Air cooled guy thinking about a cheap 996

Am I insane for considering a really cheap 996 as a winter/city car? They are just so cheap how can one not consider one? So much car for the money. I have 4 air cooled 911's at my house and specifically love the 2 964 I have here, but they are worth so much money. Especially the 73' coupe. But I kinda have a itch for a cheap 996 for a car I don't worry about driving in the salt and leaving in the city on nights out. Which model would people recommend? I do understand that the IMS bearing hysteria and will generally ignore it. Curious to hear you guys chime in. My first post outside of the 964 boards.

No, it makes all the sense in the world as the 996 is not just a better 911, but also a better car than any 911 made before it. :-) 911's have always been great winter cars with the ONE exception of ground clearance. You may run the risk of high-centering it on snow days. In all seriousness though, there has been some concern noted relating to bore scoring potentially due to VERY cold starts.

Do it. They are very fun very comfortable cars.

Don't do it. You might not like your 964s anymore. :-D

Haha. Good responses. I am wondering if I would enjoy a c4 over a c2, and what year is commonly considered the best?

Get the g11.

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I (and many others ) drive a C2 year round, with snow tires and especially PSM it's great and worry free. The awd just adds weight. As with any Porsche generally get the best and newest you can afford or want to spend money on. Many people have their favorite year and some say an early '99 is the one to get but for what you are doing with it it doesn't matter. The Mk2 from 02 on has some extra niceties and a larger engine with slightly more power but overall there isn't any one year that anyone would realistically stay away from. Heck if you really want to cheap out get an early Boxster with a hardtop. Probably close to half the price and in town just as much fun I would think.

What the hell is a g11?

But the air cooled 911s are worth so much money, especially the 4 you have there, at your house.

Good observation Ahmet. Why I am considering a 996.

the word is inexpensive not cheap Matias are good winter cars

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No Miatas or boxsters. I am male.. I must say the 996 headlights are an acquired taste..But maybe they grow on me. After all, I do like fried eggs. After A bit of research it appears just like the 964, the c2 is the better choice. now what year..would like most hp/reliabilty for the buck.

Go for it , you will love it and question why you waited so long !!

99. Cable throttle and double row IMS bearings. Find one with full leather; makes for a very nice cockpit.

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Read this thread to find out: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-body-mod.html very The 996 is a great year-round car. Yep, save your 964s for sunny weekend days and retirement. If you live in an area of snow or a lot of rain(like Boston), the C4 is a good choice. Otherwise, I'd recommend a C2. In terms of "what years are best?" I'd recommend the second generation 996. Then you get a glove box, two cup holders, better looking interior, and 20 more HP. But, you will be plenty satisfied with the performance of any 996.

Being cheap to buy, and cheap to own are two different things. People are finding this out the heard way, when an engine costs more than their car (damn, its always been that way with a Porsche!). At least coming from a 964 you know what costs really are. I just finished restoring my 964, thank goodness its worth more everyday.

I remember when my 993 Cab was considered the inexpensive buy about 10 years ago, and the talk then was they would continue to plummet in value... IMHO 996 is in that same valley and ten years from now when they start to disappear because they were so *inexpensive* at this moment, that they all get snapped up or trashed heaped, the tables will turn again. My 996 C4 is so much more a better Porsche than my 993 ever was, so I think I will hold on to this 996 for a bit and enjoy what my 993 lacked.

I just picked up an "inexpensive" 996 and am using it as a winter sports car. It is way more fun in snow than any other car I have owned. 2003 c4 cabriolet btw.

I daily a 1999 996. Other than the fact that it is a 6 speed it is the best daily driver... Heated seats, merging power, fun, comfortable.... Decent gas mileage.. What else could you want? Regarding the styling... It is the same shape as the air cooled, better fit and finish... The air cooled had tons of cosmetic issues people "ignore" like monstorous bumperttes and crash bumpers, ugly headlights in the mid seventies early 80's.. The semi modern take in 1990-1992... People need to lay off the 996. It's an amazing car.

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Have you ever been in the same zip code as an air cooled car? Better fit and finish? That is so laughable I don't even know what to say. And the 996 is in no way the same shape as an air cooled car. Sorry, wrong.

Greg, get yourself a 2002-2004. There are a few upgrades, including HP, that will help make the car more satisfying and desirable when/if you sell. You may want to consider an auto trans like I have. If you do go tip trans you MUST go with a 2002 -2004. The tiptronic offers every single advantage a manual does but without the clutch. I own one and would never buy a manual again (unless it's a pre-1989). Be careful...you might never get back in those "old" cars again, except to move them out of the way to drive the 996.

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+996 a 99 offers many benefits over other MY.. Cable throttle, double row IMS, 5 chain engine & LSD on some... IMO, the best looking 996's are as follow: 1. 996 GT2 2. 996 GT3 or Carrera with Aero kit mk2 3. 996 GT3 or Carrera with Aero kit mk1 3. 996 Turbo 4. 996 c4s 5. 996 Carrera (no aero kit) mk2 6. 996 Carrera (no aero kit) mk1 7. 996 cabs (all)

Having spent a decent amount of time in a 993 and owning a C2 996 - you'll love picking up a 996 for a relative bargain compared to the air cooled cars. The 996 will be both very familiar and significantly different in a lot of ways. I highly recommend the 2nd gen 996...for reasons others have mentioned above. Driving the two back to back will be a lot of fun for you - you'll notice the revised ergonomics in the 996 first (ability to see all gauges, switches where you naturally expect them, consistency, etc...). You'll lose some of the charm of the 964 without a doubt - and without some Fister mufflers (or equivalent) you'll miss the air cooled sound from the stock 996. Lastly - the air cooled cars have that "hot metal, oil and leather" smell - it's missing in the 996. Let us know what you end up going with!

As a dyed-in-the-wool air cooled owner for over 35 years, last year I picked up an '02 996 to make into a (street legal) track car. I've been very pleasantly surprised with the car and really enjoy driving it both on the street and track. However it is a very different car from the air cooled cars. I would not have it in place of my 993, but in addition to the 993 they make a wonderful pair and offer a great comparative experience. Own and enjoy both! Cheers. Porsche993.jpg 996%20M-O%201_zpsukqgmuo4.jpg

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You'll probably get different answers in the 964 and 996 forums. You can guess what folks here have to say! Just do it. You'll enjoy it.

Insider tip: The factory gives the Guards Red models an extra 25 hp. And +1 for the '99 model with full leather interior. MK 1 with aerokit will make you wonder why your 964 is worth so much more. BTW, my first Porsche was a '90 C2 coupe - it was a great car. I put about 38,000 miles on it over 5 years - was basically my daily driver. But, I like the 996 model better. Still, I'm glad that I got to own and experience an air cooled car. Whenever I feel nostaligic about them, I open a bottle of oil and take a big whiff.

Let's see...in this thread, OP has bashed 996's for being cheap and ugly, and has also worked in a dig on Boxsters. It seems that OP has ticked all of the boxes on the "Am I supercilious and egotistic" questionnaire... OP, despite the fact that 996's are stunningly cheap - bordering on worthless - and so damn ugly they'll make your eyes water, especially when viewed anywhere near the Christ-like aura emanating from your lawnmower-powered 911's, they are decent cars. If you're willing to lower your standards enough - or perhaps adopt a disguise so the other octogenarians at Duesenbergs-n-Decaf won't recognize you - I think you'll enjoy it.

better tip: as old mechanic explained, red is color of a ho - only ferrari should be red tip#2: buy a C4S - much better looking and driving car and will actually start appreciating a bit instead of rapid decline of narrow body tip#3: use the word "inexpensive" not cheap. just like you would use the word "wheels" instead of rims.

Haha. Good responses. Keep them coming. About to go for a ride in the oil and Leather smelling lawn mower now. Sorry for the use of the word "cheap" meant inexpensive. I see the benefit of all Porches. Just fun to tease.

YOLO. DO IT.

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Hey, 10 points for not getting butthurt.

IMHO, the wide body 996's are the way to go. I like the look of the 996 in wide body like a C4S. I agree, you should have one because they are so inexpensive and you can't put miles on your air-cooled P-Cars anymore.

Although all of the 996 family have suffered in price, the mk1 seems to be the bargain of the basement. Although the C4S is a decent deal as well. I bought in a few months ago, and am delighted with the value so far. If I had it to do over again, I'd look more at the C4S depending on where you live, and what kind of conditions you'll be in. Oh - you are not insane. Buying a +$80,000 car for $17k once it's depreciated is clear evidence of sanity.

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And he spelled "boxter" correctly. Award another 10 points.

OP I'd go a manual 996 you'll enjoy it more

Somewhat serious response: OP, since styling/beauty is purely subjective, pick out what you fancy most; in the end, you're the only person whose opinion matters once you write that check. That said, allow me to chime in with my two cents. I prefer narrow over wide body styles. I first fell in love wit 911s during the 964 era and it was always the narrow body Carreras that seemed most beautiful to me then, and I continue to feel the same way now. My first foray into Porsche ownership was a 1997 2.5L Boxster. I purchased my 996 C2 last summer. I find I prefer the revised headlights of the second gen over the original fried eggs. Caveat: I did not hate the styling like so many diehards and have always considered the 996 sensual to the eye; I just prefer the shapes of the revision more than the original. As such, my personal preference led me to 02-04 cars over the 99-01 inventory. I love the activity of driving on a daily basis. Hence my insistence on buying a manual. (Yes, I daily my C2) Stupid hills in downtown Seattle? You bet! I wouldn't trade it for a Tip nor a PDK but that's purely because I prefer the action of rowing my own gears and using a 3rd pedal. Tips work just fine by most accounts and make living with a 996 on a daily basis just that much more comfortable for most. You'll have to decide for yourself if that's a positive. My path to 996 ownership was driven by my long love for 911s but in large part by economics of course. I make a modest but comfortable living and my dream of 911 ownership was only accessible due to the low cost of entry afforded by the state of the current 996 market. I found a moderately priced, high mileage C2 with a great service history that included all of the major points of concerns already addressed (IMS first and foremost) and I will say without a doubt it was a great decision. 10K miles later, I don't think I've ever enjoyed my daily commute the way I've done so since August. I know for a fact I've never enjoyed spirited driving more so than in this car and I'll continue to enjoy the easy, guilt-free ownership of my 996 for a long, long time to come. (Apologies for being long-winded.)

A wide body makes sense when you're laying down more horsepower and need the extra tire width, and maybe if you're trying to get that extra couple of MPH out of the corners on whatever track you're racing. The widebody 996 looks overdone to me - like the whale tails on some of the air-cooled cars, it looks cartoonish, and not in a good way. The whale tail has always seemed like a bad example of form following function...engineering's not-so-subtle solution for too much lift and insufficient cooling...let's just strap this enormous rubber and metal contraption to the back and call it a day. But some people LOVE the widebodies...*shrug*

Do it. I have a 993 RUF, an 89 911 and two boxsters. I LOVE driving my 98 stripped out boxster I picked up for $3,800. I drive the boxsters more than others.

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I'll choose Keri Russell or Keira Knightley over Big Momma any day. But that's just my opinion....

."

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Blasphemy

I could pick up a cheap 99 Boxster in Boston for $3500 and thought a great car for my gf. I understand they are great driving cars, but not enough horsepower and not for me overall.

The only regret I have about buying my 996 is that I stupidly sold my Boxster - the 996 offers a great driving experience, but the my '03 Boxster was sublime. It had NO nannies beyond ABS - no PSM, no nothin' - and it was a true joy to drive. It certainly isn't a thousand horsepower Veyron, but 230HP for a sub-3000 pound car is plenty unless you're racing between lights. Since it had 70ish fewer ponies than the 911, there was an excuse to wind out each gear, and bouncing off the limiter in second at 70+ while merging onto the freeway added something to every single day. I miss that car a lot. Seal grey, black top and interior, with side skirts. The 996 is a lot of car for the money; the 986 is a ridiculous amount of car for the money. I love the 996 coupe and wouldn't trade it, but dropping the top on the 986 after a long day at work was more than just enjoyable...it was positively therapeutic. The 996 is an awesome car because it's both intrinsically great and it's a 911. The 986 is an awesome car in its own right, sans decades-old pedigree. If I had room, I'd pick up a 986 or three. Since OP has gobs of money, he should get at least a half-dozen or so.

Drove my Boxste' about 150 miles yesterday. I have to admit, afterwards I somewhat felt like baking muffins or doing some macrame or curling up with a Harlequin Romance novel. That's the main drawback of the Boxste'.

Then never get a Miata. I constantly want to fondle another man's genitalia after driving it.

Kalash, I think DT is hitting on you.

always thought boxster's were woman's cars? at least thats what they're saying in the 928 forum?

My thoughts exactly.

I'll trade you my '03 C4S for the '73 and cash.

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Wait, what? The 928 guys own and know how to use computers? When did this happen?

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The Porsche design guys drew them in with an OBC from the start but the HUD was withdrawn as it was still using a Crayon font display so as not to confuse Clarkson to much.

Yeah, when I get back from driving the 928S4, I pull the dust cover off this bad boy and use it to hammer out some really funny Rennlist commentary on contemporary pop culture such as the "Where's the Beef?!" lady. (May she rest in peace)

I don't know , a nice 928 s4 manual on poly bushes , coilovers and tweaked brakes is my idea of the ultimate v8 muscle car . For the op this thread has some good 996 articles https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-articles.html

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Have you considered upgrading to a portable? It's great to see the Porsche community so quick to adopt new technologies. Here's a photo of John Ireland with his brand-new "mobile cellular telephone:" And, of course, Hurdi snapping some candid shots of his nieces:

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I have... The fender gaps and bumper gaps are so big you can store extra air fresheners to keep hot oil/metal smell down.. As for the shape. It is the same. Say what you want, the shape is akin to each other. Unmistakeable 911.. No-one confuses my car for anything else.. Don't get me wrong. I love the air cooled ones.. But hate on the 996 is rediculous.

Probably based on some deep seated resentment of the fact that we get this great experience at less than half the price.

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Valid point!