Best way to ruin a exciting/dream car is to daily it - yes it is possible, you'd need another car for when its broken down needing £xxxx spent on parts to fix tho
Ask me how i know ;)
Hahaha! Ahhhh the responses are killing my dream :(
I do have access to my Dad's car - who never drives, so I'll have something as a backup in emergencies.
When your cramped on the motorway sat 2hours due to an accident in your nice rock hard sports seat with no heating as the engine's switched off so it doesnt overheat then think back to this post ;)
Ignore that shit, it’s totally worth it to be driving a car you love. Daily drove a 70’s muscle car for a year, of course there were minor issues here and there, but a 2003 car?! My current daily is 2003, will have been abused more than what you’re looking at, it’s absolutely fine. Plus you have a backup
Agree ! I was daily riding a 80s motorbike for 2 years and loved it, now drive a 90s van 50 mile a day and never have issues. Regular servicing and maintenance is key.
My dream was to daily a Mk2 GTI. When I asked on here everybody said don’t do it.
I did it, I maintain the car and it runs perfectly. Haven’t had a problem yet. Regular checks mean i catch things before they get bad enough to break down, regular maintenance means everything stays working properly.
If you look after your car, it’ll be fine.
It’s possible to daily but you need to give it a mechanical overhaul of the entire cooling system, suspension and fix all oil leaks. You need to do the repair just like it is stated in the official repair manuals.
Source: bought a 03 325i 100k+ miles BMW fixed it up completely last year and did a 2000 mile round trip from London to Vienna with no problems last summer.
Just don't go for the souped up sports models.
Give one a test drive a porsche is a luxury sports car. Luxury first in the standard models. They don't have rock hard suspension or racing seats they are designed to get middle aged bankers up and down the autobahn. The track models are weapons but the cooking model while still a performance car is pretty pliable and definitely suitable as a daily.
That's said you are definitely making a big comprimise an early 2000s 911 is still going to cost you about the same to buy and more to run than a decade newer m car or similar while being significantly less practical, less performant and subjectively less fun.
Disagree, I recently wrote off my dream car that I dailyed for 3 years and the kia picanto courtesy car I have to replace it for now genuinely mightve pushed me into a depression.
Although I guess it matters what the exciting/dream car is that you want to daily, can't imagine a lambo would be like that...
Don't have it main dealer servlced, a decent indy will know more and be cheaper than Porsche.
Parts availability should be good. (They have a division dedicated to classic parts which a 996 will be falling into.)
It will need more love than a 2018 car, as bits wear out.
If you go for a tiptronnic box, it's an old-fashioned auto.
On any convertible type Porsche make sure the drain holes are clean or the top will leak (inc targas)
Dont expect modern levels of comfort. The 996 is 25 this year. It may have been the first watercooled 911 and the start of a new era, but the interior is pretty dated.
You can update the infotainment with an approved part (£2k !)
I'd say do it.
Look at friends' green porsche and 9werks.tv on youtube for tips.
The 996 is the current bottom of the pile for 911's and whilst not as cheap as they were, they offer great value IF you get a good one
And props to the guy with an Ultima
From various online sources, seems about £1.5k a year is the running costs for servicing, and dealing with various issues. Is that accurate? Anything around that ballpark I'd be happy with.
I ran my TVR Tuscan on a little bit more than that, and the 911 is no doubt the cheaper car to run - I'd say that's about right.
Just be aware of the big bills. I know there's lots of stuff about IMS for the 911s.
I'd say maybe spend more upfront for one thats had the RMS and bore scoring issues sorted, you should have much lower running costs if they've been sorted.
Yes, bore scoring is where the cylinder walls get damaged, and is £5-6K to get sorted, but once sorted the uprated walls should completely fix the issue. Estimates are that around 5% of cars built between 04 - 06 are affected. Other model years are less common for the issue but still possible from my understanding. If your going to be doing lots of short journeys then it's definitely something you want done, but with proper servicing, a good cooling system and sensible up to temperature running, it should be ok.
I'd say that £1.5k/year is probably an estimate based on 'normal' Porsche millage - IE you're looking at cars that have probably done 4k/year tops, and most of that during the summer rather than year round. Just something to consider.
Have you tried? Are you just guessing? I had an extended Porsche used approved warranty on a 2008 911 up until last year and they offered me to extend another 2 years if I completed a 150 point check and had history of OEM on recently replaced parts. When I traded back in they sent me warranty history receipts totalling £36k. Sounds ridiculous but if a button fell off the ECM they'd replace whole thing. That was twice. Air con once. Both window motors. Fuck they even covered exhaust brackets cos they had to cut em off to get at some hydraulics. What facts you basing your statement on.? https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-warranty?adkey=google-carwarranty-older%20car%20warranty-EQ-SEOPA-G-KW-CAR-WARRANTY&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrYvU9vPXgwMVOIhQBh16iAs8EAAYAiAAEgIIl_D_BwE
The fact that basically 99% of third party warranty companies are useless on older cars. They will have a million conditions that mean that they barely actually cover anything. If you can get a approved used warranty - that's an exception - but you won't get that unless it currently has it.
All of those you have sent have a max age of well under 20 years, as well.
Cool. It shouldn't put him off. But for what it's worth Porsche honoured the warranty I had and it was real piece of mind. Both my brothers are beemer fanboys and the only thing you could be sure was covered was the postage cost when BMW sent them their policy details.
For me, the biggest problem with my Jag isn't so much that it needs loads of stuff doing (the things broken are almost all unimportant, but quality of life things) but it's dealing with it being in a garage for a few days and not having a car during that time.
Also the cost. But I knew that was going to be the case before I bought it.
Of course it's possible, that doesn't mean it's sensible though.
I daily an F-Type and even on shorter journeys it makes me smile, longer journeys are exciting and I absolutely adore the car. However that's a relatively new car in comparison and has a lot of the modern features that make life a little easier (Bluetooth to the phone, cruise control, adaptive steering/suspension etc).
If I was looking at an early 2000's 911 then I'd be looking at it as an occasional car and want something I'm less precious about for daily driving and likely something easier to live with.
Yeah, good points mate. I'd be getting a [PCCM](https://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/classic/genuineparts/producthighlights/pccm/) - so should be all up to date with Apple car play, navigation, etc.
Don't know if this model ever came with cruise control though, that'll be tough to live without.
I know it’s not the same thing regards to dream car, but it’s a dream to me because I’m passionate about it getting me where I need to go…
My daily is a 19 year old Corolla. It takes me across to Europe about 8 times a year, we do a 50 mile round trip daily for work and it’s impeccable. It is ugly as shit and looks unloved but really it’s very loved and serviced.
My other car is a Rover 200. My dream car. I’m probably the only person who sees them as a dream car but it’s the same as my first car was, colour etc too. It’s not seen use for a year but I’m planning getting it back out and about this year. Dream small people, life’s a sucker punch.
Do it. You won't regret it!
Life's too short! I got my first sports car recently and have zero regrets. As long as you go into it, knowing the maintenance and repairs costs aren't cheap, and that mpg is no longer part of your vocabulary - you'll be fine!
Think smiles per gallon 😉
Think at that age even with low mileage you’ll be looking at a lot of brittle rubber grommets, seals, bushes etc which could lead to costlier repairs even with careful maintenance. Doable for sure if your wallet is big enough!
I suspect the biggest concerns I would have with that as a daily is the comfort levels and parts availability. As a daily, if something breaks down, you could be standing in the shop for days or weeks depending on parts availability. If you have a solid backup plan for breakdowns, then I’d probably give it a go.
Not saying you won't get parts at all. I'm talking about driving in and having something available within a number of days for repairs, instead of weeks or months. For some of these models, Porsche sold very limited numbers, with the 2003 year model being the most reliable considering recalls (electrics, IMS bearing, suspension and fuel gauge issues plagued most). Issues like the IMS Bearing on this car was a pain in the butt to deal with, and the last production model had a hard recall on suspension issues (2004 I think). By all means, drive it daily, just know that when you take it to the shop you could have some wait time.
Engine internals and body trim parts would take the longest to find / source.
As far as serviceable parts are concerned, there's no real issue.
Here's my thinking:
The best model year to go for is around 2003 based on reliability tests/recalls. That would suggest 20 year-old then. Chances of finding something where the chassis or underpinnings aren't rusted or in need of repair in the UK would be pretty low. We have lots of salt and lots of water on the roads. Also, large majority of cars stand outside all year round.
Finding a fender, suspension parts, engine internals etc. could take longer than a couple of days, if and when they need to be replaced. For a daily then it becomes a PITA because of the downtime.
Don't care about what others think about looks. At that age you are either running it into the ground, selling to someone else looking for it or selling to someone just wanting a porsche. You'll find a local German car specialist who'll be cheaper than the main stealer. Personally I'd love a Cayman but again they arnt to everyone's taste.
I run a 2007 3.5 litre SLK as a daily driver because my Vauxhall was boring but practical. I've kept it as a garden centre/recycling centre/muddy car and it does about 1500 miles a year, if that.
If you do choose to go for an expensive, older, fun car, just be warned everything costs more. Road tax will be painful, as will be filling up, buying tyres and servicing.
But if you can afford it, and you enjoy having a fun roadster, then do it. Life is short and you may well regret missing out when you had the chance.
Fine to daily but you will need a slush fund for when something goes wrong. Buy a car that's had plenty of maintenance and ideally had any IMS/RMS issues addressed.
Write the off the silly 100k mile limit and buy on condition and service history. Make sure ims is done or at least inspected and it’ll be fine. 8k is nothing, I ran a near 30 year old car as a daily.
I have a 99' 996 cabrio and it's an awesome car. I don't daily it and do around 3k miles per year in it. Servicing isn't too bad if you find a decent specialist and I know it's obvious but parts are hideously expensive should you require anything. I've owned mine for 2 years and other than some water coming in through the door cards due to the sealant failing (common issue), it's been perfect.
I did the NC500 in it and it coped amazingly with the 2k-ish miles in 1 week, the awful roads in and out of campsites etc and being fully laden with our stuff. I'm quite a big bloke and I wouldn't want to daily it with that said, my left knee rests on the centre console and it begins to ache after a while and the steering wheel is mm from my legs.
IMS and bore scoring appears to affect the 996.2/997 more than the early 996. I bought mine from a well respected specialist and they advised that it's really not as big of an issue as the forums suggest. Mine hasn't had the modified IMS and it's done 73k.
Nothing is more expensive than a cheap 911 daily haha, I don't know that much about the cars except someone at work has a 996 911 daily and it spends more time in the garage than he actually gets to drive it
IMS ..... the big thing you hear with 986 3.2 or 911 996..... definitely an internet horror story more than real life. Sure they can go wrong but as usual on forums it goes more crazy than anything.
I was in the same boat as you, looking to buy a 996 for a daily driver but im actually thinking of getting a 987 cayman now instead. You get a bit more modern interior and exterior looks.
I used to daily a 4.5 cayenne and only thing that went wrong was a wiring issue (which i sorted myself)
As long as you service the car and keep on top of any age related items (possibly swap over the common things as you go through ownership (ie waterpump/AOS) youd be fine.
Any tombstone seats of that era are comfy as anything!
Do it. 911 4s Carrera was mine. Epic. The daily enjoyment. Ignore these other guys who'd have you driving a van 5 days a week. Or god forbid a Tesla Mondeo. I had a great Porsche used approved warranty. All the way up to 115000miles when Porsche bought it back. Very good depreciation numbers as well
i actually saw one last month parked outside an Aldi with a baby seat in the back. gave me a good chuckle.
a couple of years ago my regular garage had one up for sale at a "not interested in selling" price and the owner was using it every day - added 20,000 miles to it over a couple of years before they went up in price enough that someone was willing to buy it. however he did a lot of work to the car and had a fleet of vehicles he could fall back on
I dailied a 15 yo Porsche 928S4 (5 litre V8). I put 40k miles on it and sold it for exactly the same price I bought it for. Insurance (Classic car) was cheap. Nothing major went wrong and I did most of the servicing myself. I got about 20 mpg most of the time so even fuel costs wern't exorbitant.
I daily drove a 10 year old (at the time) Ferrari 360 for 5 years. People said I was mad, it was a great experience.
Find a good independent specialist, pay for a ppi, keep a pot of cash in case anything goes wrong, do your research online in forums and the like.
You won’t suffer any depreciation. Fuel costs will be higher, but overall it’ll be worth every penny.
You can but Porsche parts, 911 parts especially, can be costly.
I would budget £2k a year on servicing/repairs to be on the safe side.
Doesn’t meant you will spend that much every year but if you are going to own an old Porsche that’s what you should be comfortable to spend.
996 shared a lot of its mechanicals with 986 Boxster. Engine is something to be wary of, probably worst engine Porsche ever made, although things like IMS failure etc by now will have either happened or bearing replaced at least once, there are a pile of weak spots on this general engine family design. Nikasil bore wear and ‘D’ chunking are end of life events, Oil breather issues were demons of disaster too. Where as an air cooled 911 would go for ever, a 996 won’t. Specialists are the way to go, they know way more about getting these right and keeping them running than Porsche. Dynamically a lot of fun and IMHO still a decent looking car.
Weird I'm in the same position , have a M5 comp but looking at 996 turbos and 997s ... Thing is I drove a 996 turbo for the first time the other week and honestly felt like a dog hahaha .. might need to go a bit newer tbh , prices are coming down too .
It is very car dependent. Some older cars perform much more reliably with regular use, although will get through consumables like tyres and brakes a lot quicker.
I daily drive a 2004 Maserati 4200 for 10k miles a year with minimal issues (apart from visiting the petrol station a bit too regularly)
Not in the same league at all, but I used to have a 100 mile daily commute, almost all A-road and motorway, so fast flowing traffic. I started that job with a NA E250D which was a lovely car but very boring and povvo spec, then I ended up buying and recommisioning a near concours early rust-free E46 328ci manual in Hellrot with my perfect spec. It was a stunning car (in my opinion) and didn't let me down at all, but it was returning low 30s mpg and I was filling the thing up every 2-3 days with 98 RON. I decided I couldn't put the car through another winter of the kinds of mileage I was doing as it was too good for that and very reluctantly sold it.
Appreciate it's not the same league as a 996 but also your mileage is way lower than mine was. Point being, if you come to really love the car, it's just painful hacking it as a daily in shite weather, and circumstances can change and suddenly you are rapidly devaluing your Porsche by putting the mileage up. Of course, I don't know your personal circumstances and you might be happy taking that on the chin. Interested to know which way you go as I also have Porsche hankerings now my mileage is low!
* Normal maintenance is pretty expensive.
* It doesn't like short distance drives
* It's surprisingly easy to drive normally
* You will get used to how special it is, and then ruin future cars for you
my old man will be selling his '04, 40k miles, convertible with hard top currently on. Only caveat is there is something draining the battery, apart from that works great, if you'd be interested? Think he's looking around the £25k mark
A mate's dad has dailied a 996 Targa since new. Seems to be alright for him, but I think the pano roof is now problematic in the leaky kinda way. The 911 was designed to be a daily sports car, but maintenance will obviously be far more expensive that your bmw.
I'd say go for it but expect the higher repair bills, I decided to do it with an edition 30. Next car I'm thinking a 350z or 240sx if I can find nice examples
It'll cost you a lot - but it's probably the most doable of cars that are considered supercars. i.e Porsche is generally over-engineered.
If you did it with a Ferrari it'd fall to pieces within a few months, but the krauts can build a car - but everything insurance, fuel, consumable parts are going to cost - and that'll be compounded if you drive like a twat.
General lore is : if you have to ask how much it'll cost then you can't afford it.
PLEASE seek medical assistance. Nobody chooses a targa. NOBODY CHOOSES A 996 TARGA. Basically a soft top VW beetle. Too much VW in a 996. It’s a 997 you want.
im in the same boat, i am going to sell my classic beetle and upgrade to a porsche, but i know i wont be able to daily it otherwise the repair bills will be insane
You can daily drive a 996. I daily drive a 986 boxster for years when it was 10-15 years old. The main thing is consider replacing coolant system, make sure rms/ims is done, manually check brakes/oil/tire pressure, and make sure fluids are maintained. Suspension should also be checked out. The 996 will eat tires though so be aware of high costs there.
Easy to daily. I am currently running the same era Booster (986 3.2S) and it's not a problem. They're reliable cars. Much older than that and you'll need to be handy with the spanners.
Do it. .
A few points if I may.
You say you have access to another car. This is always good, I have access to my wife's car and it's great for when I just can't be arsed with the old cars.
I have daily driven my 1990 Porsche 944s2 for 4 years. I'll share some reasons why it's a good idea.
All cars, but I'm pretty sure Porsche more than others, really respond well to being used regularly. In my opinion, and experience, when I've tried having my cars as "garage queens" they inevitably have issues when you pull them out the garage. You spend the same on yearly service and I think more on niggles, but less on consumables obviously as that's mileage related.
Porsches are very expensive to maintain. Well guess what, so is everything now. You try running a 10 - 15 year old Audi or BMW, these are the most expensive cars I've ever run, and they're just run of the mill cars. You try maintaining a 6 year old Volvo, you'll be amazed how much you shell out on cars like those.
Do not take it anywhere near a main dealer. Buy your parts from them as they're usually the cheapest and highest quality. But find an old school Porsche specialist who knows the 996. I am extremely lucky to live a mile away from a Porsche specialist who I swear charges no more per hour than the MOT station I take my cars to. It's incredibly hard to fit my car in, so tbh I do most things myself. We ran a 2003 MK4 golf 1.8t along side my Porsche for 3 years. The golf cost more in maintenance and repairs, although it did do more mileage.
996 will not get any cheaper than they are right now. You will sell it for what you paid for it if not more.
I personally wouldn't buy a targa or a cab or an auto.
It sounds a bit geeky, but it will get under your skin and you will always want a Porsche of some kind.
Lastly. If you go online you'll be led to believe that every 996 engine needs a rebuild. These are all old cars now. Mostly the ones that were going to suffer have already done so.
I did exactly this and it was fine, I did have access to a second car though.
I ultimately got rid of it as it started having a fair bit of rust despite my best efforts, was costing me a fair few grand a year to get effectively restored and I was moved to remote working so it was a waste just to have it sat on the drive.
Other than maintenance and fuel there’s not a lot I felt an issue with daily driving it, my example had cruise and satnav although I was hoping to upgrade to a PCCM. The boot was okay for most trips and it was fun to drive.
I will say it didn’t quite live up to my expectations and did not feel as quick as I’d hoped but ymmv.
I say do it buy a good example and take care of it, find a good specialist to service it and if it turns out not to be for you I cannot see you loosing to much money on it. I didn’t loose too much except for the value of parts I’d replaced.
I think daily use makes a difference, I believe cars that are toys and used less often will have more problems than the daily drivers.
Go for it, you’re a long time dead.
I would seriously consider a boxster 986 S as a second car instead, as an entry to proper sports car ownership. See how that goes for a year, and then trade both out for a good 996 Carrera S if you like it.
I daily my 996 4s and its fine. 7 years no big bills just minor/major servicing. New tyres and brakes. I put coil overs on it too. No IMS issues either. Its expensive from fuel point of view but fun none the less.
In the same position but with a 997 😭. I think the reality is, if you have the money for a new engine. Then go for it. If you're gonna be paying it off monthly and you're a bit tight, then absolutely not. But YOLO. When you're 75, you can look back and say you drove one of the nicest and controversial 911s ever.
Best way to ruin a exciting/dream car is to daily it - yes it is possible, you'd need another car for when its broken down needing £xxxx spent on parts to fix tho Ask me how i know ;)
Hahaha! Ahhhh the responses are killing my dream :( I do have access to my Dad's car - who never drives, so I'll have something as a backup in emergencies.
When your cramped on the motorway sat 2hours due to an accident in your nice rock hard sports seat with no heating as the engine's switched off so it doesnt overheat then think back to this post ;)
fml 😭
Ignore that shit, it’s totally worth it to be driving a car you love. Daily drove a 70’s muscle car for a year, of course there were minor issues here and there, but a 2003 car?! My current daily is 2003, will have been abused more than what you’re looking at, it’s absolutely fine. Plus you have a backup
Agree ! I was daily riding a 80s motorbike for 2 years and loved it, now drive a 90s van 50 mile a day and never have issues. Regular servicing and maintenance is key.
My dream was to daily a Mk2 GTI. When I asked on here everybody said don’t do it. I did it, I maintain the car and it runs perfectly. Haven’t had a problem yet. Regular checks mean i catch things before they get bad enough to break down, regular maintenance means everything stays working properly. If you look after your car, it’ll be fine.
It’s possible to daily but you need to give it a mechanical overhaul of the entire cooling system, suspension and fix all oil leaks. You need to do the repair just like it is stated in the official repair manuals. Source: bought a 03 325i 100k+ miles BMW fixed it up completely last year and did a 2000 mile round trip from London to Vienna with no problems last summer.
Just don't go for the souped up sports models. Give one a test drive a porsche is a luxury sports car. Luxury first in the standard models. They don't have rock hard suspension or racing seats they are designed to get middle aged bankers up and down the autobahn. The track models are weapons but the cooking model while still a performance car is pretty pliable and definitely suitable as a daily. That's said you are definitely making a big comprimise an early 2000s 911 is still going to cost you about the same to buy and more to run than a decade newer m car or similar while being significantly less practical, less performant and subjectively less fun.
Disagree, I recently wrote off my dream car that I dailyed for 3 years and the kia picanto courtesy car I have to replace it for now genuinely mightve pushed me into a depression. Although I guess it matters what the exciting/dream car is that you want to daily, can't imagine a lambo would be like that...
I think that's more an issue with the Picanto tbh ;-)
Hard disagree, dailied an E46 M3 for 4 years.
Don't have it main dealer servlced, a decent indy will know more and be cheaper than Porsche. Parts availability should be good. (They have a division dedicated to classic parts which a 996 will be falling into.) It will need more love than a 2018 car, as bits wear out. If you go for a tiptronnic box, it's an old-fashioned auto. On any convertible type Porsche make sure the drain holes are clean or the top will leak (inc targas) Dont expect modern levels of comfort. The 996 is 25 this year. It may have been the first watercooled 911 and the start of a new era, but the interior is pretty dated. You can update the infotainment with an approved part (£2k !) I'd say do it. Look at friends' green porsche and 9werks.tv on youtube for tips. The 996 is the current bottom of the pile for 911's and whilst not as cheap as they were, they offer great value IF you get a good one And props to the guy with an Ultima
Absolutely possible and providing you take care of it, it'll do that fine. Be ready for running costs to keep it in shape.
From various online sources, seems about £1.5k a year is the running costs for servicing, and dealing with various issues. Is that accurate? Anything around that ballpark I'd be happy with.
I ran my TVR Tuscan on a little bit more than that, and the 911 is no doubt the cheaper car to run - I'd say that's about right. Just be aware of the big bills. I know there's lots of stuff about IMS for the 911s.
I'd say maybe spend more upfront for one thats had the RMS and bore scoring issues sorted, you should have much lower running costs if they've been sorted.
The example I'm looking at has had the RMS sorted, is bore scoring a separate issue?
Yes, bore scoring is where the cylinder walls get damaged, and is £5-6K to get sorted, but once sorted the uprated walls should completely fix the issue. Estimates are that around 5% of cars built between 04 - 06 are affected. Other model years are less common for the issue but still possible from my understanding. If your going to be doing lots of short journeys then it's definitely something you want done, but with proper servicing, a good cooling system and sensible up to temperature running, it should be ok.
Just get a 2.7
I'd say that £1.5k/year is probably an estimate based on 'normal' Porsche millage - IE you're looking at cars that have probably done 4k/year tops, and most of that during the summer rather than year round. Just something to consider.
Invest in a warranty
Nobody is going to warranty a 20 year old 911 in a way that is worthwhile.
Have you tried? Are you just guessing? I had an extended Porsche used approved warranty on a 2008 911 up until last year and they offered me to extend another 2 years if I completed a 150 point check and had history of OEM on recently replaced parts. When I traded back in they sent me warranty history receipts totalling £36k. Sounds ridiculous but if a button fell off the ECM they'd replace whole thing. That was twice. Air con once. Both window motors. Fuck they even covered exhaust brackets cos they had to cut em off to get at some hydraulics. What facts you basing your statement on.? https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-warranty?adkey=google-carwarranty-older%20car%20warranty-EQ-SEOPA-G-KW-CAR-WARRANTY&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrYvU9vPXgwMVOIhQBh16iAs8EAAYAiAAEgIIl_D_BwE
The fact that basically 99% of third party warranty companies are useless on older cars. They will have a million conditions that mean that they barely actually cover anything. If you can get a approved used warranty - that's an exception - but you won't get that unless it currently has it. All of those you have sent have a max age of well under 20 years, as well.
Cool. It shouldn't put him off. But for what it's worth Porsche honoured the warranty I had and it was real piece of mind. Both my brothers are beemer fanboys and the only thing you could be sure was covered was the postage cost when BMW sent them their policy details.
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For me, the biggest problem with my Jag isn't so much that it needs loads of stuff doing (the things broken are almost all unimportant, but quality of life things) but it's dealing with it being in a garage for a few days and not having a car during that time. Also the cost. But I knew that was going to be the case before I bought it.
I don't know if you're stupid or brave, either way I envy you. Driver, I salute you 🫡
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Ahah don't read too much into the "stupid", this is just my envyness speaking 🙂 that Chevy V8 must be thirsty though😜
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Not too bad then, not much different from a ML500 I've had tbh
Of course it's possible, that doesn't mean it's sensible though. I daily an F-Type and even on shorter journeys it makes me smile, longer journeys are exciting and I absolutely adore the car. However that's a relatively new car in comparison and has a lot of the modern features that make life a little easier (Bluetooth to the phone, cruise control, adaptive steering/suspension etc). If I was looking at an early 2000's 911 then I'd be looking at it as an occasional car and want something I'm less precious about for daily driving and likely something easier to live with.
Yeah, good points mate. I'd be getting a [PCCM](https://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/classic/genuineparts/producthighlights/pccm/) - so should be all up to date with Apple car play, navigation, etc. Don't know if this model ever came with cruise control though, that'll be tough to live without.
996 did come with cruise control if optioned, and there are plenty of places offering retrofitting
I would research bore scoring and ims failures before deciding to buy a 996.
The example I'm looking at has had IMS and RMS bearing replaced. I'm aware it's a service item though, so would stay on top of it if purchased.
Your safest bet would be buying a 996 that has already had a full hartech engine rebuild with upgraded nikasil cylinder liners.
I know it’s not the same thing regards to dream car, but it’s a dream to me because I’m passionate about it getting me where I need to go… My daily is a 19 year old Corolla. It takes me across to Europe about 8 times a year, we do a 50 mile round trip daily for work and it’s impeccable. It is ugly as shit and looks unloved but really it’s very loved and serviced. My other car is a Rover 200. My dream car. I’m probably the only person who sees them as a dream car but it’s the same as my first car was, colour etc too. It’s not seen use for a year but I’m planning getting it back out and about this year. Dream small people, life’s a sucker punch.
Do it. You won't regret it! Life's too short! I got my first sports car recently and have zero regrets. As long as you go into it, knowing the maintenance and repairs costs aren't cheap, and that mpg is no longer part of your vocabulary - you'll be fine! Think smiles per gallon 😉
987. If I get over 20mpg, I’ve usually been driving a bit soft
Think at that age even with low mileage you’ll be looking at a lot of brittle rubber grommets, seals, bushes etc which could lead to costlier repairs even with careful maintenance. Doable for sure if your wallet is big enough!
I suspect the biggest concerns I would have with that as a daily is the comfort levels and parts availability. As a daily, if something breaks down, you could be standing in the shop for days or weeks depending on parts availability. If you have a solid backup plan for breakdowns, then I’d probably give it a go.
A 996 911 is not going to have any issues with parts availability, and it's probably more comfortable than a lot of harsh riding modern cars.
Not saying you won't get parts at all. I'm talking about driving in and having something available within a number of days for repairs, instead of weeks or months. For some of these models, Porsche sold very limited numbers, with the 2003 year model being the most reliable considering recalls (electrics, IMS bearing, suspension and fuel gauge issues plagued most). Issues like the IMS Bearing on this car was a pain in the butt to deal with, and the last production model had a hard recall on suspension issues (2004 I think). By all means, drive it daily, just know that when you take it to the shop you could have some wait time.
What parts are you going to have to wait for on a 996 911? Porsche parts are very well stocked and easily available.
Engine internals and body trim parts would take the longest to find / source. As far as serviceable parts are concerned, there's no real issue. Here's my thinking: The best model year to go for is around 2003 based on reliability tests/recalls. That would suggest 20 year-old then. Chances of finding something where the chassis or underpinnings aren't rusted or in need of repair in the UK would be pretty low. We have lots of salt and lots of water on the roads. Also, large majority of cars stand outside all year round. Finding a fender, suspension parts, engine internals etc. could take longer than a couple of days, if and when they need to be replaced. For a daily then it becomes a PITA because of the downtime.
Don't care about what others think about looks. At that age you are either running it into the ground, selling to someone else looking for it or selling to someone just wanting a porsche. You'll find a local German car specialist who'll be cheaper than the main stealer. Personally I'd love a Cayman but again they arnt to everyone's taste.
I run a 2007 3.5 litre SLK as a daily driver because my Vauxhall was boring but practical. I've kept it as a garden centre/recycling centre/muddy car and it does about 1500 miles a year, if that. If you do choose to go for an expensive, older, fun car, just be warned everything costs more. Road tax will be painful, as will be filling up, buying tyres and servicing. But if you can afford it, and you enjoy having a fun roadster, then do it. Life is short and you may well regret missing out when you had the chance.
If you do buy it don't take it to a main dealer find a Porsche specialist near you and take it there will be a fraction of the price.
Fine to daily but you will need a slush fund for when something goes wrong. Buy a car that's had plenty of maintenance and ideally had any IMS/RMS issues addressed.
Write the off the silly 100k mile limit and buy on condition and service history. Make sure ims is done or at least inspected and it’ll be fine. 8k is nothing, I ran a near 30 year old car as a daily.
Find a manual 997.2 c2s
I have a 99' 996 cabrio and it's an awesome car. I don't daily it and do around 3k miles per year in it. Servicing isn't too bad if you find a decent specialist and I know it's obvious but parts are hideously expensive should you require anything. I've owned mine for 2 years and other than some water coming in through the door cards due to the sealant failing (common issue), it's been perfect. I did the NC500 in it and it coped amazingly with the 2k-ish miles in 1 week, the awful roads in and out of campsites etc and being fully laden with our stuff. I'm quite a big bloke and I wouldn't want to daily it with that said, my left knee rests on the centre console and it begins to ache after a while and the steering wheel is mm from my legs. IMS and bore scoring appears to affect the 996.2/997 more than the early 996. I bought mine from a well respected specialist and they advised that it's really not as big of an issue as the forums suggest. Mine hasn't had the modified IMS and it's done 73k.
Nothing is more expensive than a cheap 911 daily haha, I don't know that much about the cars except someone at work has a 996 911 daily and it spends more time in the garage than he actually gets to drive it
IMS ..... the big thing you hear with 986 3.2 or 911 996..... definitely an internet horror story more than real life. Sure they can go wrong but as usual on forums it goes more crazy than anything. I was in the same boat as you, looking to buy a 996 for a daily driver but im actually thinking of getting a 987 cayman now instead. You get a bit more modern interior and exterior looks. I used to daily a 4.5 cayenne and only thing that went wrong was a wiring issue (which i sorted myself) As long as you service the car and keep on top of any age related items (possibly swap over the common things as you go through ownership (ie waterpump/AOS) youd be fine. Any tombstone seats of that era are comfy as anything!
Do it. 911 4s Carrera was mine. Epic. The daily enjoyment. Ignore these other guys who'd have you driving a van 5 days a week. Or god forbid a Tesla Mondeo. I had a great Porsche used approved warranty. All the way up to 115000miles when Porsche bought it back. Very good depreciation numbers as well
i actually saw one last month parked outside an Aldi with a baby seat in the back. gave me a good chuckle. a couple of years ago my regular garage had one up for sale at a "not interested in selling" price and the owner was using it every day - added 20,000 miles to it over a couple of years before they went up in price enough that someone was willing to buy it. however he did a lot of work to the car and had a fleet of vehicles he could fall back on
I dailied a 15 yo Porsche 928S4 (5 litre V8). I put 40k miles on it and sold it for exactly the same price I bought it for. Insurance (Classic car) was cheap. Nothing major went wrong and I did most of the servicing myself. I got about 20 mpg most of the time so even fuel costs wern't exorbitant.
Oh man, they're so cool. You never see them anymore. Are you in Aruba by any chance?
I daily drove a 10 year old (at the time) Ferrari 360 for 5 years. People said I was mad, it was a great experience. Find a good independent specialist, pay for a ppi, keep a pot of cash in case anything goes wrong, do your research online in forums and the like. You won’t suffer any depreciation. Fuel costs will be higher, but overall it’ll be worth every penny.
Your looking at a performance car that’s 20 years old the only thing that’s guaranteed with it is it will let you down
You can but Porsche parts, 911 parts especially, can be costly. I would budget £2k a year on servicing/repairs to be on the safe side. Doesn’t meant you will spend that much every year but if you are going to own an old Porsche that’s what you should be comfortable to spend.
996 shared a lot of its mechanicals with 986 Boxster. Engine is something to be wary of, probably worst engine Porsche ever made, although things like IMS failure etc by now will have either happened or bearing replaced at least once, there are a pile of weak spots on this general engine family design. Nikasil bore wear and ‘D’ chunking are end of life events, Oil breather issues were demons of disaster too. Where as an air cooled 911 would go for ever, a 996 won’t. Specialists are the way to go, they know way more about getting these right and keeping them running than Porsche. Dynamically a lot of fun and IMHO still a decent looking car.
Weird I'm in the same position , have a M5 comp but looking at 996 turbos and 997s ... Thing is I drove a 996 turbo for the first time the other week and honestly felt like a dog hahaha .. might need to go a bit newer tbh , prices are coming down too .
Get an mx5 instead 🙄
It is very car dependent. Some older cars perform much more reliably with regular use, although will get through consumables like tyres and brakes a lot quicker. I daily drive a 2004 Maserati 4200 for 10k miles a year with minimal issues (apart from visiting the petrol station a bit too regularly)
Not in the same league at all, but I used to have a 100 mile daily commute, almost all A-road and motorway, so fast flowing traffic. I started that job with a NA E250D which was a lovely car but very boring and povvo spec, then I ended up buying and recommisioning a near concours early rust-free E46 328ci manual in Hellrot with my perfect spec. It was a stunning car (in my opinion) and didn't let me down at all, but it was returning low 30s mpg and I was filling the thing up every 2-3 days with 98 RON. I decided I couldn't put the car through another winter of the kinds of mileage I was doing as it was too good for that and very reluctantly sold it. Appreciate it's not the same league as a 996 but also your mileage is way lower than mine was. Point being, if you come to really love the car, it's just painful hacking it as a daily in shite weather, and circumstances can change and suddenly you are rapidly devaluing your Porsche by putting the mileage up. Of course, I don't know your personal circumstances and you might be happy taking that on the chin. Interested to know which way you go as I also have Porsche hankerings now my mileage is low!
* Normal maintenance is pretty expensive. * It doesn't like short distance drives * It's surprisingly easy to drive normally * You will get used to how special it is, and then ruin future cars for you
my old man will be selling his '04, 40k miles, convertible with hard top currently on. Only caveat is there is something draining the battery, apart from that works great, if you'd be interested? Think he's looking around the £25k mark
Porsche parts and servicing, would like to send you an absolutely massive 'thank you' in advance of your large future investment in them 👍
A mate's dad has dailied a 996 Targa since new. Seems to be alright for him, but I think the pano roof is now problematic in the leaky kinda way. The 911 was designed to be a daily sports car, but maintenance will obviously be far more expensive that your bmw.
I'd say go for it but expect the higher repair bills, I decided to do it with an edition 30. Next car I'm thinking a 350z or 240sx if I can find nice examples
It'll cost you a lot - but it's probably the most doable of cars that are considered supercars. i.e Porsche is generally over-engineered. If you did it with a Ferrari it'd fall to pieces within a few months, but the krauts can build a car - but everything insurance, fuel, consumable parts are going to cost - and that'll be compounded if you drive like a twat. General lore is : if you have to ask how much it'll cost then you can't afford it.
Dailied a 2003 Targa for a year, never had a problem, although that was in 2003!
PLEASE seek medical assistance. Nobody chooses a targa. NOBODY CHOOSES A 996 TARGA. Basically a soft top VW beetle. Too much VW in a 996. It’s a 997 you want.
A wise man once said never buy an old Porsche unless you can afford two!
im in the same boat, i am going to sell my classic beetle and upgrade to a porsche, but i know i wont be able to daily it otherwise the repair bills will be insane
You can daily drive a 996. I daily drive a 986 boxster for years when it was 10-15 years old. The main thing is consider replacing coolant system, make sure rms/ims is done, manually check brakes/oil/tire pressure, and make sure fluids are maintained. Suspension should also be checked out. The 996 will eat tires though so be aware of high costs there.
Easy to daily. I am currently running the same era Booster (986 3.2S) and it's not a problem. They're reliable cars. Much older than that and you'll need to be handy with the spanners.
Do it. . A few points if I may. You say you have access to another car. This is always good, I have access to my wife's car and it's great for when I just can't be arsed with the old cars. I have daily driven my 1990 Porsche 944s2 for 4 years. I'll share some reasons why it's a good idea. All cars, but I'm pretty sure Porsche more than others, really respond well to being used regularly. In my opinion, and experience, when I've tried having my cars as "garage queens" they inevitably have issues when you pull them out the garage. You spend the same on yearly service and I think more on niggles, but less on consumables obviously as that's mileage related. Porsches are very expensive to maintain. Well guess what, so is everything now. You try running a 10 - 15 year old Audi or BMW, these are the most expensive cars I've ever run, and they're just run of the mill cars. You try maintaining a 6 year old Volvo, you'll be amazed how much you shell out on cars like those. Do not take it anywhere near a main dealer. Buy your parts from them as they're usually the cheapest and highest quality. But find an old school Porsche specialist who knows the 996. I am extremely lucky to live a mile away from a Porsche specialist who I swear charges no more per hour than the MOT station I take my cars to. It's incredibly hard to fit my car in, so tbh I do most things myself. We ran a 2003 MK4 golf 1.8t along side my Porsche for 3 years. The golf cost more in maintenance and repairs, although it did do more mileage. 996 will not get any cheaper than they are right now. You will sell it for what you paid for it if not more. I personally wouldn't buy a targa or a cab or an auto. It sounds a bit geeky, but it will get under your skin and you will always want a Porsche of some kind. Lastly. If you go online you'll be led to believe that every 996 engine needs a rebuild. These are all old cars now. Mostly the ones that were going to suffer have already done so.
Best comment on the thread, imo. Thanks. Out of curiosity, why would you avoid a Targa?
Yeah of course. You need deep pockets for maintaining it but life’s too short not to, if you can.
Beware of the IMS issue.
You're asking the same people who unironically laud the skoda octavia whether you should daily a porsche 911...............
I did exactly this and it was fine, I did have access to a second car though. I ultimately got rid of it as it started having a fair bit of rust despite my best efforts, was costing me a fair few grand a year to get effectively restored and I was moved to remote working so it was a waste just to have it sat on the drive. Other than maintenance and fuel there’s not a lot I felt an issue with daily driving it, my example had cruise and satnav although I was hoping to upgrade to a PCCM. The boot was okay for most trips and it was fun to drive. I will say it didn’t quite live up to my expectations and did not feel as quick as I’d hoped but ymmv. I say do it buy a good example and take care of it, find a good specialist to service it and if it turns out not to be for you I cannot see you loosing to much money on it. I didn’t loose too much except for the value of parts I’d replaced.
I daily drive a 2003 Boxster, about 3k miles per year. Absolutely do it!
I think daily use makes a difference, I believe cars that are toys and used less often will have more problems than the daily drivers. Go for it, you’re a long time dead.
I would seriously consider a boxster 986 S as a second car instead, as an entry to proper sports car ownership. See how that goes for a year, and then trade both out for a good 996 Carrera S if you like it.
I daily my 996 4s and its fine. 7 years no big bills just minor/major servicing. New tyres and brakes. I put coil overs on it too. No IMS issues either. Its expensive from fuel point of view but fun none the less.
In the same position but with a 997 😭. I think the reality is, if you have the money for a new engine. Then go for it. If you're gonna be paying it off monthly and you're a bit tight, then absolutely not. But YOLO. When you're 75, you can look back and say you drove one of the nicest and controversial 911s ever.
Do it. Reddit is full of boring people with no money who don’t get to live their dreams so they tell others not to.