2001 Cabriolet opportunity landed in my lap...

So I have been out of the porsche scene for 2 3/4 years and my last adventures culminated with the sale of my 86 944 that was mostly track car and collecting more dust than miles. Had old blue for 17 yrs and it still hurts a little! So I had figured I'd get back in someday when my kids (2&5) were older and the new house was purchased with more garage space. Boxster s, cayman, I dunno but something fun and trackable but not nearly track only. Enough of the prologue... A 2001 cabriolet opportunity landed in my lap. 6-speed silver no accidents clean and straight 43k miles 7 yrs records that DO show a RMS with clutch job 10k ago from a reputable shop. Mine for about mid teens. Am am I crazy to think this a family sports car that could scratch this itch for a good while to come? Is this early 996 "so unloved" I might as well wait and go boxster or something? I wouldn't even be asking this to the collective if it was a S coupe I think. Never really considered the cab. Aside from a good PPI, anything else really bite the wallet on these to look for? As usual, Thanks in advance for any replys!

Does it have the hard top?

A coupe will be better on the track but lots of people enjoy taking their cabs out there also. Can this scratch the itch? Absolutely. As someone that used to judge all cars by their 0-60 times I can tell you that these cars are an absolute blast!

The 996 is an awesome car, both on and off the track. I prefer the coupe but I have seen many cabrios at the track and their drivers seemed to be having just as much fun as me.

Just do it. They won't be cheaper. And are a blast to drive.

Mid-teens is a great deal, just PPI it and get the oil filter checked. Unless that turns up something major, I wouldn't hesitate.

It's a slick, capable car with smooth lines that you can chuck around a bit

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I agree. Also mention all the recent problems some of these cars are having (Tops/windows acting up, IMSB, RMS water-pump, AOS, keys not working, plastic parts getting brittle with age) and maybe get a few more K's knocked off...

I was never a Cab kind of guy. Never drove one, never had the desire. I'm a dark beer, spirits on the rocks, kind of guy. That said, my wife really wanted a cab, and since she was generous enough to let me buy a, for me, expensive toy, I said, hey, what the heck, can't be that bad, right? Well, two years later, I have to say, if I was buying a car exclusively for track use, it would be a coupe. For just DD and general road driving, I"m absolutely LOVING the cab. Closest I've been to the feeling of a motorcycle (and I'm a lifelong motorcyclist...not "biker"). Brilliant leaving office after a long and painful day, to hop in, drop the top, hear that lovely flat 6 growl, and engulf myself in the indescribable feel of a Porsche 911. Blows a days worth of crap off by the time I'm home. All that said, and I"d buy a cab again in a minute now, do pay attention to the top and it's actuation. A lot of moving parts that have to work properly together.

That is an awesome price so get it before someone else does

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I hate buyers like you. The car's a steal as it is... why be a dbag over it?

Bargaining is a part of the process and culturally acceptable in our country. I'm not sure why you would call someone a dbag over it. It's just good business.

You don't point out things that 'might' break in the future. That's craigslist nonsense and childish.

Lighten up, Francis.

I will go watch Stripes in your honor. I have a thorn in my side right now from having something listed on Craigslist and all the idiots that come out of the woodwork asking for 'deals', meeting halfway across the state, and promising to come buy only to find out they don't really have the money. And let's not forget about the guys that offer "Cash" to buy... as if I would sell it for gum.

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No kidding, I must be a Dbag also, I got mine down 5600 bucks just talking with the owner about the 996 issues. if he didn't want to sell it, he shouldn't have. he was happy and so was I.

I'm the last person to talk someone Out of a 996; sharing one with my 4-year-old daughter is a highlight of my life as a gearhead. Just a reminder that making room for the top/works puts the cab's rear seat back Bolt upright-- not as comfy back there, for anyone, as the coupe.

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Just unbolt the and remove the seat back and have someone make a thin pad like the r-lister from Hong Kong did for his 12 yr old daughter. Also works for baby seats.

LOVE my 2002 cab! You'll love yours too! I took this pic in Pescadero, CA on California Highway 1. IMG_6056_zpsfn7wwpqh.jpg

I think your plan is fine if you want the occasional DE experience with the car being primarily street. I owned an 01 911 coupe. I absolutely loved it as a street car. The one time I took it to the track, I didn't enjoy it much because of the massive understeer. I am an experienced track guy with a modded track car complete with a full on race suspension. Thus my experience with the stock 996 wasn't unexpected. If you don't have aspirations to take the track hobby to the next level so to speak, I think this car is fine. If you envision going to the next level in terms of maxing your ability as a driver, and reducing your lap times, I'd say perhaps a cab isn't the ideal car for that long range goal. This car sounds like a real find!

Watched "What about Bob" with my 13&14yo boys last night. They loved it. I can't wait until they are old enough for Stripes and Caddyshack. That makes sense. Craigslist really kinda sucks right now. You have to sift through a lot of bottom feeders to get to the legitimate buyers. I pretty much only use it anymore for items I'm too lazy to take to the dump. Speaking of lowballers, I thought a guy had listed an item on RL for $700 so I offered him $600. He had actually listed it for $3000. Whoops! I definitely brought out the dbag in that guy. Just not intentionally.

Ugh... Having a severe lack of wifey buy-in here but she does have a point that I used to drive the ever loving heck out of the 44 on the track. Oh yeah, something about we're saving for a bigger house and slaying debt along the way... etc. I get my final say tomorrow and get my final look over. Heard there may be a "non serious?" Light or 2 on so maybe that will let me move on without as much regret. I DO see a heck of a family fun car here with the kiddos and such, never really looked at it that way till this landed in my wheelhouse. Maybe going 911 in some way may be a better bet for me in the long run? I honestly never considered it but I may seeing some light here. Hopefully I will have a good excuse to post here again sooner or later. Thanks for all of your impromptu input!

Let us know how it turns out.

Had my 2000 996 Cab for 13 years now. My kids were young like yours (3 & 5), and we used to take it out as a family for day trips all the time. Now they've outgrown it, so it's mine to drive daily. I take it on the track 2x per year. It probably doesn't handle as well as a coupe, but I don't care. It's still a blast. Take the plunge!

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Reading the second part of your sentence gives you hope for this purchase, but if your wife is like mine, she appreciates Porsche when they're owned by someone else. haha My wife can only stomach the 911 in small doses if you get my drift. She's a SUV gal that loves comfort and quiet while driving down the road. Anything that would potentially cause her misophonia or motion sickness to flare up would be a trip of through hell itself. However, my kids love the 911 when it's just them and me in the car. They think of it as our personal roller coaster. ha! So if you get the car, take the kids out for thrill rides and then take your wife out on a special date to thank her... on a regular basis that is.

One of the ONLY regrets I have regarding my 996 purchase: selling my 986. I do miss the drop top.

Do it, I'm not a cab guy, esp with 911's. However, that's just my opinion, I recently bought a s4 cab for a winter car that had to be somewhat fun for sunny and warm days. Having the top down and just driving is actually quite relaxing. For a quick (not fast), basic tourer type (not track ready, not manual, not fast) cab's are a great option. For a sports car, idk if I could own one. But I have driven a few Boxster's and a SLK with the top down and enjoyed them, just driving, not too spiritedly, just up and down the freeway or back country roads they can be a ton of fun - very different experience though.

As someone who bought a "family cab", I'd lean towards no. I have the Mk2 (2002), so it might be different. I think the coupe is the better way to go with some caveats. The seating position in the rear is more upright then the coupe, making it very uncomfortable. There is no rear seat latch for car seat in the cab, so it's seat belt only. The only car seat I've found to be snug with just the seat belt is the Maxi Cosi Rubi - which is a big seat and will leave no room for the front passenger (even with rear seat padding out) - especially because the pop up bar housing will push the seat forward. Also, that car sear is no longer made, so you will have to order outside of the country for a new one (I got mine from Switzerland). The pop up bar housing will also make the car seat more upright that normal - though the adjustability of the maxi cosi rubi does offset some of that. Also, anything above 40 mph gets tiresome for the rear passenger real quick. Plus, the cab is going to be more prone to squeaks and rattles, that's just part of the cab ownership experience. That being said, I love driving with the top down and the cab is still very capable car. I'd just be real about it about what you're going to use it for. I find I drive the car very little because my daughter isn't into it...I'm actually thinking of selling it.

I bought my C4 Cab just over a year ago. Had a Miata previously... and wanted drop top. I was looking for a nice 986/987 in the right range when I stumbled on the 996 C4 Cab. I don't regret it.

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I can totally relate to this. I have a son who is too big for a car seat anymore, but he still fits in the back seats of a 911 coupe comfortably enough. He was with me on some coupe test-drives before I bought the Cab and we made sure. Then I came home with a cab... and found out about the more upright seating position the hard way. It had quite an effect on his comfort level sitting in back. And over the months that followed, I found out that neither I, nor the rest of my family are much into convertibles. By myeslf, it was okay... but I was always being asked to close the top when it was me plus others. Even in comfortable low-humidity winter weather in the 70's and low 80's I was being asked by wife and kid to put the top up. And once it starts getting really hot and sticky here in spring/summer/fall I would have had the hard top on full time. I sold my cab three weeks ago and immediately picked up a coupe to replace it. Problems solved.

I'll be the voice of dissent here. A 996 priced under market value (which it sounds like this one is) almost always has a reason. That probably translates to between $1500 and $5k and there are probably other things that are or will soon be needed which will run a bill up on you. Given your current situation (trying to reduce debt and buy a new house) I would suggest passing and picking one up after all that is sorted out. The 996 is indeed a great car for your stated goals/desires, but if you are really set on getting one now rather than waiting I'd suggest spending the extra 5-8k and get yourself one that is already well sorted. That way you have less to worry about for sudden unexpected expenses.

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dissent* (gunning for #1, baby!)

How do you know I wasn't trying to be the voice of decency around here?

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descent, the voice from below...

Dissonant, cacophonous.

There seems to be a glut of cabs for sale...