ebolick

Thanks for the information

If you could buy a 99 with 9200 miles or an 01 with 40000 miles for the same price, what would you do?

Well, you could do what I did and buy an '01 with 60K miles and then find out the engine was replaced under warranty and really only had 20K miles on it for the same price. On that one, I think depending on the overall condition of the car, I'd get the '99 with 9K miles.

do you know why the engine was replaced? is this common or a special case?

THanks

First thing is don't assume a porsche will be a cheap car to keep running in tip top shape. I would think your mercedes would be cheaper.

Next go for the newest model in the best condition. Mileage is important, but less than 5k a year I'd worry that problems havn't appeared or the car has sat too much.

Have an expert do a PPI.

FYI, 99 was the 1st year, a lot of stuff got upgraded in 00 and then again in 02. The 02 car looks similar to the 99, but the amount of changes between an 02 and 99 is along the lines of the amount of changes between a base 2005 997 and 2004 996. And in 03, a bunch of stuff went fiber optic also.... FYI: Even though the interior looks the same in the 99 and the 2002, they are not and many pieces are actually different, these changes started in 2000 with the soft touch and the headliner and continued to the actual piece design on a lot of the interior. the 02+ parts will typically fit a 99, but the 99 parts won't fit an 02 for example....

Thanks Cory,

from what i have read i cannot imagine that the 996 would cost me more then my s class, I have spent 14 grand on airmatic problems and it still is not working right, my tranny has gone out at 80K miles and have had some light issues. these are common with these cars and i am just done with the headache. So i want to move to a porsche, it seems from what you are saying all around i should go with a 2002 or 2003. and thanks for your input

the more i hear or should i say read the more i am throwing out all the myths out the window. What does a clutch run?

Hey guys i am soon to be owner what is the normal cost of a clutch and how often do they go out? I know driving style matters but just a ruf idea?

thanks everyone for the responses, i am glad to hear there is a german company that still makes quality cars, my current car S500 is falling a part on me everyday and i was almost ready to to thrown in towel and get a (dare i say the word)lexus. So it looks i will be okay with a 996. I am suprised there is not a bad year, for example of the Sclass the 2000 to 2003 have the most problems, and of course the airmatic is a nightmare. but in anycase thanks for the info

Hey everyone,

this is my first post and i have wanted a 996 for a bit now. i am now ready to sell my benz and get one but i have some questions:

out of the 99, 2000,2001, 2002 which has the least amount of problems?

What are common problems you guys notice?

is it realistic to have one as a daily driver?

is it true the rear tires need replacing after 8-10K miles?

are the common things like, brakes, oil changes, filters pretty simple to do? Mercedes are very easy as i do them myself

do you guys fell the car is safe in the car? for example if you got in a accident would it protect you?

Thanks again for anyone that can help a newbee out