Am I crazy... thinking about selling the P car

I have been pretty busy with school, and don't feel I really use the car for what it's meant for. I have been contemplating selling the car and getting a c55. Thoughts? Don't flame me too much I had a c43 before the 996 and really enjoyed the car.

Isn't the new C class coming out soon? If so, I'd hold off on a C55. I think the C class exterior is outdated. If you're looking for a sports sedan, M5 is the ultimate but $$$ and long wait. I'd look at the old body style M5 or upcoming M3 w a V8. If you don't need real back seats, I suggest you just keep the 996 and don't worry that you aren't tearing up the road any more. A 996 is still comfortable and powerful.

I have the same problem finding opportunities drivng my car fast even though I live and work in the country. I'd say maybe 95% of my driving is restricted by traffic, and the demands of my job leave me with little opportunity for track time. I have a deposit on a C6 Z06 and I've also considered buying a 997S, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts. I'm considering going in a completely different direction and buying a luxury car like a Lexus LS 430. That way I would be driving in a very comfortable vehicle for the 95% of the time I'm stuck in traffic.

Go for it. If you find that you enjoy the Merc more than the 996, then you would have made the right move. If you find you miss the 996, then some of the passion that is currently missing will have been restored. You can always buy another Porsche.

If you don't feel you are using the p-car that much, then sell it... it will bother you even more if you keep it BUt, why a c55? I assume you need the extra room and maybe more comfort. You can get e55's priced pretty competitively now in the used car market, with decently low mileage. I think the c-class is really dated looking. I would also look in the CLS, if benz is your style and need 4-doors

Well I am still a student, and although I have modded the snot out of my car I am not going to get all that much for it most likely, so that limits my options on what to get etc. Just for the hell of it I did a write up on it for a listing last night in bullet form the mods cover 3 pages. I know that the c63 is coming out next year right? Then again that is next year. I am such a junkie with my car that it is very time consuming. I had a c43 before and do miss the confort and ease of just driving it, not worrying about it, parking it, or washing it etc. An e55 would be cool but that is still a fair amount more. The roads here in downtown SD SUCK and am tired or being jossled around, yet at the same time I don't want to set the pss9's any softer because I love the handling and balance they're set at now. I live in LJ now and the roads are fine. However, I am going to move to downtown though as I have contruction occuring as of this week outside my window . Not too cool with finals around the bend. I really hate the high cost of ins. for the P-car I have never had a car with 60k miles on it, and usually get rid at 50k I guess I just really don't know what I want in may respects. thanks for the suggestions, I am still mulling things over. Any other ideas?

Personally I'd keep the 996 and buy a cheap driver ($5000 still buys a decent 4 door sedan these days...hint at 97-99 A4 can be had for about 5k now). Heck you'll probably still be at or under what you'd be paying for the C55. Having given up a really fun daily driver as a compromise myself, it was OK at first but wore on me quickly. Luckily I'm in a situation where the M3 sits next to the A4 in the garage so on the days I get the itch really bad I trade cars with the wife and get my fix...but driving the A4 dialy has gotten old to the point where I'm now looking for a 996 for nice days for me to drive. That said...let me know if you decide to sell! Andy

I've been feeling the same way about the my 996. Been getting the itch for a 964RSA lately but everytime I get in the 996, I get mixed emotions.

I think what I need to go do is go drive a c55 and maybe an e55 and see how bad the handling is and roll etc. Maybe that will change my mind

How can you even think about a mercedes once you have owned a Porsche? Unless you have kids and need the back seats or just too tired to drive a sports car.

I don't have kids- I'm not even married etc. I miss having a car that is more comfortable to drive. I drive my gf's jeep and am like wow I like this- and I hate jeeps. I just miss having an auto/4 door/ compliant susp./ luxry/newer interior etc.

Keep that 996 and get yourself a everyday driver, that way you wont kick yourself after you've sold your Porsche.

heheh. Yeah but then parking becomes an issue plus added cost of ins etc.

I think you'll enjoy a Mercedes for a couple of weeks, but before long, you'll miss the thrill of driving a driver's car. I only have to look at what you've done with your Porsche. Occasionally, I'll take my wife's M-B CLS 500. It's a very smooth luxury car, but M-B's are not driver's cars. I've test driven the E55 in the past, and found my Cayenne S (now gone, and missed) to be a more engaging drive. For your stated needs, look at the M3. I had one last year. Pretty much on par with the 996 in terms of driving dynamics, it has surprisingly usable back seats and sacrifices very little in terms of comfort and luxury. If you don't want to shift, consider the SMG. Or, consider an M5. This is an out and out luxury sedan with huge sporting abilities. The fun factor is not on the same level as an M3 or 996, however. There's an '01 BMW M5 (jet black exterior,black/grey interior with aluminum trim) with 27k miles in EXCELLENT condition for sale in Las Vegas for $42,999. It has new 18' BBS RGR wheels, powerchip, and Dinan strut tower brace. It also has Michelin PS2 tires with lots of tread left. Look on autotrader.com. I traded this in for my current C4S, and am surprised that they (Gaudin Porsche) are pricing it this aggressively (they gave me $40,000 for trade-in). John

That's funny about the cayenne. Well with the MB I would only get an AMG, I don't care for them otherwise. I considered the m3 before I bought my car and it would do what I want, I used to have an e34 M5 before my c43, and BMW is terrible about honoring warranty work so I don't know if I want to go there again. The M5 would be cool, but again it's the same argument for the most part. Thanks for the heads up though. I guess I really need to go and test drive some cars and take a bunch of notes. I just have such a reverance for my c43 but again, that was before I even had a stock Porsche, so who knows how terrible I would think they are now!

Your not crazy, I want to sell mine.

buy a boxtser and a bmw 325ci

spr, can you list some of your mods? If you do decide to sell, make sure you part out! Support the boards crack addiction to mods

I just sold mine.... and I am missing it for sure. The 996 is a damn fine car. The car I've had my eye on tho is an Elise. A local dealer has one here, and although I didn't drive it, I did sit in it. Damn. Talk about a driver's car - the thing is basically a race car with fenders. The last time I felt the way I did in the Elise I was sitting in a Formula Ford..... It's getting to be winter around here.. so I probably won't buy anything until spring. Elise prices seem to hold pretty steady no matter what time of year it is. I actually may hold off until spring of '07 so I can buy it outright rather than have to finance a large chunk of it... I've been growing more and more against financing toys..... t

I thought BMW service/warranty issues were here in Vegas only. No doubt, service at Porsche is leagues better than that at BMW.

Its funny , I have a MB and yet I still finding myself driving the P-car as a daily, I try to drive the merc but as i am driving it I know 100% i would rather be trying the Porsche...Maybe you should rethink the MB

You guys are funny. More likely than not I will sell the car with all the "crap" on it, or at least see what it get to via ebay or whatever. I sat down and did a list and I have 3 pages of mods single spaced with bullets! What a money pit eh? Someone would def. get one hell of a car. I was speaking with my father today about it and he kept trying to estimate how much I have dropped into the car. He estimated about 15k+?? UGH. I was driving it today on the freeway and I really do enjoy it. Then I drove around downtown looking at condos for a few hours and ugh, a Merc would def. not be as much of a headache. I don't think I would ever buy 1. a boxter that wasn't an S, and 2. Any bmw Non-M, any Mer Non-AMG, any Audi non S/RS. That said I really am wondering what I want to get. I keep coming back to another AMG C or used newer E. I was talking with a friend about the new body Benzos and he commented on how many problems they have had and warned me against them- 03+, any truth on that? He stated that Benz took a hit the last few quarters because of the problems hurting sales etc.????

I sold my beloved 2002 996 C2 Cab Triple Black back in Jan. 2005, got a Mercedes S55 AMG since we were having our first child... too big and not the same, so I bought a new new BMW 530i in April, after 3 months with Mercedes. It is more agile and fun to drive than a Mercedes, but not a Porsche. Now I just bought a 2002 C2 Cab Seal Grey again... Keeping the BMW 530 for the days with my little one...

Heres more info to confuse you, I sold the 996 and bought a new 997, sold that 8 months later and now have a Cayenne on order. Same feelings, just needed more room, but wanted the sports car feel and the Cayenne was a great compromise. While waiting for the Cayenne we bought a new Lexus GS430 [guys its a 4 door 911] and you really should look at that, for the money and their service/support record it too is a great alternative.

I have yet to find anyone happy with the quality of their MB. I think they are surviving on their past reputation for quality. Very high price + poor quality does not equate to a bright future for MB.

mercedes makes the most attractive looking cars on the roads today IMO...but every 2000 miles the on board computer usually comes up with some sort of malfunction that must be cleared...so this leads to higher maintenance costs...plus if there is a malfunction that hasn't been cleared its the first thing you see everytime you start the car. keep your p-car.

Intersting. Man I guess I really need to go drive some cars maybe later this evening after school. I was going to do it yesterday but my cable is out and so I waited for 3h no less for the "cable guy" only to NOT have him show up!!! I canceled two appts.!!! Hey NetDog that must have sucked eating the tax on the selling and rebuying about the same car? Good thing to consider.

i love love love my sl55.. i drive it 24 out of 26 times over the porsche... to each their own.. i dunno about trading it for a c class though :I in terms of the build quality.. it's second to none.. how many 500hp hard top convertibles can match the build quality of an sl? none that i know of...

Yeah I dunno about the SL. Further, I really dunno about pickng up a c55 with the new c63 coming next year the resale will go in the toilet.

Stay with what you have. You've already spent a lot of time and money modding it to your liking, so presumably, that's what you want. This is especially true if you're not willing to back off on the PSS9s because you're addicted to the handling. If you get something else, you're probably just going to start modding that, too. FWIW, my wife's Lexus is an absolutely wonderful car--as long as you're a passenger. As a driver, it is an absolutely boring car. After I drive it for a while, I sure miss my modded P car despite the ride harshness, etc., and I've never met an automatic that shifted when I want.

Well I really liked the way my c43 did it's shifts as it would hold the gear midcorner etc.

i dunno dude, i'm 24 and last year i had to deal with the same thing...i kept my car and got a beater instead of selling. SO GLAD. just keep your car and buy a small used econobox, if money's a concern then worrying about taxes and depreciation on a newer 45-50k or more car is gonna be a joke, especially with insurance involved. you're gonna be really bummed when you wake up in march and the sky is clear, its sunday morning and all you want to do is cruise in your porsche...but you only have keys to the 4 door benz. i actually had to put my 993 in storage for 7 months because i had surgery on my elbow and couldn't drive a manual- and i drove a vintage benzo and my old volvo instead. . i'd buy a boring point to point gas sipper, because if you're living downtown you're gonna walk instead of circle the block for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot anyways. and tell your insurance agency that its your new primary driver, and your 996 is only gonna see 2500 miles a year or something. your insurance will go down because of the multicar and low mileage discounts. i used to do this when i had an old 850 turbo and had just purchased my 993. I actually paid less insurance with the two cars than just the volvo alone! you can - always buy another porsche...but you won't ever buy back YOUR PORSCHE. c.j.

For what it worth Sean I think your crazy...but hey that's just me. My $.02, keep it and pick up a everyday ride. I know the ins. sucks and parking downtown is insane (ask me how I know!!!) but ever sense I got my ridgeline I've been so much happier. I have the best of both worlds. If you sell the p-car you'll just end up buying another one in short time and wishing all along you never sold your first one (cuz once you go porsche....).