Here’s a project car opportunity that introduces all sorts of questions: the 996 chassis continues disrupt relationships, automotive forums, and car gatherings. Is it a good car? Is it a ticking time bomb? The debate rages on, and sadly, there is no shortage of vendors and business owners who has gotten most every 996 owner triggered to the point of obsession that their pride and joy is going to implode. The seller of this six-speed manual 2001 Porsche 911 Cabriolet listed here on eBay is a flood victim that looks fairly decent overall and the seller claims has a clean bill of health from the engine compartment.
It would appear this seller has a thing for projects, and needy ones at that. A flood victim 996 and an E31 BMW 8-Series shoved into the corner of the driveway suggests an appetite for vehicles that can ruin your life or become incredible drivers. The 996, for all its vices, is a terrific sports car. It handles better than 95 percent of the cars in its price bracket, and it’s still a 911 – this one is also a desirable C2, meaning its rear-wheel drive, and Turbo-look wheels are among the most iconic designs ever made.
The seller reports he intended to perform an engine removal and V8 swap with this 911, which would have been a great plan for a flood vehicle. However, once he got into it, he soon realized the engine was too clean to justify pulling. He notes, “….I dropped the engine pan and found the engine was perfect – crank and bearings were surgically spotless.” With that in mind, he set about repairing the car back to good health in OEM form, so he procured new keys, an ignition switch, and wiring harness. However, it’s clear his motivation has dipped a bit but not before buying a set of Recaro SRDs.
That much of an investment in seats suggests two things: one, the power seats in the 911 at present are likely toast after the flood, and two, he really did intend to bring this car back from the brink. The underside is clean, and the Autocheck report suggests that it was a Florida car for many years before stopping in New York and then relocating to California. It carries a salvage title from the flood incident, so the future value of this 911 is definitely limited – especially given 996 cabriolets tend to be the cheapest ones to buy off of Marketplace at any given time. Is this 996 worthy of a rescue with a $9,960 opening bid?
If it wasn’t in salt water I’d call it a good deal. Without interior pictures including the instruments etc. I’d walk away from it.
Salty 🧂 German 🇩🇪
Fresh or salt water flood?
Alarm, immobilization computers under the driver’s seat are vehicle (vin) and key specific. My understanding is only a dealer can program.
These were the most boring 911s made. The motor is tepid and linear in its delivery, and the outside is slab-sided, too. Unlike, say, a 993, these will not go up in value.
Walk away from this one.
Or swim away
Any car that says flood don’t walk away RUN !
The U-boat auction has ended. Let us pray for the new ship’s captain.
I bought a 1983 Buick Century in 1985 flood car from a dealer who specialized in salvage title vehicles. My wife and I were struggling financially. We were driving a 1978 Dodge Royal Monaco station wagon. The Dodge was costing us a lot in trying to fix the lean burn, the terrible gas mileage, needing new tires, and shocks. I don’t remember the price, but it was cheap. The dealer said it was laying on it’s right side when flooded. We drove that car until 1993. We only had one problem. The turn signal and brake bulb would burn out quickly. Both bulbs were extremely easy to replace. I bought the builds 3 each at a time. I lived in Iowa at the time and the Buick came from North Carolina.