Porsche 911

I absolutely love the 911 cab. It is the ultimate iconic auto, and it is beyond fun to own and drive. In a world with little time for enjoyment, the 911 is a priceless piece of perfection that never disappoints. For the money, one would be hard pressed to find any car bringing a bigger bundle of reliability, performance, safety and handling to the table than Porsche. I have owned a 996 Turbo Coupe and several 996 cabs. They all have been incredible. I think additional power, speed, etc., is illusory. I know of very, very few drivers who have the real driving and tactical chops (not bravado) to push any Porsche remotely close to its capacities. Any 911 is the right 911 in my estimation.

A note on buying a 911 with this disclaimer. I am not an ebay buyer or seller. I have no agenda, except being a 911 enthusiast and a PCA member.

1. By a car with pedigree. A car with verifiable ownership, not lease history. Make sure to obtain all service records from day one to date. Service that was not done on time should be a warning flag. Be selective. It will take more time, but the right car is a car that was sold by a Porsche dealer and serviced by that dealer and taken back on trade for another porsche. That is the car of an enthusiast and will not disappoint. These cars are sometimes available from other sellers too. Bottom line is that this type of car costs more and is absolutely worth it.

2. Do not assume a certified preowned means it is of the same caliber as the above. It may not be. The car in issue may have been bought at a fleet auction. Typically, these are all lease cars with unknown pedigrees. Many none pedigree cars are sold as cpo cars. In short, all cpo cars are not equal and do not assume that they are.

3. Have the car completely inspected. Do not rely solely on a carfax in that carfax does not necessarily report unreported accidents. So, if the prior owner had an accident and simply had it fixed on his/her nickel, a carfax may not help. Here, the real answer is having a Pre Purchase Inspection with a micrometer reading of all paint. Everything should be consistent. If not, the car most likely has had paint, a red flag. All alleged maintenance should be verified, e.g. were the belts in fact changed as claimed? Does the oil in the pan look consistent with the alleged last change? Do the numbers match once the car is on the lift? Again, it is a homework exercise. Repairs are expensive and inconvenient, and all certified preowned warranties have gaps. Avoid them by doing your homework upfront. Spend more and get the pedigree car. See number 1 above.

4. If you are buying a 911 with locking wheel nuts, make sure you check the boot to make sure you have the nut you need to use to unlock them. If you get caught with a flat without the unlocking nut, you will have to be transported by flatbed to the nearest Porsche dealer for a master unlock. In some parts of the country, a scary proposition. Again, a little homework upfront (a lesson I learned the hard way with a flat).

5. Read the manuals. The manuals are FULL of super important information. The 911 is a unique blend of art and technology. It can be wrecked by inadvertent faux pas like trying to jump start it off the battery terminals. Know the car and the rest will be bliss.


Happy purchasing and happy driving.

The item was not as described. Item appears listed as a Porsche GT 3 when in fact it is just a Porsche with a GT 3 body kit. It was also listed under GT 3 in Autos & trucks. I've contacted the seller and he wanted to let EBay handle it.I am 78 years old and don't know all the nomenclature of the present day. This is item: 151050225634Please help with this problem as I am also computer illiterate and am unable to get help through your web site. Thank you.

if you want to buy a Porsche 996 Carrera check out:

1. when was the clutch replaced?
2. is an upgrated ims ( inter media shaft bearing ) installed?
3. was the rms ( rear motor seal ) changed?

This are expensive repairs.

I've always wanted a Porsche and have been looking for one for awhile. I purchased a 1999 911 with 36k miles, 6 speed, black on black in pristine condition for a 14 year old car. When i got the car the lock for the gas cap wouldn't lock and the rear spoiler rubber split from age, but the costs were assumed by the buyer, who never hesitated to reconcile theissue. There has been alot of noise and misinformation about the intermediate shaft bearing, and I was told this by a Porsche shop that it's not if but when for failure. That's pure conjecture. First there were 28000 911 Carreras made in 1999 and the real truth is failure rate of this bearing was less than one percent, meaning less than 280 cars. That being said, they failed at limits, meaning over revs and speed. If there were a recall it would have been everywhere. One fact, over two thirds of all Porsches ever produced are still in service. I have driven the car and it is everything I imagined a Porsche to be. On the highway it's response and acceleration will pin you in your seat if you want,and handling is precise. I am sure I will have maintenance issues that should be done, as with all high performance cars.Prices are all over the map, and you'll get what you pay for. If you think you'll get a pristine 1999 911 for mid to high teens, be prepared to replace a clutch, tranny etc., if you don't have all the service records. Before buying, have a mechanic check it out, if it is any distance from you. The charge through e-bay is around $179. Do not let a mechanic tell you on oil change that he has to cut the old oil filter to check for filings from the bearing.It would have to be forensically analyzed to determine that it was that part, and other things can fail on an engine. Do not let the car become a "garage" queen. Drive and enjoy it

I have owned more cars than anyone that I have ever met.
An early Porsche 911 is the best car that I have ever owned. It is amazing that the nice ones get away so cheaply and projects are so close in price.
They deliver unbelievable performance. 3.0SC engines are well known for 250-500k miles. Replacement parts, wear items, are very cheap. Full brake parts for my 911 cost less than my Vw Bug. Why are people not jumping on these?
The quality is unbelievable. I will always for ever on, own a 911 or 912.
My advise for anyone looking for their first Porsche, buy a very nice car that has been taken care of and put your money up once. Then you can enjoy the ride!

like the car but some issues regarding constant enginelight on due to malfunction in secondary air injection plus no backuplight cant figure out what is vrong

I have a passion for pre 1999 Porsche 911s. I owned a '80 911SC. I wanted more power so I looked for a 3.6 liter (either 964 or 993). the 91 includes a 20% bigger engine and 30% more horsepower. Plus, it has much better suspension and brakes. The interior is identical in roominess, however, has an improved climate control system and more comfort features (seats, center console, latches, ...).

With changes came some reliabilty set-backs. I've spent more than $1,500 in needed repairs since I purchased the car.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase.

Great vehicle handling is awesome air cooled engine I can't say any more it is great. Purchased vehicle three years ago great deal and now have done research and price has gone up on these 964 911's. This is one of the best Porsche's I have ever owned.

The seller was very helpful and everything was happened as promised. The vehicle was in great conditon.

This was my first Porsche. I am amazed how incredibly fast and relatively quiet this car is.
I wish I had considered this car sooner in my life.
This is a supercar that you can actually use and not be worried about in the parking lot.