OK I have read many many threads on here and I can say i am at a crossroads.. I have the option to buy a 2001 911 c 2. With 63,000 miles.

All services recorded and the RMS Clutch and water pump have all been replaced during its life.. 60,000 mile service done as well..

I have started to find out about the IMS bearing if I am saying this right can fail with no warning.. I plan on driving this car daily.. I can get it for around 20k. My other options to buy is a BMW Z4 which I really like both.. I just always wanted the 911.. Something about these cars even as a kid has drawn me to them.. Just the 80 to 110,000 price has held me back for a new one.lol

Thanks for any advice

 

Their both awesome car but everybody have their own views of each car. For me the first question I will raise from this two car is,"In case, do you have enough dough to maintain and repair that high miles 911?". If "Yes" then I will go for the 911 but if "No" then I will for the Z4.

I'm pretty sure for the same price you can get a lower miles Z4 compared to the 63,000 miles 996. The lower miles Z4 can give you less risk on most situation of doing a number of repairs. Off course, this is assuming the Z4 is equally maintained as the 996. A lower miles Z4 but not maitained well will be as much headache as a higher miles 996 that is maitained. You should do your research and checkup on the two cars.

To conclude, if the 996 and Z4 is both well maitained but the Z4 is lower miles I would go with Z4 UNLESS I have enough dough to spare for possible 996 repairs.

From my personal experience, I spent $22,000 within a little over a year of owning my 996 that already had 60,000 miles when I got it. Around $20,000 on the new "fresh of the rack" engine and clutch replacement for $2,000+. Now, I know my 2nd gear synchros already have problem that's another thousand dollar. I hope this insight helps.

 

Well, as a new (Oct 09) P-car owner, and previous e36 M3 owner I can say that BMW bullet proof reliability is attractive, especially on the tried and true in line 6.

However, the P-car is a whole different animal. It is going from a sports saloon to an outright sports car. The engine howling behind you and the speed in which it flies through the rpm's are intoxicating. Have you driven both? If so, I have a hard time believing there you are still asking yourself the question. Sports cars are not about rational decisions or what looks best on paper they are about how they make you feel.

The IMS is the only mystery, one that has been beat to death on all the boards. My RMS failed yesterday and I'm getting a quote for RMS, IMS and clutch today. I've done the research and know about how much it should cost and I can tell you, since I have the money, (thank goodnes for tax return timing) I have no problem spending it on the car. This car is not just transportation it is much much more.

 

Thank God for tax returns huh?

I will badly need mine for the other maintenance stuff I need to do on my other rides...

 

Preach on!!

 

I second Porsche_911...
Its a lot to maintain.
I bought mine with much higher miles before finding this forum.
For my purchase price and what I have already put into thus far, including the recent ~1750 job on brake/rotor/bearing etc., I could have waited and gotten much newer and much lower mile P-car...
But then again, waiting is hard thing to do...

 

If I can go back and do it again, I could bought a newer, low miles 997 for the same total of my repairs and purchase price for this 996. I know that some people didn't have enough bad luck as I did but read along all the forums here and YOU'LL SEE how much possible issues and expense your facing with a high miles 996.

Save the headache and wait a little. Be patient on saving a little more and then go with a newer 997 with low miles. This is my mistake and don't make it yours.

 

Thanks. For the replies.. Just did not think 60,000 miles would be high millage for a Porsche.. Seeing some air cooled ones have over 100,000.

When you find things on the net when you research a car really makes you think twice..

 

...remember one thing when adding your purchase price and maintenance bills. A p-car with 20 or 30K miles less certainly is no gurauntee that you won't have maintenance with those too.

 

I agree with Don.
But unless you can do regular servicing on these cars, taking it to a dealer or P-specialist non-dealer will take tolls on your pocket - even for understandable wear items like brakes, rotors, oil change, etc.,
Bottom line, it just cost more for P-cars for whatever maintenance service you may need.

 

Maintenance is not being referred but repairs. Engine and clutch replacment are not maintenance items and those are EXPENSIVE! Same driving style on a 30,000 miles car and 60,000 miles car, a clutch is replacement is MORE probable on a higher miles car.

Oh yeah, if I add regular maintenance item then it will be way mooore than 20,000 added on the purchase price but that's not part of the calculation...

 

Maintenance is always a given o ANY used car and regardless if it's new or old. I'm referring to unexpected REPAIRS as they are MORE probable on higher miles car. But heck! I love my 996 still!

 

Well there is some maintenance i could do.. As far as Brakes I am ASE certified.. Use to be a mechanic years ago.. My main concern was just reliability. I understand maintaining it.. Just it seem with the best maintenance you may still have issues with the P car.. Its seems I may be better off buying an 80's model 911.. Have worked on a few of those long ago.. I know I could relearn them quicker..

 

Being ASE Certified is definitely a plus but REPAIR parts are expensive itself still. Just shy away from high miles cars unless your willing to spend on unexpected repairs.

An 80's model 911 are actually a good option. I'm contemplating of getting one myself to add to my collection...

 

Well, you'll see every answer and every opinion on this board. If you go back a few weeks there was a debate about high mileage vs. low mileage cars of about the same age. In that thread everyone was convinced, and probably convincing each other, that the low mileage car was nothing more than a garage bomb waiting to explode, and that if the car already had high mileage it probably wasn't going to blow up. So.... who do you listen to? I dunno. It's usually an equation. High quality, low mileage, low price. Pick 2. Where do you live? Up here in the snowy Northeast, now is probably a pretty good time to buy a used rwd sports car. I bought mine a month and a half ago for $5000 less than asking price. Aim for more than you can afford and don't be afraid to walk if they don't want your money.