996 or BRZ PP for wife?

[zestyfesty]

Wondering if anyone has steered/owned both of these?
Have a deep -seated 911 affinity in genera (except for that brown 992 Targa!) and a real soft-spot for the 996, being a lad of the 90s. /We currently own a 2017 BRZ Performance Pack, it is my wife's daily. I've weened her from Fiesta Zetec to E82 125i, to current BRZ (all manual- what a gal) and feeling she may now be ready for a 996? Or is this wishful thinking?

I am concerned however about 2 things:
1- the aged interior of the 996 and perhaps reliability anxieties (IMS /bore score etc) although I understand updated PCM will fit into 996 OEM dash aperture so we could get bluetooth/smartphone pairing and sat-nav
2 - she loves the BRZ. This is good (she likes driving small sports cars that arent' particularly easy to get in and out of) however I wonder if the control weights and driving position in 996 might grate after the utterly superb driving position and nicely weighted touch points of the BRZ

I'd love anyone's thoughts on this (the only 996 I've driven is a Mk 1 GT3)

Thanks
Jim

[The spinner of plates]

I think you need to get her to drive one and get her opinion.

Interior of the 996 - personal preference
Reliability anxieties (IMS /bore score etc) - if it's going to happen by now it probably has or it won't
Control weights and driving position in the 996 - personal preference.

It sounds like you want the 996

[Fink-Nottle]

You are right to be concerned about 1, and you may well face an uphill struggle re. 2.

Allow me to impersonate your spouse for a sec and ask you an uncomfortable question:

Just what does the 996 bring to the table that the BRZ doesn't do for me already?

[davek_964]

I was recently car shopping and a Boxster (of 996 era) was probably the car that ticked the most boxes for what I wanted. But I just couldn't bring myself to buy one when I could choose a different car that still did most of what I wanted, and didn't run the risk of a chocolate engine - especially when I'd have to pay a premium for the chocolate engine because it's got a Porsche badge on it.

Having said that - I've had a Cayenne for 8 years which also apparently has a chocolate engine and that's been fine so far. But then if the engine did die, I'd be happy to bin it - I'm guessing that might not be true if you bought a 996.

[zestyfesty]

The Spinner of Plates, Fink-Nottle and Davek-964 you are asking the questions I need to hear, but not the ones I want lol.

Fink-Nottle, nostalgia is what comes to mind, and that is an honest but somewhat feeble response for the 911s case. Bloody Subaru is brilliant to drive, cheap, reliable...

[davek_964]

I suppose another way of looking at it, is that a couple of years ago I bought a car (non-Porsche) that according to the internet would be have the build quality of a 1970s Lada, cost me thousands in depreciation each month, spend most of its time being fixed and be impossible to sell if I ever chose to.

Whereas in real life, it's................... hmm - actually, maybe that's not a good example

How many 996s are there kicking around that have had Hartech rebuild? They're probably a safer bet.

Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 24th March 11:39

[Squirrelofwoe]

One small question- does she actually want a 996?

That might be the first point of order to clear up before going much further!

Depending on her point of view, swapping out her new, shiny, up-to-date BRZ for a 20yr old, expensive to run sports car with dated interior and the engine at the wrong end might not go the way you hope! On the other hand it might

Do it, and report back!

[culpz]

You need to go in with eyes firmly wide open with old Porsche ownership, which my dad learnt the hard way with his 997, whereas the BRZ should effectively be trouble-free motoring, while potentially being more fun.

[griffter]

The 996 is a great modern classic and probably won’t lose much value if bought well. But it will cost you to keep on top of: suspension, brakes, air con, rads, brake pipes etc. Some are even rusting and developing leaks.

Personally I really don’t think it’s a BRZ competitor. Is she interested in what’s underneath or does she just want to get in and drive?

[InitialDave]

Let her keep the BRZ she likes, and buy a 996 for yourself.

[maz8062]

InitialDave said:

Let her keep the BRZ she likes, and buy a 996 for yourself.

A late 90’s car vs a 2017 refreshed sports car - a car with sat nav, Bluetooth, apple car play/android auto, isofix seats at the rear (if needed), airbags and reasonable fuel consumption vs one that is likely to break down on her way to work.

Not a fair comparison by any stretch of the imagination. Now, had you mentioned a Cayman/Boxster 987.2 or 981, then you’d be talking.

[zestyfesty]

InitialDave said:

Let her keep the BRZ she likes, and buy a 996 for yourself.

Good point. I want her to want a 996, and that I guess is the problem here, but she's well content atm. I don't consider the 2 cars as competitors, very different offerings from different eras, if both small sports cars. I could buy a 996 tomorrow for me, but of course that would be in exchange for my painstakingly fettled Evo VI. That car is not leaving the family, so the 996 is looking for other ways to join us ; )

[zestyfesty]

Squirrelofwoe said:

One small question- does she actually want a 996?

That might be the first point of order to clear up before going much further!

Depending on her point of view, swapping out her new, shiny, up-to-date BRZ for a 20yr old, expensive to run sports car with dated interior and the engine at the wrong end might not go the way you hope! On the other hand it might

Do it, and report back!

My father did this exact thing - making a surprise purchase of a 997 and bringing it home to present to his current wife, deal done, no going back. He said he had 2 choices; 'to ask for her permission or beg for her forgiveness' He went with the latter, still has 997 and wife.

[djglover]

The 996 is a wonderful drivers car, but it isn’t a great proposition as a long term daily driver, they do cost to run but the rewards are worth it, I bought with an engine rebuild and recently replaced suspension and rads but been in 3 times this year for calliper rebuild, crank sensor, oil leaks etc.

[Jamescrs]

OP does.sound like you want the 996 for yourself and are trying to justify it by having it as the wife's car?

I looked a lot at 996 as I love them but couldn't justify it as a daily car while they are wonderful cars (IMO) you are potentially sacrificing the reliability of her current car and all the mod cons for the Porsche. How will she feel about it?

Or just buy it yourself.

[zestyfesty]

Jamescrs said:

OP does.sound like you want the 996 for yourself and are trying to justify it by having it as the wife's car?

I looked a lot at 996 as I love them but couldn't justify it as a daily car while they are wonderful cars (IMO) you are potentially sacrificing the reliability of her current car and all the mod cons for the Porsche. How will she feel about it?

Or just buy it yourself.

DjGlover I accept a not insignificant increase in running costs to be part of the deal with a middle aged 911 (our local OPC is 400 metres away!) however, both you and Jamescrs suggest it's a stretch as a daily, and sacrificing reliability would be a big no-no. That's 2 potential issues. In her line of work, a mechanical issue en route would be unpalatable, at best.

[ZX10R NIN]

Be honest with her, tell her you want a weekend toy then buy yourself the 996.

[JohnBRG]

I've had 4 911s. Excellent cars but expensive to run and maintain properly. I would budget £2K per year. If that number doesn't frighten you off, then go ahead.

[TameRacingDriver]

JohnBRG said:

I've had 4 911s. Excellent cars but expensive to run and maintain properly. I would budget £2K per year. If that number doesn't frighten you off, then go ahead.

That's a lot less than I thought it would cost.

[Paynewright]

996s can cost a lot up front to get on top of maintenance - mines had discs & pads all round, coil packs, all brake lines & hoses, rack pipes, IMS, RMS, shocks, springs, ARBs, clutch & flywheel, wheel refurb, tyres, geo set up and numerous minor repairs / fettling the list goes on....fortunately I’ve done lots myself.

I think the 981 cayman is a better daily proposition with all the engine gremlins ironed out.