Hard decision this week

My 02 996 is getting long in the tooth, recently I ran into the first issue that I wasn't ready for or wasn't covered by the extended warranty. It's not a big deal just need a new cat but thats put me in and out of my dealer a lot lately. Long story short they have an 09 C2S PDK, the car I want to upgrade to at some point. The deal is good but it's outside what I should spend right now. So after looking at all the options I'm going to pass on the deal. At the end of the day I still love driving my 996, it has plenty of good miles left in it. At some point I'm getting a 997's or Turbo just not now. On the bright side i'm upgrading my cats to Fabspeed with the mufflers happening later this year. While that won't equal a 997 it will make it new and improved. I think i'm making the right call, right?

Quotes source post: 9581666

If it were me I might not buy that 997 but I would start following the market closely, figure out exactly what options you want, and then when you see a good deal pounce on it! Maybe it won't be for a year but in my opinion there are some cars that are just better deals than others. Yes, sometimes a lower price is because of issues but not always. Enjoy your 996 but keep your eyes open!

I plan on keeping my '02 healthy until I can afford a used 991. To me, the 997 is just a warmed over 996. I test drove a 991 last week, and I about wet my pants. The difference was incredible. As they get newer, it's all about the money and what you want to afford.

Quotes source post: 9581666

losdeanos my long term plan is the same as yours. I am going to enjoy my 996 for probably 1 or 2 more years, then start looking for a 2009 997 or possibly a 996 turbo. I think your making the right call because in another couple years the 2009's will drop in price around $10k,while our 996's will not drop nearly that much.

I've considered selling my 2002 C4S for a newer 911, so I understand your dilemma. My C4S has over 111K on the clock, and it seems to get more expensive to keep on the road every year. The latest major repair was a rebuild of the front differential, which cost me ~$4,000. My wife says I should consider selling it and buying a newer model. One of the issues that I have is that I own my 996 outright. I have no car payments. With kids in college for the next 5 years, I'd rather keep it that way. I'm not in a position to pay cash for a $60K+ car right now. I agree with perry on the 997. They are very nice, but they aren't that different from the 996. The 991 is a bigger upgrade. When I do upgrade, my plan is to go for a 991 C4S or turbo. I think I'll buy a cab for the next one too. So in a nutshell, I'm making the same decision as you are making. I think it's the right decision at this time.

I had to make a similar decision a couple of months ago and decided to stick with my car in the end. The main reason? Lack of a payment and the low value of a 996 Cabrio with 114k miles. Granted I did have to purchase the IMS upgrade kit, new catalytic converters, new clutch, and new suspension but I figure I'm good now until I have enough pennies saved up for a 997 Turbo or 997 GT3. In the end I think it's the right choice as I'm still enjoying my car and it's all set for a few more years of service.

Keep the 996... and save. Be patient (don't even look or shop, so you won't get tempted). Once the money is in.... look for 6-12 months, you'll find something you'll like.