2002 > 2001

I've searched this topic to death and really can not find a definitive answer. Are the chassis (and engine hp bump) done on the 2002 worth the extra $$$ over a 2001? I am looking at two, nearly identical cars. The 2001 has more options such as litronics and leather. The 2002 has minimal options. Frankly, I could care less about the all leather interior. The litronics are useful, however. Is the 2002 worth it for the MY changes alone. Any insights appreciated. BTW: Looking to trade from an S2000. I love my Honda, but a couple of test drives in a 996 have me convinced. Sports car nirvana.

yes, imo, 2002 is worthe extra $$$. more torque, more hp, and the chassis is stiffer as well. i believe the plastic buttons in the cabin are matte finish as opposed to shiny (not 100% certain on this part)

Go for the 2002 and upgrade the xenon and other options later. Litronic is pretty easy but expansive.

'02 is way better. Lots of small changes, bump in power, styling freshen up, etc that add up to a much better car IMO. I've owned both and wouldn't even consider any 996's pre '02.

02 is WAY better. Improved interior, newer body panels and lights/etc.

'01 looks better

I had a 99 and didn't like it. I recently purchased an 02 and I really like this one. Both cars with similar options, full leather, litronics etc.

i like 99-01 lights better as well... unless it is a C4s/Turbo

Wow. Seems as if there is unanimity on the upgraded technical attributes of the 02+. Styling is obviously subjective. I happen to like both front-end looks. The other thing that worries me about the 01's that I've researched is that they are not that much cheaper than the 02's. Does the market simply not price in the significant upgrades from MY 01 to 02?

I had to make the same decision as you. 02's seems to cost almost $10K more. It's a tough call. I decided to spend the extra $$$ and get an 02. I was coming from a Z06, so any 996 (non turbo) would seem slow, so I decided the extra hp was worth it in the 02. IMO it looks better too, but my decision was based more on performace. The way I saw it, if I bought a 99-01 I would get bored sooner and would wind up trading up to an 02 and probably losing a lot of money, selling, etc. Hopefully going for an 02 will make me keep the car longer before I trade up for a turbo.

It seems that the 00-01 prices have rallied a little... or 02s have sold off... I think that 99s are still the sweet spot if you are looking into less expensive ownership.

The paper specs look more dramatic than the actual driving experience in my opinion. I have a late '01, and the interior is the same as an '02. If the gap is more than $5k, drive them both and decide. My friend has an '03, and the differences seem quite marginal in performance.

you can't upgrade xenon for 2002, it's very very expesnive. no factory pre made kits like pre 02's.

I spent a very long time driving all of the 996's and opted for the 2002. It was a little over my budjet at the time, but I personally felt that the better torque range was well worth it. My car is real basic, with the only adds being PSM, PSE, 18" wheels, and Sport Suspension. If I wanted all the bells and whistles, I probably would have bought a Mercedes and pretended I was driving a sports car. Tom L

Both cars are wonderful cars I think most people will tend to recommend the year group they have so staying with that tradition I like the pre 2002 cars. Styling is as you say subjective but hp/lb is about the same so go with the car that best meets you needs and passes the inspection and enjoy!

just one example http://www.departstop.com/lights.htm only about 500$ more than upgrading a pre-02, labour would be about the same for install, and it can be a DIY job.

You're generally better off getting the latest model year you can, as Porsche inherently improves the breed. Are the 2002+ cars worth it compared to the earlier cars? Yes.

What did the test drive tell you? Which car is in better condition or has better history? In the end, it's an emotional decision and not a #s game. I'm not so sure you'd feel a huge difference in stiffness or any of the other little differences between the '02 and '01. Buy the car that makes you happy, imho.

I have the test drive with the 2002 today. Hopefully, that will shed some light. Suprisingly, it's almost the identical car (color, options, etc.) only a 1 year younger. I'll post my thoughts later today. I will definitely autocross the car, as I do my S2000. Stiffness, more than hp, would be welcome.

'02 is stiffer and has better cooling (among the many improvements). The dash & rear quarter windows squeak and rattle in the earlier cars, not so with the '02. Older 996's also had a tendency to run hot, '02 flows something like 20% more air thru the radiators.

Well, fell in love with the 02 that I test drove. Put a deposit down! Arctic with black interior. Supple leather, adv. technic package and carbon fiber tid bits. Not a blemish on her. The engine and chassis seemed much stronger/stiffer than the 2001 I drove on saturday. I liked the black interior better than the savanna since it seems to hide dirt better. During the CPO inspection process, they replaced the RMS since it showed signs of leakage. Frankly, I think of this as a positive since hopefully it's "out of the way" and won't happen again. Car has a little over 20k miles. For all of those that think CPO is worthless, this is one case when the dealer came through and fixed an obvious problem. I have all the service records and all seems OK. Car is off a lease. Can't wait for the weekend! Woohoo!

Axel - Congrats on getting your P-car! Don't forget RULE #1 here, you need to post pics! If you don't post the pics, Dell will be all over your a$$! (Hi Dell! )

Congrats!

Thanks! Will post pics when I take delivery. So, what do you guys think about the RMS repair? Big deal, no big deal or par for the course? In a funny way, I'm trying to convince myself that knowing its repaired will hopefully safeguard against this being an issue in the short-term.

No big deal on the RMS. If it is fixed then drive it like you stole it!

I wouldn't buy a carrera with RMS history

According to many, RMS leaks will eventually happen on 996's. It's just a matter of time. A car that shows zero repairs for leaks could have multiple repairs in years to come, while one that has been repaired may stay problem-free for years to come. Seems to me that knowing that a leak has happenned and been repaired properly with the new seal/bolts is better than knowing you're on borrowed time with the original seal. No?

According to Excellence (9/6), cars would tip may have a lesser chance of getting rms failures. In manual cars, the heavy dual mass flywheel and clutch are hung out on the end of a largely unsupported crankshaft. All of this extra weight can cause the crankshaft cradle assembly to slowly move downward or allow the seal tomove and fatigue." From what I've seen on this board, rms fears are just that: fear. For the $30-40k would you get a 996 with the risk of an rms leak or a 3 series? What are the alternatives for the $? I'd take a p-car any day of the week. That's just my 2-cents.

It's hardly a simple "fear." For many it's reality. Let's not bull****...it happens with some frequency. The car I'm looking at has had two replacements, including the last by the CPO dealer who installed the "new" fix with new bolts. I am leaning toward purchasing the car anyway. However, for me it's not a "fear", it's a fact that I need to factor into the future maintenance of the car.

Benjamin is saving his membership money to Rennlist to pay for the RMS repair

Get the piggybank ready...