Time to reevaluate the 996 Carrera
Discussion
Recently drove the new 991 Carrera 2S at the Goodwood Circuit and was hugely impressed with its pace and planted feel. However driving back afterwards in my 996 Carrera 3.6 was surprised at how fantastic the old girl felt. Superb analogue steering howling 3.6 (Porsche Sports exhaust with bypass permanently on) and just fantastic pace, ride and all round package, considering I'd just stepped out of the best part of £100k the 996 had all the bases covered on the road and you've spent £85k less. My point is the 996 has taken a beating on the forums but not by anyone I've known who have driven one all of which always fondly reminisce at what a great drive it was. I also drove my mates 997 GTS down there and again clearly a brilliant car and for my money the best 997 for the road but I was still happy back in the 996. Great drives always tend to do well in the end and its definitely time to reevaluate the 996, when there are a few less on the road it will be seen as a clear turning point for Porsche, for the better.
Helicopter123 said:
Chocolate engine, hateful dated interior and fried egg headlamps will ensure its never loved BUT it is a lot of usable 911 for the money.
I don't understand this hatred towards the 996 interior. I really find it a pleasant place to be as do all the people I have ever driven in my car.Helicopter, cheers for the heads up on the dodgy engine. Ill look out for all the broken 996's that litter the roads and sat outside Indies & OPC's awaiting sturdier engines! Or the fact that the headlamps are so bad they would make you shy away from it. And as for interior....its functional and does what it says on the tin.
And yes, i own a 996!
And yes, i own a 996!
Helicopter123 said:
Chocolate engine, hateful dated interior and fried egg headlamps will ensure its never loved BUT it is a lot of usable 911 for the money.
Engine has its known weak points but the interior is fine, especially for a nigh-on 20 year old design. You must travel in Paganis a lot or something. 
As I always say on here, if any other manufacturer had released the 996 it would have been fine. The front end is not ugly, just different to what went before it, which some people cannot see past. That's fine but the rest of us will just get on enjoying a great car, that's ageing very nicely I think.
Guess point is the drive will out. Latest interior is always the nicest as an ex interior buyer myself that will always be the case but its well thought out and logical and in my opinion well put together even if you need to budget the odd £50 for new interior kick plates every 5-6 years if you want it immaculate as the soft touch paint is easily marked. I'm not arguing that its perfect but that its a totally unique driving experience at its price point.
I had a very similar experience to the OP a few months back. 4 hours or so on country roads in a 991 C2s PDK and on my way back home afterwards in my 3.4 996 I really didn't feel that short changed, certainly not by the best part of £90k! Don't get me wrong the 991 was better, but a more playstation kind of experience..
Took me a year to gel with my 6-4S, after a 7GT3 now I really like it, yes it's an old design, but I gave it a spanking this afternoon and it was just fine, sounds lovely, good steering feel, pretty hard ride, I ran out of brakes @ the end of my run, but don't drive it like that very often, it goes everywhere, park it anywhere, doesn't attract too much attention, and if someone kicks the mirrors off it won't ruin my day, perfect daily driver and under rated car, great bang for your buck, 24 mpg all round, 30 on a run, pre 2006 RFL banding and @ c£20K..
I might put some 6 pots on the front and keep it another year..
I might put some 6 pots on the front and keep it another year..
I sat next to a bog standard 3.4 on the M25 a few months back looking at the rear 3/4 and side view for a good 10mins and thought "actually, it looks very Porsche like" !
I can't be the only person to be thinking that way and with values where they are, I think the tide will soon start turning. Good standard cars are already starting to become thin on the ground.
I can't be the only person to be thinking that way and with values where they are, I think the tide will soon start turning. Good standard cars are already starting to become thin on the ground.
Helecopter123 is just being a t
t. Too many folk forget that the 996 has been the biggest selling 911 yet, with a great many big milers on the roads. There are well documented issues, which can be reduced and dealt with without too much grief. I think the 996 is more of a looker than the 997, which has hamstrung itself by trying to go retro to appease the whingers. The 996 is the only 911 not to have indicators and other lights in the bumpers, and looks all the better for it. When I bought mine, I could've bought a 997,but preferred the 996. I like the lights, I like the simple but functional interior, I like the way the car looks outside. The 997 is trying too hard, styling wise, and fails in many areas ( only my opinion). Each to their own , I prefer 996's, others don't. I also think that the 996 will be judged less harshly in the future than it has been of late as more people realise what a good car it actually is.
t. Too many folk forget that the 996 has been the biggest selling 911 yet, with a great many big milers on the roads. There are well documented issues, which can be reduced and dealt with without too much grief. I think the 996 is more of a looker than the 997, which has hamstrung itself by trying to go retro to appease the whingers. The 996 is the only 911 not to have indicators and other lights in the bumpers, and looks all the better for it. When I bought mine, I could've bought a 997,but preferred the 996. I like the lights, I like the simple but functional interior, I like the way the car looks outside. The 997 is trying too hard, styling wise, and fails in many areas ( only my opinion). Each to their own , I prefer 996's, others don't. I also think that the 996 will be judged less harshly in the future than it has been of late as more people realise what a good car it actually is.I agree there is a purity of design that I think will be appreciated in say another 10 years or so. I know when I bought one I wanted a classic 2 wheel drive, slim bodyshell and the classic late 90s early 00s colour scheme of silver and black interior. I think in 10 to 15 years we will be looking at these cars as icons not sheds. I'm not bothered by the investment angle I think that's irrelevant, I'm just thinking about whether it will be judged as a great car of its time, on that measure it stands up well.
I had one in 1998. Delivered on Friday I took it back on Monday. Did not like it then and I still don't like it now. The 996 appealed to a new breed of Porsche owner. They sold loads. 996 GT2 must be the performance car bargain of the century. I still could not live with the interior even if they were £10K cars.
991 appeals to a new breed of Porsche owner. They will sell loads. Still not for me.
991 appeals to a new breed of Porsche owner. They will sell loads. Still not for me.
Previous post from me........see where OP is coming from....
Out for a coffee yesterday morning, pull into the car park just in time to see a 996 glide in and park up. WOW, it looks fantastic (admittedly, I'm looking at it from the rear).......properly, I love it, I want it, fantastic. Small, almost delicate, maybe it was the wheels, the colour, I don't know...but it looked wonderful. So, I get talking to the owner, it's got 60K on it, two owners, full history, it's his second car then BLAM......it's for sale as he doesn't use it enough........and he lives just down the road from me. Numbers exchanged.......
So, what's changed with the 996? Why did it so instantly, and unexpectedly, arrive on my 'wanted' list?
Stood next to it yesterday it was (for me) without doubt, a cool car.
Maybe it's now old enough not to have to try too hard.........
Out for a coffee yesterday morning, pull into the car park just in time to see a 996 glide in and park up. WOW, it looks fantastic (admittedly, I'm looking at it from the rear).......properly, I love it, I want it, fantastic. Small, almost delicate, maybe it was the wheels, the colour, I don't know...but it looked wonderful. So, I get talking to the owner, it's got 60K on it, two owners, full history, it's his second car then BLAM......it's for sale as he doesn't use it enough........and he lives just down the road from me. Numbers exchanged.......
So, what's changed with the 996? Why did it so instantly, and unexpectedly, arrive on my 'wanted' list?
Stood next to it yesterday it was (for me) without doubt, a cool car.
Maybe it's now old enough not to have to try too hard.........
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