Is it time to sell?

I have never been one to drive the toy car a tremendous amount. 2 to 3000 miles a season in a normal year. Due to covid, in the last 2 years, I have not driven the car a 1000 miles. As I look towards the future, I start questioning if now is the time to sell - especially in the context of the ever increasing 996 prices. This has nothing to do with the crazy gas prices. I have a 2003 996 C2. Original paint, no accidents. 47000 miles. At 44000 miles: IMS Solution Clutch/flywheel RMS Water pump Low option car (which I prefer). Black on black. Everything works. Car was scoped at this time. No scoring luckily.... I really like the car. I don't need the money. I live in a neighbourhood where many houses have cars covered in their garages that haven't moved in years. I don't want to be one of those guys. As we return to the office post covid, I'll only be there a couple days per week. So I can't see taking it to work more than a handful of times per year. We used to take it to the cottage regularly. We now have a standard poodle that doesn't fit in it. I live in a densely populated city (Toronto), that sits in gridlock 20 hours a day. So the fun of driving the car has also evaporated to a major extent. I know many people regret selling their sports car. I am trying to avoid that feeling in the future. But then I also see the car sitting on the lift, not being used and being used less and less. As I look towards retirement, I see myself using it even less. Winters will be somewhere warm. Summers will be at the cottage. Is it time sell?

yup. You can put the money towards something like perhaps a nicely equipped Macan that will offer some fun while still being practical enough for the dog and daily usage to the office. Take advantage of the silly money right now.

The problem could be in the future will you miss the sold car so much that the replacement might not be as good or much more expensive better to have a known opportunity then an unknown quantity

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Could be...or could not be. Who knows what will happen to prices in the future. Why keep something you don't use due to the remote chance that you may miss it in the future (to look at I guess?). Having it sit 95% of the time is not good for the car, nor is particularly useful to spend money in storage, insurance, registration, maintenance etc and you're not using it. I understand the OP likes it, but given his statement that he will be using it even less in the future, maybe its best to take a really nice picture of it and let it go to the next owner.

I'm right where you are-I just don't use my 2007 Carrera S more than a couple of thousand miles a year. I bought it in 2016 and it is the only real sports car I have owned. I did a couple of track events thinking it would revive my interest in the car but this just caused more frustration for me since I found it to be very challenging to drive effectively. I'm getting quotes from CarMax and dealers and hopefully I won't regret it.

Simple, really. if you were to answer no, to Jake Raby�s rebuild question about your attachment to the car, you have your answer. At least, that�s how I�m looking at things now😎

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You've done a great job of documenting all of the logical, rational reasons to part ways with your 911. If that is solely the basis for whether or not to sell....it would appear your decision is clear....it's time to move it on to someone who will be able to fully enjoy it. However, car guys/gals are not always rational, and can make decisions based on an emotional attachment...for good or bad. This is the wildcard in the process on making your decision. These decisions are almost never easy....but whatever the case may be....I've found making it and not looking back is the best way. Good luck!

If you no longer want the car sell it. If you want it, then keep it. ​​Not that tough.

It’s you look at her and she puts a smile on your face just sitting their, If you don’t take her out as much, but you still enjoy feeling her curves, If looking at her backend still gets you exited, Then you have the answer, keep the car, and perhaps the wife too!

If you are not going to use the car I'd sell it. Will you miss it? Sure, but if it just sits there you will run into maintenance issues that will crop up out of line with the mileage driven (basically age and non-use related issues). I had an 83 944 in the early 2000s. It slowly morphed into a DE track car that made street driving a chore with its stiff suspension and lack of A/C. I stopped tracking in 2007 and barely drove the car for the next few years. In the years it mostly sat I could see the body declining, had lots of problems keeping mice out of it, and just couldn't stand to see the car taken out by those nasty critters. I sold it in 2013 and then went 7 years before buying another sports car, my current 02 996. I plan to keep that car until I'm buried in it. I too will probably drive 3000 miles per year and take it to work when I go to the office (not often these days), but I'm okay with that. It's plenty of miles to keep the car running each year. Bottom line, let someone else enjoy the car instead of watching it decline sitting in the garage.

I'm in the same situation, but mine is a 2009 Turbo, she just sitting in the garage. I drove my 996.1 more as I do not have to deal with the attention I'm getting on the 09 turbo.

Sounds like the car doesn't get much use. Sell it while the market is hot

Take it to the warm place, or the cottage. (Ditch the dog.) Knee-jerk and semi-sarcastic, sorry. Let me try thinking about it a little bit. Okay. I recently retired. I also just got my 996 and I'm making plans for it so that I can keep and enjoy it for many years. Those plans include trips in the car. I love to drive. I mean, I *love* to drive. I don't care for the electronics-slathered new cars these days; I consider the Aughts to have been a high point in the arc of automotive history. Just enough computer-foo for reliability and longevity, not so much that they will be impossibly expensive to keep long term. No heavy handed nannies. Not that I wouldn't own a newer car -- I do in fact -- but I don't drive it with the same kind of pure joy. If I want to have fun in a car I reach for the 996 keys (or the Z4MC keys but that is another story). I do not want to be without a truly fun car, ever, from now until the time comes to hang up the keys. In your shoes I would honestly count 'take the car to the warm place' among my options. (I'd also have a hauler of some sort there so the dog is accommodated.) That's my take on your situation. Take it as that. YMMV, etc. Good luck with the decision process!

The OP erred in not getting the breed of dog appropriate to his car fleet. All kidding aside, sell your bubble-inflated TO house and move somewhere where you can handle the commute a few days a week.

Some solid advice here... Sell the 911 and buy a Macan.... yep... /s DON'T DO THAT. STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. GO DRIVE YOUR CAR.

In fairness, the Macan advice is not too far out of line. I have a friend who was using a 991 as his daily driver while he was restoring his �72 911S. When that car was finished he replaced the 991 with a Macan.

Nothing wrong with the Macan, it just can't compare to a 996 or any 911 in my eyes. Especially one as nice as OP's sounds.

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You tell me whats better. 1. A not so cool car that gets used an enjoyed and is still fun to drive, if in a slightly different way or 2. A car that sits in the garage, taking up space, being used extremely rarely. You say....go drive your car, but it sounds like the OP has has plenty of opportunities to do so and simply hasn't. Be it the dog, the location, or whatever. The 911 is a great car, but it doesn't mean its the best car in every situation.

My wife and I have an Audi Q7 we both use to cart things around and use the most often daily. She has a convertible Audi A5 and I have the 996.2 that we use for fun driving. The Q7 could easily be a Macan except we got a better deal on the Q7. It comes down to what you need and what you want. What you don't need or don't want, get rid of. If you are looking to time the 996 market... Good luck.

Lot's of great comments. The car continues to be maintained, regardless of miles driven. Really good feedback. Wife (who doesn't drive btw) say to absolutely not sell it. My daily is alot of fun....stick Jeep Wrangler. I viewed the 996 as a forever car. Love to drive it - just doesn't fit in anymore. Toronto traffic just sucks and takes the fun out of it. I'm not Magnus driving at 4am lol.

I can't imagine not driving a car like this on a regular basis and I would have never let covid stop me...SELL it!

Toronto Traffic That pic is a good day. I think this is what has killed the Porsche fun.

How do you drive a manual wrangler in that?

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See that grass just to the right of traffic? There's not doubt it's bad here. I'm sure traffic is bad in a lot of cities, but we don't have a lot of great roads anyway, so even boring roads are at least an opportunity to enjoy the car...until you hit that. My son drives the Audi almost exclusively now, so the Cab is my daily. I sold my motorcycle during COVID, after commuting to downtown T.O. for 20 years (free parking). Now I'm going to time the drives and at least take the car when I can. We always say about bikes that a lousy day on the bike is better than a good day in the office. I have to get to the office anyway, so I'd rather be sitting in a 911 (especially with option of having the top down) than sitting on a train full of commuters. Then I still have the car on evenings, weekends, and days off. I'd keep it, but if it bugs you sitting there.... Come to think of it, that's why I sold the bike - so maybe you shouldn't make the decision during the winter and during "work-from-home"!

I'm in a similar situation: 2003 Targa with 65000 miles. Bought it in 2018 when it had about 60,000 miles on it. It needed love and over the next four years it got that. Now it's a really nice car and a great drive, but during Covid we had our first child and currently finding myself enjoying being a new dad rather than driving/working on the thing. The market is hot, a rear facing seat doesn't fit in the back, and I only drove it 650 miles last year. Time to let it go to some one who can enjoy it more than I can right now.

This wouldn�t even cross your mind if there was any real doubt. So, yes

I don't think I would put a baby in the car. Kids that are old enough to fit in the back seats, sure. I did it with my kids. But only local low speed roads. Never took them on the freeway sitting in the back. For some reason, everyone likes to tailgate a 996, and they fail to realize that we can stop quicker than they can guaranteeing a rear end collision at some point if traffic stops quickly. Safety first.

Have you tried taking your car outside of Toronto...? Of course it sucks in traffic. Take it into the mountains or whatever!! If you don't enjoy going for drives to nowhere then perhaps the Macan is indeed the choice.

I'll refrain from posting more of my opinions on Porsche's crossover segment, but simply put I would rather have the 996. Even if I only drove it a couple times a year. Get another car to commute. No one says you're only allowed one. Those guys with the covered cars in their garages might be pretty cool... Also I want to see a picture of this poodle.

That traffic isn’t bad I live in NYC we have BAD and have 3 stick shift car used sparingly unfortunately but sell them to drive mainstream isn’t for me but good luck with your choice

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Any chance I get.... first pic was the only drive last year. Early October. Ended up in Mennonite country on a dirt road with horse drawn carriages. Out of respect, wife said no pics. 80 minutes west of home. Early October. you guessed it, on the way home stuck in traffic for over an hour. Took all the fun out of a nice day. Second pic was pre-covid. Took a cheat day at work. Great lunch, tried some phenomenal cranberry beer (and I hate beer mixed with stuff). Took a steamboat cruise. Great fall colours. Great drive back home. Traffic was timed perfectly. The more I think about it, could just be the covid hangover. I've gotten so used to just being home or at the cottage that I'm now looking at some of my possessions and wondering where they all fit in. I've got 2 offices for work. One downtown and another in Mississauga. I stopped driving into the core (parking for me is at City Hall). I just take transit for my infrequent visits downtown. Faster and reduced headaches. Drive to Mississauga used to be fun pre covid. Lot's of colleagues would bring their fun cars too (have a video of my old boss drifting his M in the parking lot lol). Now, everyone works remotely. And I do try to get out to a couple porsche events every year....most everything last year was cancelled. So the answer is, I do get out and drive it. Oh, and here is my boy.... Bottom pic is my boy as a pup....I don't think 6 months in that pic. He is a sliver poodle.

Beautiful dog! And yes he does look too big for a 911.

Sounds like you've somewhat made up your mind and are looking for validation. A few thoughts.. - It's a very nice 996 with key maintenance items done. Would be somewhat hard to find another like it. - The 996 is a sweet spot, analog driving experience but still retains modern creature comforts, safety, refinement, etc. - Prices still low enough to justify usage without guilt. Reliable and robust. Values climbing by the day. You can drive the car, you're just making excuses not to. Take it to work several times per week. Sit in traffic. Take it out for dinner with the wife. I daily my 996 six months out of the year with very little consideration for "conditions". Rush hour traffic, blue state inner city roads, incremental weather, you name it. That's the beauty of owning a Porsche, it's not some fragile prissy Italian sports car, it will swallow up whatever you throw at it. With that said, sometimes life and priorities change and that's okay. It's a tough decision. I've done it several times and ended up buying both cars back on "right of first refusal" so unfortunately I'm not one to offer any foolproof advice.

I�d rather be stuck in traffic in a cool car than drive a daily driver. I�d rather just treat my 911 as my daily. One car. One great car. Although if you think the Jeep is fun, you might have the kind were the doors are removable, so there�s that, which is hard to beat. Except a 911 cab, lol.

In 2007 I bought an 03 Targa that I kept for 10 mos. I was in the process of moving. I didn't have a 3 car garage and it was easy to just cash out. I regretted that move. 14 years later in March '21 I'm back in the seat with a '03 C4S. Could not be happier. I drive it as much as possible in the 3 seasons without snow. I will keep as long as possible - perhaps forever. And I still don't have a 3 car garage. My daily A8 stays outside- big deal! It's easy to take the cash if you're not using it but you may regret it. If it were me, I'd keep it and drive it more and more often. Maybe add a PCCM+ to make it more modern with some interior tech. Just my $0.02. Good luck!

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What color was your Targa? I have a 2003.

I don't know how old you are, but age matters a great deal... To us old folks, a 911 is not just fun, it is therapy also. Sometime we just don;t know it, Your wife may know this and the reason she said keep it.. A good buddy of mine that I met many years ago right after he bought his '99 Cab, was considering selling his when he found out he was needing a double lung transplant and was on the wait list. We had enjoyed many Porsche drives together with PCA, even started the "Tail of the Dragon Run" for our Chapter. We had many drives, Cars and Coffee's, DE Events. ect. He had even had a cracked head years ago and we did a complete rebuild with Nickies, 3.4 to 3.8, Carillo Rods, Hoffman Head, X pipe, headers, high flow cats ect. ect. ( he did the work, I just supervised) ..But anyway I told him not to sell, that the 996 would be good therapy for after his surgery to give him the will to heal. He had a tough time with the surgery and leaky wind-pipes and lots of problems for 2 years, but finally recovered and has been back to enjoying his 996 again now. He is going for good spirited drives and likes tinkering on it and cleaning it.. He has enthusiastically thanked me several times for talking him out of selling his 996... YMMV

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when I got mine January 2021, this car and the stuff about it change my life. I was out of the sports car scene since 2013. Now my wife says you should have done this years ago. Houston I-10 at the peak hours looks similar than that picture of the Toronto highway. I agree, who wants to be driving a stick in that. Anyway, since I�m retired I can take the car to run Aarons or whatever whenever I want. I had stop completely washing detailing cars, now I detail clean regularly the 996. My Saturdays are not boring anymore, now I go to cars and coffees, a track event ( not tracking my car, just to hangout), the concourse de elegance shows and now even dinners with the P guys, my wife loves the social activities. You know Porsche always says is not the cars is the people, that�s a huge plus, I have made a bunch more acquaintances and friends. How cool 😎 is it that my mechanic is a cool good guy, where if some work is needed I can schedule to go to his house, smoke grill some meat, drink beer and have a great day, also get to learn a lot more about the car . I value the people interaction almost as much as the car itself. With a friend now we are in the process of getting our 4 cars PDR here at my house and that will be a great day or days, music drinks, I�ll cook whatever. Same friend offer me to help me paint correct my car. If you still like the car, try to get to the weekend events where the traffic may not be as bad. I sold a few cars that when I Think about it today I wish I wouldn�t. Took it out yesterday just got it fill it with shell v power 93 and took twisty roads to my watering hole. Now if you are in a tight financial situation, and you need the money, today�s market may not be a bad time to sell.

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Curious to see how this works for you. My car (2000 911 C2) came to me via a dealer who bought it from Carvana and the car was pampered. I couldn't fathom why the owner went that route..

I'm almost 54. Plan is to retire at 60 - wife is 4 years younger than me and that is when she will retire. I consider myself to be quite active during summer which I consider to be mid march to mid november. Then I hibernate since I can't stand winter - cold and snow and fugly. During summer, always lots of fun stuff to do - porsche seems to fit in less and less. All of you have brought up some good points. I'm going to plan to hang on to it....then see what happens. Even if I only drive it a couple times a year, it is what it is. I have 2 boats. The bowrider and the fishing boat. The bowrider gets used mid June to Labour day - then gets put away since it is just too cold to be out on the water. So maybe that is how I just treat the Porsche and use it when I feel like it. Just hate being those people with a car under a blanket perpetually. Just wrong.

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Good call. Reconsider in when you aren't hibernating since you can't stand winter - cold and snow and fugly and all. I bought my 944 in February 2018, did a lot of work on it as quickly as possible and had a lot of fun with it, including PCA events in the GTA. I still had a motorcycle for commuting in summer though. Then I got the 911 going into winter of 2020, and boom. No events. No need to got to work. No need to leave the single tiny little room...oh wait I'm off topic again. I was without the car over last winter for the engine work, and really looked forward to enjoying it for most of 2021. I did, but not as much as I hope to this year. I sold the bike last winter for exactly the reasons you're thinking about. I knew I would be driving the car instead of the bike (it was primarily for teaching rider training, commuting to the office, and Deal's Gap trip every other year). Now I wish I still had the bike, but buying one right now seems pointless. You can always argue there's no compelling reason to keep something you aren't fully enjoying, but that's not really a compelling reason to sell it either. I'm glad to hear you're going to keep it and hope to see you at some events this year (if they aren't all fully booked 1 minute after registration opens). Mark

I battle with this often. I don't get to use my car all that much, I have no commute and don't go out a lot but I think once my daughter is in school me and my wife will be able to enjoy the car more. I also know I will most likely not find another deal on a 911 like mine and if I sell it I will just get bored and buy something else.

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I�m on the same boat, I�ll be 54 in April. Now I�m retired, my wife is 6 years younger than me she has a business and also works for a non profit. I just signed my wife as a co member of the PCA. There are a bunch of events that they organize here in our region, some are like drives where you get to stay in a bed and breakfast, winery tours etc. Retirement is awesome, now I used to be a workaholic. I was sitting in front of my computer at 5 am. When I retired the first six months where an adjustment period. Now I have found more things I like to do, cooking, I watch more tv now that I ever did in my life, more active in my money management from research, to readings to 45 quarterly earning calls. As of recently, been doing home improvements. Just bringing my 22 year old house up to date. I installed 3 ceiling fans, disassemble the kitchen vent hood, replaced the two ac units within the last year, now I have state of the art 16 SEER ACS. Love the set up of your garage.

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Thanks for the garage compliment. That pic was last year before moving in. I�be tweeked the garage a bit more. I do alot of stuff on cars.

Six years ago I sold the C5 �Vette I�d had for 15 years. Drove the hell out of it. For a few years it was my only car. Later on I married & had a kid so it sat as I dailied in my SUVs. Sold it & replaced with a �right-sized� E92 M3. The M3 was perfect size and perfect condition. It was too nice for me & became a 2-3000 mile garage queen. Upgraded my SUV to a Cayenne Turbo. Then the M3 really sat. Sold the M3 on BaT & decided that beater 996s was my path. Picked up one last year & added 9k to the clock. Added a 996turbo this spring. They are neither garage queens nor anything close to original but the right car for me. If the only thing holding you back on the 996 is the dog, build a little padded platform back there for him over the rear seats. If that doesn�t work, sell it. Don�t let your possessions own you.

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Not my 996, but still VAG..

Where�s that covered bridge? Thinking of all the places I�ll go in my 996 this summer.

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Very nice. I have a few Sciroccos. Would love to find a nice clean unmolested Corrado. Enjoy it!

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West Montrose Covered Bridge - Explore Waterloo Region Don't go a Sunday if you want to go to St. Jacobs market. It is closed Sunday. The town is always open.