"Nine-Year Itch"

I just ran across this amusing piece - not Porsche-specific but still relevant: Dyer Consequences: The Nine-Year Itch/ There's one quote I'd like to comment on: "People admire new cars and they admire thirty-year-old cars, but the nine-year-old car exists in a drab netherworld, neither new enough to confer status nor old enough to imply connoisseurship" In Porsche terms, this must be the 986/996 models. I had a 986.2 (S with no significant issues) and am thinking about getting another from that era. Our other two cars are as reliable "as a Lexus" because they are - 10 and 11 year old and LS and GX. But of course the 987/997s are newer, better performance, yadda yadda...but are they merely waiting to ratchet down another notch? I hate depreciation. There certainly doesn't seem to be a lower notch than the 986/996s. And I'm not really interested in an air-cooled. I wasn't compelled to buy one when they were in the $20K range so they are even less appealing (to me) when double that. Sure, there were zillions of 986/996s produced so they will never enjoy exclusivity. Yet that huge base of donor cars will ensure that body parts are available at reasonable cost essentially forever. But there are quite a few (mostly engine) "gotchas" from that era (IMS, RMS, AOS, MAF, d-chunk, MOST-bus, etc). I don't need a turbo, AWD, the fiddliness of the Targa assembly. I don't need PASM. Heck, I would be fine with rollup windows and lack of "climate control". About the only modern accessory I prefer would be a backup camera. And I like to know the outside temp. So...a 986/996 C2 would work for me. But it's possible it could have a catastrophic engine failure rendering it essentially value-less. It would **** me off, but wouldn't change my life plans. What do you 'listers think?

Ok waiting for Slakker to introduce his sales pitch here... C'mon Slakker, tell this guy what's up.

I bought a 996 because I was tired of waiting to see if the air cooled models would ever go down. That being said, I love it. I have driven 993s and early 911s and while they were fun to drive, they weren't as fast or comfortable as the 996. Also, I don't think the values are going to get much lower. Why? There's a generation of people who were kids when the 996 came out, so it's the one they lust after. As those kids get older the demand for well sorted 996s will grow, whilst the supply is continually dwindling. I didn't buy as an investment but I am willing to bet I could drive the car for 5 years and sell it for at least what I paid for it. If the engine doesn't grenade, of course. Slakker - isn't the '99 the best?

"People admire new cars and they admire thirty-year-old cars, but the nine-year-old car exists in a drab netherworld, neither new enough to confer status nor old enough to imply connoisseurship" This is true with a 9-year-old Honda, but my '99 996 and my '03 986 were both lookers. Anyone who things an aero 996 is drab in any way is insane and/or blind. My 996 still gets parked in front by the valets (between an R8 and a Maserati at Fleming's most recently); that's good enough for me. I don't pick cars for status or to demonstrate connoisseurship; I pick cars that I derive pleasure from driving. That other people seem to like it as well is just gravy.

Quotes source post: 13504997

If you have the proper one installed

Quotes source post: 13505003

+996 x 100000000000000

Quotes source post: 13504997

I like to shoot for both. Goes well with my pipe and smoking jacket.

Came here expecting to read jokes about the title. Disappointed.

On behalf of Slakker and as another Dual row IMS(B) early 1999 (98) car yes they are best, most reliable funpacked 996 of them all. Ohh and it has a 993 4 spoke steering wheel, so its almost like an air-cooled car really. Lighter, faster, better. I think that's what he would have said.

If only it was a little heavier, and a little slower, and smelled a little worse, and looked a little like it had been upholstered by Gilligan and the Professor...THEN it would be just as good as an air-cooled 911.

Quotes source posts: 13505003, 13505006

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://cdn.meme.am/instances/400x/65124194.jpg

Quotes source post: 13505070

Well, you could read the article I referenced.

Nine years ago was 2007, that's 997.1 territory. So, you're in the wrong forum. Seriously though, I think your penultimate sentence is the key. If it breaks, your life ain't materially changed. If you want one, can afford it, do due diligence, maintain it reasonably, etc. then go for it. Life's too short, YOLO, and so forth. All 911s are great cars. There are no wrong answers. Get the one that floats ya boat. Enjoy the hunt. Drive the **** out of it. And, if it blows up, as long as you or anyone else are harmed, you're gonna have some great memories...T

Quotes source post: 13504997

Um, did you read the article I linked to? He talked about BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Land Rover, Bentley...all of those would generally be considered desirable at 9 years.

More concerning here.......where is slakker?

Quotes source post: 13505608

Yes, I get that 1999 is preferred by many, especially Jake. But no drink holder or glovebox? Lacking the chassis stiffening of the 02+? Not to mention the glass rear window for the cab. And what about that dual row IMSB? Sure the failure rate is lower, but are you going to gamble or do an upgrade/Solution anyway? I don't know that I really had a point to my post, but I'm basically looking for a car that will eventually give me a little of that Magnus Walker mojo. I certainly don't want an aero - it's not like I'm a Jimmy Johns delivery boy - but something that's restrained and under the radar. Like when I was watching out the window of a local tavern and a dozen long-hoods quietly filled the parking lot. Aero, loud mufflers, donk wheels, booming sound - I'll leave that to others on this forum.

It really comes down to do you want a Porsche 911 or not? It's that simple, there is no other question to be answered. There is no point comparing it to other vehicles because frankly there is no apples to apples comparison for all sorts of reasons both good and bad. Want the most "bang for the buck?" get a Corvette. Want the most reliable? Get a brand new BRZ fully loaded for $28k. Want a car that's easy to work on yourself, get anything that's not a Porsche 911. As of right now, relatively speaking, all of the perceived "problems" of the 996 are instantly off set by the lower prices. Looking up and down the 911 spectrum anything prior to 1998 has doubled. Porsche 911 is not a logical choice in general, it's not. "There is no substitute." Cliche as it gets? Yep. But most cliches are loaded with truth. If you can't enjoy the car due to reading this forum - do not buy a 996 If you don't have $5,000 in cash ready to burn in a moment's notice with no regrets what so ever - do not buy a 996 If you have no plans to drive it on a race track (this one is personal) - do not buy a 996, this should be a primary motivation, "I can't wait to get this thing out on the race track." at least one time

^ That last paragraph is chock full of truth...T

Quotes source post: 13506070

Drinks holders and glove boxes just add weight , can't say I really miss them that much, and the door pockets are ample big enough for the stuff I need to carry. And yes I'm going to risk the dual row working just fine until clutch replacement time. After all its a 911 for Honda Civic money. I love the way my car looks, its clean and simple, no aero addenda goes like stink and pulls like a train (cliches all used up), and in all honesty the only people who care about the 996 being a "996" are other Porsche owners, everyone else just sees a 911. Drive both cars and see what you really need, if its cup holders and a stiffer chassis then buy a 996.2 see if you can find one with a reputable IMSB replacement (as these seem to have started to fail)its a third car for us, so I don't need to care too much about the practicality of it. Finally I should say I'm not a huge fan of Magnus Walker , I find his cars to be somewhat of a pastiche of what some people think Porsches should be. I'd rather aim for a Singer which distills all the best bits and makes them better. Kind of what Porsche did with the 996...................................

Driving to WY with the family. While skimming threads, 9-year itch seemed like something to be avoided. If you like the nostalgia of the air cooled, then a '99 with the mechanical throttle and no traction control will get you the closest. And I love EJ's last paragraph as well. For me, I lucked into the '99. It was the cheapest Porsche I could love and I got it well under my budget. If performance is your primary motivation, the '99 is an awesome platform to build from. If DD is your primary purpose, the niceties on the newer models will have more appeal to you than they probably did to me.