Sell 996, buy air-cooled 911 and GTI

I continue to have the air-cooled itch, but do love my 996. However I can't afford too many cars. I could sell my 1987 Wrangler and 996 and get a $20k 911 or 964 and also a GTI, which I also miss. What would you guys do? Keep 996 and Jeep or get 911 (or 964) and GTI?

964 and GTi is a pretty good combo I think. GTI will ride better than the jeep and with a 964 is get back into aircool engine. Better have a modern daily driver and older weekend car I think. If you are going the GTI route, may be consider the Subaru WRX, not the sti, the base model, a little more expansive but more fun I think.

post this on the 911 board too..... you will get a wide range of opinions.... Personaly I have zero regrets and drive my 86' more days/yr than my 996, more track days too. absolutely with out a doubt the best move for me - might not be for you.....

Listen to Phil... Gtiis soft but a wrx or sti even will stir the soul.... My old man had an air-cooled, I dug it but it really needed to be run into 5000 Rpms to wake up. Gooduck bud, trading/upgrading cars is what it's all about. GT3 is next for me..,

If you're considering Subaru, take a look at a 2005-2007 Legacy GT. It's what I have, a little less boy-racer than the WRX, same 2.5L turbo motor from the STI, just a bit different turbo, tuning, and I/C. ~$1k gets it to > STI power, and it's been a great car to me for the 6 years I've had it. I'd offer a swap, but I'm sure I'd get this look ಠ_ಠ

Keep the 996 and look for a reasonably priced air-cooled.................if you can swing it! best of both worlds, "RAW" and "REFIND" great combination!

+1 on that ^ I have seen some aircooled going in the $10k range.

964 and a Mazdaspeed3

problem of $10k air cooled is that engine work cost $$$ on the air cooled I myself would love to get into a 993 C2S, as much as I would love to get a GT3, but after seeing some of the 993 engine rebuild cost... I think I'll stick to the 996 for a little bit. Again you could get a low mileage air cooled but price are quite high on those. the bargain is still on the 996. 996 + WRX is something I am thinking about for myself. My lexus RX is comfy and practical but so dull to drive I can't take it anymore

Phil, no more Lexus, you need a Raptor to tow 996 stripper.

Good ideas on other cars like WRX and Speed3. In a quick search for 1981-1994 air cooled, there are not too many at around $20k that are in decent shape. It won't be in stellar condition like my 996 of course. I've had a WRX and a few wankels, but really like the overall quality of the GTI even though it doesn't have the power of the WRX and MS3. I also like the idea of having a 996 and air cooled as one suggested, but would have to wait a few years. One thing I've learned over the years is that many times I've regretted selling what I've had in the past...perhaps I would too regret selling the 996. Anyone want to buy a 1987 Wrangler? Kidding of course.

regret selling the 996....maybe regret not getting a 911 sooner...most likely

Keep the 996 and the Jeep. Drive the 996 daily and the Jeep on the real snowy days. I'm in the snow belt and wouldn't go with out the 4wd. (Just my 2� from a fellow Clevelander)

GTI as daily driver is a great idea - speaking from first hand experience with a MkV black on black GTI. Great package - more than enough power for driving in peak hour traffic, comfortable, and a real Q-car ... doesn't turn any heads. Oh, and I'll let the kids into it too. Enjoy my 996C4S on w/ends and any other excuse I can find!

I think air-cooled 911s have crossed over into the realm of collectors cars. They are superb. No question. I'd love to have one. If forced to choose between an air-cooled and a water-cooled it would all come down to what I needed it for. As an "occasional" car, I'd probably go for the air-cooled. As a practical car that can also be a daily driver, the 996 or later. Garage space limitations forces this issue for me. I need something that can be a daily driver.

Part of this is to satisfy my 2 year car buying itch. Maybe selling the Jeep and buying a GTI is the answer. I really don't enjoy the Jeep as I get older...way to bumpy with the Rancho shocks. But it's nice on summer nights with the stars out. Maybe a different drop top would suffice too.

I spent a bit of time driving a 27K mile 993C4S that is very well set up a few weeks ago. It has smaller cabin feel and drives nice but it lacks the "kick in the pants and hold on" feel from the 996 and later engines. The fact that I can floor the pedal in second and third for a few seconds on a straight line country road is not fast enough for me. These cars are performance cars. If you want a new car, then sell the Jeep and get something more fun than a wrangler.

Why not sell both your cars and upgrade to a 996 or 997 C4S cab. best or both worlds with only one car to upkeep. (Get a hard top for the winter and snow tires)

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you had me till you said CAB

FWIW the older car may not be faster....in fact if its stock it most likely will be much slower...but "much slower" isnt that much slower unless you are running a 3-500 mile race. Its more nimble and more engaging for sure. (comparing stock to stock US cars) and I have been saying this since I heard it (because I like it and its true) "I would rather drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow" older cars are "momentum" cars, you have to brake less, turn less to be as fast...but make no mistake, my car passes lots of "new" cars on track...in the dry, in the rain, in the corners....but not on the straights - I have to "get their attention" in the curves so they let me by on the straights or I can just catch them every turn and say bye bye every straight

I have owned air cooled Porsche's for nearly 4 decades. I am now driving a 996 and sold my '80 SC 3 weeks ago. It was one of the 2 or 3 best 911's I have owned. But I have not missed it one bit. Stay with the 996 a while longer and see if you still have the itch. And then try to get a couple of days of seat time before you sell and buy.

Hal, would you agree though that owning an SC or other early car is worth the effort, is worth doing, and is although very different, not as big of a deal as some make it out to be, and something you are glad you did at least once.... the OP has not had an early car, and has an itch....is it worth scratching... (keeping in mind its not an un-doable or life long decision)

Ivangene, my 3 most recent 911's were a '70 E, first with a MFI 2.2, then a 2.7 RS type motor, 2 SC's and a 993. The "Early Cars" are really raw. Everything else is a step up in sophistication. So a SC is raw only in comparison to a 964 or newer, etc. For my money the SC's are the best car Porsche has made. As a matter of fact, I have right of first refusal on one of my recent SC's. But it all depends on what you want. A stock SC is a momentum car on the track but a lovely weekend play car as long as you live someplace that doesn't require A/C or you upgrade it to a RennAire type system. My 996, in comparison, is fast, drives especially well now that is has PSS9's and my wife loves to ride and drive it. It is "comfy." So all in all, it is a series of compromises. Hope this is a little helpful.

yea, that's my take too.... I didnt tell the OP to sell his car, he posted he was thinking about it and I was only supporting his thoughts. If he was not thinking about it I would be more apprehensive to suggest the change...

I'd sell the Wrangler and buy the GTI or the new Golf turbo coming in 2012. I can't believe i'm writing this but the new beetle is freakin cool... In black, with the turbo motor and 6spd man of course.

beetle? NEW? yea umm...tonight when your wife gets home try and get her purse away from her when she not looking, dig in there, finds your b@lls and take them from her... kidding!

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My wife doesn't like the new beetle........... and her purse is too small!!

The 911 SC and earlier cars are too slow for my taste. I do enjoy driving 964s (I'm considering buying one for a short while) quite a bit but I don't like how they're put together, pre 964 cars often don't make sense in how they're put together either, but at least they're simpler. 996s are both comfortable and fun to drive as well as reliable/easy to work on. That said, if you want more noise and a more "honest" drive, earlier cars are appealing. Contrary to popular consensus, I find the earlier cars easier to drive. Everything happens more slowly and there's no mistaking the car's intentions. With a 993 or later chassis, things don't get very lively until the very edge and the edge is a lot finer.

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James, OK, you asked what we would do so....... do what I did, and sell the Wrangler and your 996 and buy a 997.2. I sold the Honda and bought a 2010 997.2 C2S Coupe.

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Classic

this thread got me thinking.... I have decided I am going to get a wide body turbo look (or turbo) - something pre 93' that's it!!! now this wont happen in short order, I have plenty of bill to pay (braces coming this week for the kids, college to plan, and other things) - it might take 5 years...I hope 3 but would be happy at 4, wont cry if it's 5 gotta do it..........that's all there is too it (found my b@lls, there are in a time lock safe though )

I spent about 12 years in and around Columbus -- many of those with a '69 European version 911S. One of the things to keep in mind in Cleveland is the amount of salt on the roads. Newer cars seem to have a lot better corrosion resistance. I parked my 911S for the winters and still had to periodically fix rust problems. Yes....newer cars are more refined and so are somewhat less interesting. But, parts are easy to get and you can drive them more of the year without damage. Your choice.