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.

Very fast 3.6liter and the last air cooled engine. Te body to me is the most beautifull of them all. and is a vehicle to really enjoy and cherish.