Buying a "Cheap" Porsche 911 Carrera S: What's Broken?

Purchase and Initial Assessment

• 💰 Roman purchased a 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S (997.1) for $35,000 including auction fees, aiming for a daily driver.
• ⚠️ Despite assurances, the car has several issues, typical for older vehicles, especially those with over 100,000 miles.
• 📄 Paperwork indicated the IMS bearing was replaced and compression was good, alleviating fears of bore scoring.

Identified Mechanical and Electrical Issues

• 💡 The driver's side window switch fails, causing the window to not fully retract when opening the door and not always returning to the closed position.
• 🎛️ The power seat adjustment is faulty, with the driver's seat only moving left and right, not forward and back.
• 💿 A "System Error: CD Changer not available" message appears on startup, requiring an extra step to reach the main infotainment screen.
• 💧 The windshield washer fluid squirter nozzles are non-functional, a potentially dangerous issue in winter conditions.
• 🔥 Heated seats for both driver and passenger are inoperative, indicated by the unlit buttons.
• 🏠 The HomeLink garage door opener system is also not working.

Potential Causes and Solutions

• 🧠 Research suggests that a dead battery can cause the infotainment system to forget installed options like HomeLink and heated seats, requiring a dealer reprogramming.
• ⚡ Alternatively, a blown 80-amp fuse might be responsible for the washer squirter and potentially other electrical issues.
• 🛠️ Roman is seeking community input on whether the problems stem from fuses or computer issues.

Positive Aspects and Ownership Philosophy

• 🚀 Despite the issues, the car has 103,000 miles and shows signs of being well-maintained, with a replaced IMS bearing and good compression.
• 🚗 The car has a history of two accidents, evidenced by a missing hood sticker, suggesting the hood may have been replaced with an OEM part.
• 🛣️ Roman intends to daily drive the car, viewing it as a driver-quality vehicle rather than a pristine collectible, embracing the fun of fixing it.
• 🔧 He anticipates setting aside $5,000 for repairs, viewing the process of fixing the car as a significant part of the hobby.

Model Specifics and Value

• 📉 Convertibles and automatic transmissions are generally less desirable and cheaper for the 997.1 generation 911s.
• ⚙️ The manual transmission is preferred for this model, especially for enthusiasts seeking a more engaging driving experience.
• 💡 The 997.1 generation is appreciated for its analog feel and classic design, but potential buyers should be aware of IMS and bore scoring risks, which were addressed in this specific car.