opinions and advice

Well, Unfortunately, due to someone else's carelessness, I am now without my Porsche. To make a long story short, a younger person (perhaps in his early 20's) carelessly made a bad lane change into my car a few weeks ago. His wheel hit my driver-side front wheel and I proceeded to take to the air. When I landed the car in essence bent resulting in a buckle in the roof, rear fender driver side behind door and Passenger side rear fender. Other damage included shattered oil pan, 3 bent or broken control arms (GT3), bent wheels, front fender, drivers door and trunk pan. The car was officially totaled on Friday and I am now considering what to do for a new (to me) sports car. To understand fully, my 996 was 1999 with options and mods: GT3 Control Arms GT3 Sway bars GT3 3rd radiator GT3 Sport seats B & M Short shift Lightweight wheels (factory 18inch) Turbo brakes Full Aero MK I Intake Fabspeed exhaust LSD PSS9 As you might have guessed, this car was built for the track by a track hound. I drove it in autocross and did not get the chance to take it to Summit Point (as I was eager this year to do so). This car was far from stock in handling and was just a joy to drive. It was also simple and raw in it's feedback. I have driven an 02 Aero to compare and it has more torque but mine was more fun and sharper in it's responses (even with the MO30 suspension). My old car's setup was extremely neutral and would rotate very quickly if you lifted mid corner. It was very easy to manipulate through a turn. My question: Will I be disappointed in the at limit handling of a stock 996 with an open diff vs my old car? I was toying with the idea of waiting until the face lift 997 cars come out (in what I assume is the 08 MY) which would lower the price of the 05-07 997s. Should I consider a 997 C2s? Everything I have read is that they are very good duel use cars (track and daily) Are they better or equivalent to my old car? Or should I look for another track built 996 knowing it maybe a while before I find one? Any advice is appreciated, Pete

get the after-market parts off your car before it goes to the wrecker!! You'll save thousands on building up another 996...

Agree you should try and get the parts but I bet you have to replace the parts you remove. If you do not have the original parts which I assume to be true I am afraid it will be between you and the adjuster. I think to him those parts will be worth nothing extra. Best of Luck and sorry you lost your baby!

I think you'll need to give them a complete car for salvage, be it aftermarket parts or OE. As for the original question, yes, I think you will be disappointed in any stock car since you enjoyed the mods to your car so much. Might I suggest that you find a car that you like, and then put on the mods that you want and/or need after that point? Finding a modified car set up just like the one you had might be quite a search. I would also imagine that the suspension mods are the biggest change that you'll feel, not an open diff. Unless you autocross a lot. On the track, it's not nearly as big of a deal. Sorry for your loss. Best of luck. Michael

Thanks guys for the kind words. Unfortunately, I bought the car with the mods so I don't have any original pieces. I will try to get the seats back as they where fantastic. I'm now beginning negotiations for the value of my car. Has anyone had the chance to try out the new 997 C2S? Is it worth the money? Will it be more or less as fun as what I had considering the handling is theoretically been increased? I do autocross a lot, is there a way to have one put in the next car I purchase? Thanks in advance, Pete

I've driven the 997 C2S. It's a very nice driving car and you certainly wouldn't be disappointed. I will opine that it's clearly not going to be as raw as your car 'was'.