First 996 recommendations - cab or coupe?

I'm looking at purchasing a 996 for something in the vicinity of 30-35k to serve as a daily driver. Based on looking at ebay, cars.com, etc. I think that this should be quite doable. I live in Austin, TX where the weather ranges from being HOT in the summer to the occasional 30s in the winter. A work friend of mine has said that convertibles have a limited period of use in Austin (basically spring and fall) before it gets too hot or too cold. I've never owned a convertible before, so I don't have any personal experience in this area. I'm sure this is a highly subjective topic -- but I thought I would ask for opinions anyway.

In south Texas I still make use of my convertibles, from dusk till dawn. Mind you they are not my daily drivers. I assure you, you wont be disappointed with either choice.

If you decide to go with a coupe, I have a great car for sale that just might tickle your fancy. Click the link in my signature for more info.

Cab with a hard-top - best of both worlds. Seriously, though - you can't go wrong with either. (Do you normally like convertibles? Have you had them in the past?)

depends on where you live... I hate to drive my cab with the top up (closed) to much noise and rattles, but since I live in socal I can drive my P everyday (if i had to) with the top down.

Coupe, personal preference. Can stand convertibles with the top up.

Given the fact that youo have never owned a cab, I would recommend a coupe. I have never been much of a cab guy, but my wife has owned a couple of cabs (not Porsches) about 15 years apart. One was in Corpus Christi and the other in Charlotte, NC. After each of the cars was gone, I asked her if she put the top down as much as she originally thought she would prior to getting the cars. In both instances she said she dropped the top only about 20% of what she thought she would use it.

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cabs hold more value...i think

I've had both coupes and a convertible - I'll stick with the coupe. The convertible was great in great weather, but not so much when the weather was bad - not just cold. Also, you may not be able to take your cab to a Drivers Ed event without modification, and that would be a shame. It's a great experience. Whichever one you pick, I know you'll have a great time. Bob

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I'm partial to cabs... and during my shopping phase I did notice there was about a $5k difference between cabs and coupes (cabs being higher)... I like the cab with the hardtop idea... but I don't have enough room to store one... Here in So. Cal there's so much more to enjoy in a cab... cruising Mission Blvd on a warm July night is what the cab was made for... $0.02... Rudy ---------------------------- '01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet '03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

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I can't stand convertibles with the top down! Seems like a lot of midlife men who needs attention that drives cabs.

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That's kind of like saying I hate coupes because all the guys driving them are hiding their baldness. (Sorry, George, baldING...) As you mature you'll find that you start to like what you like because you like it, not because of what you think other people think. The bottom line is that cabs have a lot of upside when it's nice out and a lot of downside when it's not (or when someone cuts it to get in). It's a personal choice.

they are differant cars, IMHO coupes are for driving, cabs are for crusing. I have had a cab before and took the top down any time it wasn't raining. They are fun, but only if you use them.

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Agreed. There are a lot of cheaper ways to get attention than driving a cab and to suggest that the reason for getting a cab is to get attention is less than polite. Here in So Cal we have good driving weather at least 330 days a year and probably 250 of those days are top down days, so if mine rests in the garage for 35 days a year, no big deal... and neither are the 80 days that it's too cold to put the top down... But you're right on point - I got what I got because I like it and I suppose if I worried about what people thought I'd be driving a Benz or Beemer instead... Rudy -------------------------- '01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet '03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

cab

I think just finding the better car is more important unless you specifically don't want a cab. For a while I wondered about all the older guys driving cabs, then realized that these were the very same guys who drove the ragtop MG's, TR's, Austin Healey's, etc., in the 60's -- so it was "natural" for them to drive a cab. If there is a SignificantOther in your life, finding out what that person likes may influence your decision. (Yet, a cab can always put the top up, but the coupe can't put the top down.) DE days do not require additional roll protection as it's built into the car. While it is true that someone who is "serious about the track" may want a coupe, the claim that they are faster for the average driver is largely unfounded. There will usually be greater differences due to driver skill, tires, etc., than you can attribute to cab/coupe weight or torsional differences. Some people may go faster in a coupe because they feel safer in a coupe & are more comfortable approaching their own limits in one. A 2003 Excellence article compared a 996 Turbo, a cab and a Boxster at the track and preferred the cab, saying that with the top down (which added a little more weight in the rear), it made the car more fun to drive. If you can garage the car or are not worried about the neighborhoods in which you park, then either will do. If you park on the street or always outside, the cab may be slightly less secure and may show a bit more age over time. (However, the newer top materials stand up to the weather elements very well & if someone really wants into your car, they are as likely just to smash a window as they are to slit a soft top...so the real differences are minor.) If I'm going to leave the car parked in the sun all day at work, I'll use a cotton cover to protect the interior as much as the top. My '03 came with a hard top which I do put on for the winter. I don't have a lot of space in my garage, so I bought an electric hoist from Harbor Freight (about $60) and a harness for the top and let it hang during the summer. I do enjoy the hardtop during the winter when I'm more likely to make use of the local Porsche dealer's free car wash during cold weather. I don't use it often, nor would I use it with the soft top. Frankly, most of our driving is at slower speeds due to neighborhood limits or other traffic. Top down, the car is Much more enjoyable at typical speeds on a nice day Some guys seem to prefer the sense of invincibility they feel with a coupe. But open driving connects you with the world around you and the car (you hear the engine/tires better). Driving on city freeways can be noisy. A number of cab owners keep a "mild" set of ear plugs in the car to soften high traffic noise. But driving on country roads or even just highways with nice views--the trip is more impressive with the top down. Nothing quite like it. Yet--you are more likely to crack open a sunroof on a marginal day than you are to open the top. The cab is "all or nothing" (open or closed)--it can't be just partially open. I don't think the issue is how often do you drive with the top down, but whether you enjoy it when it's down. You may pay a bit more for a cab--but you will sell it for more as well. So, get what you want--but getting a car in the best condition will be more important than one feature or another.

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+1 Also in the city, the un-obstructed view of the buildings is really cool, I loved my Cab before, but opted for a coupe. The back seats have more room for the kids too in a coupe if you have to think of that

I do have to think about kids. I have a 3 year old daughter and an 11 year old son. My son is quite willing to sit in back (he's done it in a friends 996 cab). I've found a number of posts showing car seats in both cabs and coupes. This was an essential criteria that let me even consider a 911 (a BMW is my second choice).

Cabrio pros and cons: Pros: - Open air feel cannot be matched by a sunroof or even a Targa top. - 996 cab is one of the great practical convertibles, 2+2 seating, all weather, great performance, available hardtop. - The ragtop is suprisingly good for a convertible top. Get a 2002+ w/ a glass rear window. - Some people just look good in convertibles. Usually it is correlated with the amount of their own hair on their head. Cons: - Weight. Cab top and extra stiffening add weight. It doesn't matter on the street but on the track/autoX it feels a little pokey compared to the coupe. - Stiffness. Without a rigid roof the body flexes a bit more than the coupe. Doesn't matter on the street, but may matter to you on the track/autoX. - IMHO the hardtop doesn't look good and just adds weight. Mine hangs from my ceiling 12 months out of the year. Both hardtop and ragtop creak a bit while driving. - For DE, some tracks require cabs have a fixed rollbar in addition to the spring loaded factory rollover protection. With rollbar installed, the rear seats are almost useless. - Cell phone calls are almost impossible with the top down, with the exception of Jawbone II Bluetooth headset. It's still noisy with the top up. - Some people just do not look good in convertibles. Usually it is correlated with the amount of their own hair on their head.

Another here who has had both, but it's not an easy question. We just came off a PERFECT cab summer (for MN, anyway) and I had a coupe. When I had a cab it was either too hot or seemed to be raining. Or, of course, too cold. While it would wreck the 911 lines completely, I have been thinking a little about the retractable hard tops like the Mercedes SL series, or the 2009 BMW Z4. Both look nice either top up or top down.

if you want a cab I would get a 05+ Boxster S, if you want a 911 it has to be a Coupe. (Just my opinion)

I was always being told nice Boxster when I drove my wife's 01 cab. But I have to admit I loved driving it. I now have a coupe which I track .

I think the purist will lean toward coupe

I'm probably more of a purist - but I think that my wife would rather drive the cab. However, at this point I don't think she'll really want to drive it much - "Imagine me showing up to teach a yoga class in that!" (she would prefer a 3-series convertible). A Boxster is out of the question because I need the 2+2 seats for the kids. I went and looked at a Cayman - but that's even less practical. No - I think the 996 is the best blend of price, performance, and practicality. I've always wanted to own a convertible - but have opted for the coupe (had a Volvo C70 coupe) or in my recent history for turbo wagons from Subaru (WRX and Outback XT - well suited to Colorado). I test drove a Saturn Sky Redline convertible this fall which was an absolute blast but is way overpriced (honestly I like my Outback better).

Anyone have recommendations for a mechanic in Austin to do a PPI? Anyone have experience with TPWS?

Get both!

I agree with the others. If you have never been compelled to own a convertible before than you are probably going to see more negatives than positives to the soft top. Plus hard tops handle way better.

While I would normally recommend a cabriolet to you there are two big factors not to recommend them to you,--(1) Central Texas has limited Cab weather, and (2) the 996 Cabs are not that great,--they are substantially loose cars with a lot of shakes and issues from the lack of rigidity. (The 997 cabs are substantially better, but that's an entirely different economy). Stick to the coupe in the 996.

Don't the early 996 cabs even have plastic rear windows, just like my '95 Miata?

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Yes, they do.

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ewe, plastic turns yellow and cracks when old.....though if you are handy you can sew it back together

I've been looking at 2002+ cars for that reason plus the 3.4 -> 3.6 displacement change. Based on everyone's feedback, I'm definitely leaning towards a coupe. I'm in Colorado now for a ski vacation -- I'll hopefully get my first test drive in next week when I get back to Austin.

Besides all the cab cons everybody mentioned (extra weight, handling, etc), I have one more for you: I like to detail the car, shining, waxed and super clean, and go for an evening drive. When I return, I slide one finger on the hood or fender, and it is already full of black dust. It is a mix of break dust from all the other cars in the road, and regular outside dust. Cab is just tooo dirty- go coupe. John

if it is for looks...CAB ALL THE WAY!!! even closed the CAB looks much better (sorry coupies) the cab looks lower and meaner. Coupes are boring for older guys who don't want attention and are afraid their bold spot shows!!!

Nicolaas makes a good point. However, just don't get a Cab with a Tip transmission! Nicolaas, you know that I am just yanking your chain. I hope you have a great New Year!

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+1 I am in the top DE run group here, and regularly pass 997 S Coupes, (among others ). And passing them again on the drive home with the top down is icing on the cake - Weight.... True; I did a track day once with the cab hardtop on. Once. - Stiffness... Yes, but not as noticeable as some people believe. I can 3-wheel around some turns, and that requires a very stiff suspension! I was with ya 'till you said "way"

Here's how this works. You buy a coupe because it's practical. Then some so called friend talks you into going to a novice track day. Before long your daily driver has a rock hard suspension and is too low to get into the parking lot at work. Your wife threatens divorce when she has to climb over the door bars in her skirt when you take her to dinner. The obvious answer is to buy a cab and turn the coupe into a full time track car. Now life is perfect except you need a truck to pull the trailer to haul your coupe to the 20 track days you�re doing every summer. So now you have a cab, a coupe converted to a track car, a trailer and a truck. Time to look for a new house with a bigger garage. Life is good although you end up buying a smaller house because the coupe converted to a track car isn�t cutting it so you�ve upgraded to a cup car. Now life is perfect on nice days when you have your cab, on track days when you have your cup car and on really crappy days when you have you truck. Unfortunately that�s only about 150 days a year so you go out and buy a 650ci to make the whole year perfect. Of course your wife left you somewhere around the time you were shopping for the truck but what the hell. Chicks love middle aged racecar drivers in cabs. So life is perfect. Ask me how I know..

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The part you got wrong is that I replaced the coupe with the cab, and turned that into the track car. And it wasn't a 650ci, it was a 740iL, and I only kept it a few years. Other than that, you're spot on. Oh wait! You were talking about yourself, weren't you? OK, now you're really scaring me .

Awesome. I can totally see that happening to a lot of us [except for the divorce part]

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Jim, Funny avatar! I guess you didn't wait to be asked to change it out like they did with 38D because it was "naked" or was "over exposed?"

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Tim, I actually added the bar to hide the fact I sometimes drive a 997 when everyone was making fun of the "I found a great way to keep my Starbucks from spilling" thread on the 997 forum. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. It's a classic. But, now that you mention it, it is a more family friendly cup car pic! Jim

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Yeah, I saw the "coffee spilling" thread. It is very funny. Now I understand the reason for the "black out" tape! On one of the the Perf. & Racing Forums I read about 38D having to change his avatar, which is why I asked. He had the best avatar on RL, IMO.

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Have you seen Colin's avatar on their new discussion board? Imagine the old one after some serious augmentation!

There are obviously a lot more coupe owners responding, and naturally they are suggesting a coupe. Don't let that sway you! I live in New England. Cold winters and hot summers. I put the top down every moment it is possible. When the weather is too cold, it drives like a coupe. Yes there are a few squeaks. But not many, and a small consolation for the amazing feeling of sky overhead when the weather is nice. In the warmer months, I put the top down always unless it is just too hot and humid. Which for you may be several months per year. (which happens to be exactly the same issue I have in the winters up here). But for 8 months per year it is the best experience in the world to drive with open air all around you. And one of my favorite experiences is driving in the evening or night top down. Stars overhead, warm (not hot) air blowing. There's nothing else like it. You could do that in Austin from April through November. I've been hooked ever since driving my 914 from MA to CA in the summer of 1986. Get the Cabriolet!

My wife apologized to me this morning for scolding me yesterday when I spent eight hours on the laptop looking at Porsches and reading the forums. I then told her that I was looking at a couple of coupes (of rennlist members) and her body language immediately communicated disappointment. This was confirmed when a few minutes later with a sigh she says, "Well, even if you don't end up buying a Porsche at least you had fun looking for one." Mmm. You guys think this is an indicator from the almighty (woman) that I should get a cab instead? All this thinking about it will probably amount to naught once I actually get behind the wheel...

This looks look a possibility for ~30k - has anyone already taken a look (it's in Houston)? 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4

What is going to be the primary use for the car...daily driver or weekend cruiser? Whose car will it be? yours, hers, or shared (from a "who will drive it the most" driving stand point) Why not just ask her which she would prefer? Coupe or Cab. Ask her to give the reasons for and against her particular preference. There are a few guys on this Forum that bought a 996 with a Tip tranny because their wife could not drive a stick. Almost all of them reported back later that their wife didn't like driving the car after trying it a couple of times. One guy's wife doesn't even like riding in his car because it is too low and the ride is too stiff. All of them ended up with a Tip, which they never wanted in the first place. While you may not be considering a Tip (and I don't think you are) this is just an example of compromises that were made that went totally wrong. If she is going to be an occasional driver of the car and you will be the primary driver, then your preference should be weighted much more heavily. You mentioned in an earlier post the she would probably not be driving the 996 much, so I think you need to get what you think is best. But ask her opinion and consider it in your decision making process. Then go out and buy the coupe!

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That valuation is just depressing me. BTW that's not a Carrera 4, it's a regular RWD Carrera. The trunk is wrong. A C4 has collapsible spare that is hidden under the floor panel and a dome to access the FWD. Like this

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Good catch. It also has black brake calipers; C4's have silver calipers.

Funny, my wife always wanted me to buy a coupe. Boy, am I glad I bought cabs, love the feeling of wind hitting my bald head. Of course when it's in the 60's I have to wear a baseball cap and if the temperature dips into the 50's than I put on a ski hat? I am not sure what it's called; what do you expect from a warm climate person.

ZR , until you go test drive a few cars ANYTHING is a "possibility"...at this point you're pissin' in the wind! Until you get behind the wheel of a few different cars, you won't have a clue - aesthetics aside. Where are you in Austin? Have you checked out Beasley? They've got a sweet '04 C4S Cab with hard top..it's listed at the high end of your budget, but I guarantee they're all over trying to make a deal this time of year. If you're a serious buyer with funds at the ready, this is an awesome market for you. FWIW, I picked up my C4S in Austin at the right time (this time of year) - I immediately had them coming $5k off price over the phone from Dallas. Did the cab you saw in Dallas sell? If you need some eyes in this area, let me know...

zroadhouse - what do you want? Is the wife really going to drive it, or mostly be a passenger? I second the statement of taking a few for test drives; get some seat time; see what the car tells you. russo - a tuque , or toboggan [has been used to reference a sled or hat]

Coupe.

Im debating the same thing... so far the coupe is slightly ahead b/c the pcar will be parked outdoors and a cab is "safer". Also, never had a convertible and Im not sure how much Ill get to use it in NYC.

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TIM...you are an evil man!!! And my newyears resolution for 2009: NO MERCY!! Lucky for you it is still 2008!! HAPPY NEWYEAR....hope that it is going to be better than 2008

Cab or coupe? Well, let's see...this should be a pretty easy one... Would you like to be able to drive the car without a roof? If yes, get a cab. If no, get a coupe. Geez, simple as that.

I had a similar dilemma and compromised on a Targa... Just throwing another spanner in the works!

Cab

Cab!

CAB

omni - The austin dealer is quoting $55k for the 04 C4S cab. I'm not sure i can negotiate them down enough to drive off with that car. Based on the private party sales here and numbers for earlier C2 cabs, their price does seem high (which is why I wasn't really considering it). Still chasing down that first test drive...

ZR, take your time...it's a big purchase. I'm partial to the C4S, but the 40th Anniversary for sale here at the most recent price, being sold by an original owner, a member here, etc...seems like a really really good opportunity for someone who has never owned, much less driven a Porsche. I do as much skip tracing as I can before purchasing anything used ( I even contacted the original owner of my car to get as much info as possible ). Obviously you joined this forum looking for advice and suggestions from people with some history owning P-Cars, I think what you need to do is find a few cars to test drive (996, 997, cab, coupe, 6 speed, Tiptronic), see what YOU LIKE, then decide on a budget and focus your search from there. Having said all this, I will again point out what a great deal the 40th Anniversary for sale here is...I have no affiliation with the owner (search my post history, I don't even know who he his)..I've driven a 40th Ann. car and really liked it. Just curious, what are the previous sports cars you've owned?? I've purchased a great deal of motor vehicles and am glad to help as a set of "eyes" in Dallas if you'd like.

ZR, agree with what omni stated above ^. The 40th Anniv, is a really good car, and with the carerra power kit has 345 HP, and is listed at a good price. I have no affiliation with the seller.

I appreciate all the advice. I'm finally back in Austin and am heading to the dealer tomorrow for a test drive. I am thoroughly enjoying the education process and the hunt for the right vehicle. I do have my eye on the 40th car. The closest thing I've owned to a sports car was an '02 WRX wagon, which was a blast to drive (especially with Pilot Sports). I had to trade it in for a larger wagon (my '05 Outback XT) when I became a family man. I had a Volvo C70 coupe before the WRX which was a bit of a boat (even after I added stiffer cross bars) and had serious torque steering issues. All are/were manuals and could do 6.5s 0-60 or better. Of the bunch, I've been happiest with my Outback wagon. It's turbo engine gives it plenty of punch and the steering is communicative despite it's weight and size. It will be the car my wife (who enjoys driving it) will use most of the time once I make my purchase. Have you even played the PC game called "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed"? I played it about ten years ago with a force feedback wheel. The game takes you through driving all the Porsches from the 356 through the 996 Turbo. It had all the factory options for each of the model years, and you could tweak the stiffness of the suspension, swap in light weight fly wheels for better acceleration (but lower top end speed), etc. While not being a commercial simulator, you quickly find out that jamming on the breaks while attempting to turn in an early 911 is a recipe for breaking the rear end loose and spinning into a wall. That's when I really got hooked. Now I have the means, motive, and opportunity to actually own one...

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Loved that game.

I just purchased my first 996 this month. It's an 03 C4 cab and right in your price range. I got it with a hardtop so you get the best of both worlds. I did test drive the coupe and they felt very close. I purchased a tiptronic and still need to get used to it as these cars make you want a manual. I live in the city so I compromised.

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Welcome and congrats Jes! I've had mine for three months now and got the tip also (for the odd occasion I run into gridlock)... I haven't gathered the nerve to play with the tip part yet, but plan on doing that soon. Rudy ----------------------- '01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet '03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

Just test drove the '04 C4S cab at the dealership in Austin. It was awesome. It's cold here today so the drive was with the hard top on. It felt like a coupe. I did notice a little noise from the top during the test drive, but nothing I couldn't live with. I was even surprised that I liked red. Too many cops out though to really stretch its legs, and there was a lack of twisties to measure its handling. Luckily my coworker pointed out a new track that just opened here in Austin... http://beasleyporsche.cms.dealer.com...83dae14af9d459 The C4S felt very solid and I would definitely feel safe letting my wife drive it around town (at least for the driving part). I did feel a twinge of desire for more power and a throatier exhaust note. Can anyone comment on their experience between a C2 and C4S as a DD? Does the turbo body styling of the C4S add much weight to the car? Seems like the C4 would be a little safer in wet conditions. I imagine that the 40th C2 would feel a little edgier with its lighter weight and extra power.

Congrats! You finally drove one! Did you even attempt to work the numbers? There are multiple mods to change your exhaust note, from mild to wild - just do a search in this forum...If you didn't get to stretch her legs, you probably wouldn't be bowled over by the power, but alas, the 911 is more than going fast in a straight line!! FWIW, I had a new c6 Vette trying to stay with me on an nameless tiwsty road between Dallas and Austin (close to Hamilton) and when we stopped he thought my car was a turbo...silly vette owners! He was really hating it when he saw it's Tip car too! (hold the flames folks) Aesthetically I find the 996 C4S hard to beat, right there with the 964T and 993TT. If you had a choice between a c4 and c2, I'd take a c2, if it were between the c2 and c4s...that's another story!

Was going to chime in about the cab... After a week with mine in below freezing temps I can tell you firsthand that it is very comfortable. As you noticed, it's not loud but one thing you may not have appreciated is that it seems very well insulated and warms up very quickly. Whatever you decide, best of luck and be sure to enjoy it to the fullest!

No numbers were discussed. The sales man was super low key, he let me drive the car and look it over without too much color commentary. I also like the C4S aesthetics. Park Place in Dallas seems to have a nice selection of 996s (including a couple of C4Ss and turbos). I'm thinking that I may make a day trip up there with my father who is coming into town in a couple of weeks (that is if I don't break down and buy something before then).

Vehicle curb weights for 2002+ (6 sp): C2 Coupe 2965 C2 Cab 3141 C4S Coupe 3240 C4 Cab 3273 C4S Cab 3396 Tip adds about 120 lbs. For a throatier exhaust note search for "orange cap".

omni- I made a low offer on the C4S. They immediately came down some on the price, but not enough to make me really want to spend the extra $$. smack- Thanks for the weights. With a 400 lb and 30hp difference between the 40th C2 and the C4S cab, I would expect that my desire for a little more power would be quelled (at least temporarily). Are the brakes on the 40th upgraded (vs. a base C2) to handle the additional power?

jesamp - Was your purchase under warranty? The dealer is quoting manheim auction prices of 47k for low mileage out of warranty '04 C4S Cabs in a similar configuration to the one I drove. Based on that valuation, I think I need to keep looking. If there is anyone in the Austin area would wouldn't mind letting me test drive their '02+ C2, I'd buy you lunch...

I didn't read the whole thread but my two cents... Your friend needs to have his HVAC looked at. Temp in a cab has never been a problem for me. They also have deployable roll bars. I've never heard of it being a problem at a DE.

Hrm... Advice about a cab from a guy named Couper?

ZR, let me know if you're coming to Dallas soon.. I'll introduce you the the guys at Ruf

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LOL, I never thought of that. Couper is the name of my wifes dog. It's a papillon. That's french for butterfly. It weighs about 9 lbs. I was told that couper in french is sometimes used as slang for guillotine. Seemed appropriate.

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It depends on the track. Many clubs and PCA regions allow just the factory spring loaded rollover protection. But some tracks require a fixed rollbar and convertibles to pass the broomstick test. Lime Rock, VIR and NJ Motorsports Park are 3 that I am aware of and there are probably more.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. I think at this point I have decided to try and find a lower mileage C2 coupe. That way a can afford a newer car in better condition and still stay within my budget. On a related note, since many of you have taken your cars to the track (as I likely will), how would you rate track miles vs. street miles in terms of the wear and tear on a car? Are they comparable as long as you increase the maintenance?

ZR, The prices you're being quoted seem high based on the searches I did. I was finding 2004 C4s cab's for low to mid $40's. I decided not to shell out the extra cash this purchase and went with the C4. I'm sure I'll regret it at some point as the c4s cab is simply intoxicating. Don't forget the warranty on top of the sale since you don't want to purchase these cars without one (so I'm told). Someone also noted the pictures not matching the cars. This has become a common practice by dealers. They take great pictures of a clean c2 and then try to use them to sell a similar c4. I ran into that during my search too.

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Good plan!! - Track miles are IMO nothing like street miles unless you drive like an a**hole on the streets. The car will see enough braking to turn the rotors red hot. The tires will be eaten up, the motor will get a work out, and anything not right will break or fail. Fluids can boil. Best of all the driver will have the biggest smile ever and the need for speed on public highways will be very small as you will know inside what the car is capable of and wont be out on the streets trying to prove anything to yourself making it unsafe for you or others on the roads. GL and post pics when you get it!

ZR, does that mean you're interested in the 40th Anniversary for sale here? In terms of a C2, that's the way to go on your budget

Yes. I'm getting a PPI on the 40th #693 this Saturday. I'm still looking at other options (see my post in the 997 forum regarding an '05 997 S coupe) including another 40th for sale in NY by a dealer that is PPO.

It would be great if you could get #693 from a fellow Rennlister!

I agree with Tim - that 997 you're looking at has nearly 60k miles, you don't know any real history on the car and it's got less power than the 40th. Anniversary. I've driven a 40th and think it's the perfect first P-car...especially at $10k price difference! If you had been looking a couple months ago, I would've driven my C4S to one the Longhorns games and show you what the beauty of all wheel drive in a Porsche is all about! Oh and HOOK 'EM!!! \m/

To tell you the truth, I actually like the interior better in the 996s. The steering wheel of the 997s look like it belongs in a Cadillac instead of a P-car and the center console is very busy. Does the nav system in the 996s operate using a DVD? I have a Garmin Nuvi I've been using in my other cars that I like quite a bit. One of the dealers I talked to today called the system in the 996 archaic.

Any of the Nuvi 7xx series and higher > most manufacturers navigation systems

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The dealer was being kind.

Cab with a hardtop is definitely the way to go IMO. I did just that 6 days ago! Love the car!

this thread is over 3 years DEAD start a new thread, introduce yourself and post pics of your car WELCOME BTW - post #82 is really well written - 3 years later i would agree 100% with what I wrote!

I find the mid life comment offensive. If you like a cab, which I do, it isn't because of your age, it's because there's nothing like hearing the sounds of of PCar engine with the top down riding through a canyon at sunset....

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uh, the guy that posted that has not been on the forum since 2009. I happen to agree with you but just saying.

holy thread resurrection, Batman

yea, and who cares what he thinks look this forum is as good as a forum gets and yes there are occasional opinions you will not like to hear - but no one here is offensive - no one most any comment like that is off handed and meant to smack people in the face - but given a real objection the people here will almost always tell you they wee not trying to be offensive, but rather a failed attempt at being funny beside - that guy drives a car only gay people drive now

When was the last time you saw the first edition of any car model unveiled in convertible (pardon me, cabriolet ) form? Last one I can think of would be the Boxster. Get one of those if a cab's yer thing.

Too many problems with ragtops.