what is an 'early' 3.4 996?
Discussion
nunpuncher said:
anyideas said:
I like the subtle contrast. I don't like how nobody seems to make these so that they actually follow the curve of the 996 engine cover.
Mark-996-911 said:
OP - can I ask who supplied the graphic and the cost please?
Here you go https://www.designstuffonline.co.uk/vehicle_graphi...They do offer a negative curve option, I must admit I ordered the wrong one. If I like it I’ll probably change to the curve.
Swine Enthusiast said:
Quick question;
Given the current price boom, I am looking at freeing up some cash and selling my 987.2CS, and getting into a 996.1 Carrera. Am I utterly bonkers or should I embrace my horn for the 996 and go for it?
Big can of worms here...Given the current price boom, I am looking at freeing up some cash and selling my 987.2CS, and getting into a 996.1 Carrera. Am I utterly bonkers or should I embrace my horn for the 996 and go for it?
Rear engine
If you've never had a 911 then it's hard to explain the difference the rear engine makes. But it is unique and it does make the 911 unique even among other Porsches. As the generations have evolved Porsche have sanitised the rear engine feeling more and more. But you will definitely feel it when you drive one of these. And as you learn to explore its limits you will realise that the grip can be useful as you gain confidence with it. Its not all win win win as there are trade offs. You cant throw the car around or expect it turn in as well as a mid engined car. But you can definitely lean on it more when you are mid bend or looking for the exit.
Condition
My 996 is a 1998 so 23 years old. If you are looking for an early car then it will be 25, 24 or 23 years old. A lot can happen in that time. It is all about condition with these. Mine was tatty when I bought it and it has gotten worse. But mechanically it is quite good and therefore drives well. It is not perfect. If you like your cars to be perfect then be warned you should not buy a 20+ year old Porsche. We have some members here who comment on the door sill kick plates of cars seen advertised for sale. Some of us - like me - are happy enough to extract the maximum enjoyment from a car with the minimum of expenditure and dont give our kick plates. second thought. Mine even has some rust on the rear arch.
Engine woes
The gen 2 engine in your car is much more robust than the m96 engine in these cars. I wont go on about this too much but I will say that I believe the least risky engine of all the standard 996 cars is the earlier 3.4 engine and that is why I mention 96, 97 and 98. At some point the 3.4 engine changed and you dont want the later 3.4 because of this. So this narrows down the number of cars available. Would you be happy buying, owning and driving a car knowing it has an engine which has known problems or weak points?
Price
This brings us onto price. I've no idea what your car is worth but you might not necessarily get into one of these cars and make money in the transaction. The FGP car above is 34 grand. Can you achieve 34 grand for your current car? If you are thinking there are cars around for 15 grand then I'd say you need to forget that idea. Even tips are selling for almost 20 now. There are not many 96 - 98 manual C2 coupes around for sale. Especially if you start being picky about colours or sunroof delete. Then you need to think about wear and tear and stuff which needs sorting if you want to experience these cars at their best.
Experience
I currently have 3 Porsche outside - yeah yeah I'm an idiot - and I am starting to think I prefer the early 966 the best. My car has been modified quite a bit and not by me. I just dont know how to put my finger on why but it just feels better. I'm still exploring other options - as you do - but for now I am still in the 996 is best camp. Perhaps its because its 23 years old. Perhaps its because I know the car. Perhaps its because I have had it almost 5 years. Its a difficult decision. Some days I prefer the other Porches. Right I am rambling now.. If you drive one of these which is in fine fettle you can not dislike it. They just feel right. If you like cars and you like Porsches then you will like one of these. Will you like it more than your current Porsche - I just dont know. There is more to these cars that the driving experience. There is the feeling of satisfaction knowing you own a 911. For some people this is an aspiration. I definitely feel some sense of satisfaction knowing that I get to drive one of these which is 23 years old and it still feels great. If you see a guy in a Porsche similar to your current Porsche and another guy in a 23 year old 911 and you have a chance to talk to one of them, which one do you speak to? I guess thats an unfair question because you already have one and would therefore be more interested in the other one, surely.
Mark-996-911 said:
Go for it. I wish I'd bought one years ago.
I totally agree, there have been times over the past few years where a 996 got to the final two. I always picked what I thought was the safe option having been guilty of reading too many stories of expensive bills. Now all I think is i should have bought one sooner.Swine Enthusiast said:
Quick question;
Given the current price boom, I am looking at freeing up some cash and selling my 987.2CS, and getting into a 996.1 Carrera. Am I utterly bonkers or should I embrace my horn for the 996 and go for it?
Given what you'd get for it, why not a 996 Turbo?Given the current price boom, I am looking at freeing up some cash and selling my 987.2CS, and getting into a 996.1 Carrera. Am I utterly bonkers or should I embrace my horn for the 996 and go for it?
Fast Bug said:
I’d drive both a C2 and a Turbo. I don’t think the Turbos are as fun, really rapid bits of kit, just not as enjoyable 99% of the time
Agreed. I’ve got a 996.1 C2 manual and I’ve driven a 996 Turbo and whilst the latter is an impressive beast it’s just not as engaging as mine is. An NA 996 has more than enough power and I imagine you can use more of it, more of the time? They might be 20'ish years old but they're still quicker than the majority of the other traffic you'll come up against. They're incredibly nimble on back lanes too an it always surprises me how quickly I'm travelling without even trying. 
Mark-996-911 said:
An NA 996 has more than enough power and I imagine you can use more of it, more of the time? They might be 20'ish years old but they're still quicker than the majority of the other traffic you'll come up against. They're incredibly nimble on back lanes too an it always surprises me how quickly I'm travelling without even trying.
Agreed Mark and with a few tricks they can be made to out-perform the TT. Here is a lowly early 996.1 C2 doing a 0-130mph run achieving 4sec to 60mph and 8sec to 100mph. Not to shabby for a chocolate engined old school ginger step child of a 911 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfDsbdjNDFM
CIELLA said:
Mark-996-911 said:
An NA 996 has more than enough power and I imagine you can use more of it, more of the time? They might be 20'ish years old but they're still quicker than the majority of the other traffic you'll come up against. They're incredibly nimble on back lanes too an it always surprises me how quickly I'm travelling without even trying.
Agreed Mark and with a few tricks they can be made to out-perform the TT. Here is a lowly early 996.1 C2 doing a 0-130mph run achieving 4sec to 60mph and 8sec to 100mph. Not to shabby for a chocolate engined old school ginger step child of a 911 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfDsbdjNDFM
Smollet said:
Fast Bug said:
I’d drive both a C2 and a Turbo. I don’t think the Turbos are as fun, really rapid bits of kit, just not as enjoyable 99% of the time
Agreed. I’ve got a 996.1 C2 manual and I’ve driven a 996 Turbo and whilst the latter is an impressive beast it’s just not as engaging as mine is. Extra weight? 4WD?Hoofy said:
That's had a few quid chucked at it!
It’s had more than a few quid chucked at it !!It’s speed is more a function of its hugely reduced weight rather than any massive power increase :
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=106137&postda...
Hoofy said:
Smollet said:
Fast Bug said:
I’d drive both a C2 and a Turbo. I don’t think the Turbos are as fun, really rapid bits of kit, just not as enjoyable 99% of the time
Agreed. I’ve got a 996.1 C2 manual and I’ve driven a 996 Turbo and whilst the latter is an impressive beast it’s just not as engaging as mine is. Extra weight? 4WD?Smollet said:
Hoofy said:
Smollet said:
Fast Bug said:
I’d drive both a C2 and a Turbo. I don’t think the Turbos are as fun, really rapid bits of kit, just not as enjoyable 99% of the time
Agreed. I’ve got a 996.1 C2 manual and I’ve driven a 996 Turbo and whilst the latter is an impressive beast it’s just not as engaging as mine is. Extra weight? 4WD?Slippydiff said:
Hoofy said:
That's had a few quid chucked at it!
It’s had more than a few quid chucked at it !!It’s speed is more a function of its hugely reduced weight rather than any massive power increase :
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=106137&postda...
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