RE: The Brave Pill: Porsche 911 (996)
Discussion
Went out in a recently-purchased 2003 996 C2 manual as a passenger last weekend.
Was amazed at how comfortable it was, with absolutley no squeaks or rattles, and excellent trim for a 16-yr old car with almost 100k on the clock.
In dark metallic grey with clear indicators it didn't look as bad as some 996s and I can see the appeal of buying one of this age.
Was amazed at how comfortable it was, with absolutley no squeaks or rattles, and excellent trim for a 16-yr old car with almost 100k on the clock.
In dark metallic grey with clear indicators it didn't look as bad as some 996s and I can see the appeal of buying one of this age.
I had the least desirable one (early fried egg convertible with the tiptronic box) but it had a Hartech rebuild and the nicest refurbed BBS split alloys - don't think Iv'e ever seen a 996 with better looking wheels. 
I'd have another one if I could afford it (preferably a convertible as then even a trip to the shops is a lovely way to travel) but I would prefer a manual for those days where you wanted to drive a bit more spiritedly.
Not sure what else I could have bought for £12k that would have had anywhere near the cachet. It was bought by a fellow PHer to use as their runaround town car (!) so hopefully it's still going strong somewhere. Good cars and looking better with age (but that may be due to nostalgia on my part!).
I'd have another one if I could afford it (preferably a convertible as then even a trip to the shops is a lovely way to travel) but I would prefer a manual for those days where you wanted to drive a bit more spiritedly.
Not sure what else I could have bought for £12k that would have had anywhere near the cachet. It was bought by a fellow PHer to use as their runaround town car (!) so hopefully it's still going strong somewhere. Good cars and looking better with age (but that may be due to nostalgia on my part!).
I’m potentially wanting a 996 but the elephant in the room for me is the 987 Cayman. Newer, less mileage, likely costs less to buy and usually only me in the car.
I never lusted after a Cayman as a kid though and I also see pics like the one below which makes the decision harder!
I never lusted after a Cayman as a kid though and I also see pics like the one below which makes the decision harder!
IceBoy said:
Brilliant cars and a real pleasure to drive.
Not sluggish by any means!
Looks... Subjective.... And I love it!
Very nice!Not sluggish by any means!
Looks... Subjective.... And I love it!
Xcore said:
Anyone gone from a chimaera to one of these?
How do they compare..
I didn’t go straight from Chim -> 996 but have had both. With a TVR every drive is a sense of occasion. The noise, smell, ride etc all make it an event. The Porsche doesn’t have much of that, it’s much more refined. From what I remember my Porsche certainly handled much better than the Chim, was faster & more reliable. It took a little while to bond with the Porsche but I now really, really want another one whereas the Chim was an itch that’s remained scratched. How do they compare..
dai1983 said:
I’m potentially wanting a 996 but the elephant in the room for me is the 987 Cayman. Newer, less mileage, likely costs less to buy and usually only me in the car.
I never lusted after a Cayman as a kid though and I also see pics like the one below which makes the decision harder!
Photo only taken a couple of days ago, the sunsets have been amazing !I never lusted after a Cayman as a kid though and I also see pics like the one below which makes the decision harder!
IceBoy said:
Very nice!Right, I'm off for a drive!
LOL.
IceBoy
dibblecorse said:
Ho Lee Kau said:
"You could stick 50,000 miles on this one and it wouldn't be worth significantly less. You'd enjoy doing it, too."
So, 171000 miles and it would not lose any "value"....in the head of the seller maybe. In the head of a potential buyer - I would not be so sure. I personally would not buy a 911 with 171000 miles on the clock, the maintenance prices are still like on the new 911 and it will have a lot of wear and tear to be taken care of, maybe even engine rebuild.
Truth by 171k miles most of the work would be done on a decently maintained one, would be a bit of a triggers broom but at the right price ...So, 171000 miles and it would not lose any "value"....in the head of the seller maybe. In the head of a potential buyer - I would not be so sure. I personally would not buy a 911 with 171000 miles on the clock, the maintenance prices are still like on the new 911 and it will have a lot of wear and tear to be taken care of, maybe even engine rebuild.
Any potential return on investment after you move it on in several years time is a bonus.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yep I was the one who snapped it up a year ago, I just wanted the lightest early model and it had the colour combo, that the mileage etc didn't bother me.I did insist on the suspension being swapped out back to standard as wasn't a fan of the coilovers it sat on, other than that I put about 4-5k miles on it.
TwinExit said:
Yes that's the U.S.P for the 996, if someone wants a 911 for Mondeo 320D money this is the way to do it.
Anything earlier or after the 996 is atleast twice the price for entry...
Totally agree, kinda fun lording it up in car which costs less than your average Fiesta. Anything earlier or after the 996 is atleast twice the price for entry...
But in all serious, isn't much else at the price range which non-car people will be so impressed by. One thing I would stress (and I don't know if this was a
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Hmmm disagree. Anything shared with a boxster or other series production cars (VW) is fairly cheap from OE mfrs and good aftermarket.Anything else the OPC always knock me at least 10% off parts just for asking, brings them inline with e.g. Genuine VW or Land Rover parts.
Theres loads and loads of good low mileage used parts - these cars don't tend to get used much.
Labour wise, short of building an engine where it would benefit from "in the know" modifications, there isn't anything that needs mystical secret voodoo knowledge.
It's just nuts and bolts like any other car.
Gman,
That looks sweet.
These early 996's are better and better with age, I also have to agree... When you hear these cars a full chat... omg, they absolutely scream.
My C2 coupe/manual has become my daily and it really puts a smile on my faces and gets lot of admiring looks and comments.
Iceboy
That looks sweet.
These early 996's are better and better with age, I also have to agree... When you hear these cars a full chat... omg, they absolutely scream.
My C2 coupe/manual has become my daily and it really puts a smile on my faces and gets lot of admiring looks and comments.
Iceboy
LordHaveMurci said:
chj said:
I had c4s for 2 years and 20k miles that had had a hartech rebuild before I bought it. Totally reliable and only necessary cost was a couple of tyres and a service at about £400. However found it dull after a while and never really gelled with it. Had no regrets with selling when it went to a new owner and have never missed it sadly.
Compared to the numerous TVR's you list in your garage I guess it would feel a little dull, why did you purchase it & were you specifically looking for a 4S?mikeyr said:
Totally agree, kinda fun lording it up in car which costs less than your average Fiesta. But in all serious, isn't much else at the price range which non-car people will be so impressed by.
Our neighbours aren't really car people as such. They know what a Porsche is and they like the way it looks and sounds, but they don't know the different generations or anything about prices - quite understandably. The two things that amazed them about my 996 were that it really is 20 years old and that it cost the same as a new bottom of the range VW Polo. I'm not sure if I went up or down in their estimations after telling them... But in all serious, isn't much else at the price range which non-car people will be so impressed by. Ahonen said:
mikeyr said:
Totally agree, kinda fun lording it up in car which costs less than your average Fiesta. But in all serious, isn't much else at the price range which non-car people will be so impressed by.
Our neighbours aren't really car people as such. They know what a Porsche is and they like the way it looks and sounds, but they don't know the different generations or anything about prices - quite understandably. The two things that amazed them about my 996 were that it really is 20 years old and that it cost the same as a new bottom of the range VW Polo. I'm not sure if I went up or down in their estimations after telling them... But in all serious, isn't much else at the price range which non-car people will be so impressed by. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff