thoughts on 911 996 replacing my corrado

[captainredeye 0]

Been considering another car lately unfortunately for me it would mean selling the rado it does have a place in my heart and I can always see myself owning another one, I drive mine daily and as much as I love it I would like something newer and more refined .

Now I have considered quite a few cars but one that stands out is the Porsche 996 as a suitable replacement for a corrado.

Any one want to chip in with there thoughts is the 996 a poor choice any other cars to consider?

I have just sold a load of performance engine parts for the vr6 A's I feel the money could be better spent on a performance motor straight from the factory.

[lewvw 10]

A 911? That's really quite a few steps up the performance car ladder. What about a TT? A 911 would bankrupt most people eventually.

Now I always thought a TT V6 would make a nice replacement albeit with a little less character.

[VWVW 1]

Although I still like my corrado I ve been looking into Cateram recently myself if I was going to get a replacement car.

[Dude VR6 0]

Passat R36 lol

[Harrier 1]

Hey Ben ! my thoughts on a 996 are lovely car, quality. However less of a DIY car to repair & cost of parts very high.Depends also on your budget as you might find one for 10k but how well used & abused ? Other cars to consider ? Mk5 Golf gti, BMW 330 coupe? good luck with your decision anyway

[captainredeye 0]

Spot on there Daren, I would miss the tinkering and maintenance bills is one thing I have looked into, problem is the next car needs character I would love a mark 1 golf as that is something special, a tt is a good car but as you said lew it lacks something special if I was going for a saloon an r36 or a 2000 plate Audi s4 v6 twin turbo would be my choice.

I think the 996 would he my choice as long as maintenance wise I can afford it , I do think though my corrado doesn't need that much tinkering maybe because I have put a lot of time into it, and as such I have lost the need to tinker.

I will say I love the corrado for what it is and if I sold it and bought another in the future I wouldn't he dissapointed.

 

---------- Post added at 10:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 9:55 PM ----------

 

Going to add that I have looked at the cost of engine replacement as that is the main big cost and it ain't pretty but if you can find a looked after example there shouldn't be a problem

[ChrisL 18]

I have often thought of the same idea and servicing really isnt as expensive as you think. Personally, I would save a little more and look towards the 997

 

That will be the car that will eventually replace my VR

[bristolbaron 10]

996's have had very bad press for expensive issues and a lower price range one isn't going to help. Also factoring having a face only a mother could love and not being quick for the money, it's not a car I would consider. Having said that, if you were planning on keeping one for a few years and can afford the upkeep i think it's getting to be a good time to buy one.

[8vMatt 1]

That's the car I've had thoughts on in years to come. I don't see why it can't be a car you could do work on yourself. I spoke to a guy who owns one and he told me about him unbolting the rear and taking the engine out in only a few hours himself. A £10k 996 is still going to be a fun and rewarding car to own. As stated, the front isn't the best looker. A couple of grand of parts and you can bolt on a 997 front end, a direct replacement.

 

Still by the time I'm ready to buy, a 997 would probably have dropped enough in value!

[scarlet_vr6 0]

I'm a massive Porsche fan. Always have been. I worked for Porsche in Reading for years and 996s and 997s were often in for rear main and intermediate oil seals and it's not a quick job, so seeing if this work has been done might not be a bad idea. In fact, they came in so often that I can still remember the warranty codes for that job despite leaving about 7 years ago. Oh dear, how sad...

 

Good luck whatever you decide, and be sure to post some pics if you do buy one :)

 

 

EDIT: now I've thought about it a bit, it may only have affected 997s... I'll try to remember to look it up tomorrow. It's late, sorry

Edited March 1, 2013 by scarlet_vr6

[captainredeye 0]

from what i can gather having a full porsche service history is quite important for peace of mind which also ups the costs of maintaining it, i have been going through the costs of keeping one on the road and really considering the amount i have splashed out on the corrado it really isnt to bad, im going to have a word with my local garage as the chap who looks after my corrado has a 996.

[nipper09 10]

wrong porsche for me 993 is my choice

 

look at this site http://www.911virgin.com

 

cheers all paul

[Byrd 10]

C'mon got to love the 964, last of the Aircooled, much respected engine with regards to reliability and DIY aspects........................Only place to go after owning a Corrado is into Porsche territory. TT's are for hairdressers.

 

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[tonedef 9]

I looked at 996s and came really close to buying one a few years ago when I was looking to replace my wife's R32. From what I remember the later 3.6 is the one to go for rather than earlier 3.4 as they had some crank seal issues which is fairly major! In the end I bought her a new shape 3.2 TT just for the convenience of a car with a boot rather than a small space under the bonnet. I still have a Porsche itch though and will have to scratch it one day! Suppose I'm lucky that I have the space to keep the Corrado too rather than having to choose between one or the other.

[Jim 2]

Can't blame you at all. Regularly dream of 911 ownership and with 996's getting to very affordable its hard not to be lured in. I think they have the potential to ruin you with expensive faults so I would seriously consider finding approved used, or enthusiast owned examples.. And be sure to keep an emergency fund in case something terrible happens with it.

 

I had the pleasure of driving a 997 Turbo last year and it was so clinical and effortlessly fast.. Seemed to lack real soul but just jaw dropping how it got up to speed :)

[Harrier 1]

Customer with a Boxter called me today with a failed alternator. £300 plus fitting ! ouch. Supposed to be 1.5 hrs to fit, will find out next week.

[Jim 2]

Doesn't seem that bad to me.. I bet any modern performance VAG alternator would cost as much?

[Harrier 1]

Possibly, depends if it's O.E part or not

[captainredeye 0]

Things like that are what I need to get my head round my old mk2 golf needed an alternator 70 pounds and I fitted it myself it was 1.3 so not exactly a performance Motor.

Some people may fret but looking at the cost for a vr6 if anything goes wrong its still expensive and I will also add I have bought non genuine parts for the vr and regretted it so the same would apply for a Porsche spend the money and look after it.

I'm not thinking of jumping ship until at least the end of the summer and may still not do so.

[Tempest 0]

The good news generally with Porsche (and I can confirm that, owning a 23 year old 928!) is that parts becoming obsolete like they do with a mass producer like VW is pretty much unheard of. Porsche view each of their cars still on the road as a form of advertising, so they´ll support them. According to an official statement made by Porsche in some Porsche-advert-video (somewhere on Youtube , too) 80% of all Porsches are 20 years or older.

 

Tempest

Edited March 2, 2013 by Jim

[ozowen 2]

I to love 911's..........wife does not. Unfortunately I also like the exclusivity of the Corrado I see a 911 almost every day a Corrado never except for shows.............for me that is so much better and considering you can still have fun in a C game over...............that said across the road from me sits a Audi S4 and every morning I hear its V8 and think if I blow it up I can have one on my drive...................

[lewvw 10]

C'mon got to love the 964, last of the Aircooled, much respected engine with regards to reliability and DIY aspects........................Only place to go after owning a Corrado is into Porsche territory. TT's are for hairdressers.

 

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TT's are for everyone. Including me if or when I buy one

 

And yeah what Tempest said about parts being available....is it just me or does that just sound amazing after all the bother with trying to get most things for the Corrado!

[Bullfinch 0]

A thread after my own heart. I'm moving back to the UK in the summer after 2 years in Oz. Assuming the Corrado doesn't cost too much to bring out of storage I should have a few pennies left for a nice daily. A 911 (997 flavour) is on the list but I want to take my time to find the right one. I used to drive a Mk2 TT so I could be tempted by a TTS or else an S5 (V8 engine - got the bug from being in Oz).

[captainredeye 0]

I never knew porsche were that dedicated with there replacement parts, its amazing that my mum and my brother can both keep there mk1 golfs on the road with help from places like classic car parts, yet i have needed a replacement wiper arm and have struggled to get one for the corrado and whats more frustrating my local vw/audi specialist is no longer that special i tried getting some parts a while back from them and they wouldnt get anything in for any vehicles older than 2000 and suggested i go to a breakers yard.