Remember this article? 996 Values

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...lectible/Eight years on, I still find the article holds up well. Of course, the COVID years brought their own chaos, but even then the 996 never experienced a dramatic surge in value. I’m old enough to remember the disdain for the SC and, even more so, the outright dismissal of the 964. Yet, almost overnight, that sentiment vanished. I don’t see the same transformation happening with the 996, just like what the article suggests. Yes, values have crept upward over time, but aside from a few special Metzger-engine variants, the increases have been modest and largely insignificant in my view. I see so many videos online talking about how the 996 will go up in value. I've been watching that type of media for a decade. Good thing I wasn't holding my breath. In 2018, I purchased my 996 for $32K Canadian - $37K with taxes in. I think I would be hard pressed to get that for my car today. Even though original paint, 50000 miles, IMS Solution, clutch, RMS, AOS, WP, expansion tank, motor mounts etc. etc. I think there were just too many 996's produced, combined with the headlights, I doubt they will ever go up like and SC or 964, nevermind a g-car. In the end, that means the 996 is just that: A CAR. Drive them and never worry about them getting mileage.

One thing that the 996 will benefit from that previous generations largely missed until their values had already skyrocketed, is the increasing demand for normally-aspirated and "analog" cars. There is a growing aversion to todays modern cars and a growing appreciation for the older stuff. The 996 represents the last of the analog 911. It is comfortable and practical to use and drive on a regular basis, yet still "old school" and fun. But I think it mostly depends on the type of 996 in question. Of the non-Metzger 996 models, it depends on which you are talking about. The C4S and to a lesser extent the Anniversary and Millennium will continue to go up in value. Also the early '99 models. The C4S is the hottest of all right now. But in general, when talking about the Carrera and Carrera 4, it depends on Coupe vs Convertible and Manual vs Auto. I think coupe manuals will continue to go up in value at an increasing rate, but auto convertibles will increase only incrementally. Color combo also plays a large part in value. So it depends on which 996 you're talking about, its particular specs, and color combo. That being said, I absolutely agree to drive them and don't worry about the mileage. (In a way, lower mileage on an M96 motor can have an inverse effect on value. I steered away from lower mileage examples and sought out a higher mileage example that had already had an engine rebuild and other repairs done.)

You�re both on the mark. What�s exceptional about a 996�s �value� is the remarkable performance with available longevity and durability improvements and an appearance that, with some updating of interior and gizmos, still turns heads and flips hearts. I don�t believe any other $30,000 car comes close. I keep mine because I can fix most anything on the car for a reasonable sum and I really can�t find any other car (except maybe an E46 M3) that would be as rewarding to drive.

I actually bought a 996 precisely for this reason. It's a wonderful sports car that I can drive without worrying about wearing it out or damaging it, etc. - because it is not "collectible". My former 911 and 930 variants became increasingly valuable and so it became more impractical to use them as "drivers", and so they became, for me, a lot less fun to own. Plus the air cooled cars are going to start getting into a situation where owners are going to struggle to find shops who have technicians who actually know how to maintain those cars. Even the independent shops - those people are retiring and passing away. And the new versions are not what the 911 used to be - they are terrific but I don't need one. And those air cooled cars all have items on them that require maintenance at some point: mag cases, carbs, linkages, head studs, exhaust valves, rod bolts, clutch guide tubes, rubber swing arm, Jetronic, Motronic, bad wiring, bushings and on and on. The 996 is just modern enough that it shouldn't require constant maintenance, imho, and I can do almost all the regular maintenance myself. Engines and transmissions and ECU replacements, etc. are all still available if needed. I think in a few years, ICE vehicles will begin being taxed, or charged based upon miles traveled, or insurance risked or "some other fee the bureaucracy can come up with" to the point it will be obvious to move to something like a Tesla 3 Performance trim - so drive the 996 until then and let it be crushed and recycled when the time arrives - or converted to EV and more zoom zoom.

According to google AI here are the production numbers by model. 964 Approximately 62,172 993 Approximately 68,029 996 Approximately 175,164 997 Approximately 212,964 991 Approximately 233,540 992 Approximately 96,603 (as of end of 2023) If you are looking for scarcity, then you gotta look at 964, 993 and GT models with the 996, 997, 991, 992. Porsche sure built a hell of alot of 997s and 991s. No scarcity there except GT. I doubt the 992 sales will exceed the 997 or 991 in total volume. Porsche is struggling with US and China sales. Add in the expense of all of the techno complexity. Part amd service prices and the 991 and 992 models will fall like a rock as they come off warranty. I will go out on a limb and say that in spite of 175k production units, the 996 will continue to catch the fancy of those that want a reasonably priced Porsche that they can refresh and drive. As a result, prices continue to rise. Slowly but deliberately. Too good of a deal to pass up if you want an excellent drivers car for a great price including refresh items.

There are a crap ton of articles and YouTube vids on the topic simply for content� or rage bait. It�s crazy that people need to justify buying something other than you buying it because YOU wanted it. Covid padded the 996 numbers because the gap to a clean 997 was sizable. There are a couple guys in our group chat that swear our cars are going to be more and more expensive for reasons other than inflation. That said I wanted a slate car and ended up with my particular 996, then realized the first owner checked most of the boxes after the fact.

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://th.bing.com/th?q=What+Me+Worry+Alfred+E.+Newman&w=120&h=120&c=1&rs=1&qlt=70&o=7&cb=1&dpr=1.3&pid=InlineBlock&rm=3&mkt=en-US&cc=US&setlang=en&adlt=moderate&t=1&mw=247

Quotes source post: 20342513

I respectfully disagree with your comment on 991 & 992 "dropping like a rock" once out of warranty. Hasn't happened yet from what I can see/find. In fact I think the 991 series will go up in value just like the 993 did because of being the last of the NA cars....but only time will tell. It's all in the persons subjective value......I've seen 996's sell for mid $20's to low $30's with 120K because the buyer wanted the car....it all comes down to what someone is willing to pay for it. If you look hard enough you can find low priced ones and high priced ones......that goes for any car in today's market. I'm just glad I'm not a Ferrari SF90 or F8 owner who bought 2 years ago.....those cars (although beautiful) have lost half their value ($400k min.) in today market!

I remember thinking the person who wrote that article was a moron. Nope, he was right. Too many manufactured, way too many neglected examples for sale and real mechanical issues. The 996 is a great car but it will always be the cheapest entry into the 911 world. That�s not necessarily a bad thing. When adjusted for inflation, the value of my �99 Carrera coupe manual that I purchased 5 1/2 years ago (and spent $$$$$ in preventative maintenance on) is worth about the same as I bought it for. My 996 should keep pace with inflation for the foreseeable future. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

If we all use the logic that high production numbers dictate falling prices, then the 991 should fall like a rock, since its the most prevalent 911 model in history.

No matter how great our 996's perform and bring smiles to our faces, we all know that it's styling that sells cars, and I think the C2 996 being the "least 911 looking" 911 in its 62 year history will always be reflected in its value. Even with the slab-sided body, dated interior, and problematic M96, if Porsche had released the 996 with the 997's more traditional headlights it might well be a $40k classic these days.

Well, the nice part is that none of this really matters unless you're planning to sell your car. It sure is a nice thought exercise if that's your jam. During my last 5 years I've put in a good amount of coin into the car and have never once thought about if it's keeping up with inflation or whatever internet trend that is currently all the rage with regards to values. I make the car what I want it to be and drive it getting the type of experience I want. I just watched Doug DeMuro poke some holes in the leather on his 993 Turbo so he can install a car seat for his kid, enjoy the car together and pick him up from school in the "fast car". That's the value I'm after. If I want to keep up with inflation I'll just put some money into S&P500

Its a fun exercise to go thru and argue about. At the end of the day its all about supply and demand. More sellers than buyers and prices fall. More buyers than sellers and prices rise. There are always those folks with "happy feet" and just turn-over cars for whatever reason, and there are those that buy what they want, keep it for the long haul and service it along the way. Thats me with my 996. 23 yrs of ownership and still havent found a better 911 model to own. Its a true drivers car. Yeah, and i couldnt care less if the price if the car goes up or down. Its the enjoyment that you get. But any Porsche will cost you.

Quotes source post: 20343681

I would argue that we have been mentally conditioned on this thru media BS since they dont know what else to talk about and click bait bait their way to eyeballs. As soon as I saw the 996.2 back in 2002 with the unique headlights, I wanted one. I still think the 996.2 is a better looking car than all the other 911s. Looked at plenty of 993s and 964s while i was shopping for my 996 and just didnt think they looked nor handled as well as the 996. So i got a 996.2. But hey, I have had the chance to test drive pretty much all of the 911 models on the track as an instructor over the past 18 years and still havent found one I prefer better than the 996. While I do think the 991 is a very good looking 911, I think the 992 is ugly as hell with all of the angles. As well as think m the 997 interior is ugly as hell. So the point is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And it seems that more and more people are taking an interest in the 996. All good.

I forgot to mention the factory Aerokit coupe manual cars, those things are bringing good money.

Yep, anything with a pretty color, low mileage or Factory Aero gets a premium. Same w/ C4S and 40AE.

Doug DeMuro �The 996 is actually the last analog 911� You Tube

Quotes source post: 20342410

My sentiments exactly. I have had a 356SC, a few 914s, a few 911s, a 964 Turbo+RUF mods, and currently a 1972 911E Targa and a 2002 996 C4 Cab. The 996 is my favorite of the bunch. Its "Fun per Dollar" factor is the highest. At 132,000 miles, except for the unnecessary IMS upgrade (yeah, the original looked fine at 110,000), everything else in that car is original as it came from the factory (other than consumables - tires, brake pads & rotors, serpentine belt, fluids). I have made many cross-country trips with this car with no issues. Just this November I drove it roundtrip NC - TX - CO, and I plan another roundtrip this December NC - TX, and maybe on to CO. I only do an oil & filter change before each trip, and have experienced NO problem during these drives. Not many 23-YO cars can do that with aplomb - - if only the speedometer could talk.

Quotes source post: 20342410

*cough* 2006-2008 BMW Z4M Coupe *cough* The roadies are great too, but I'm biased. Although I sold my Z4MC after getting a 996, I still fondly recall the driving experience. I recommend the car to folks all the time. The 911 is much more practical and daily driveable, which is a comparitive weakness in the Z4M and which is why I chose the 911 over it. The driving experience however was sublime. I'm pretty far past worrying about the future value of my 996. I have spent far more on the car than I could ever recover at resale, and I have done (and will do) things to it that probably hurt its prospects as a "classic". I don't care. I want a certain experience from the car and I want to improve its reliability. And then I want to continue to drive the bejeezus out of it.

This is all great reading. My thought is that the number of well maintained 996s that haven't had more than two owners is in the low single digits as a percent of the entire production. This is based on my six years of reading 996 CarFax's from cars nationwide. I estimate that this is significantly below the same stat for any other 911 generation, so it's not that the market has too many 996s, it's that its the one generation with the greatest number of owners who didn't really care enough to keep the car. As the second owner of a 996 cab, I find this astonishing. You can't find a better used car. It's the only used car where every single defect and time/age failure point has been documented in full, so you will never have a surprise repair. You might not like the cost, but the failure won't be one no one ever heard of before. And it is a blast to drive on the street and the track. When I die, this car will go to my heirs (who will probably sell it because of the headlights).

I had a choice when I bought my Carrera. Did I want to deal with rust or replacing an IMS bearing, once? After adding the UAOS Track and running +1 QT, the IMS bearing issue is moot. Did I want modern safety features like airbags? How about air conditioning that works? (While I drove for decades without a/c, I'm a ***** now). I have over 300 HP in a car that weighs 3000 lbs. When I was out on my last spirited drive with my bro's running earlier 911's I was wondering, "is that all you got?" The 73 Targa, although mint vanished in the rear view mirror. The stock 930 Turbo, a vaunted car in my book, wasn't leaving me. Bore scoring? Oil analysis from SpeedDiag and Blackstone tell the exact same story. As far as appearance goes, how does this not look like a 911? (Those plates are dead) I just watched a decent 2003 996 on BaT go for $45,000