Moving up from a 1989 911 to a 1999?

I am wondering if I would be happy with this move. I currently have a 1989 911 Cabriolet and I think I would like to move up to a 1999 Cabriolet that is for sale locally. I just finished a Porsche rally where ours was the slowest car - at least on paper. I never got left behind in the group rides, and it seemed that I could pass other cars about as quickly as everyone else. Then again, everyone was polite and did not try to leave me behind. I am wondering about the upgrade for several reasons. Increased safety features (not sure if all of these are part of the 1999 Porsche - roll bar, air bags, better brakes), increase HP 295 vs. 214 + about 15 for new chip 229, 10 years newer with less wear and tear (85,000 miles on 1989, about 40,000 on 1999), quieter (may be negative - love the engine sound!), easier to put down top - will use more (no boot to attach after the top is down), more area in the trunk for storage. The 1989 is starting to have little things go wrong with it. I also may be looking at new brakes and shocks in the near future - that will run about $4000 which is almost half way to the 1999 model. That is all I can think of off the top of my head. On the other hand, I kind of like some of the 1989 quirky controls and the look. The front does not look like a boxster. Oh yeah, it is paid for. I guess I am wondering if I will see a real performance increase. Would it be better to save a little longer and go for a newer model like a 2001 C4 that is also local? I would appreciate any input. Thanks Mike

When I looked for a 911, I test drove a 993 and was pretty impressed. I test drove a 996 next and LOVED it. It was faster and handled better. I have no regrets.

One of the guys in our local PCA just sold his 1989 and bought a 2001. He seems very pleased with the decision, from what I can tell.

I would suggest that you drive the 'newer' 996, or better yet several of them and then decide compared to your 1989 911. There should be plenty of choices out there for you. GL

^^^ +1

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Best advice! They are VERY different cars.

I have an '00 cab and my dad has a '02 cab, both are stock and I can definitely feel the extra 20hp from his '02 pulling a lot stronger than mine, especially in the low-end torque acceleration. Like others have said, try to get an '02 or newer if you can. GL.

I've owned several air cooled 911s in the past and then spent 10+ years driving different 928s. In any event, I too love the air cooled sound and believe it or not, somehow the engineers got the sound in the 996s. Seriously, It sounds like the fan is still back there. Drive a 996 and I doubt you will want to keep the air cooled car anymore. I was looking at 964s and 993s holding out for the air cooled engine and the charm of the "old cars." The 996 has all that and refinement as well. They are a total hoot. The safety features are way more evolved as well. Drive one and i'll bet you will be hooked too.

In an earlier post the person stated that it is better to purchase a 2002. Why is this? Is it a better engine? Any help would be most appreciated. Thanking you in advance, Bruce

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Well, the model changed slightly to Mk II, the different headlights and some engine updates with +20hp or so. To the OP, I'd ask if you need a C4 for winter driving, otherwise a C2 is lighter. You might want to look for LSD option which has its own benefits. Get a sport exhaust for a few more ponies plus you'll have all the beautiful sounds you could ever ask for. We can definitely help you justify a 996, but your current 911 sounds nice too.

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Because there are some on here that believe the 1999 is a lemon. Motor failures/RMS issues....blah blah blah....I proudly own a 1999 C2 that has zero issues and has had no RMS issues. I am the original owner. Make sure whatever year you buy that the owner has kept great records of service and find the lowest mileage you can. Right now is a great time to purchase a 99-02...they are cheap

Thanks to all for your comments. Dave, I smiled when I read your comment that you can help me justify a 996. My current car is very nice. There is no strong logical reason to upgrade, but owning a Porsche has nothing to do with logic anyway - in my case of course. I would not attempt to speak for anyone else. My weak logic for upgrading? I have a 20 year old car with 20 year old problems. Nothing that can't be fixed. Logically I know that going to a newer car does not mean less problems that need to be fixed. So why upgrade? A newer car would have more HP - logically - so what! I can only go 55 to 75. Getting their 1/2 second quicker is more likely to get me a ticket or accusations of a midlife crisis. (Although one lovely co-worker remarked after I bought my Porsche that it must not be a midlife crises because I was too old for that!) I have read that it may have some handling advantages. The Cabriolet lines in the 996 are much smoother than my 1989. No boot to put on the top. The trunk appears to be larger. My wife noticed how much bigger the suitcase could be on a 996. (That may be the sole reason I get to buy a new car!) Add another dozen reasons for going from one impractical car to another. I guess it can't hurt to look and it won't hurt to stay with the '89. So many choices and none of them wrong. Mike

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sorry don't mean to be too OT, but is there a thread that explains the differences more completely between the 2001 and 2002?

Hey Mike, yes the C2 996 has a good sized trunk, you might know the C4 trunk is smaller. I've been driving mine more recently, every other day, and it can putt along at low rpm's with the a/c on and the stereo. Or if the traffic opens up, take the revs up to 4500 or 5k and feel the power and hear the "Helmholtz" resonator kick on. I've never driven an early 911 "in anger" but the 996 is pretty forgiving (tell your wife "it's safer") but it's still a 911 and all that implies.... fun stuff.

Hello, IMHO, the 996 is way more civilized than the 89. It has very good heat and A/C. Many have seat heaters. It is much safer and easier to drive with ABS, PASM (if equipped), airbags, roll bars, etc. It is very easy to raise and lower the top (press and hold the button). The shifter is WAY better than the older cars. It is also a lot more complicated and more expensive to work on. Regarding speed, for a street car, just about any Porsche is too fast anyway. Good luck, Barry

I've driven all The water cooled Porsches and I have to say they all have a very disconnected feel compared to the older Porsches. Almost as if they've been over-engineered. Haven't driven the GT's though...I hear they're also numb but the visceral power compensates for the sterile feel. On the other hand the wc Porsches are maybe the most hassle free Porsches you'll ever own. And at these prices its a no brainer. My suggestion is to go for 2000-2001 or 2002-2004 if you can swing the exra money. Avoid the first year of a new model if you can. Try and get Litronics and 18" wheels, these are expensive upgrades if you do them later.

I owned an '87 Targa for four years and an '88 Cabriolet for two before moving to a 996 seven years ago. All three have been daily drivers, and all three cars have been essentially trouble free. From a driving perspective, they are very different and yet very similar cars. The 3.2 Carreras are not as fast, but they are more engaging, which translates into more fun for me. The 996 is definitely more refined, but is also a great driver's car (and the air conditioning works well). I have often regretted selling my '87 Targa, and there have been times when I considered going back to a late 80's 3.2; however, the air conditioning issue is significant here in Texas. As you can tell, I still don't think there is a clear answer even after 7 years of 996 ownership. All 911's are great cars, and each iteration has its pros and cons. The perfect solution, of course, is one of each.

99 996 is the best bang-for-the-buck performance car out there. They are a steal. Find one that has maintenance records, was well maintained, and just feels "tight". I have 125k miles on mine and it's an awesome car and runs great.

Not to confuse matters but maybe you could consider a 930. Good mix of old-school, comfort and yes, speed.

I purchased a '99 C2 Cabriolet in late '07 that had a bad motor. I've been an aircooled guy for the past 15 years and have had my '79 930 for 10 years. I wanted to learn about the newer cars, so I picked up my 996 as a project with the intentions of selling it after I got it back on the road. We'll, it's been on the road for a year now and I've put about 7k miles on the new motor. I never thought that I would sell my 930, but I honestly really enjoy driving the 996 (I've been using it more or less as a daily driver). The characteristics of the two cars are very different. My 930 has had a lot of engine (480 rwhp, 450 ft*lbs) and suspension work, so it's fast as hell and stiff as a board. For the 996 I went with a stock remanufactured motor from porsche and added the Euro spec M030 suspension. The ride is smooth, and the amount of corning grip in very confidence inspiring. Eventually one of the two cars will go, but right now I'm really not sure which one.

Video is worth 1000 words. "Hard to improve on perfection..." http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain....he+911+Carrera

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I know prices are way down on 99 Cabs, but first year for 996 and apparently more issues with RMS.

I have both - an air cooled, lightweight (2500 pounds), 240 HP Carrera with modded suspension, and a 2000 996 with stock suspension. The 996 is definitely the faster of the two - and easier to drive stupid fast. It's also daily-driver comfortable and very reliable. For your needs, I'd say any 996, even an early one, would work out well for you.

Thanks to all for your opinions. I decided to stick with the '89 for the time being. After reading multiple opinions and threads, I figure I would be happiest with a '02 or later model. I can be very happy with my '89 for the time being. It looks good, runs great, and has no major issues. Besides, an older (80's?)Camero pulled up next to me the other day. He stomped on his gas and I responded in kind and smoked him. Now I love my car! (What follows is for fun only! Do not take this seriously) Do I have a hot little sports car or a great convertible for cruising. It depends on whether I think I can beat the car next to me. Great Convertible for Cruising: When the Infinity G35 or newer Pontiac GTO wants to play, I sit back, throw an arm up on the door, and look relaxed, while driving with one hand. That lets them know that I am just out enjoying the sun . Hot Little Sports Car: If I think I can beat them, then I lean forward, loose the smile, one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shifter waiting for 6500 rpm's. There are a lot of nervous Ford Focuses out there! Of course all of this only happens in my dreams. It is illegal to drag or speed - I would never do that. Mike

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"1997 Carerra 911" NOT!

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Could be an early European car.... http://www.qv500.com/porsche996p1.php But I agree, the Boxster would have probably taken a '97 993........

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There are a host of improvements including a stiffer chasis, 20% better cooling, more useful interior with glovebox, 20 more HP and more useable torque, and what many consider a more reliable motor (this part debatable but they continually improved the design throughout the series). Plus they are newer and you should always buy the newest one you can afford.

The 2002+ Cabs have a heated glass rear window. Great for driving in the winter. Never gets scratched.