How long have you had your 996?

I've been curious about this for awhile. I know there are very few single owner cars left, but how long are people hanging onto these cars? So how long have you had your 996 and how long do believe you will really keep it? I'll have to pull the paperwork, but we started the order process in early 98, finally got a build slot assigned in late 99, was built in Febuary of 00, and delivered in April of 00. So it's about to hit it's 16th year and as long as Porsche keeps raising the price of new 911s faster than I get raises, we'll have it until it can't possibly be resurrected.

2005 996 C4S. Purchased July 2014. Will probably keep it until I can no longer get in and out of it. I still have the 1993 Nissan 300zx we bought in 1994 so the P-car shouldn't be any different! Besides I like the P-car better than the Z anyway so expect longer ownership, but I am getting old!

I bought my 1999 996 in September of 2012, which replaced the Boxster I bought in '08. I will keep it forever*. * Unless I see something that blows me away as much as the 996 did when I saw it online.

I've had a 996 since Feb 2013, this one since Aug 2013. My days in a 996 are probably numbered. I really love the car but I just don't drive it enough to warrant the space it takes up in the garage. Unless we move somewhere that has on site storage options for the Miata, the 966, the RV and the trailer. Then probably forever.

Bought my 2000 C2 Cab in June of 2010. I plan on keeping it until one of us dies.

Became a MY99 coupe owner in sept. 2006.

Purchased in July 2014 and although I plan to keep it for a while, I'm self-aware enough to know that something else always comes along.... R

2004 911 40th Ae, I've had it for 2 yrs

Got mine a little over a year ago. Done a lot of work on it. Have a great time driving it (and it ALWAYS gets way more thumbs up than my 981 Cayman S). Plan to keep it a good long time… until that 600 million dollar lottery kicks in!!

It will be 5 years on January 30th.......look up my post "New Owner to an "Old" 996"... I will re-post on January 30th 2016, to celebrate my 5 years of ownership of this marvelous vehicle....now with over 90K miles......I cannot say it is the same smile as when I purchased it, but I must say it is still a great feeling to get behind the wheel and drive it..... It has NEVER left me stranded, it has started EVERY time, I have driven it from NC to FL, NC to NYC, NC to Tennessee, and now drive it at least twice a week to work (70 miles round trip)..... I love this car, and only death can do us apart......LOL

Newbie here. 3 1/2 MONTHS. Second Porsche though.

Bought my 996 in the summer of 2011 and sold it in the summer of 2014.

I purchased mine in June of 2015, I'll keep it until I want something different, I have zero emotional attachment to the car. Don't get me wrong I like the car, but in the end it's just a car.

Had my 2002 C2 since April 05. It's been a fantastic ride.

I purchased my 2002 C2 in August 2013. I can't see myself ever selling it unless it is to a family member. I never knew how much fun a car can be to drive. I have plans to add a 996TT to the stable to keep it company.

Quotes source post: 12906979

The 996 (and maybe 997 - I'm not as familiar) are the end of the "simple" Porsches - the center stack is now covered with buttons, and they all (courtesy of the DOT) have TPMS and a bunch of other crap. That's one reason I think I'll keep the 996 for as long as possible - it's not a PlayStation inside.

Purchased in March 2010, so I've had it about 6 years. No plans to part with it for now, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm keeping it "forever". The car was a bargain in 2010 and still is!

Quotes source post: 12907054

For me it was my 98 XK8. 17.5 years later my wife is still mad about how it just showed up with no warning, but if it hadn't been for that car she would have never gotten the 996 as I was raised believing that cars were just a tool to get from A to B. Of course it was about 2 months after I told her we couldn't buy a 1 acre lot on a NC barrier island for $70k (Jag was 75) because we didn't have the money. If I still had that car, it would be worth about $5k. If we had bought the land, it would be worth about $1.5M today Why she came back and married me (other than for the Porsche) is beyond me

January 2001....15 years. The plan was to be an old guy with an old Porsche. So far, so good. I, too, prefer cars to computers, so I'm more fond of it every year. 53,000 miles and driving it an increasing number of miles each summer. It sees more miles than than the other 2 so-called daily drivers.

Have had mine since April 2009. Probably will be forced to keep it forever because with 160k miles on it I couldn't sell it for anything. But eventually I do want a coupe and a track car to complete the Porsche trifecta. Then I'll have a car for whatever suits my mood.

Bought my 2000 C4 Cab in August of 2000 with 4,000 miles on it so I have had it for over 15 years. The 1982 928S I had before the 996 I bought in 1984 so I had it for 15+ years. 4 other Porsches before that so I have had a Porsche for 42 of the last 43 years.

Bought my MY99 cab in December 2006. The only way I'd sell it is to get a 996tt cab, but that's probably not in the cards.

Quotes source post: 12907121

+1

I've had my '03 Cab for 4 years. Third owner. Have no plans to get rid of it. Makes me smile more now than it did when I bought it. Attachment 1008453

Quotes source post: 12906544

Congrats on being an original owner of one of the last naturally aspirated Carreras.

Technically i just wrote the check. Her name is the only one on the title. I know my place in the world

In June of 2014, I became the second owner of a 2002 C2. Barring financial catastrophe, there's no doubt I'll keep it at least as long as the original purchaser did. Here's why I'll remain a 996er as long as I can: I flipping love driving it. It's a much more versatile and modern *car* than either of my previous 911s. It's not overrun with sensors and circuitry. And-- thanks to I*S hysterics and the flat-earth society-- a really nice example fit my utterly middle-class budget. Also, I flipping love driving it.

Five days for this one, LOL. But this is it I think.

Purchased my 99 C2 in March 2005, but only made it my daily driver this past year. No plans to get rid of it, it's been a solid car.

Bought my '03 in June of '05. Was sitting on the showroom floor, in Boston, with 2351 miles on her. A "trustifarian" traded it in for a cab. Had her ever since. She has seen tons of love in my 11 years of ownership, did the water pump, Motorsport AOS, coils, clutch and exhaust work. Now she shows 54k miles on the clock and sleeps for the winter. Simply a fantastic car on many fronts, never let me down, never left me stranded and can hold her own at the track......having said all this, later this year could be the time that I put her up for adoption..........I am getting ready to make a change...........

Quotes source post: 12907517

Yeah, ignoring all of the 996.2s, the entire 997 run and the 991.1s, gnat totally has one of the last ones.

Owned since Nov 15.

Quotes source post: 12907766

"one of the last", not "the last"

Had an 03 C2 since the fall of 2009, would love to upgrade to something newer, 04 GT3

August 2015 - my first one.

Sept 2007. I will likely have it for a very long time.

Bought mine in May 2007 following left hip replacement surgery. Might consider replacing w/ a 6-speed at some point in the future, but need to get thru my right hip replacement after this ski season. First P-car was a 968 and the 996 is so much more car in every way. It's the most reliable car I've ever owned, but I've been driving Audi Quattro's for the past 30 years.

2nd 996 since 2007, current one bought it Feb of 2012. I had plans on keeping this one for a little longer then my first one but i have been getting an itch for an TT. Or maybe an 997 c2s. Maybe i i will know exactly what i want when i go drive one of each back to back.

I bought my '99 in Oct. 2014. I don't plan on selling it. If I get to a point where I can't drive it anymore, and it's still running, I'll most likely give it to someone in my family...

Flew up to North Carolina 6 years ago to pick the 2002 4S up, almost to the day. I've invested a lot of time and $ over those years. I still feel fortunate to own that car. She has given me endless grins... The car is mostly relegated to track events and weekend sprints. I still have some upgrades in mind to make the car more enjoyable.

I bought my '03 in '06. (the '05 was added last year)

Quotes source post: 12906544

Well, you've got me beat. I special ordered mine in December 2000, took delivery in March 2001, so I've owned it close to 15 years now. Mileage is around 9,000. The car is about a year older than my daughter, who will be 14 in April. I told her when she turns 30, I'll give it to her. When I ordered the car, my wife made me promise that I'd keep it at least 10 years. After a few years of putting very little mileage on it, and seeing the resale value plummet faster than any prior Porsche in history, I decided there's no way I'm giving it away to some lucky buyer after just 10 years.

I bought my 03 C4S with 63k miles in Sept 2015; I am the second owner. I will be taking this car to my Indy later this month to replace clutch, maybe flywheel, and IMS bearing update so I plan to keep this car for at least 5 years. My other P-car is a 03 TT purchased in Sept 2014. I plan to keep this car for a long time.

It's cool to see a bunch of long time owners (and an original or two!). I expect we are still in the minority, but we appear to be better represented than I thought

2002 C4S Since Nov 2003

October 2014 for me!

'00 C2 since April 2012. 155k kms and an all-weather DD driver. Would love to upgrade to an affordable 997.1 C2S in a couple of yrs.

since July of 2014 found my 996 right here in the classifieds 2 miles from my house, doesn't get much better that that

2001 C2 bought in April 2009 w/51K miles.....it now has ~99K

Ordered my '04 in December of '03, build date in April '03 and took delivery in May '04. I've traded in too many nice cars in the past, gonna keep maintaining this one until I can't it's been a great car.

I've had my '99 996 for about 2 months. (Long story how.) I Love it even though I had to get new tires after a flat a month after. Had to dish out $600. On rear tires. Also got a engine light on soon after. After getting the code read, it needs to have the cam shaft sensor bank 2 replaced. ($1500.-$2000.) common problem with the 996 I've found out, thanks to this forum. It's costing me a lot to own a car that my belated dad said I had to own. He had a 356a. He told me I have to own a Porsche before I die. Don't get me wrong. I'm loving this car. I had a 400+ hp camaro ss. This car is nothing like that car. It's so much more. It's sooooo much fun to drive. It takes off fast and corners like no car I've ever owned. I can not get rid of this car any time soon. The 996 is cheaper than other Porsches because of its faults. (Read more on this site and you'll find out) that's why the 996 is much cheaper to buy then a year earlier and a year after.

This needs to be converted to a survey so we can see a visual of the results! The second love of my live was purchased after a 1 year search for an unique targa. Picked up an '03 CPO at Porshe of Colorado Springs with 24,000 miles in June of 2007. That was 34 years and 5 children after I sold a 1966 911 and a 1969 911E targa to satisfy a marriage commitment. (Moving to a new state and no job with two car payments was not in the wedding plans!) I have learned my lessons on selling a 911 for a low price. The 996 without all the electronic controls of today's cars will be in demand before we know it! The my targa is now at 48,000 miles with a trip along the coast highway from San Diego to Seattle in 2008 and many Colorado drives and almost every PCA autocross event. The car has received 3 blue 1st place ribbons at the last three Denver Concourse events! Maybe I am fortunate but tires are my only expense besides oil and filter changes. I do my own service and will be changing the water pump, spark plugs, and flushing the brakes before the next driving season.

One month now and still loving it!

3 years for me with my 2004 996, which replaced my 2003 Boxster. I plan to keep it for a long long time (unless I lose another engine, in which case it's toast!)

Dec 1 2015 and love driving it everyday!

Purchased it November 2014, unfortunately have only been able to do 5,000kms or so in it need to get it out more often!

Picked up the '03 in June last year and the '99 in August after being Porcheless for about a year. Sold the '86 in 2014 after 18 years of ownership. We did the his and hers thing before back in the late '90's / early 2000's. Then and Now:

2004 C2 since august of 2007 and 2004 C4S since october of 2011. I've been talking about parting with the C2 since I bought the C4S but knowing the car and it's long term service history it's difficult to let it go. One of those "makes no sense" deals that I have in my life, of which I have more than a few.

Quotes source post: 12913894

True, some of the 996 value issues are due to its known issues, and of course they also suffer because the lights don't look properly 911ish. The major contributor to 996 resale value is Internet paranoia, fueled by new-owner hand wringing. The sheer volume of 996's precludes most of them from being collectible - the surplus of supply far outpaces demand. Even if 10% of 996's have been scrapped/retired, that still leaves over 150,000 used 996's in circulation. Hard to drive prices up when there's a glut of supply.

11+ years with my 2004 40th Anniversary since new back in September 2004 - Love it today just as much (if not more) than when new. And 10 months with my '87 911 Carrera... I guess I'm going backwards with my 911 purchases

Third owner of a 2003 996.2 C2, purchased late January 2015. The car has been a dream to own and drive, with my only complaint so far being the weird hesitation with the gas at about 2200 rpm. Makes it look and feel like I don't know how to drive manual! Came tastefully modified by the previous owner with aerokit2, coilover suspension and control arms, exhaust and lightweight 18" TE37s (was a nice feature, with me coming from a Japanese car). Don't plan to sell it as long as I can continue to find it storage. While the "collector" value of a 996 is debatable, it hits a sweet spot for me in terms of modern comfort vs robotic (mine has no PSM, PASM or any other electronic assistance other than ABS). The chance of me finding another car that satisfies as many of my wants as this car at this price point is doubtful.

I've had my 2002 Targa a little under 3 years. Replaced a Honda S2000 I owned for 11 years. I'm 62 now so if my 996 behaves itself it might be my "final" sports car. With the exception of my S2000 I'd been getting a different sports car every couple years dating back to my first Austin Healey I bought back in 1970.

had my 1970S for 9 yrs., 1972"RS" for 17 yrs, 2003 for 8 years, and 2004 turbo 2 months so Porsches for 34 + yrs.

Second owner of a mint 02 c2. Got it with just under 25k in March 2014 and have loved every minute since. I did cave to the pressure and proactively went with the ceramic replacement part.

I bought my 2004 C4S Cab in the summer of 2011. I tend to get attached to things so I don't see myself ever selling it. My children have already told me that I'm not allowed to sell it or my Saab Sonett. When I'm ready for a new 911, however, I'm sure my better half will have different thoughts on the topic. -Eric

Quotes source post: 12930137

If that's the case then hopefully you've hired some feline help to make sure you don't have any more feathered visitors "admiring" it

Since she was brand new, 5 miles on the clock back then, 135,000 now. 2000 C4 Cab.

That makes three of us original owners so far on this thread.

It will be 10 years this March. Bought with 38,000km, now at 122,000km.

13 years+ 161k miles. orig owner

Bought my one owner MY 2000 in 2004, and lots of mods and tires later, it just keeps getting better. I too prefer the analog nature of this model, although the PASM has saved me on damp roads a few times. I use mine year round with summer tires on 18s and all weather tires on 17s. This model was my choice because I wanted to drive the wheels off it and modify it without impacting its resale value or feeling guilty. Mission accomplished. That's what Ferdinand wanted for these cars. That's what they do best. I intend to use mine until I can't.

Quotes source post: 12906544

I've owned mine for roughly 12 years. The first year it was a "driveway queen". After the first year I decided to actually drive the car daily especially since I had 1 more year of CPO to spare. I continued to drive her daily until 3 years ago and since then she's been a garage queen who's driven once or twice every month or so. I'd sell her if I could find a suitable replacement and that for me is a 997 or above Turbo.

Quotes source post: 12930158

lol not a bad idea. And, FWIW, that stupid claim is still open. They've, so far, stiffed me about $1K. It's far from over -- especially since I can't drive the car now given the weather/temps. I'm done with them as soon as the claim is settled though. -Eric

Quotes source post: 12937526

Damn that sucks Hmmm... We have a cat that showed up a few years ago. Would be more than happy to donate him to the cause of protecting your car (He's actually a good cat. It's our older cat that despises all other cats and wants to kill him )

Quickly coming up on my first year of ownership. Bought my 2002 C2 Coupe back in February of 2015 as the 4th owner. Daily driving and a bunch of road trips (couple over 1000 miles each) and I've put almost 15K miles on it so far. Not sure it'll be my daily driver forever, but for the foreseeable future, I don't see any reason to switch it out for anything else. Still puts a smile on my face every day I drive it.

Three years today. Happy Birthday Dennis.

Bought my 2003 C2 Cab in 2007, with 3 months of factory warranty left. Slowly fixing up the minor bugs (and major ones too) thanks to Rennlist people! Don't want to give her up, but I'm getting hints from someone...

So this is day three of my ownership. Went to the Porsche dealer that serviced it for the previous two owners. Their computer records only went back about four years but in the last two years the previous owner had the air/oil separator replaced, the waterpump replaced, and the motor mounts replaced, among the usual oil changes. Among the comments from the service people is one that "she" declined to have the AO separator changed after a small leak was noticed a year before. But it did get done when it became more obvious. Only fix so far is that the drivers door window regulator wasn't doing the little up and own dip when I opened the door so the dealer changed it the next morning.

**

I've had my 99 for about 14 months now....love it! Looking forward to getting the steering wheel and other goodies back with fresh Alcantara on them. I am also purchasing items for a stereo upgrade that I will do this year. Lots of interior mods so far.

5.5 years

I'll have my 2002 C4S for almost 8 years now. Love it. I like the newer 997's and 991's, but I can't part with what I have.

I have owned my 98' here in Australia for one year. Previous owner did only 1000 miles in 2 years. Car has really come alive with increased use. I have recently fitted coilovers which improved the handling so much. Other than that all the money I have spent has been on replacing interior parts to bring it back to factory fresh. I think most 996 owners are just regular guys who thanks to cheap prices could get a 996. 997's are double the price here and out of my reach. I actually prefer the look of the 996 and its interior anyway now.

1st Porsche. 2003 996 C4 Cab… on my 2nd tank of gas… so, recent purchase! I am, I believe, the 5th owner. Previously, she was clearly loved, and is in wonderful shape.

3 weeks ago...liking it thus far. Very different from the LS powered Vette world! Getting over that quickly. Attachment 1220084 Attachment 1220085 Attachment 1220086

02/13/2014

I had a Boxster for 3 years. Saw the 996 Cab on CL and thought I could make money for a quick resale. Bought it and on the drive home, the 996 just feels like an Armani suit vs the 986. Put it on CL and a day later, some guy came with $1K more cash than I paid for the 996. It was some kid that red lined my cold engine and I told him to get out. Needless to say, the 986 was gone in about 2 months. I miss the 986 every now and then; tight feel, great handling, cozy. But I must be getting older and enjoying the finer things in life... 996 C2 Cab Tip w TT Litronics

I have had my 4S for about 6 months now... Replaced the moto for it since El Ni�o was coming to California and happy I did for many reasons! I love my new money pit! Just had the wheels done over at Wheel Dynamics in El Monte. Great place for anyone looking for refinish or wheels, Eli was great.

Quotes source post: 12975319

Beautiful outside and in. You gonna stick with all season tires or switch to summers?

Quotes source post: 12975894

Thanks a lot! To be honest I cannot wait to replace these. Bought it with the Continentals and the previous owner put 285's rather than 295's on the rear... Plan is to burn through these and get some Michelin Pilots.

Quotes source post: 12975926

Sounds good!

2 years

going on 3 years, drove it for 6 months before parking it due to scored cylinders...

Quotes source post: 12970907

Great looking color combo, with exception to the seat inserts. Love the rest of it.

Quotes source post: 12980096

In person and on a white car especially, the b/w houndstooth looks killer. Not for everyone I suppose. Perhaps you'll like the new sport seats I'm putting in better then...

Quotes source post: 12980462

The existing seats would be great with alcantera inserts matching the steering wheel.

I posted when I bought it, January 30th 2011 as a birthday present (Jan 31). Original thread: �New Owner to an �Old� 996���.@ 42.5K miles. I posted again a few days ago: "5 Years of ownership...." Now @ 90K miles.............

Had mine 5 years and intend keeping it until I croak.

Purchased in August of 2024 after finishing up my 3rd bout of fighting cancer. I figured why wait until I�m an old man and can afford one. Because what I�ve learned in my 3 cancer battles in the last 26 years, is that tomorrow isn�t always a day away. I�m 48 now and who knows if I�d see 68? I emptied most of my savings and some of my IRA and bought my first 911. Don�t regret it for a second. Carpe Diem my friends.

Quotes source post: 19741484

That's beautiful to hear... got to enjoy each and every day because everything can change in an instant. And congrats on beating cancer 3x, you deserve to enjoy life! Edit: And nice car of course!

In a few weeks, I'll have owned my '01 996 24 years.

About a week, decided on this (�01 996 cab) as my first car as the popular Japanese ones (Supra, skyline, evo, RX-7) were about the same price where I am. Don�t need to drive for work so I�d thought I�d get something nice.

Do you still own this car I’d like a few picks of your car

@BWNikola may the Gods bless you and your 996 !! I have a good friend and Porsche Buddy who has had his 996 for for about 12 years ( i've had mine for 17 years) , he was on a wait list for a Double Lung Transplant for over a year due to a rare lung disease from raising Tropical big birds, and was on oxygen, he was contemplating selling his 996 in preparation for hard times after the Double Lung Transplant...I convinced him to keep the 996 for recovery/rehab therapy.....He did have a tough time and nearly 2 years of recovery, but he has thank me many times for convincing him to keep the 996 for recovery/rehab Therapy, and is now 6 years after the surgery and doing well and enjoying the 996 very much, he just led a Porsche group of 30 cars on a back road trip to Trissle for a Porsche Day..., The tinkering and mods on the 996 was very good therapy ....

Seven years and about 20,000 miles of smiles!

On December 6th, 2024, at about 6 PM it will be 18 years and 155K miles.

23-1/2 years now (original owner).

I�ve had mine for 17 years. Came really close to selling it a few times but couldn�t do it.

Bought 2004 C4S CPO in August 2005. It is a 2003 build and had 1 owner and 7500 miles. I�ve put 99k additional miles on it over the last 19 years and it�s still going strong. At the opposite end of the spectrum we also just picked up a 2001 C2 cab tip this past summer with only 19k miles and like 4-5 previous owners and always garaged, driven consistently like 500-700 mi/yr It drives and feels like new with no leaks. First oil analysis came back looking great, so optimistic the engine internals are in good shape. Makes me want to replace every suspension component in the C4S.

Quotes source post: 19741484

Good story. Is that a state of MA license plate? I have a 2000 C2 that I bought in March 2021.