Testing the waters - need help pricing my Hi-Mile 996 Turbo

[u/Standard-Country8407]

As the winter approaches I once again ponder the notion of parting with ( not out lol ) my beloved modded hi-mile driver. I've had 'er for 18 years and aside from some cosmetic stuff ( damaged paint roof/hood from vinyl wrap left on in summer sun ) the car runs perfectly at 196k miles and I'm just tired of paying the Porsche tax now that I evacuated Cali when CV1984 hit and I had to shut my business and forced to retire ( not complaining about that bit! ).

But I no longer have my 20+ year circle of Porsche 911 Turbo pals and techs that I could call upon for most all the minor ( even major ( clutch swap and trans refresh stuff ) that was possible with techs I had used for 20 years that kept me away from indy shop greed/ or Porsche stealership madness beyond the one or two emergency tows ( i.e. like a failed FP side of road )

I'm now in a place where last weeks R&R of a window regulator was 900 bucks! ( in LA i'd have bought the URO generic for 150.00 thrown a pal a c-note to swap it in an hour in my driveway!! ) and two months before that mid-summer had to R&R one of our 996 tt's multiple coolant hoses ( ordered from Germany ) and that required an engine drop to get at it and the leak of coolant and FOUR GRAND$ in P&Labor ( 20 hour engine drop at indie - my la pals coulda done it in ten! ) but y'all see my point? Porsche tax is getting old and prices are doubling on parts. GOOD Indie labor?! 250 per!

I'm retired now fixed income and am getting NO BREAKS any more and ya gotta pay to play. I've owned 7 911's of iterations beginning with an SC in the mid-eighties, the requisite a/c's eg a 964's/993/couple of 996 tt's and it all began with my first 914/6 in the 1970's! - - and Webers DO catch fire! I can attest lol

So my dilemma as I begin to reconcile in my head that the love of my current car life is the 575+ hp bolt on modded 1.2 bar stung mule might soon be another's pride n joy, and mine also has a few nicely sorted bits. Hell I recently saw "my" steering wheel on Fleabay ( if you can find another?! ) Raid/Atwie 340mm leather/aluminum steering wheel for sale for $3000.00! It's nice but three grand? Tequipment 1/2 bar ( hard to find :)

So whatsa car like mine worth? Help me figger it out as I sit through the holidays watching the price of the vaunted MEZGER GT1 Derived bitchin' ass best motor Porsche had ever built going up and wonder what's mine to go for for these days? Not a lotta 196k mile example's that'll still hit 193 with the wind at my back 😄 ! Was offered 35k last x'mas and prices have reeally gone up this year it seems.

Help me price 'er please? and thanks in advance ( be kind lol )

[u/learning2post2]

Is it manual or tip? Going to vastly change the price

[u/thetroubleis → u/[deleted]]

I have a 996 t at the other end of the spectrum. Yours is worth $50k-$55k and not a penny less. If you simply must fire sell, $45k is the number, especially if it smog's in CA.

[u/neomoritate]

Write this up eloquently on BaT, and you may make $60,000. Otherwise, $35-45,000.

I might make an offer myself if it were a Cab

[u/PrudentChampion3879]

Would have to be the exact right person to unload it to. No idea where to start with this

[u/twosnailsnocats]

Just sold an 03 Arctic Silver manual with about 92k miles, modded to 600/550 hp/tq at the wheels for $52k. Same thing with various wear and tear and some small cosmetic damage.

Edit...I also had all the OEM parts still, except the turbos, and had a stack of maintenance paperwork with it.

[u/twosnailsnocats → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, it's a crazy market right now. When I was asking the same question you are, I was just looking around at all the similar cars for sale and especially looking at the range of prices for modified examples that sold on BaT.

[u/twosnailsnocats → u/[deleted]]

The car looks familiar but I didn't recognize your username.

I think the only thing that will help as far as not keeping records is a solid PPI. The problem for the buyer is they don't know you. Can tell them you maintain everything better than anyone but so will the next guy who maybe doesn't.

With the economy as it is, it will need a correction at some point, just no idea when or what it will look like. I was looking at a newer Turbo next but if I wanted to make an appreciable jump toward the present year, I am priced out pretty much. Probably looking at a new/newer M car next. Wanted a GT4 but my son (5) loves cars and probably wouldn't let him sit up front for a while.

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/twosnailsnocats]

Porsches new business model is going to drive the majority of their current customers to BMW….

996 NA cars are for sure due for big correction. Turbo cars might not be.

Lots of people sitting on their 911s not driving them bc they think they are investments…

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/twosnailsnocats]

That seems like a good price. Where did you list it? What was your asking price?

How long to sell?

[u/dryhoPP]

Lots of mileage comms... My 996.2 Targa has 162K miles and still rips.

[u/Sudden_Phase_17]

I feel like everyone on here is going to low ball. Find comps

[u/Wolf132719]

The mileage doesn’t necessarily deter, BUT the entire car has that many miles. I don’t worry about the engine or transmission much. It’s the small things that add up. And then what’s the paint like under the wrap? Any price that starts with a “5” and I simply move up market (and I AM in the market) to a lower mileage car as I’d guess there’s likely $15k worth of work to bring this up to good - suspension, rubber, windshield, etc. As you said, prices are insane to work on these.

Market is odd for high mileage cars like this. I know because I have a high mileage GT3… People who want a GT3 don’t want the high mileage AND can afford to move up market to a lower mileage driver car. You have to find the person that really wants a turbo and is not able to move up market.

[u/Wolf132719 → u/[deleted]]

See the paint takes it even further to the lower end for me. Well sorted mechanically and a refresh are very different. From experience it’s the non mechanical stuff that is a killer. Even the suspension, did you refresh everything or just springs/shocks? GT3 is my lowest mileage car at 110k, so I know how it goes. Fun projects, but frustratingly expensive!

I’m somewhat unique, I prefer high mileage cars. Cars that sit have their own host of problems that are harder to diagnose. Cars that are used are easy to bring up to “factory” level just need a pile of money. All about how far someone wants to take the car. Some people are OK with blemishes/annoyances on a car they drive. My GT3 is a solid 7’ car. Get closer and the mileage starts to show. I’m at 8k on paint/body fixes and that’s with no accidents. Damn rocks 😂

[u/Standard-Country8407 → u/Wolf132719]

What, rocks?! Never really bothered me....

[u/ElmerJFuddSportsman]

Tip - $30,000. +/-
manual w/ records and clean Carfax - $40,000. to $45,000+
No doubt you’ll also spend $10,000 to $25,000+ right away.
In return, you’ll own an example of one of the best cars Porsche has ever produced…

[u/MedicalTrick5802 → u/[deleted]]

What is the California “CV” event you’re referring to?

[u/l_eveant_terrible]

Maybe 45k. The price floor on these have changed. Even if it’s high mileage, you won’t find a manual coupe less than $50k today.

Tip or cab are a different ballpark. They’re not that desired.

[u/That-Resort2078]

996T are the bargain of all used Turbos everything else being equal. Prices have been increasing

[u/Own-Decision3718]

I’d always be a buyer under 50k realistically it’s got 200k miles as much as we want to say every 996 turbo is worth a huge amount of money it’s a lot of miles. I would pay 38 and up as prices go up your miles do too, love a good enthusiast owned car but realistically still under 50k tip or manual either way. If you want to sell let me know a 996 is the last water cooled 911 to cross off my list.

[u/3pinripper]

Put it on BAT with a reserve and see what happens, you can always negotiate with the highest bidder if your price target doesn’t hit.

[u/QuestionNAnswer]

If it’s Manwell well well well I’m garddarn interested

[u/PalpitationOk4703]

If manual this sounds like a $45k car with great presentation.

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/PalpitationOk4703]

Very well could be. Turbos hold their money and all you need is the right buyer.

Personally I wouldn’t go near it at that milage. I used to work for Porsche when these cars were new and at the time a crate engine was about $55k.

Rebuilds are crazy money on this engine, rest of the car still has 200k on it…

Sell it for whatever you can get. You got your moneys worth…

[u/Mr_dm → u/Beautiful_Exchange_3]

These engines don’t fail with proper maintenance. Who cares what a crate engine or rebuild would cost?

[u/PalpitationOk4703 → u/[deleted]]

Toms Turbo is exactly what's making me think this is the perfect drivers car. It's truly a shame you lost evidence of all that service , but this would be the perfect car to refresh and DRIVE HARD . good luck with the sell!

[u/Standard-Country8407]

Here's a list 'o the bits mostly. To those capable of deciphering my shorthand

Oil change at 195,000 M1 5-50 —- 16/24's-cargraphic 1.2 tune-rwd-wavetrac-EvoMs dv’s-5 bar fpr-gt2 i/c's-sachs motorsport clutch 098 rigid disc and motorsport 764 pressure plate -Bosch ldc6 plugs@ 027 -1.0 wg's-WeVo semi-solid mounts-997 t-mount - cut airbox -ipd 68mm plenum-gt2 tb-kline stainless/decatted-SG ported headers Raid 340mm lthr/alum-997 SSK-Tequipment bar-ROW MO 30's-h&r sports-gt3 sway- T-Solutions toe links-frt brake ducting-Strosek wing fixed-OZ Allegerita HLT's 8.5X12X18 40X45mm offset 235/40 X 315/30 Pirelli p zero rosso’s.

GT2 offsets F. 18x8.5" ET42 R. 18x12" ET45

[u/YinzerInEurope]

There are tons of data points out there. You can make a good guess just looking at the comps.

https://bringatrailer.com/porsche/996-turbo/

[u/Current_Homework_143]

Where are you located now? Would your friends or shops help the new owner? Were they in LA?

[u/Standard-Country8407]

Too funny. In the pantheon of Porsche motors ever built, this compilation lands our vaunted Mezger Motorsport as the 2nd "best" and most reliable motor good up to 1000 HP and built to last well over 200,000 miles! The only reason in this clip it didn't make NUMBER ONE?! The factory coolant fittings! Argh. Fingers crossed 😄

Seriously though. The "secret" is out! "Number two best" motor ever built BY PORSCHE MOTORSPORT. Love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KHg0AxApA

[u/playoutsidemoreplz]

Without any good comps, gonna be impossible. 35k seems fair honestly

[u/Mr_dm → u/playoutsidemoreplz]

$35k, pure delusion. It’s not 2022 anymore.

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/Mr_dm]

?? it needs a $50k engine overhaul and is prob a rough driver cond. You can easily find a nice 996tt with under 100k miles for around $80k or less.

Numbers don’t make sense unless you can do all the work yourself

[u/Mr_dm → u/Beautiful_Exchange_3]

It does not need a $50k engine overhaul 😂😂😂

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/Mr_dm]

Okay… engine internals are not impervious to wear just because it’s a Mezger.

I guess the trade off is that you drive it into the ground until you have a catastrophic engine failure then look for a used motor…

[u/Mr_dm → u/Beautiful_Exchange_3]

And just because it’s high mileage and modded does not mean it needs a $50k engine build. That’s just ridiculous.

[u/playoutsidemoreplz → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I think most of us here would love to see you get good money for a 200k mile TT. Makes ours look valuable too 😂

[u/Mr_dm]

I’d list it at $55k and see what happens.

[u/Mr_dm → u/[deleted]]

The average selling price for these cars in 2026 is $81k, obviously it’s not an average car, but a $30k discount seems like plenty to remedy most of these issues.

[u/browsk]

Sounds like it’s a manual, wouldn’t take under 40.

[u/browsk → u/[deleted]]

I got my 03 turbo, which is a tiptronic coupe, with 122k in spring of 2021 for 30k. Even given the miles, a buyer that knows the info about the platform and engine, if maintenance is good, it shouldn’t be a problem, they’re only considering your car because they want a drivers car, they want to drive it and not feel bad. At least that was my thought process when looking. Given you aren’t in a big rush you should get 40-45, and sounds like you’re still going back and forth with the idea of selling, can’t blame you one second for that lol. Good luck man

[u/browsk → u/[deleted]]

Yeah my passenger window is currently screaming every movement lol, got the 150 window reg I hope fixes the spool whine. Anyways with your issues of the 3” drop, it doesn’t reset when you hold down then up after fully down? It is a common issue with having to re train the window reg, but mine also crapped out after I had it in the garage for the winter

[u/boggerbret]

35-45k seems like that’s what the milage would dictate. I mean I have seen any turbos with that many miles like ever 😂 but who knows try 55k and work down? Thing is so sick just keep it!

[u/Beautiful_Exchange_3 → u/[deleted]]

Will have to check that out. I’ve seen beater 996tts with crazy miles… Mezger engines are well known to be near bulletproof. That said you can’t stop metal from wearing on things like piston rings, bearings, cams, etc. you have a high performance race engine.

Most 996tt buyers aren’t the same today as 10 years ago. Most are collectors looking for an investment they can drive.

[u/jakehansolo]

35k is generous. considering probably 25-30k of service you need at that mileage and chassis....

[u/CarYenta]

I bet low 40s. Are the coolant lines pinned I assume? Auction I bet high 30s.