Mastering the Porsche 996: The Enthusiast's Guide to Buying Safely, Fixing the Flaws, and Enjoying the Drive

DO NOT BUY A PORSCHE 996 WITHOUT READING THIS MANUAL. You are looking at a Porsche 996. It is beautiful. It is fast. And it is cheap. You believe you have found a bargain. You believe you can buy a supercar for the price of a used Honda. You are wrong. The Porsche 996 is a masterpiece of engineering, but it was built during a time of compromise. It contains specific mechanical flaws—the Intermediate Shaft (IMS) bearing, the Lokasil cylinder liners, the Air-Oil Separator—that can destroy the engine in seconds if ignored. If you treat this car like a normal vehicle, it will bankrupt you. If you rely on the factory maintenance schedule, you are driving a time bomb. I am Hans Vogel. I am a Master Technician. I have spent decades repairing the mistakes of negligent owners and accountants. I have written this book to save you from them. This is not a coffee table book with pretty pictures of racing cars. This is a technical dossier. It is a survival guide. Inside, I will teach you: The IMS Bearing: How to identify which bearing you have, why it fails, and the exact solution you must install immediately. Bore Scoring: The thermodynamic flaw that kills engines in cold climates, and how to spot it before you hand over your money. The "Porsche Tax": How to buy OEM parts (Bosch, ZF, Pierburg) for 30% of the dealer price by knowing the secret cross-reference numbers. The Inspection: How to use a paint meter to spot hidden accidents and how to read the DME computer to see if the engine has been over-revved. The Maintenance: Why 0W-40 oil is too thin, why "lifetime" transmission fluid is a lie, and the exact torque specifications you must use. Do not guess. Do not hope. Engineering does not care about your hope. Buy this book. Read it. Then, and only then, buy the car. Respect the machine.