiptronic is actually the cheapest. There are more to worry about then IMS bearings, like bore scoring, intermix problems from cracked heads, cylinder liners D chunk problems. A lot of these cars had engines replaced under warranty. I have a 993 tip cab, and it was a way to get into a 993 for a very reasonable price, 25,000.
that's what I went with. 987.2 cayman s with sport chrono. people get hung up on the "caymans/boxsters aren't real porsches" thing far too often. but I think that's softening as a younger generation has started buying the cars and looking at things a bit more objectively.
Good to see a Brit living in Connecticut with his 996. Why anyone out of choice would live in the UK these days is beyond me. God knows why I do! My understanding of ISB is they can destroy themselves regardless of service history / oil changes and will write off an engine regardless of newness of engine oil. The Gen1 997's have the same problem but it doesn't affect their values as badly as the 996. It's one of those rediculous situations where Porsche knew it was a problem for many years but refused to acknowledge it for probably financial reasons.
I watched that guy for research on 928. I’ve had a boxster 2.7 manual and that’s defo better for a pure thrash being lighter and more balanced so don’t rule that out. You can feel the 996 is a bigger car. But still pure
@@NickMurray If I could, I upvote this a million times, that's how have far the 993 is from the 996. The 993 has it all, the 996 is not even a water downed 993, it's just not in the same league when it comes to driving engagement and sensory pleasure.
Those head lights are like having the mark of the beast on your fore head . Unfortunate that a styling cue marred the entire series to a higher degree then was probably fair . Hey ... it seemed to push Porsche to develop the PDK and it's widespread influence on the car industry .
I don't know whether the gearbox is the same as in the 996 or not, but I tried a few years back a tiptronic 993 and the gearbox was awful. I don't understand why people ordered these cars with automatic transmission. It ruined the experience a bit for me.
I will argue until I am blue that the Gen 2 headlights are ugly AF and have no precedent in Porsche history. The Gen 1 is from the legendary GT1. I love them, my 986S and my 996 C2 have the Litronics, so no amber, therefore no egg yolk. German car enthusiasts have been de-amber-ing US DOT lights since the 80’s. My 90 Quattro 20V got the clear Hella corners immediately back in 96. Now I have on good authority that the headlight change for the 996 Turbo was to accommodate taller radiators. I know this because in a 996 forum a project car was putting C4S rads in his Gen 1 as he had bumped up the displacement and was doing an ersatz GT3. He encountered fitment issues with the Gen 1 headlights. The mounting plates were in the way. In Gen 2, they are higher. Using the same headlight and plate would mean changing the fenders. Being a 5 function light means a clean bumper. And with the clear Hella side markers, my Arctic Silver 996 looks like a concept 911 from the front, stunning really.
Hey Nick, I have a 996 C4 X51 not for sale if you want to film it. It's right here in CT. I met Jay last month (great guy btw). Sad to see him selling the car, I know he's proud of it. Intrigued to see what he replaces it with, or if he sticks with the Boxster for a while.
The complaints about interior are also bit weird. Yes it was bit cheap but 996es came with extended leather options as well and with that option it was not far off from 997 etc considering it is 20 year old design.
And use it for a short while to squeeze every last bit of YT content out of, after that to be discarded like the appliance it has ever been. The owner is a cheapskate and clearly not the Porsche lover Nick is.
IMS--that Porsche kept lying about until the class action suit, and bore scoring would scare me off. Not a bad looking car--even the scrambled egg lights, but the potential engine problem, although chances are if it was going to happen, it would have, and the crappy Tiptronic tranny = big red flags. At the right price, though, could be a good entry for someone.
Like you said, there's a reason why it's so cheap. 3 of them in fact. The lights are f--ing ugly! I would be ashamed to drive this Boxter 911. And Tiptronic no less. Yuck.
The reason is the perception of the market of these things though. And for some it's just not true. You may be ashamed, another person will see it as a bargain. I'm in the Meh camp also about this, to me the IMS thing shows careless engineering on Porsche's part. I don't care if 0.1 or 1% of cars are affected. That's terrible engineering for a premium product and they should have owned up about it but they never did properly.
If Silver is such a bad color then why did so many on the road? I believe there is more of a demand for silver than let's say green or bright yellow. When I bought my silver 991.1 the color was a consideration for a better resale value.
…The "Silver Arrows" from the 1930’s in Formula race, are in fact at the origin of such a great "silver color" diffusion in the German sports car universe, ever since… Not just Porsches, Auto Union (former Audi), BMW, M Benz and so on… Haven’t you ever noticed even nowadays, when a new "AMG" is presented to the motor-press, they are mostly first shown in "silver"?…
Despite it's my least favourite 911 , would like own one because new ones are too expensive for an 911 and don't like that top range models are becoming showing off cars 😒
@@philliesphan334 In all honesty, these are direct competitors IMO, best value for money in the market right now. It comes down to preference. I have a video on this exact topic, you might want to check it out!
@@PaulLukeBonenfant I'll check it out. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think would think a 987 is a better value because it's newer & overall more balanced.
Hi Nick, Does it make sense to purchase an extended warranty? I have a 2018 718 Boxster S which the manufacturer warranty will come to an end very soon. I spoke with my dealer and they offered a 3 year 50K miles for about $4k and 8 years or 75K miles for about $6K Or should just stick with its yearly recommended scheduled maintenance?
i’ve had my 996 since 2005. i changed my engine oil every 5000km, but still blew up.
it wasn’t the ims bearing but still managed to have its cylinders scored.
i had it fixed and still sits in my garage.
Can you tell what indicators you had regarding scored cilinders? Oil usage? Blue smoke at tailpipe? Ticking engine noise? Black soothed tailpipe(s)?
@@stefanpool1986 none of the above. i had no indications whatsoever, then suddenly out of the blue, i hear this loud ticking sound.
Yup. Oil changes won’t save your engine from bore scoring. Design flaw from it over heating. It won’t hurt but it won’t stop it happening. Bore score check £300.
Looking at the garbage you follow you don’t look like someone who’d bought a 996 17 years ago! I gave 9 gt3’s and all of them are optioned up with the dog ass pack…the dog ass pack is a motel system exhaust.
it's interesting watching Nick interact with other humans.
Hey Nick. Thanks for the video. Great timing. I’m collecting my first 911 today in Auckland. A 996 c2 tiptronic (City dweller).
My 996 Tiptronic C2 was delivered on 1st October 1998 and I am still driving it. It is brilliant in every way.
The 996 is my favorite gen! The lightest of the water cooled cars and the most analog.
You’re really making me start to appreciate 996’s!
It was LN Engineering that scared everyone into changing the IMS bearing. They profited big time from it.
We live in a very litigious world, people will try to squeeze a dime out of anything given the opportunity. What’s funny about Ferrari is that instead of being sued by customers, they sue the customers.
I've been daily driving a 1999 996 for about a year now. Fantastic car.
There is nothing wrong with a well serviced Tip box. There is too much talk about half a second here a half a second there! What is that about? In normal street driving? You can change down two gears by simply flexing the heel of your hand on the steering wheel button. Way faster than manually changing down! And or up by the way. There is the story of a new car salesman first day in the job. Asked to pick a car up. Came back to the showroom raving about how good the car is, wonderful. Only to be told by the 'old hands'. No that model is rubbish. Its got this spec, the wrong spec. Etc, etc.
Oh, says the new guy, now I know!
The internet is like that! Telling people what they should believe!
My first 911 was a 2003, 996 in 2006, three years later I replaced it with a 1996 993. Best thing I ever did. 13 years later I still have the 993 and love it more every day.
We need more Nick Murray Material, THE WORLD needs it
Is that you Mum??
Would absolutely love a first gen 996 C2 with manual transmission, I really think they’re the last analog 911’s. Or a 996 C4S, what a rear end and love the wide body look on a 996.
I’ve been watching videos and doing as much research as I can on sports car options old & new so I can enjoy one this upcoming summer. Definitely don’t have the endless budget some dudes have but finding a beauty like this or something close to it to buy outright is something I need to do. I’ve loved these cars since I was a kid and I understand the 996 is the most desirable but it’s definitely fine for me, I am going to check out this video and others but I’ve spotted a few close to me, one with just under 60k miles in top shape. Definitely never thought I’d look at Porsches to be honest but I like this car a-lot especially because it’s it’s an affordable option. I’ll keep listening to the haters and the ones that actually love this car as well as my options before I throw down some cash on one.
Thanks for the video, very good info for someone who’s owned a lot of cars but not a Porsche.
4:25- Nick driving at felonious speed. Nice video. Plan to get a 911 or Boxster in the next 6-7 years. Waiting for the market to cool off. Will try to get one off of a lease.
M96 shortblock still available from Porsche. About $15,000 - $4000 core return net $11,000. Get yours before they're gone!
Have had two 996.1s - absolutely loved them both. Sold my last one for just enough to cover the paint job on my 911SC - not sure I’d do that again :(
The car that started it all for me! A neighbor across the street had a 996 4S that I sat in and the rest is history! Yeah yeah, water cooled, fried egg headlights, bla bla bla, but 5 year old me didn’t know any of that lol
First one I saw was in some guy's backyard. Probably wasn't running but it was a bright yellow 911 with the huge whale tail. Never saw any sports cars where I grew up and that car was etched onto my brain. This was in the late 70's and I have never had a different dream car than the 911.
I find that the Tiptronic is actually an excellent gearbox. The interval between pulling the lever for the downchange and it actually happening is, as you say, about half a second. But I find that, with a manual 'box, the time between slotting the gear lever into the next gear and fully releasing the clutch is pretty much exactly the same interval. So I feel that driving a Tiptronic is actually a very natural experience because of that, and it feels very positive and reassuring as a result.
Although the PDK makes a much faster change, this is actually quite an alien feeling, and of course is actually of absolutely no practical benefit whatsoever to a downshift anyway!
The faster upshifts of the PDK will obviously make you fractions of a second faster under acceleration, but I can easily live without that!
It seems like the PDK is hugely admired for its technical excellence, but I'm really not sure what actual real world benefits it brings over the Tiptronic?
I'd say the triptronic is ok for a regular car. But for somebody who expects a 911 to be a sports car its pretty sub par. Sure it can cruise but can it go 10/10ths no, it can't even go 7/10s.
@@TheChannel1978 really? Can you actually give me something to support that argument?
I was followed by a brand new Aston Martin Vantage the other day along a twisty road, and he couldn't stay near me in my lowly Tiptronic 911. Even though he was clearly desperate to catch up once the road straightened out! 😂😂
I'd be very interested to hear your argument.
agree. I get to drive a friend of mine's 996 Carrera a few month ago. I exactly know the delay Nick is talking about. actually that delay gives you a feeling that it is a bigger punch than what it is... 'cause you don't know the exact moment it would hook. ;)
@@AgentGG1967 in what way is it unresponsive?
Can you tell me what actual (rather than perceived) advantage there is to the PDK changing gear 0.1 seconds after pulling the lever instead of 0.5 seconds in the Tiptronic, (bearing in mind it actually takes at least 0.5 seconds in the manual)? Therefore the act of changing gear in the manual is no quicker than the Tiptronic, yet you seem to think this is even better than the PDK. There's no logic to your argument.
@@AgentGG1967 I understand that some people enjoy the act of changing gear with a manual gearbox, and that's fine. Personally, I think messing about with pedals and levers like that is more akin to driving a Model T!
But to say that the PDK will make any appreciable difference to your ability to control the car, compared to the Tiptronic is simply utter rubbish.
You just have to anticipate when you need the next gear to engage 0.4 seconds earlier than you do in the PDK. If you're admitting you're not capable of doing that, you shouldn't be driving any car, nevermind a 911.
I’ve just done just that! C4 tip. Love it. Cost me £10k and the guy before just spent £11k on an engine rebuild. The tip buttons work fine. Just wait a half second and prepare for the corner.
Lots of opinions from people who havent owned and become truly familiar with 996s, let alone Tiptronics. Well, I’ve had three 996.1s and my current is a 2001 Tiptronic and I absolutely love it. It shifts smoothly and quickly, and because I live in overcrowded Los Angeles it makes so much more sense. On top of that I found a very low mileage coupe (41k) that was in pristine condition and I spent the money to replace the IMS, RMS, Water Pump, AOS, spark plugs & sleeves, and of course I had a bore scope done before doing any of it. It was perfect. All in after the preventive maintenance I spent $27,000 and this car will hold its value. If I find myself ready for a 997.2 I can wait until someone who wants what I’ve got, and sees the value.
Drove a 996 C2, manual though, from FL to CT. What a great road trip car.
ALL 911s and Boxster/Caymens are GREAT!
I am kicking myself for not buying a 996 a few years ago when the prices were low. Nice video!
I think they will come back down a bit when new cars return to normal production
I think 996 is one of the most beautiful 911, the headlight makes this range the most unique 911 and stands out from the crowd. Also 996 C4S have the best 911 rear ever. Owning 996 show you dont care of what the masses think + in some years I belive good examples of 996 sell for a lot more than now.
Another great 996 review! It must be a famous car. Maybe because it did a cameo in the first 'Gone in 60 seconds' and was a character in the Pixar/Disney animation Cars.
Alas, it was not a perfect car, as all 911s are a work in progress. They call it evolutionary. Nevertheless it was a big step forward.
I owned one for 6 years and drove it from 60k to 80k. Bought it off a long term lease of 8 years. In the brochure color Artic Silver. I had no major problems. Tracked it for a few DE days which is more fun than a roller coaster.
Had the clutch replaced at the Porsche dealer. They replaced the IMS seal. The bearing was good. I went with their recommendation because I knew of no independent garage near me who could do an after-market kit. I added an IMS after-market warning system myself. There was never any oil on my garage floor. Putting the car on a hoist regularly would be useful for checking oil weeps. Other than that, I added a short shifter and cup holders.
The rest was maintenance except for a sunroof rack replacement. Sold it for 1k less than I bought it for. Almost priceless.
THOSE ARE STILL ‘THE REAL DEAL’ 🔥🔥Love them! 💥
Btw - 996 and 997.1 share the same m96/m97 engines.
996 being least desirable 911 works best for me. it's my favorite 911. (to be specific, 996 C4S) It keeps the price down that I need much less time to save up for it. LOL I talked to some Porsche guys about C4S & they said it is not a fast car... perfect! I love it 'cause of the look. not the speed. All I'm saying is... everyone has different taste. this 96 Carrera looks great Nick. Thanks for the video. Always enjoying them. Cheers!
…Don’t give a damn what "keyboard Porschephiles" say (996 C4S tip. owner here)…
They surely ignore the fact that the 996 C4S was simply "the fastest NA 911 ever" on the Nürburgring, back then in 2002, when it first came to the market!…
Also I care less than zero about the 2.2 seconds slower in a "100 to 200km/h" recovery compared to its manual sibling.
If they think they could "go have a coffee and come back" within that time difference, to bad for them all!…
He’s a fellow Brit, go on my son💪
Lol! 996 is a great car! I really like the interior. The Turbos are cheaper too :). The Tip Turbos are even a tad faster than manuals and way easier to drive downtown. They are great cars!
"way easier to drive downtown" - which is especially important if you're a girl.
@@rogerl7533 That's so lame... The Turbos have less torque right off the line due to the lower compression. That is what makes constant clutch work a pain in stop and go. The clutch pressure is easy due to the hydraulic assist so that isn't the issue. Have you driven a manual one of these cars downtown a lot or are you just talking out your bum?
@@rogerl7533 Hey easy on the stereotypes _ROGER_ . Todays girls are much different then they used to be , take that college swimmer for instance .
@@HeidiandFranny Exactly! Sexist rubbish!
@@EdD-ym6le Bruce Jenner?
5:29, definitely thought you were about to get swiped for a second.
Nick is the 996 of Porsches. 🥴
996 series 911 was never a bad looking car, in fact I was a bit attracted to its new look compared to the older air-cooled models when it first came out. Is just that as time passes I tend to prefer the old bug-eyed style over the fried-egg lamp. Every generation of 911 is meant to be revolutionary and better than the previous one. Being water-cooled or having egg-looking headlights does not make it less 911. The way it drives and handles is still undoubtedly a 911. However, I cannot say the same for the upcoming 992.2 or the generations beyond, as most countries are passing legislation to make selling new production ICE cars illegal in the next few years - e.g. Canada by 2030 or 2035. Not sure if Porsche’s eFuel can really save their own sports cars. I am not against an electrified 911 (hybrid), but I would rather the 911 die entirely instead of pure electrification of the car.
P.S. Still waiting for your next stream Nick!!!
I rented a 996 several years ago in Scottsdale from an "exotic" rental place. Old, ratty, Cabrio Tip, silver on tan. But it was really lovely on twisty roads.
Fun project would be a C4 of the same vintage and build a winter hooligan car. Tiptronic would be fine. Raise it a bit for Winter tires, some killer lighting, could be a lot of fun.
I owned a 2011 panamera for 4 years and the first gen PDK when shifting on steering wheel is same lag as a tiptronic which I also own (base Carrera cabriolet 03). Also I realized owning a tiptronic is better as a daily driver from my experience. People tend to redline or f up stick shifter 911's be careful and get it scanned. With a tip most people dont exceed 4000 rpm as it is more controlled or more dummy proof. The tips are ZF Mercedes tranny and is bullet proof, just service every 5 years with filter and oil replacement. I have done a lot of work on these cars and can say a 911 tip will appreciate and outlast 996 engines. They are more practical as mentioned. Downshifting is faster than stick using a tip. Please no need to downplay a tip!
I have a 2004 996 turbo cab tip with 61k miles which I just love. And, the turbo engines never have the MIS bearing issue.
I owned one. A -99 C4 Tiptronic bought as a winter daily along my 964. I will NOT get another one! Even if this one had 70000USD of maintenance performed over the years, I was plagued by electronic gremlins, mechanical issues and even rust on the doors (inside).
The motor had blew and was reinforced with all issues addressed by a prior owner.
Never again! Still have the outlawed 964 though. Faster, more fun, louder and just an awesome drive. As an investment if you get it dirt cheap. Maybe. As a car to own and enjoy. No thank you!
964❤️
Sounds like you got a very worn down one. Have had 4 996es loved all of them the tiptronic of 996.1 is a bit daft. At the moment i own 2 996es and a 997.2. One 996 i converted from rhd to lhd. Yes some age related stuff needs to be done but that is with every car.
The lights are not Boxster lights, they were actually inspired by the GT1 lights.
True !!! Pity it doesn't carry any weight..
I’m commenting on this video late but, Merry Christmas. I’ve actually grown to love the 996. I think my dream 911 (reasonable priced) would definitely be a later 996 Turbo 6 spd of course. In my opinion the 996 is no longer the “affordable” 911. While it may be cheaper if you want only a 911, the 981 Boxster/Cayman is becoming the entry level Porsche. They say buy the newest Porsche you can afford for your 1st one. My experience is with my grandfathers 2019 718 2.0 Cayman 6spd. I’ve loved and obsessed over Porsches since 2011.
Nice of you to include Franny!!
You're right that the IMS bearing wasn't a major issue in the M96 and later M97. But what was/is an issue is cylinder scoring.
00:15 is the reason why I can’t wait until I get my 992 in manual. It will change gears when I want it too! Great video as always, Nick 🤙🏼
That's a very clean car inside and out for its age. Credit to Jay.
Come on the brits 🏁 wahoo, good luck with the sale fella 👍
The 996 Cab Tiptronic is actually the cheapest. There are more to worry about then IMS bearings, like bore scoring, intermix problems from cracked heads, cylinder liners D chunk problems. A lot of these cars had engines replaced under warranty. I have a 993 tip cab, and it was a way to get into a 993 for a very reasonable price, 25,000.
I’ve just test drove the Tip. The manual feels more engaging. Also manual price seems to be very resilient.
My friend owns a 997.1 with an automatic and he loves it. He said it’s good for city driving.
So funny
A 987.2 Cayman is probably a better option. Same price, but way more reliable and better looking imho….
that's what I went with. 987.2 cayman s with sport chrono. people get hung up on the "caymans/boxsters aren't real porsches" thing far too often. but I think that's softening as a younger generation has started buying the cars and looking at things a bit more objectively.
Better but also more expensive potentially. I've seen some quite cheap 996's but never a cheap 987.2
@@TheChannel1978 they sold a lot of 996s. lots out there in all sorts of condition. 987.2s are rare since they were produced during the recession.
Good to see a Brit living in Connecticut with his 996. Why anyone out of choice would live in the UK these days is beyond me. God knows why I do!
My understanding of ISB is they can destroy themselves regardless of service history / oil changes and will write off an engine regardless of newness of engine oil. The Gen1 997's have the same problem but it doesn't affect their values as badly as the 996. It's one of those rediculous situations where Porsche knew it was a problem for many years but refused to acknowledge it for probably financial reasons.
I watched that guy for research on 928. I’ve had a boxster 2.7 manual and that’s defo better for a pure thrash being lighter and more balanced so don’t rule that out. You can feel the 996 is a bigger car. But still pure
Top guy Nick
Like you as your into the lower end of the range..
And I believe your correct.
The carrera s is the best fun
I was just waiting for Nick to say something out the color! And he did 😇
Actually the silver color helps disguise the shape of the 996 headlights.
You can tune the tiptronic with an software update so it shifts faster 😎 Sure it will never be as good as the pdk.
I didn't think William would be caught dead in a 996
I have a 996t and a 986 boxster and I regret getting a turbo. Too powerful. I enjoy 986 more. If this was a manual I would jump on it fast.
Nick, you should buy it! It sounds great. Sell your 993 and get the one that saved Porsche.
I find the 993 to be a better car in almost every way to the 996
@@NickMurray If I could, I upvote this a million times, that's how have far the 993 is from the 996. The 993 has it all, the 996 is not even a water downed 993, it's just not in the same league when it comes to driving engagement and sensory pleasure.
FOR US OLDER GUYS WITH BAD KNEES AND ANKLES, THE TIPTRONIC IS A PLUS.....LOTS OF 911 OR 986FUN....
I hated the headlights when the 996 came out and they aged even worse decades later
As long as it's not boring black or white every color is ok.
There is nothing wrong with silver Sir Nick! Not everyone has an affinity for green!!
Look deep within yourself and you will find the truth Ted 😎
Silver is the color of a Porsche.
@@Minoltalphafan To make it as dull as dishwater, you mean?
Nice work, guys. I’ll hate to see your car go, Jay, but I’m sure you’ll replace it with something terrific!
Those head lights are like having the mark of the beast on your fore head . Unfortunate that a styling cue marred the entire series to a higher degree then was probably fair . Hey ... it seemed to push Porsche to develop the PDK and it's widespread influence on the car industry .
Always thought those were the best wheels on the 996
Most worthwhile 996 models for sale these days have had the IMS done, something to note!
You Speed Demon! 106 MPH, you were obviously in Montana! 😁
People who wanted to sell tiptronic and complained about they lost money selling their tip 996..
I’m a 996 fan. I like it’s size.
I believe Porsche produced the 996 with two different 5 speed autos. A ZF unit and a Mercedes Benz unit. Got this info via Wikipedia.
I kinda like silver, todays cars are all withe, black ore grey, i like beeing different 😁
Good video, great car. I love my '03 996 C2.
Good grief at 5:28 I thought that Volvo XC90 was about to turn this video into a snuff movie 😱💀
I don't know whether the gearbox is the same as in the 996 or not, but I tried a few years back a tiptronic 993 and the gearbox was awful. I don't understand why people ordered these cars with automatic transmission. It ruined the experience a bit for me.
996 turbo is great looking. Couldn't do an auto 996 though...
Arctic Silver is the best color for a 996 😎
You speak the truth Phil
Nope. Rush hour traffic is the only time a manual is a bother and I don't work a 9 to 5.
It can be updated. Exhaust. Different styles.
I will argue until I am blue that the Gen 2 headlights are ugly AF and have no precedent in Porsche history. The Gen 1 is from the legendary GT1. I love them, my 986S and my 996 C2 have the Litronics, so no amber, therefore no egg yolk. German car enthusiasts have been de-amber-ing US DOT lights since the 80’s. My 90 Quattro 20V got the clear Hella corners immediately back in 96. Now I have on good authority that the headlight change for the 996 Turbo was to accommodate taller radiators. I know this because in a 996 forum a project car was putting C4S rads in his Gen 1 as he had bumped up the displacement and was doing an ersatz GT3. He encountered fitment issues with the Gen 1 headlights. The mounting plates were in the way. In Gen 2, they are higher. Using the same headlight and plate would mean changing the fenders. Being a 5 function light means a clean bumper. And with the clear Hella side markers, my Arctic Silver 996 looks like a concept 911 from the front, stunning really.
I agree with you. I much prefer the Gen 1 headlights without ambers. I had them in my old 986.
Cool video. Thanks Nick.
Hi Jay - what are you planning to go for? I bet a 997!
No mention of the Cargraphic Sport Exhaust you installed in a video. What’s up with that?
I’d happily have a TIP Tronic gear box if it means I could have a 996
Hey Nick! I have a manual 996 04 for sale too if you want to film it. It’s in California..
Hey Nick, I have a 996 C4 X51 not for sale if you want to film it. It's right here in CT. I met Jay last month (great guy btw). Sad to see him selling the car, I know he's proud of it. Intrigued to see what he replaces it with, or if he sticks with the Boxster for a while.
The complaints about interior are also bit weird. Yes it was bit cheap but 996es came with extended leather options as well and with that option it was not far off from 997 etc considering it is 20 year old design.
Well, the plastics are almost Toyota Corolla quality, so what's there to be unhappy about?
For a manual 996 c2 in good condition your looking at like 35-55k tbh. More in the high 40s
*AND shared the 996.1 front with the boxster.
The best ones are the ones you could afford
And use it for a short while to squeeze every last bit of YT content out of, after that to be discarded like the appliance it has ever been. The owner is a cheapskate and clearly not the Porsche lover Nick is.
IMS isn't affected by oil changes.!!!.. it's a sealed bearing- that's the problem.
@@djohn8604 actually that isn’t true. In many cases when the bearing becomes unsealed so long as the oil is kept in great condition, it does not fail.
IMS--that Porsche kept lying about until the class action suit, and bore scoring would scare me off. Not a bad looking car--even the scrambled egg lights, but the potential engine problem, although chances are if it was going to happen, it would have, and the crappy Tiptronic tranny = big red flags. At the right price, though, could be a good entry for someone.
2 years, 15k miles, nicely done - probably making some profit on it too. i'm not one to time the market but glwts
Thought I was listening to The Late Brake Show there for half a moment.
Like you said, there's a reason why it's so cheap. 3 of them in fact. The lights are f--ing ugly! I would be ashamed to drive this Boxter 911. And Tiptronic no less. Yuck.
The reason is the perception of the market of these things though. And for some it's just not true. You may be ashamed, another person will see it as a bargain. I'm in the Meh camp also about this, to me the IMS thing shows careless engineering on Porsche's part. I don't care if 0.1 or 1% of cars are affected. That's terrible engineering for a premium product and they should have owned up about it but they never did properly.
Is every remaining 996 silver?
If Silver is such a bad color then why did so many on the road? I believe there is more of a demand for silver than let's say green or bright yellow. When I bought my silver 991.1 the color was a consideration for a better resale value.
Not a bad color just the most boring color.
…The "Silver Arrows" from the 1930’s in Formula race, are in fact at the origin of such a great "silver color" diffusion in the German sports car universe, ever since…
Not just Porsches, Auto Union (former Audi), BMW, M Benz and so on…
Haven’t you ever noticed even nowadays, when a new "AMG" is presented to the motor-press, they are mostly first shown in "silver"?…
Must resist urge to dislike video with any reference to Triptronic in it
Despite it's my least favourite 911 , would like own one because new ones are too expensive for an 911 and don't like that top range models are becoming showing off cars 😒
A slightly modded 996 Carrera is the best Porsche reasonable money can buy… although I could be biased Nick, what do I know 😉
What about a 987 Cayman?
@@philliesphan334 In all honesty, these are direct competitors IMO, best value for money in the market right now. It comes down to preference. I have a video on this exact topic, you might want to check it out!
@@PaulLukeBonenfant I'll check it out. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think would think a 987 is a better value because it's newer & overall more balanced.
5:28 The Volvo scared me
Incoming!
Nice video Nick. Entry Porsche is still a good car
Hi Nick, Does it make sense to purchase an extended warranty? I have a 2018 718 Boxster S which the manufacturer warranty will come to an end very soon. I spoke with my dealer and they offered a 3 year 50K miles for about $4k and 8 years or 75K miles for about $6K Or should just stick with its yearly recommended scheduled maintenance?