Hey everybody. I've joined up here because, well I figure my dad won't, so somebody should be on the forums. My dad just yesterday picked up a 2002 911 artic silver metallic on metropol blue. I actually haven't seen it yet, though I think I found it online. It's got the 6-speed, 18" light weight carrera wheels, 3 spoke steering wheel (was that still an option in 2002?), all the little things people expect to come with a car but Porsche makes optional (like power seats, heated seats - something my dad wouldn't have gotten if buying new, vanity mirrors in the sun visors), PSM, Technic package, and a sunroof. I'm a bit surprised that it wasn't CPO even though it was from a major dealer, still has some warranty left, and looks perfect (apparently, I haven't seen it yet). This is his first Porsche (though for 2 weeks in Germany we had an early 996 with the 3.4, IIRC a 2000 model), though no he and I are no stranger to German cars. He's owned a bmw 2002, another 2002, a bavaria, an MB 240D, another 240D, a 300D, 380SE (bought in 1985 when I was born, I grew up with it, work on it, and now drive it...I'm probably the only reason we have a 20 year old car but I love it), and a bmw 540i (still have that one). This is my dad's first stick-shift car since he swore them off when he bought his 240D back in 1976 (or maybe 74, I think the second one was a '76), though when he went to test drive a Cayman S (which he was considering first, it was just chance that there was a 2002 996 in the exact color he was planning to get a Cayman in) the guy asked him if he was SCCA since he'd never seen anybody shift like that.
Needless to say, I can't wait to go home for Easter.

2 quick questions: my mom said she saw a puff of smoke when my dad first started it (he has yet to see it so maybe it was a one time thing). To me this says leaky injector normally, but I figure this is just rear-engine Porsche-ness. Do I figure right? Also, am I overly pessimistic to assume that being a Porsche this thing will eat oil? How much oil do they typically eat?
Thanks,
Richard

 

The engine is a horizontal based engine, so a small amount of oil can drip past the valves and into the exhaust when it sits for periods of time, then instantly burns off once you start the car. A puff is ok, smoking for more than a few seconds is not. They should not eat much oil

 

Ah, makes sense. I guess they have to do some odd things to fit it all in there. I've heard about this RMS stuff, but if with 47k miles the car has had no such problems so far, it's not likely to either right? I mean, I figure it's one of those if it made it past 20k it made it things from the sounds of it. Either way there's 2 more months on the factory warranty and then the dealer gave a 3 year extended bumper to bumper since it wasn't CPO.

 

RMS issues tend to rear their heads no matter the mileage. You can bet though if it goes with higher mileage on it, a replacement is going to fix the problem. If it goes with 10k miles on the engine, it is likely that it will go again even after replacement.

 

Just to check again, when you say a puff is ok, if it's for like 1-2 seconds is that too much or is that fine? Runs fine so no reason to suspect anything, just checking. 3 years and 2 months worth of warranty, so I'm not worried I guess.