Better than a 996 (at what price)

So, I am a perpetual online shopper - I dream about and research cars incessantly that fits my mood or wants. Last year, I bought my 996 and intended to sell it soon after as I already had a Turbo Miata and an RX8 for play cars. However, the 996 has won me over. Last night, after visiting my wife's family, we were having a discussion in the car that it would be at least double the price of our 911 to buy anything else that would remotely scratch the fun car itch and do it as well as our car. I really can't think of what else as most other sports cars have a compromise to them (to me) and the 911 just seems to do everything well. Miata (any generation) - too loud on road trips with wind and road noise. A blast everywhere else. S2000 - road noise. No torque. Fun otherwise. RX8 - great revving 9K motor. Feels cheap inside compared to a Porsche. Dismal fuel economy. NSX - sexy and reliable but easily $60K plus today BMW 1M - sexy and practical but the rareness has made it into a $60K + car BMW M- Coupe - could be a contender. Corvette - great highway cruiser. Probably big feeling on back road drives. Mustang - driven a few different variants and I never like the interior and they feel huge on back roads. Toyota 86 - road noise for the old gen. Fun handling. A bit common but they still make me look. So, if we didn't own our 996s, what would we buy for a do it all fun car?

Since you mentioned the BMW 1M I'll chime in. I had a full bolt-ons, port injected, upgraded turbos, turbo inlet, Full Fuel-it E85 setup, JB4/MHD tuned, automatic 2009 BMW 135i. (same N54 engine as the 1M, but with a LOT more HP than a stock 1M) (~500hp) I decided I wanted a manual 996, and my plan was to keep both. (Automatic BMW 135i for my commuting, and the manual 996 for the occasional weekend) After I bought the 996 I alternatively drove to/from work both for about 2 weeks. I realized 3 months later that the BMW had set in the driveway for over 2 1/2 months without being driven. I preferred driving the lower HP 996 everywhere. Going from 135i to 996 was great, but going the other way would be very disappointing, especially at 1M performance level. Manual transmission 1M might help, but overall I don't believe I'd enjoy it nearly as much as my 996.

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As a former NSX owner, an NSX would be second on my list to a 911. In stock form, the early years of the NSX are not sexy (those 15"/16" wheels ruin it) but reliability is top-notch. My old '91 NSX:

I can comment on the M coupe, it would depend on which year, but i had a 2001 3.0 clown shoe with the newer up-rated engine at the time, it was 225hp where as the 2000 M Coupe was 240hp, and now i have a 2000 996 3.4 with 300hp, both are and were a manual transmission, the clown shoe was too small for leg room, i'm 6ft 1 i lived with it for two years and would bang my head getting in and out but i loved that body style dearly, the Z3.0 coupe was a great car but i think even the base 996 is better. I also later had a ZM Roaster with the 240hp and there wasn't anything between the two of them as far as performance that i could tell by the seat of my pants.

C5 or c6 corvette.

^yup�Vette. Boxster and Cayman as well! I had an RX-8 and presently also own an ND1 MX-5, and the comments on these are accurate. Both are absolute peak fun to drive. I had 2 different Mustang GT�s and the S550 could be a contender�a lot of fun and a lot of character, but certainly too fat and flabby to be considered a sports car.

We currently own a 2006 Mustang and it's meh. To me it's no more exciting than a typical Toyota or Honda commuter. Yes it has some power I guess, but the handling stinks. It kind of reminds me of a truck. Might be quick-ish in a straight line, but not much fun for anything other than that.

My last car before my 996 was an E90 M3. If it was a manual I would have likely kept it. V8 and modern enough to not feel too old or delicate.

The only thing remotely close for me is a Z4M coupe. I think I'd rather that over some M96.0 996, but not all.

I have to laugh at the references to "M Coupe". I'm intimately familiar with them. The Z3M is a fantastic car! However it has a rear suspension from 1980 and you can't escape that fact. No comparison to my 996, but definitely a cool car and a really well loved machine with a rabid following. I wouldn't tell anyone not to buy one. The Z4M is an even more fantastic car! It has proper modern suspension, the absolutely spectacular S54 motor, all kinds of M3 CSL stuff such as steering rack and brakes (which people don't mention much!), and a comfortable, modern-enough interior. The Z4M is more of a track beast if that is your goal; nothing is going to blow up if you drive the isht out of your Z4M at a track. The worst I've heard of is swaybar mounts pulling out, but that is folks with lots of time and super sticky rubber. The 3.0si leans a lot more towards the GT side of the line, although people do complain about the numb electric steering. I never minded it; I drove the car with my hips more than my hands. (I owned a 3.0si and Z4M coupe, both at once for a year or so.) As with the Z3M I would never tell someone not to buy an E85/6 Z4M. Deeply underappreciated vehicles, deeply discounted in the market IMESHO. I owned the Z4M Coupe and my 996 targa simultaneously. What I found, like @TexSquirrel and his 135i (maybe try a 128i?), is that the Z4MC sat in the garage and did not get driven. Why you ask? Okay. The Z4MC has one mode: DRIVE ME - DRIVE ME NOW. It will dodder around town but it doesn't like it. It will run errands but it feels silly doing so. It will take two on a gentle-ish weekend jaunt but it will grumble under its breath the entire time. It wants to go. It wants to go fast. It wants to go fast now. And now. And now. More throttle, more steering input, more tire noise. One mode. Even after the 996 went up on blocks to await its new motor, the Z4MC sat in the garage. So I sold it. It's a fabulous car. But it isn't as well rounded as a 996.

A 2017-2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT-350 was on my short list before I bought another 996 turbo for track use. A buddy has one; the thing is absolutely amazing.

Interesting question. When visitors see my shop, they invariably ask, "Which is your favorite?" Since my wife and I resolve dilemmas by playing "gun-to-your-head", that's how I've learned to answer instead of with, "I love them all because of their varied personalities." Gun-to-my-head 996 C4S owner.

My choice would be the Audi R8, if only the prices would fall a bit more. Looks like some are available in the $75-85K range for the older ones, so it's now an approximate comp to the 996 Turbo.

An E46 M3 MUST be on the list.

1M all the way but you can't go wrong w/ a manual 135, it's a very fun car to drive and not too expensive

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Hopefully not drifting too far off topic but I don't understand the need for a turbocharger in that chassis. The N51/N52 is a featherweight delight. The 128i is the closest thing BMW has ever made to the original 2002.

If I didn't own my 996 anymore, it wouldn't be the end of the world. My do-it-all car is my 2011 M3 DCT. I have an E36 M3 that serves as my "affordable" manual trans enthusiast car. I also have a full bolt on 535xi wagon w/ RWD conversion that my wife drives and I take for large item Home Depot runs. My 996 is parked behind the wagon. The power delivery of the M96 is better for daily use but at least in my case, a sedan with a 8,500rpm V8 is more practical

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I'm a BMW guy through and through. You're my hero.

My do-it-all for the longest time was a 1983 Land Rover 110. Which was (and still is) stupid. But I love it. And unlike my 996T you can crank start it but it may pop-off your thumb. Nothing feels faster at 50 mph and in the 10 years I've owned it, has maybe cost me $8k total.

I have a 996 w FSI Street + and a 1994 Jeep Wrangler with a LS swap. As I close in on retirement ,,, the Jeep is the keeper.. It's my road tripper. I can fix it 100% in my garage and if it breaks a big bill is hundreds. unless I hurt the block a full rebuild is under a grand. Plus its got a higher power to weight than the 996 (Its a beast if you get carried away... ) The 996 was purchased as my and my wife's toy till retirement, once we transition off to a fixed income.. It's time to say goodby. Her daily is a Tesla Mod3 , quite a nice day to day second car.. Its also going away at some point, we have more cars than garage doors.. Likely in favor of a newer different brand EV without the constant over the air updates from Tesla that have become just annoying to me.

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Not attractive to Mustang believers, but I had a 2012 Mustang V6, 6 speed, with the "Performance Pack (GT springs, shocks, roll bars, brakes)...the lightest Mustang with 300 HP, weight close to 996. Handling was very good and car was quick enough. I sold it when I moved to the NC mountains in the fear that I would round off the corners of the car on narrow mountain roads. Now that I've been here for 8 years, I'd like to try it out now.

The only thing better than a 996 is another 996. Then maybe a 991.2 GT3 touring. But the list is short of the 911's better than a 996

I would never get rid of my 996. However, if you put a gun to my head and told me to choose an additional car, for a reasonable price, it would be a Cayman. Under this scenario, I would turn the 996 into a street car and make it real pretty and I would turn the Cayman into a full time track car. If you go to a PCA track day, you see the mass number of caymans that are in attendance due to being relatively cheap, mid engine, and buildable.

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You had me at wagon and RWD

GT4 Maybe a Spyder.

Very hard pressed to find a better sports car value proposition besides this, C5 corvette, BMW 3 Series (335D E90 was my fave, didn't try an M3), and maybe a Miata or something.

youre totally right! i meant the 128, thats a great little car!

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^^^^ This !! ...That VooDoo 5.2 liter 520hp 8200rpm Flat Plain engine is magical !!! and the handling is superb.. When I was 16 my 18yo uncle who was more like a big brother had a 1966 Gt350 that we spent many hours wrenching on, double dating, and street racing, that thing was special too...the new rendition of the GT350 captures the same spirit perfectly...

What truck is that? We have a 1949 1/2 Chevy pickup in our family since it was bought new.

A Boxster S isn�t better, but it is cheaper, lighter, and a ton of fun. If only the Toyota 86/BRZ had 300HP.

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I would argue that the BMW 320i (the original 1970s & 1980s car) is or was closer to the 2002. The 128i is simply too modern.

I owned a 318ti for a long time, never understood why everybody wanted to swap them. up ,, its was fun daily, didn't have the power of my 996 ,, But it was super on gas, was fast enough to never feel like your a cone in traffic and in twists totally entertaining, it loved to slide, one of the most controllable cars I've owned.

I think ya�ll missing the boat if you don�t mention a Boxster 986 Base. Porsche DNA and the handling/braking is hard to beat. Put that top down and your having fun. Like a Miata but not punishing long distance. Yeah not that quick in the zero to sixty thing but that�s only one factor unless your a drag racer.

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I owned a 2002ti I think it was called, and I loved it. Bought it new and owned it for about 7 years. But it never replaced the 911T I should have bought instead, in my mind. The only complaint I had on the 2002 was it spent too much time in the shop. Stuff would wear out and I think I rebuilt the entire cooling system. But it was comfortable on a trip, good storage, and great handling on the twisties. I was tempted on the 320's when they came out but went to a 528 instead, which was a very comfortable cruiser but definitely a sedan.

This is an interesting exercise. I've driven many of the cars mentioned so here's my take 1. 1999 996 C4 Cab - The most complete car I've had the pleasure to drive, especially after the FSI Stage 1+ rebuild 2. 2011 BMW 135i Cab - Just a fun car to drive 3. 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe - I loved the aesthetics of the car but the stock suspension was pretty harsh and that CDV was just horrible 4. 2013 Mercedes Benz C63 - Monster engine in a little bitty living space 5. Mazda R8 - Kinda cramped and the interior wasn't the best. Traded it sight unseen for a 2004 Prius.

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I was very tempted, you could get then in the high 30's with "high mileage" in early 2020. Not so much any longer... But they have problems too. Oil starvation in high G corners and oil pumps that shatter gears. Ford would replace engines no questions asked under warranty, my worry was when the warranty ran out. So the dry sump endurance racing engine won out.

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It did for me too As far as fun, or funner than a 996 for comparable money: Miata with K Series BRZ with LS or 2JZ E36 with LS or 2JZ C5 Z06 350Z with LS 240SX with a 2JZ Focus RS

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I would argue that the e30 is also closer to the 2002 than the 128i I decided when I retire that I'm going to thin the fleet by at least one car. I know it will blasphemy to some but I'm keeping the e30 and getting rid of the M5. The e30 is more fun to drive.

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Right .....I knew all this and had already previously discounted the new GT350 for those reasons , but when you brought it back up again I was taken back to the good ole days and "nostalgia" overwhelmed me for a bit, then I realized I would never trade my 996 for a GT350 of either vintage as a Daily Driver , although monetarily the 1966 version is not comparable..

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My 5 window pickup is a rare '55 1st series Chevy 1/2 ton. I converted it to a 5sp from 3sp. It's a barnfind. It proudly sports a PCA decal.