How did you get to 996?

Bit of a random one, but if you switched cars to go to a 996 what did you go from and which alternatives did you consider at the time? I keep half considering a move from 993 to 996 but have chickened out to date (mainly on looks if I'm honest - the 996s I've tried have been fantastic driving cars and felt much more useable) but would really be interested in your experiences, particularly if it involved a 993 in the past! Thanks Charlie

OKay, if you really want to know....... Started with humble intoductions a 924 in 1987, then 944 in 1991 had that for 8 years, BOXSTER, 993 C2, BOXSTER, 964 C4, 993 targa and now 996 C4 When I bought the 993 targa I considered going back to my 964 C4 really liked it, the 996 C4 is a fantastic car but it still has not grown on me yet; still miss my 964 C4 Mark

VW Polo VW Scirocco VW Golf GTI BMW 318i Peugeot 205 GTI Golf GTI Porsche 944 Mazda MX5 Porsche 911 (3.2) BMW 325i Porsche 928 S4 MGF MGF VVC Lotus Elise Alfa 156 2.5 V6 Subaru Impreza P1 BMW 330d. Who said that I was schizophrenic? Spizz

1964 356 B 1973 911 T 1983 911 SC 1985 944 lux 1987 944 turbo 1990 964 C2 1991 964 C2 Cab (wife's) 1993 993 C2 1988 911 Club Sport (still got it) 1995 C2 Cab 1973 911 2.7RSL (still got it) 1997 Boxster (wife's) 1998 Boxster (wife's) 1998 996 2000 Boxster S (wife's) Currently looking for a nice, late 996 Coupe

LHD 993 C2 RHD 996 C2 RHD 996 Turbo Once hooked......

I had an X-Type and a 911SC and sold both for the 996 C4 I find it an enjoyable drive but miss the luxury of the X-type and the rawness of the SC. I tried a 993 and felt that was perhaps a better car for pure driving but I can't fault the 996 on looks or road holding but... we are never happy are we!!

I started with a 993 C2 in 1996, kept for two years then a break until 2000 (financially enforced) when a Boxster S arrived and then in May this year a 996 C4. All fantastic cars with the 993 being much more raw than the 996. They have all done a decent annual mileage, 8-10k. The Boxster and 966 as everyday cars are much more user friendly than the 993, controls in the right places, ecellent aircon/heating and failsafe handling. Choosing one over the others would be very difficult, I think it would be a Boxster with an extra couple of inches leg room, the 3.6 996 motor and the sound of the 993. My original attraction to the 911 came from building a couple of Ginnetta G15s back in the early seventies. They were fibreglass bodies on a separate chassis with a Hillman Imp engine hung out of the back, tuned to the lofty heights of 65 bhp. Still they only weighed 10/11 cwt !! Tim

Definitely some common themes coming through! I came to a 993 targa via some MGBs, MGFs, a 993 tip, some bits of astons and a Smart (well, rear engine, rear drive, clutchless manual, etc. etc.) having been started on the slippery slope by my dad who thought building a Caterham would be educational.... So far this 993 is the first thing I've kept for more than 18 months and it still appeals! Must take a leaf out of Oliver's book and get a bigger garage once these 996s hit "daily transport money"!!

First Porsche was a 2.5 Boxster (after flirtations with Lotus and Matra). Also considered Boxster S... and 996 C2.

Well as eveybody is doing a list here is mine updated:- HILLMAN MINX HILLMAN HUNTER JAGUAR XJ6 DAIMLER SOVEREIGN 4.2 XJS DAIMLER DOUBLE SIX 5.3 TR7 COUPE TR7 CONVERTIBLE 924 MONTEGO TURBO 944 TVR CHIMEARA BOXSTER TVR CHIMEARA 993 C2 BOXSTER 964 C4 993 TARGA 996 C4.................... I wish a 993 TT or 996 Turbo next .................. Mark

In addition to the usual run of "day cars" VW-Audi-BMW's, got hooked into Porsche in 1992 1992 - a 1984 911 Carrara 3.2 1998 - a 1985 911 Turbo 3.3 "a completly different animal to Carrera, nearly sold it after 3 months until I tamed it at Castle Combe" 2000 - a 1993 911 Turbo 3.6 "Just awesome" 2002 - a 2002 911 Carrera 2 - Love at first sight when seen as "showroom car" at OPC Reading, following a big of hagling it was mine. What do I think about the 996? As you say it's a very useable car, I use it occasionally to drive to customer meetings when I can hide it away. It's been a great car for the odd trip to europe etc. It's also just as quick if not as brutal as the turbo. Happy motoring

Went from Nissan 200 SX to '03 996 C4S. I only have one car at a time, so it gets driven every day in all weathers, plus also for work. It has a lot more traction the the Nissan, is faster, but goes sideways less often, which is a feature of the big tyres and lack of ability to get to the speeds where is loses grip in safety on the public highway. I also haven't quite figured out exactly how PSM will behave under various levels of abuse and road conditions. I have considered turning it off so that then at least I will be in complete control (or lack of it). I have managed to slide it quite well even when it was on. As an ownership proposition, I have no real complaints. It is warm (electric seats), safe (with ABS, PSM, etc. when tired), quick enough to seriously jeopardise my licence and possibly freedom. There are times I think it a bit too accomplished, since it seems to just take everything in its stride. More mid range grunt would be good, but I guess a Turbo is required (and some more saving is required first). However, I spend just about all my time 98%(?) staring at the back end of another vehicle, since empty stretches of road just aren't long enough before you catch the next car. On the styling front, I really like it. Originally I was not sure about the headlights, but they are quite practical and I am not sure where they will put the washers on the 997. It grows on you as well. I prefer the fat arsed look of the C4S, but I don't think I am unique in this judging by the sales. I would question why you want to change though. What is it you are looking for?

Fiat 124 Special Vauxhall Frenza 2000 Lancia Beta Coupe 2000 Vauxhall Viva (sad days) Ford Sierra 2000 GL (more sad days) Porsche 928 S4 Rover 600 Ti (company car, best I could do at the time) Porsche 993 Trip (s) Porsche 996 C2 Next car will either be a 996 C4S or 9996 Turbo in about 2-3 years The 928 is a great car much under valued by other Porsche drivers'. The car had all the kit and could out pace most other cars on the road even some of the 911's. I covered 60k miles in 2 years, so it must have been good. The 993 was great a little more nibble than the 928 but the car lacked any creature comforts apart from the Triptronic gearbox. I just wished Porsche had put the gearbox into the 928 GTS. As for the 996 we seemed to have come full circle, the car has the creature comforts of a 928 but the fun of a 993 (to some degree). It not perfect, but its petty dam near"¦ I hope the 997 picks up were the 996 left off. How about creating a thread for the 997 wish list or has that already been done.. eugene 996 Speed Yellow (mid life crisis yellow as some would say) Cerrera 2 Lowered suspension Porsche Carrera aero kit (no not the GT3 one) 18" Turbo II wheels

Well this will be fun seeing if I can remember them all!! - apologies for yet another list... '68 Escort Van '70 Escort Mexico - wings stripes roll-cage etc '73 Hillman Hunter GLS '68 Mini Cooper S '74 Austin Maxi (oh god did I really admit to that!!) '82 Escort 1.1L - first brand new car '79 Escort RS2000 - inherited and still got '84 Vauxhall Astra GTE '83 Alfa Sprint '85 Porsche 944 Lux '86 LHD Maserati Bi Turbo '85 Audi Quattro '86 Golf GTI '86 Audi 80 Quattro '86 Passat '88 Rover 820 '90 BMW 318 '87 BMW M3 '80 Porsche 924 Carrera GT - still got A bunch of American stuff whilst working there...Mustang, Thunderbird and Intrepid '94 Audi Coupe '95 Lexus GS300 '95 BMW 540i - still got '82 924 Turbo - still got (somewhwere in a lock-up) '01 Audi TT roadster '01 996 C4 - at the dealer !! Plus the VW Passat family wagon......