Fulfilling a dream - Recommendations?

I�ve wanted a Porsche since I was very young (I�m 32 now). It�s been a childhood dream to own a Porsche. My wife started a �Porsche Fund� when we got married 5 years ago. I�m getting close to my dream car now ( maybe a year or two depending a purchase price), but I kind of have a dilemma. What should I get? I�m a huge convertible fan, so it has to be topless. Targa or Cab? Not sure. Yet another dilemma. I�m 6�4� with a thin build. Doubtful that I would race it. Mainly a �weekend/summer� fun car. It would be a third car (I have a Dodge Durango and a Lexus RX330 now). I�m a family man with 2 young kids. Not rich, but not poor. I have not test driven any of these models. I have ridden passenger in all of them though and think I would be happy with any of them. I don�t want to test drive yet because I know I�ll want one right then and there. I want to try and save a little bit more. Yeah, it�s killing me. So, what do you think? What model (and even year) would you get if you were in my shoes? I�m going to try to keep the price under 45K. But I�m historically bad at sticking to a budget. I�m posting in the 993, 986, and 996 forums to try to balance the opinions a little. Hopefully that�s not frowned upon on this site. Thanks for you replies. Please add pluses and minuses to my list as you se them. 993 -- Pluses - Love the exterior the most out of all the Porsches (mainly the front). - Cheaper than the 996 which means I�d probably get it sooner. - It�s a 911, which I have a soft spot for. -- Minuses - Don�t like the interior as much as the other 2. - Cab top boot is a big minus. Both in looks as operation. 996 -- Pluses - Love the interior. - Easy to operate Cab top. - Stronger engine than the 986. - It�s a 911, which I have a soft spot for. -- Minuses - More expensive which means it�ll take longer to save enough. - Like the exterior, but not as much as the 993. 986/S -- Pluses - Interior looks similar to the 996, so that a plus. - Easy to operate top. - Mid engine design. Better balance? - Cheaper than the 996 which means I�d probably get it sooner. -- Minuses - Like the exterior, but not as much as the 993. - Power is down, but still respectable in the S. - Might be too cramped. I�m 6�4�. - It�s not a 911, which I have a soft spot for. John

You can get very good condition 00-01 996 C2 Cab for around $45k. Since you have waited and saved, don't compromise and get what you really want.

John, You should get the one that will make you stand in your garage and stare at it, which sounds like it would be a 993 for you. If you don't like the cab top boot on a 993, get a targa. But as Gery said, you can get a 996 for 45k. Also, if you want to use it year round the hardtop on the 996 is BIG plus. All due respect to the Boxster, but sounds like you've always wanted a 911...so stick with the 993 or 996. You won't be disappointed with either.

J4YDubs: I agree with the folks who suggest a 996. Your 2 minuses are price (which is not a minus around 45K). Regarding the exterior, it's amazing how you will feel about a 993 after you have the 996 to look at every day. The "new" shape really grows on you. The other plus (IMHO) about the 996 Cab is the hardtop. With the hardtop on it is a unique, very much a Porsche look! And the rear windows retract with the hardtop on to make a very "open" drive! I have a question for you. (sorry, OT ) How do you like your RX330? Did you look at other SUVs. What are pluses and minuses there. Could you PM me or email me at [email removed] I'd appreciate it.

J4yDubs: If the 911 is your favorite model line I'd suggest holding out a year or two until depreciation brings the '02 996 Cab into your budget range. With the '02 you get the 3.6L motor and the glass rear window which would be considered major plusses. By then the 997 will be out so it should drive down prices on the 996 even more. Of course, if your budget is currently at $45K you can probably buy "new" 2003 Boxster S for that right now (sez the guy that took a $30K depreciation hit on his 2002 S). You really need to try a test drive in a Boxster to see how it fits you though.

John, I agree w/ DonW. I had wanted a 993 turbo and ended up getting a '99 996 C4 Cab. So glad I went that direction. I'm 6'3" and 996 is much more comfortable than 993. And as DonW mentioned, with the hard top on, my car looks awesome! No comparison on interiors. You can get a lot for $45k these days because they produced so many 996's and many are coming out of warranty. Get a good aftermarket extended warranty and it's still cheaper because price drop on those cars is more than the cost of the warranty. Already had to use my extended warranty on a water pump w/ no problem and may be about to use it again because of possible RMS leak. Let me leave you with one thought. IMO there's not a better all around daily driver sports car than the 996. Every day that goes by that you aren't driving one is a day you will regret once you have it. Good luck. Mitch

Thanks for the replies everyone. It�s helping a lot. Gery NJ, I�m used to having to wait for my Porsche, but it�s killing me. Getting close and getting itchy. 01 C4 Cab NYC, I think I�d stare at either the 993 or the 996 if it was in my garage. The part that I like better about the 993 is the headlights. Put the 993 headlights on a 996 and I�m set. Several people have made a similar comment about the Boxster. I think ya�ll might be right. I�m trying to convince myself that I want a Boxster, but I always come back to the 911. Boxster will probably be removed from the list soon. DonW-Cape Cod, the 996 is growing on me. I like it a lot more now than when it first came out. I like that it�s a more modern car than the 993. The 993 interior feels �old� to me. About the RX330. Yes, we really like our RX330. I researched and test drove about 8-10 other SUV�s. I�ll PM you with more information or I�d be happy to discuss with you in the Off Topic area. A great board to research the Lexus is www.clublexus.com. Good forums there. Steve in FL, I haven�t gotten to the model year yet (uuhhgg). Thanks for the recommendation on the 02 though. Did the front headlights change also? Time to search� John

Before I got my 996 C4S, I too wanted the 993 for it's headlights among other things (I am certain almost all porsche enthusiasts think the same). But, now that I bought mine, frankly I can see the age in a 993, and I find my 996 to be a better car, allaround for me (especially the looks). Frankly, either way you will be happy. You may want to see other pictures of Don's cab (specially the interior) to see what potential these 996's have, and you'll agree that look wise 996 is better all-around. Don't get the boxter (You were dreaming of these cars since very young, like most of us, I think you wouldn't like a boxter). Porsche there is no substitute, you'll truly know the meaning once you own one (be it 993 or 996). Good luck, may the irrational impulse of buying an expensive sports car be with you, once you go through with it you'd love it, I feel pitty for all the rest.

I like the Boxster, so no disrespect meant to it, but your childhood dream wasn't to own a Boxster was it? I'm about the same age as you and I've had a picture or poster of a 911 hanging on my wall since I was about 13. Hold out for the car you really want. Although a Boxster coupe if they ever made one...

hey we must be living parallel lives! i'm also 32 and married almost 5 years. it really helps to have a wife that will support/tolerate this sickness/addiction/passion. i started out with a boxster 3 years ago and it is truly a good car. i didn't have the S so i always was yearning for more power. i think it was a great first porsche. very forgiving and quite a comfortable cruiser yet can show its true sports car colours when the twisties come 'round. like you, i have dreamed about the 911 since childhood, so i gave up resisiting and just recently bought a 996. build quality is much better than the boxster. the box had so many squeaks and rattles (it may be due to the nature of a convertible - less stiffness). it truly is a daily driver/commuter and at the same time a drivers car esp. with 2 wheel drive without traction control and PSM like mine and just like the gt3 HA! (no C4 flames please, just kiddin at your height, the boxster will be downright closterphobic with the top up. i was looking at the 993 as well but got the 996. the interior of the 996 made my decision real easy. the 993 is stil a goregeous car though, esp the c4s. great used deals out there especially private sales (make sure to do a proper PPI), no dealer mark up. got my coupe for less than 38K, more cashleft over for mods!!

J4yDubs: Yes, the '02 996 was the "facelift" year and got the restyled nose and lights.

You guys helped me in my first post on the board so I guess I'll put my 0.02 in here in the hopes that it helps someone else. John as you can read in the M3 vs. 996 thread I started I'm in a similar position to you. I have to tell you there are some great deals on 99-00 911's out there right now. In fact, I take delivery Monday of a champagne/black 99 C2 coupe with 32000 miles that I paid $37k for. It wasn't the cheapest one I found (I've seen some with much higher miles going for as little as $29k!) but this car looks like it has barely been driven. There's not a scratch on the exterior of the car...it's astonishing actually. The only thing that shows any noticeable wear are the trunk and the engine cover release levers on the driver's doorsill. They've been scuffed by getting in-n-out of the car. Everything else is just immaculate. Granted it's not a cabrio (my last car was a convertible and I didn't want another one right now) but I personally think you should be able to find a nice 996 cabrio well within your budget. Obviously the Boxster will be considerably less expensive but they're just a little too small for me and again I wasn't looking for a cabrio. Based on what you said above I certainly think that may be the best option for you if all you want is a 'summer fun car' that isn't a daily driver. To me the 993 is beginning to look dated. It's still a beautiful car but side-by-side with either of your other choices it just shows its age. (And I agree it has the worst top-down look of any of the cars..ugh.) Just my take, I hope it helps you. I personally think you can't go wrong with any of the options you mentioned though. Good luck! -Keith

If you like the shape of the 993 and you like the quality of 996, then 997 would appear to be the way to go. You've just bought yourself another year to save the money you need.

Well, Is one, or maybe both, of those kids a son who will soon become a teenager? Or already is? If so I would have a very long heart to heart talk with my insurance agent before putting a Porsche of any flavor in my garage.

Drive them all and go from there. Warning, don't drive a 996 Turbo. I did and ended up buying one.

Check them out but I'd recommend a 996 cab or a coupe with no sunroof for your height. I'm 6'7" and I used to have a 996 cab and now I have a GT3 - I fit great in both of them. Boxster is way too tight, ditto for the 993, and the 996 with sunroof. 993 w/o sunroof might work if you can find one but I never could find one to try out. I'm a little taller so you won't have as much trouble as me but I still think you'll have problems with anything but a cab or sunroof delete car.