Bargain Or Money Pit?

[Crab cake]

1998 Porsche 911
16K miles
Auto with manual shift
Absolutely gorgeous condition. Even comes with a $500 car cover.
Price $50K

Problems:
Noticeable lag at low RPM (around 2000 to 4000)
Car seems to "shake" when you step on the gas in this RPM range. Seems to be fine above this range.
White smoke coming out of the exhaust on startup. The longer the car sits, 2 days or more, the more smoke comes out, lasting about 30 seconds.

 

[HappyFace]

You bought the car, or are you thinking about buying it? Have you had it checked by a mechanic?

 

[Viper GTS]

If they're trying to sell it for cheap, I'm sure they know the answer.

Run. Run fast.

BTW, $50K isn't THAT big of a bargain... Look at Edmunds...

Viper GTS

 

[zippy]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
If they're trying to sell it for cheap, I'm sure they know the answer.

Run. Run fast.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
BTW, $50K isn't THAT big of a bargain... Look at Edmunds...

Viper GTS

roger that, doesn't look like a bargain at all. For that price there had better be zero engine problems. Beautiful car though

 

[BigSmooth]

I'd stay away.

It shouldn't have engine problems considering the extremely low mileage.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Crab cake
1998 Porsche 911
16K miles
Auto with manual shift
Absolutely gorgeous condition. Even comes with a $500 car cover.
Price $50K

Problems:
Noticeable lag at low RPM (around 2000 to 4000)
Car seems to "shake" when you step on the gas in this RPM range. Seems to be fine above this range.
White smoke coming out of the exhaust on startup. The longer the car sits, 2 days or more, the more smoke comes out, lasting about 30 seconds.

\


Is the car turbo?

The problems you describe sort of sound like what would happen if a car has bad turbos... lots of lag, burning off oil that leaked past the turbo's bearning during startup.

If it's not a turbo car, then I don't know what's up with it.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
I'd stay away.

It shouldn't have engine problems considering the extremely low mileage.

Ditto, if this car has such apparent engine problems with such low mileage it's been abused. Stay well clear of a Porsche with engine problems at any price unless you're capable of doing the repairs yourself, service on cars like that can cost a fortune. At $50k the car damn well better be perfect mechanically as that price is in the upper range for a 1998 911.

 

[notfred]

Valve guide seals are bad, and oil is leaking into the cylinders. It's buring off whenever the car is started.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: notfred
Valve guide seals are bad, and oil is leaking into the cylinders. It's buring off whenever the car is started.

Quite wrong. White smoke is symptomatic of burning coolant or the election of a new Pope. Any oil reaching the combustion chambers due to bad valve seals or bad rings would burn off as blue-grey smoke, NOT as white smoke. I'd be looking at a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head.

 

[Crab cake]

I've checked with various sources (KBB, Edmunds, etc.) and the price is indeed a relative bargain when all the options are factored in. The car is not a turbo and there is no coolant to leak because it's aircooled.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: notfred
Valve guide seals are bad, and oil is leaking into the cylinders. It's buring off whenever the car is started.

Quite wrong. White smoke is symptomatic of burning coolant or the election of a new Pope. Any oil reaching the combustion chambers due to bad valve seals or bad rings would burn off as blue-grey smoke, NOT as white smoke. I'd be looking at a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head.

In my experience, burning oil often looks quite white. I've had 2 other vehicles with this same problem and the smoke has always appeared white.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Crab cake
... there is no coolant to leak because it's aircooled.

In 1998?

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: notfred
Valve guide seals are bad, and oil is leaking into the cylinders. It's buring off whenever the car is started.

Quite wrong. White smoke is symptomatic of burning coolant or the election of a new Pope. Any oil reaching the combustion chambers due to bad valve seals or bad rings would burn off as blue-grey smoke, NOT as white smoke. I'd be looking at a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head.

In my experience, burning oil often looks quite white. I've had 2 other vehicles with this same problem and the smoke has always appeared white.

if it isn't oil or coolant I would consider the possibility that the Supreme Pontiff is indeed stuffed into one of the cylinders.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Anyways if the car has any problems at 16k miles , it's a pretty bad sign.

 

[Crab cake]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Crab cake
... there is no coolant to leak because it's aircooled.

In 1998?

Yes, it's a 98. Think of the older body style 911. I'm not too fond of the new body anyway. Looks too much like its cheaper brethen.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: notfred
Valve guide seals are bad, and oil is leaking into the cylinders. It's buring off whenever the car is started.

Quite wrong. White smoke is symptomatic of burning coolant or the election of a new Pope. Any oil reaching the combustion chambers due to bad valve seals or bad rings would burn off as blue-grey smoke, NOT as white smoke. I'd be looking at a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head.

I've had cars that burned oil, and the smoke looked white or light gray to me. I've heard other people say it looks blue to them, but to me it's does not look blue. To me, it just looks like black asphalt behind white smoke, making it look grayish.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: notfred

In my experience, burning oil often looks quite white. I've had 2 other vehicles with this same problem and the smoke has always appeared white.

I agree, it looks that way to me too.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Crab cake
White smoke coming out of the exhaust on startup. The longer the car sits, 2 days or more, the more smoke comes out, lasting about 30 seconds.

Remember that that era 911's have liquid-cooled heads. If the smoke smells kind of sweet, the heads are probably leaking coolant.

There is something definitely wrong with the engine if there is lag and vibration. Might be as simple as engine mounts, but I doubt it. Sounds like either an ignition or and FI problem.

Porsches are great cars, but the become very expensive, very quickly if maintenance is not followed to the letter. Taken care of, they are amazingly reliable, but it can take thousands to get one back into good shape. Experience talking here.

ZV