Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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I came across this ad today and am having a few thoughts of buying it for a Daily Driver:
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1628236524.html
Although not advertised, it does have the LSD option. It also looks to have a lowered suspension - This looks lower than stock US height, doesn't it?
If I buy it, I'll get some used 17" rims and put snow tires on them, so I can swap wheels as the weather dictates.
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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spider
Pro
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 12024
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Love it. The 1999 is my favorite of all the 996 cars. No oil leaks is a good sign that the engine in this car is a winner.
spider
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Orient Express
Funcarsonline Dude
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 4732
Loc: Land of the $250K Tax Bracket
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My neighbor has a 99 C2, and it has over 100K on it and is still as solid and rattle free as a new one. The 99s are a good buy.
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Checkout my 996
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Eric (Plug Guy)
Sponsor
Reged: 06/30/02
Posts: 2012
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The only dramatic difference b/w 99 and 00 was they rid themselves of the basketball finish on the interior plastic dash. '00 was a much nicer finish, and the bare black plastics were swapped for the soft touch stuff.
If that matters....
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Eric
Chief Plug Guy
BumperPlugs.com
2009 Turbo Cab
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Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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I like the 99 since it had the option of Limited Slip Diff and had mechanical throttle linkage.
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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Ed NY
Moderator
Reged: 06/30/02
Posts: 3119
Loc: Westchester, New York
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FWIW, at 296 hp, I found the '99 a bit under powered. I had the rear seal oil leak on my '99 which was fixed and the shift linkage broke. It had a plastic piece (can't remember the name of it) that broke off and was replaced with a metal piece. I also had some seat belt electronic indicator errors wich were corrected.
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Ed, 2010 6-Spd Turbo Cab
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Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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Quote:
FWIW, at 296 hp, I found the '99 a bit under powered. I had the rear seal oil leak on my '99 which was fixed and the shift linkage broke. It had a plastic piece (can't remember the name of it) that broke off and was replaced with a metal piece. I also had some seat belt electronic indicator errors wich were corrected.
Thanks, Ed. I'm not under any illusion that it'll be an ideal 911 - just looking for an affordable daily driver that might be fun to drive. It's about the same price as a used Subaru, so that's why it caught my eye.
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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SpeedGeek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2421
Loc: Johannesburg, South Africa
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White dials! What more could you want? 
The only thing about my 2000 C4 that I disliked was the e-gas. This one has a mechanical throttle.
If it's been well looked after it will make a great DD for the price.
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A. E. Neuman - 996 GT3 RS
Neuman for President!
You could do worse... and always have!
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Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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Just got back from seeing/driving the car.
Good Points:
No rattles (at least fewer than my brand new 2002 C2)
Full Leather Interior option (so basketball pleather not an issue)
Had the LSD/Traction Control Option
Had the Litronics option
Brand New Michelin Pilot Sports and flawless Sport Design 18" wheels (same as on Gen 1 GT3)
Ran, shifted, and steered great (seemed about like new)
Bad Points:
Slightly bouncy suspension (Euro M030 would've been nice)
VERY stinky tobacco smell - deal killer, I think. My friend and I were nauseous after a short drive.
Anyone had success with totally eliminating smoke odor?
Disappointing, since everything else was really nice - definitely a bargain for $17k-$18k (I think that's where he would've landed on price).
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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Orient Express
Funcarsonline Dude
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 4732
Loc: Land of the $250K Tax Bracket
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A good cleaning by a commercial carpet/upholstery cleaner can get rid of most of the smell in the carpet and headliner. The leather will need a good cleaning with simple green and then a refeeding. With that said smoke smell can be tough to get rid of completely. I would make a condition of the sale to get the interior cleaned professionally.
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Checkout my 996
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spider
Pro
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 12024
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I would not have the interior "professionally" cleaned, unless you want it to smell like a Tijuana bordello. The idea is to get the smell out, not to cover it with cheap smelling fragrance that leaves it reeking like a whorehouse rental car. Fragrance could be more bothersome than cigaret smoke.
The smoke smell is trapped in the soft components of the interior. The headliner is the real culprit. Headliners can be easily replaced. The carpets can be shampooed and left to dry. I'd shampoo the headliner too, giving that a try before replacement.
My older El Caminos both had heavy cigaret smell going back for 35 years. I kept the windows down in the garage and just allowed the volatile components of the smoke to offgas. It took a while, but it worked out fine.
I don't like cigaret smoke smell, but I would not let it stop me from purchase. The smell will drop off exponentially, even if you don't do anything, with time and with fresh air and sunshine. You are in the best place in the USA to get rid of car odors as the ambient air pressure is lower and the air is dry.
spider
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Mike in Ct
old hand
Reged: 07/05/02
Posts: 999
Loc: Ct
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Grant, You could try a residential carpet steam cleaner for the fabric materials. (Just steam, no chemicals) A detailer friend has had success with that.
Too bad the car was owned by a smoker.
Good luck!
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Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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Thanks, guys. It was so stinky that I'm not going to risk it. I'm moving on to the next one...
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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Orient Express
Funcarsonline Dude
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 4732
Loc: Land of the $250K Tax Bracket
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You could name the car "the lil' Stinker"!
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Checkout my 996
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SpeedGeek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2421
Loc: Johannesburg, South Africa
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I have a friend who's a smoker (60 a day and 40 lbs overweight) who bought a Cayenne about 6 months ago. Over the months, his car has got smellier and smellier to the point that I won't go in it anymore if I can help it. Gotta wonder what his lungs and arteries look like.
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A. E. Neuman - 996 GT3 RS
Neuman for President!
You could do worse... and always have!
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peterm
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 2482
Loc: new york
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Here on the East coast smoking has gained the perception of a disease- people are forced to stand outside in the cold away from the doors of their workplace- forget about restuarants and bars. Outside New York there is some popularity still though. I was struck, in Europe, by the sheer number of smokers. I think oncology will be a boon business over there in a few years.
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SpeedGeek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2421
Loc: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Yeah, I love that about the US - smoker's are considered 2nd class citizens. Over here it's more like Europe.
Some strong anti-smoking laws have just gone into affect here, and I'm surprised to see them being enforced. In fact my soon-to-be-malignant, Cayenne-stinking friend has found himself shoo'd out of a few restaurants recently. Unfortunately I expect it will be just a matter of time before the restaurants, who currently face big fines, begin paying off the local constabulary. When you have a country where the police are indistinguishable in behavior from the mafia, there's little hope.
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A. E. Neuman - 996 GT3 RS
Neuman for President!
You could do worse... and always have!
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spider
Pro
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 12024
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Grant, be sure to check the seats for residual flatus. Best to hire a coon hound to do this for you though. 
spider
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ty (360mode)
enthusiast
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 248
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I definitely would not buy a stinky car. Done that with the promise they could get rid of the smell, de-ionize it, etc... traded it in about 50 hours later.
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spider
Pro
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 12024
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I don't know if it was just an urban legend or not, but some years ago I recall hearing the story of a nearly new Corvette that was for sale for $500. The problem was that the late owner had died in the car while it was parked in his garage. His body decomposed and the death smell penetrated into the fiberglass body, to remain there for Vette eternity.
I suppose his imitation gold chain necklace and bracelets, as well as the cans of cheap beer stashed behind the seats, could have been cleaned up however the open-to-the-navel shirt, just like the Vette, would not have been salvageable.
spider
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SpeedGeek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2421
Loc: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Jeez, even in death there's no respect for Vette owners on this forum.
I saw a TV show where they put a dead pig in an old Vette in a hot barn and let it stew for a few weeks. Then they got some "cleanup experts" to try and return the Vette to livable status. They couldn't do it.
But my friend's Cayenne, like his breath, smells worse than a dead pig. Not to mention the burn holes in the trim lining above his driver's door. Real classy!
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A. E. Neuman - 996 GT3 RS
Neuman for President!
You could do worse... and always have!
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GaryAZ
supporting member
Reged: 04/23/04
Posts: 1470
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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It was wise to ditch the stink bomb. A smoked in car is an immediate reject for me. I exchange rental cars instantly when I detect that putrid odor. Part of the fun of my car (now 10 years old) is the smell of the leather when I first sit inside. The old factory evokes some strong emotion.
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2000 996 AS/Blk
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uncle buck
old hand
Reged: 11/24/02
Posts: 954
Loc: Sinking Spring, PA USA
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This thread got me thinking about an early 996 as a way to "test drive" the water cooled cars without a big upfront cost. I found a '99 w/ 38K miles at Garff Porsche in Orem Utah - Listed for mid-20's but I'll bet it could be had for less. Here are the options:
Base Porsche Model 65,030
CG Graphite Grey Optional Leather Interior 3,215
408 18" Boxster S 11 Wheel 1,685
446 Wheel Caps In Colored Crests 170
490 Sound Package Plus 600
688 AM/FM Radio With CD Player 315
Y29 Aluminum/Chrome X71, X70, X54 1,909
P72 Design Package 1,215
Y06 Aluminum/Leather Shifter/Brake handle 880
659 On Board Computer 275
982 Soft Leather Look Seat Centers 390
436 3-Spoke Leather Steering Wheel 255
498 Delete Model Designation 0
M6P Graphite Grey Floor Mats 110
51 Wimbledon Green Metallic 3,010
Retail 79,824
It's a nicely optioned car but Wimbledon is a really off beat color. I thought I might like it but is a really pale blue/green and not to my taste at all so I passed.
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"Swing easy, Drive fast, Play hard"
Edited by uncle buck (03/13/10 08:52 AM)
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Grant
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/02
Posts: 4750
Loc: Denver, CO USA
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I like Wimbledon Green, but I personally wouldn't buy a 99 without the Traction Control/ABD/LSD option (they come packaged together and LSD is option #220).
Also, full leather is much nicer than the cheesy plastic interior (sounds like this option is on the car you're looking at).
Coming from a 993, be prepared for a major step down in quality (it's pretty shocking the change that occurred from 98 to 99 - the reason why a 98 is worth twice as much as a 99).
There are some improvements though (HVAC, much better gearing, more comfy seats).
Don't think I'd pay more than $20k for that car. While I like Green 911's, that will negatively impact resale.
Check any early 996 for evidence of a porous engine block and RMS leak.
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (240hp & 1,890 lbs)
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uncle buck
old hand
Reged: 11/24/02
Posts: 954
Loc: Sinking Spring, PA USA
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Thanks for the comments Grant - I asked about option 220 in my original inquiry to the dealer and they had stated this car didn't have it. I'll never track a car and don't do anything other than brisk country road driving, but I'll keep that in mind.
I see '05/06 Carrera and Carrera S models with low miles can be had for high 30's/low 40's. That's got my attention as well.
The hunt is half the fun and any advice is appreciated from all here. My wife often comments how "helpful" board members are
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"Swing easy, Drive fast, Play hard"
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spider
Pro
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 12024
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Uncle Buck, I would not let green stand in the way of a choice, as I know you like green cars. I had a 2001 Carrera 4 in Rainforest Green with graphite grey interior. It was a real beauty. Sure, some people don't like green, and my car had no sunroof either (another "deal killer", according to some) but the car was sold the day it hit the dealer's lot. Even the transporter called me enroute and said he had a buyer for me if I wanted to sell it before it was delivered to the dealer!
There are a zillion silver 996 cars out there, but only a handful of 996 cars are Wimbleton Green. If you pulled into a Porsche meet in that car then people would flock around your car, secretly admiring it and wishing it was theirs.
The 997 is a nice car too. You would not be disappointed with a 997. I really liked my 996 cars, but my 997 C4 is the real keeper. I love that car more than any car I have ever owned... well, except my 1968 912 that still visits me in my dreams at night. Really.
One more thing... consider a Carrera 4. Mario Andretti called the the 996 Carrera 4 the best handling car in the world. That's quite an endorsement.
spider
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ty (360mode)
enthusiast
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 248
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http://www.momentumporsche.com/used/Porsche/2003-Porsche-911-62dc110e4046388f008f03a5ef00d6b5.htm
something like this seems like a much better deal although haven't looked carefully at what options it has.
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