40th Anniversary 911 - Any good?

Hi, I'm on the lookout for a 40th Anniversary 911. I'd love to hear experiences from owners - would you recommend it? Which would be the best to go for - a decent example 40th Anniversary, or a ratty 996 Turbo? Are there any recommended mods for the car? Thanks in advance for any help - it's really appreciated. -996Anniv

It's good but I would get the modded '99 C2 that is for sale in the member's for sale forum right now...you'll need to buy a membership to get it though. I enjoy mine, even the things I didn't "want" like the Nav and heated seats, but there are things that are woefully inadequate like the seats and the suspension. The front sits up way too high, the car can't get much front camber, and the seats will not hold you at all. Also like any 911 the cargo space is non-existent. That being said it goes pretty quick compared to other naturally aspirated 996s.

At the time it was made, the 996AV was the best non-GT model naturally aspirated 996 out. It will still suffer from the same flaws as a typical 996 though. I don't know what a "ratty" TT is, so I wouldn't recommend one over a known 996AV. -td

I love the car.... but modding a special ed car is not for everyone.

considering their market value, you really get very close to the cost of a Turbo. The suspension is very very firm, so make sure drive a regular version and an anniversary version to compare, totally different handling...and comfort. If you need to have a full option car, then it's for you, but still check the list because some did not come with sports seats for example.

The one I'm looking at has the sat-nav and sports seats. By 'ratty' 996 Turbo I mean total bottom end of the Turbo market, only one or two cars at the price range. Thanks for all of your advice so far. I currently own a '99 C4 Tip, so on the test drive the 40th Anniversary felt like a huge step up. I'd just like to know is it the ideal car just for spirited weekend use, and a couple of trips to the 'Ring? What others should I consider? Driving enjoyment is my main factor. I have driven a 996 Turbo and although it was very, very fast - was it great fun? I don't really think so. Please, give me justifications as to why my hard-earned should be spent on the 40th!

Suspension is far from firm it is a great compromise for a daily driver and WAY better than the mushy one on regular Carerra. My buddy's 2001 is WAY to soft for a Porsche IMHO. The ONLY negative about mine i have found is the car still sits a bit high even thoug it is lower 10mm than standard Carerra Should probably have come factory with the ROW 030 springs. Other than that I use mine as a daily driver just going on 2k miles and it is awsome. Also, remember Turbo's are nice but maint cost are a little higher too as is fuel consumption and when I was looking the delta between the 40th and a decent Turbo was not insignificant.

The suspension felt firm on the 40th I test drove - not as firm as my C4, but mine is -20mm to a standard Carrera. Remember I'm in the UK, so I'll be getting the EU version of the M030 suspension. Thanks for your input by the way.

Based on the user name you chose, I'd recommend the 40th!

I agree the anniversary car has a lot of neat bits, and it's certainly the best of the Carreras.

Honestly the 996's sport seats aren't that different than the regular ones. Extra shoulder support but the side bolsters are not really bigger.

When you have seats like what's stock in a 996, every bit helps!

If it would have fit, I would have put my 944 sport seat in my 996.

same boat as you several months ago. i actually found some ratty high mileage mk1 996tt that were cheaper than my mk2 996ae. despite the power and price difference, i still picked a 996ae because: 1) my low mileage newer 996ae felt practically new 2) i liked all the options like leather everywhere, heated seats 3) upkeep on turbo is more 4) the 996ae has an LSD and is competitive in scca autox my only complaints about my 996 ae: 1) i got stuck with US M030 springs - you will get the ROW M030 springs 2) the exhaust is too quiet - easily fixable. gl!

I would love one! GT Silver is an awesome color, great full leather and extras, looks great with the side skirts and front bumper, yet doesn't look over the top with a huge spoiler. So it's not a cup car, unless you want to race, it should be the ultimate Carrera!

I love mine. I first looked at another 04 non-ae and once I got into the 40th I was sold. Not too many of them around. So you don't get O another Red or Black Porsche. The HP increase keeps you up there with the new cars that are being made today.

I love my 40th. Many consider it to the best of all 996 C2's.

Boy with all the great accollades this thread is getting, maybe it's time to sell!!! Thread hi-jack: What would you replace your 996 AE with? I think it would take a 997 Cab for me.

997 Turbo for me. If all goes well, that will be the replacement.

I would take a 6GT3 or a 997S over the 40th. Both are considerably more expensive right now.

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1. 996 GT3 w/ retrofitted backseats 2. 997 GTS Cab w/ LSD I want a car I can autox competitively in SCCA. But I also have kids to tote around. Either of the above would make me happy, but both cost substantially more. One day...

I love mine. Compared to my 993 it is a rocket. Never drove a 996 turbo so can't offer advice. Seems like prices have comedown and can be had cheap. I purchased mine in like new condition for 38.5k. Needed tires and had 26k miles. Make sure you get the luggage with the car.

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Can you do that? I'm assuming they don't come with rear seat belts. How do you retro-fit them?

I didn't get the luggage Looked at two and niether one had it... would be nice saw some on ebay and tried to buy but the guy bumped the price from $350 - $900 WTF?

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its been done by redcar1. a few others too i think. probly not cheap. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-gt2-...at-in-gt3.html no luggage here either. =(

my luggage was stolen by the dealership. Car was traded in and I bought it about a week later. Called the original owners and they said they turned it in. The dealership claims that the detailers took it. I was pretty upset. But I got the car with 42k miles for $33k. It needed a window regulator and after about a year it needed a clutch because teeth broke off of the pressure plate. Being autocrossed probably didn't help that but oh well. It gave me a chance to do the LNE ceramic bearing install.

I love my AE! But I didn't get the luggage or the original owner's manual...bummer. My car is #817 and the sales guy that sold it to me wants it back! No such luck for him! I have 30,000 miles on the car and I plan on keeping it forever.

Suncoast has the manual for about $30.00

yeah too bad the luggage is about $2500

hi! I am late to the party but I have been a 996 AE owner since September 2010 here in Seattle. Absolutely love it. I'm a french national living in the NorthWest and was driving a '02 Tagra in France. The AE and the Tagra don't even compare. The AE is a thriller, a real 911 with the push in the upper range. I find it to be very firm too. On I-5, with the PZeros and the suspension it is loud and stiff... hate those metal joints in the road. I think it is a unique car in the 996 range. Had the money for a TT but wanted a normally aspired, somewhat collector type car. It feels more analog and it is perfect for me. Sure I like the 997S, and that may be next. But the AE with the color, options and feel is hard to beat. I have 27K miles on it. it is number 405, and it is my daily driver. Ordered and received an alcantara steering/gear **** plus a short shifter that I need to instal (from Suncoast). So far these are the only mods (other than the clear repeaters). The OEM steering wheel is too thin and slippery in my opinion. I also agree that it is too quiet. I am thinking about fixing that. This is my first post even though I have been reading here for quite a while. I am happy to be a part of the gang. Pierre.

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Congrats on #405! I would love to see pics of the alcantara in our interior. Is the steering wheel thicker?

For me it has been 6 years now since I bought my 40th Anniversary (#1034) from new. I still love it and have been a very happy owner since! I'd still take it over a first gen 997S. It has a unique soul and character which I appreciate - especially here in Los Angeles - where there's a high density of 911's running around everywhere. I have taken it extensively on road trips - Yosemite, Grand Canyon, up/down Big Sur, etc. And is a great road trip vehicle - you learn very quickly how to pack efficiently and 2 adults and 1 kid can travel comfortably on multi-day roadtrips. Drive all your choices and decide for yourself which is best. Everyone has different purposes, needs and expectations when it comes to cars - the 40th Aniv meets all of mine. BTW - I sampled the new 911 Carrera GTS this morning.... and started the lust bug... but upon return to my 40th Aniv, I was reminded how much I enjoy it and plan to keep it.

thanks, MiamiC70! I will check that out!

Hey All, Haven't been here since I originally posted. I will be back with pictures very soon. Just wanted to share a story here: I have been trying a lot of other 911s lately. I had this funky idea to change my 40th. So I went to Park Place LtD in Bellevue and tried a 997 C2 and a 993 4s. I then went to Honda Bellevue, they had a 996TT mint. These 3 cars are still for sale and all of them are great. I will have to say that my favorite one was the 993 4S. It felt great to be in such a superb car and you feel like you don't need more power, you are just enjoying the ride. The non-S 997 was cool too. It is unbelievably comfortable and roomy. Finally, the 996 TT was perfect. Everything they say is true... it is a missile. The reason I went to try those is because I was looking for a smoother ride. Like I said in my first posting here, I find the 996 40th to be really harsh. These 3 cars are smoother. They are also more expensive... but more importantly, they are not IMHO as much of a thriller than the 40th! I can guarantee that the 997 is slower and is completely disconnected from the road. It is a great car but it is more of a BMW feel... The 993 4s is a classic and is my favorite. It is much slower though; it is just a different trip. It would be my first choice if I was to change mine. The 996 TT is perfectly... digital... German efficiency to the max... super fast, but again, IMHO, not a lot more than the 996 40th. And on small, winding road, not as fun! And that's the point isn't it? So, rather than to spend an extra few thousand dollars to change the car, I went to Aker's on Capitol Hill and got an appointment to install a FabSpeed Exhaust and Cold Air Intake. I talked to Mark over there after he drove my car. Mark is cool and drives 911 all the time. He said it was the first time he drove a NA 996 that felt this way and was that fast (not including the GT3, a purpose built car). He is actually the one who said, keep this car! So here I am now: I have been complaining about the harsh ride and rather than to change the car and get something smoother... I decided to go ALL IN and change the exhaust and the cold air intake. I guess that is what we do as Porsche fans… consider softer and then go harder! Great experience anyway; felt like sharing. By the way, I love the alcantara steering and the 997 shifter. I am driving it everyday and I am only at 24K Miles (I reported more miles earlier cause I actually never checked) Cheers to the 996 40th anniversary edition, a truly unique 996. Pierre. Pictures as soon as I install the fabspeed.

Balefire, Didn’t see your question. The alcantara steering is not a thicker that I know of, but for some reason it actually feels thicker and somewhat smaller. it is the best upgrade I have done. Thought the OEM steering is too slippery.... BTW, do you think I can sell th OEM steering wheel (W/O Airbag) and the OEM shifter and ****? Pierre.

I bought #669 last October from a guy who took excellent care of it (Thanks Mitch!!). I absolutely love it. Good luck with your decision.

Holy old thread batman! I recently started researching 996 911s for a potential great daily driver. I currently have a '15 Golf R as a DD, and GT4 for track/weekend fun. I got to thinking, what 911 is <40k and is fun to drive daily? I find the Golf boring, so I'm going to get rid of it. I've considered: 996 C2 996 C4S 997.1 C2 997.1 C2S - very high mileage I like the idea of the 996 AE because it is a special edition, with the go fast parts up to 345hp, better suspension, and a decent mix of options. Some time has passed so now for <40k one can get a 997 C2, C2S (mileage / option mix of course changes the price) However most of the 997s I've seen online you can tell are super thrashed even just seeing the pics. The bonus of the 996 is that it seems to fly under the radar a bit. I won't be worrying about where I park it, and if it gets a ding etc.. So all of you 40th Jahre 911 owners: what is your 2016 update? Still like the car? Can you compare it to 997? All thoughts/opinions welcome. FWIW I read through this thread and others: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...nd-faq-58.html I wanted a 2016 take on what people think about the driving experience specifically. As close as stock as possible (obv, if I buy one I'm going to get some RMS/IMS mitigation done, still pricing that out) Thanks!

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...y-and-faq.html a long history of 40th owners I really like mine, just over 2 years in almost 8k added to the odo I purchased a 26k car and after driving it for a thousand miles, decided to have the IMSB done for peace of mind depending on your expectations from a C2, the car may need nothing or everything the X51 affords a little better oiling and cooling, the front radiators are from the Turbo not things you'd ever notice unless you were to research tracking the car it's quiet, way too quiet an aftermarket exhaust or having the mufflers modified is just about mandatory M030 suspension is adequate, but can be harsh for long term ownership coilovers or upgraded struts greatly improve the ride because 996, you may want to change the shifter to a 997 or 997GT3 short shift kit improves the driving experience quite a bit I wasn't a fan of the polished wheels and found a set that afforded another inch on the front and rear, this improved the tracking pretty dramatically you can accomplish nearly the same with spacers get the IMS bearing done, the X51 is far too expensive of a motor to toast the extra power is there, but mostly above 4k its exceptional on the highway at speeds of 80 and and above, this is where the car wants to run the GT Silver is a nice change from Arctic or Polar, when its detailed it looks like money the Aluma touches in the interior are nice, as is the full leather interior, hardback seats are cool but not required the painted console is a nice feature call it a parts car, it's a C2 with optional paint, an expensive motor, a special badge, some aero parts and optional suspension once sorted to what you expect from a 911, they are remarkably nimble thru traffic now that mine is set up to my liking, I'm commited to at least 4 or 5 years more of ownership

Very good write up. If I do get the 40th AE I will have the engine refreshed. Not sure how far I intend to go, but we shall see. I'm working on scheduling a call with Jake from Flat6 innovations to understand all scenarios and associated costs. I'm looking to this car for maybe a long term DD for up to 100k miles plus so the mechanical updates are a must. But I'm gonna drive one first. For what it's worth I think Porsche does "parts car" very well. I'm loving my GT4. So I'm not too worried about how fancy / unique or prestigious the car is. I want a 911 that makes me happy to drive on a daily basis without going overboard cost wise. If the 996 isn't for me I may just hunt around for something else fun.

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Find a certified installer nearby and do the IMS Solution maybe a Fister exhaust and call it a day. Car is great and the X51 doesn't need much.

I was quoted $5600 for the IMS solution from a certified installer. I feel this is a lot and I'm checking with another shop that doesn't do the "solution" but does the roller bearing. Waiting for a written price on that but on the phone he said somewhere between $2000-2300. Much more manageable for me and IIRC has a 6 year or 75K mile lifespan. Should be enough for me. BTW I'm in the Northeast and there's only one certified installer reasonably close to where I live.

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seems high for just 'the solution' JR / Flat 6 likes to bundle other things into the preventative packages like AOS, RMS, water pump, clutch & pressure plate & bearing after prequalifying, and he's pretty firm on this

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Did you get a written quote and if so what did it include. I just paid $4,500 to a certified installer for IMS Solution, RMS, AOS and clutch - couldn't be more satisfied.

What do you mean? Does he run credit? Or just talk to see if he wants to do business?

http://flat6innovations.com/index.ph...ntion-packages http://theimssolution.com/certified-installers/ The L & N type bearings are sold to both certified and uncertified shops, as well as the general public Certified shops have to attend his classes to earn and maintain the certification, they don't just toss it out to anyone Flat 6 & certified shops follow protocol before doing any work to verify that the engine is not in a stage of failure

Ah so you were referring to the installers. Great. Good piece of mind. Oddly there are no certified "solution" installers in the SF bay. Closest seems to be Torrance.

http://imsretrofit.com/preferred-installers/ This link will give other installers that are certified for the IMS Retrofit kit I'd almost assume that in the very near future they'd be certified for the Solution San Rafael and San Francisco are noted