Question for 996 Turbo owners

[phillipj]

Just started looking at Turbos. I have seen some clean ones and some that are in really poor shape. Is there anything I should be especially conscious of when looking for a car? I'm in no hurry so I have lots of time.

I'm staying away from cars that have a lot of mods (unless it's factory mods.) Acceptable aftermarket mods to me are a CPU flash, exhaust.

Obviously I will be looking at maintenance records from private parties and dealers. I only looking at cars with a warranty as well. If I find a car I like I will get it inspected. I'm quite familiar with what to look for in Carrera's but not so much the Turbo's.

I'm still dealing with the worst used car experience of my life with my present car so I don't want to make that mistake again.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

Edited August 17, 2009 by phillipj

[phillipj]

Nobody????? :huh:

[Richard Hamilton]

Well, apart from the engine, the basic things you would normally look for in a Carrera apply. That is aircon rads, suspension creaks and rattles, coolant tank, etc, etc, etc.

As far as the engine is concerned, they are fairly bullet-proof. Turbo wastegates can rattle, diverter valves fail, and air hoses can leak. Check you are getting around 0.7 bar on a standard car at WOT. Check the obvious, like oil pressure, and check for signs of leaks.

If you are considering Tiptronic, these are also fairly bullet-proof, but can be prone to ATF leaks (ask me how I know). They can be fixed, but it is a challenge to source parts. If you want a manual transmission, they can be hard on clutches, so look out for a heavy pedal and give it a good test for slippage.

It sounds like you know what you are doing, but an independent inspection is worthwhile for a second opinion, and it gives a certain peace of mind.

Good luck in your search. Like you say, there are some poor examples around, but you will know when you have found the right one, and you won't regret it.

[wross996TT]

check this thread outmaintenance issues

[phillipj]

Thanks gentlemen... ;)