996 as a daily driver?
996 as a daily driver?
Author
Discussion

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Contemplating taking the plunge into 911 ownership

My choice is to get a nice 996 (circa £17k) and run it every day OR get an older car (say £12k) for weekend fun and a barge to run along side during the week.

What are peoples thoughts? Is an £17k 996 likely to be a pain to live with over 12k miles a year of mostly fast A/B roads and motorway and weekend trips to the under 8's football matches?

My sense is I'd be better with the barge as well. Does PH agree?


swilding

557 posts

280 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
It will be fine. I've been running my 996 everyday for the last 18 months with no issues and I'm sure others would be the same.

Just do it.

clarkey979

44 posts

233 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
996 perfect as a daily runner come rain or shine. In fact it's probably better to use it all the time than to let it sit there.

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
is it sacrilidge to consider a tiptronic for the daily grind?

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Two cars are always better than one though. 14k 911 and a tidy 3k E39. Job jobbed.

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Two cars are always better than one though. 14k 911 and a tidy 3k E39. Job jobbed.
You've been watching my other thread on the BMW forum

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
alfaspiderman2 said:
You've been watching my other thread on the BMW forum
hehe

No, but I've got an E39 Touring and a new MX5 Coupe at the mo. Recently had our first little one so the 5 is going in the spring and I'm also going to be chasing about 15ks worth of 996. They'll make a tidy couple on the drive.

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
hehe

No, but I've got an E39 Touring and a new MX5 Coupe at the mo. Recently had our first little one so the 5 is going in the spring and I'm also going to be chasing about 15ks worth of 996. They'll make a tidy couple on the drive.
I seriously tempted by an E39 after driving around in an 140k '98 528i for a week or so.

911 (997)

118 posts

269 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
alfaspiderman2 said:
Is an £17k 996 likely to be a pain to live with over 12k miles a year of mostly fast A/B roads and motorway and weekend trips...
Huh?

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
[quote=911 (997)]

Huh?

[/quote]

I mean am I going to resent the porsche when sitting in traffic or it's 6am on a wet M4?

Would I prefer to keep if for 'special' times?

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
I've had a 986S as a daily driver - swallows it up. Comfy, quick, nice place to sit, what's not to like?

996 will be absolutely fine. Better than fine.

993kimbo

3,003 posts

215 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Absolutely fine. As easy (but nicer) to drive than a Ford Fiesta. I'd have one in a shot. Once you get into the more expensive stuff, the fun goes out of daily driving. Too many worries, unless you don't mind (can afford) a few parking dings.

General Bilko

266 posts

216 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Just think how you'd feel when it's that rare perfect morning, clear road and great weather to wind the window down and hear the PSE at full chat. But it's Tuesday and you're in your barge instead. Life's too short to be driving crap cars if you don't have to.

Hungrymc

7,415 posts

167 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
I don't agree with the two cars thing.... I always found I wanted to be in the other car. So I started buying cars that did everything well - M3s and then onto 996 C4S. I've had it two years and put 40000 miles on it. I do have use of other cars but never really use them.

It is reasonably comfortable, cruises quietly, is an OK place to be in traffic, everything works nicely (heater, demist, stereo etc etc). It's lighter on consumables like tyres and brakes than the M3s have been, kids (6&7) comfortable in the back, drives past CRVs and Rav4s in the snow, the PSM is quite subtle compared to the beemers and doesn't intervene too early.....it's wonderful fun when you're in the mood to drive it hard.

They really are very, very good at pretty much everything and they're very viable for everyday use.

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Hungrymc said:
I don't agree with the two cars thing.... I always found I wanted to be in the other car. So I started buying cars that did everything well - M3s and then onto 996 C4S. I've had it two years and put 40000 miles on it. I do have use of other cars but never really use them.

It is reasonably comfortable, cruises quietly, is an OK place to be in traffic, everything works nicely (heater, demist, stereo etc etc). It's lighter on consumables like tyres and brakes than the M3s have been, kids (6&7) comfortable in the back, drives past CRVs and Rav4s in the snow, the PSM is quite subtle compared to the beemers and doesn't intervene too early.....it's wonderful fun when you're in the mood to drive it hard.

They really are very, very good at pretty much everything and they're very viable for everyday use.
I must confess that running one as my every day car in the winter is a concern. Is the Carrera 4 that much better in winter weather?

james S

1,620 posts

275 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
The 996 will be reasonably good every day. For my money its always better to run an automatic barge as an everyday car and a 911 or similar for weekends or when the sun is shining.

The savings on service costs and having a classic insurance poicy make a compelling case too.....

mollytherocker

14,466 posts

239 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
I prefer the 2 cars thing but have done both. I drove Porsches daily for about 10 years and loved it. I didn't get bored with them but some of the specialness is reduced.

I now have a 993 for weekends and whenever i fancy and use a comfy diesel stter for the week motorway sludge. It's the contrast that is fun. After the Laguna, the 993 is such an event, it's polar opposite.

PGN 500sl

3,047 posts

196 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
996 will be absolutely fine. Better than fine.
+1
Did 23k in a year in my 996. Not a problem.

Faultless.

General Bilko

266 posts

216 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
alfaspiderman2 said:
I must confess that running one as my every day car in the winter is a concern. Is the Carrera 4 that much better in winter weather?
This will be the second winter for my C4 (in East Angular) and I've not had any days when I couldn't use it, and I don't have winter tyres (which you could fit if you really wanted to be sure). Listen to your heart not your head smile

alfaspiderman2

Original Poster:

1,136 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Thing is, i just wouldn't go for a crap daily driver to feed my weekend habit - I need to actually enjoy the weekday waft as well as the weekend hoon.

I'm torn between, say, a nice £20k 4S as my only car or a £12k C2 and a £4k E39 530i (leaving a few quid left over to cover the 'risk' of having 2 older cars).