On the verge of trading my 85 for an 01 996

[stone43]

This thought has crossed my mind many times. However, now I am close to pulling the trigger on a deal. You guys have a short time to talk me out of it!

My wife's car lease is up in June, 02 3 series bimmer that needs to go back. I also have an 02 decked out Tahoe that she wants to take over (2 kids). That leaves my fun but somewhat unreliable old 85 911 that i would have to use as a daily driver, cannot put the kids in (no shoulder harness in rear) and a car that my wife hates to drive (tranny is a bit stiff). So that pretty much puts me into the dilemma of buying a new car. I have looked at 993's but decided (do not break out the tar and feathers, you purists out there) to buy a 996. I have been looking for weeks and have decided that I want the mental (and perhaps fiscal) comfort of a certified car with a warranty. Hence I had to go to my local Porsche dealer (truthfully, a bunch of snobby a-holes who act like stereotypical car salesmen, but are just selling a more sophisticated product) and have potentially found a suitable candidate.

Giving up:
85 Triple Black Cab, good shape 130K miles

Getting:
01 Triple Black Cab, good shape, 40K miles, 2 year/100K warranty, Tiptronic (part of the deal with my wife) and i can throw both kids in when needed. However, my golf clubs do not fit in the damn "trunk". Getting it at low blue book since it has been on their lot a while. 1 owner, clean car fax.

So that is it. I have not made the deal yet, but am close. Still haggling over a cd changer ($1330 from Porsche, including installation, a joke).

The deal must consummate in the next couple of days as I am flying out of the country for a week (then who knows, the search may begin again).

The stock market has not been kind as of late, so slowing the decision.

I also have an independent dealer looking for one for me, but i am nervous about the warranty thing. Those parts aint cheap on the ole 996..........

Am I losing it? Do I need a reality check?

Hammer away boyz.....

[Vipergrün]

Do your research, the 996 series have their share of issues as well, the most frightening, at least to me, is the Rear Main Seal (RMS) issue. ]

[Walko]

Buy a 993 instead

Michael

[eurocarrera]

1. Remove the rear seats and your kids can sit in the back seat until they reach about 5'5".

2. Do a search for "shoulder harnesses". There are several people who have already made the modifcation of adding the shoulder restraint from later model cars (90ish), and I am thinking of doing the same!

Good luck, AND please don't go with a 996!!!! They aren't real 911's in my opinion

[sushinav]

I think you answered your own question. If you are leaving for a week, you don't want to buy a car and then not be able to enjoy it till you get back, it'll drive you crazy for a week. And if it is still there, it will be even cheaper when you get back.

On the other hand, a week will give you a chance to think it over. Worst case, you leave, decide you want it, and it sells while you are gone. Not such a big deal, there are plenty of tip cab 996s on the market right now.

But if you do buy it, I'd be glad to drive it for you for a week.

[aigel]

Don't sell the Carrera and buy another basic, presentable family car for hauling offspring. That way you likely will end up spending less and keeping an air cooled porsche. The 996 will be a compromise. It will not be a good family car and not a good sports car, especially with the AUTOMATIC. Yes, quit calling it Tiptronic!

Second alternative is a 993.

For eveyone that is not married yet: Get a wife that grew up on a farm. My wife drove a tractor at age 12, she can deal with any 915. She's drove to work in the SC as we speak

George

[Emission]

The AUTOMATIC tranny scares me much more than the 996 part...

[chuckw951]

Ask these guys for an opinion and they'll give it to you....might also check with the 996 owners to see what they think.

I like the 996, but after seeing the 997 I would have to hold out for one of those....maybe I can afford one in 10 years...

I drove a 90 C2 tiptronic a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for a car. This tip is a neat transmission but really changed the driving experience. I think George hit it on the head a tip 996 will not be a great sports car or family car...but that's based on my test drive...I've read that the new tiptronics are "smarter" and anticipate the drivers driving style.

Certainly the 996 has had some RMS problems, but are they overblown and wouldn't that be covered by the warranty?

Tough call, but in the depends on what you are going to do with the car and what you like. Maybe take the week out of town to think about it?

Good luck and let us know what you end up buying.

[Mattias Hellore]

Why ever consider a AUTOMATIC Porsche 911?

Coz the wife says so?, it´s only a excuse, learning to drive a manual sports car is not too hard.

Here in Sweden the driving schools car is all manual and few is automatic and it´ll be marked in your driving license that you can only drive a automatic tranmission car.

Automatic transmission, cupholders, AC, SUVs..
You get the point.

I´ve got a 300hp BMW with automatic, never more.

[jbripps]

Very funny.....I've been laboring over the same exact question for the past year....Same cars involved too, but for the Tahoe.

Good luck,

[Doug&Julie]

As the owner of a "modern" Porsche, I have to say that these cars are REALLY good. The pro's of owning a newer Porsche far outweigh the cons. Yes, the driving experience will be different than your '85, but still immensely entertaining. Of course the bottom line there is YOU have to drive it and spend some time in one and see how it feels. I don't think you'll be dissappointed.

BTW fold the rear seats down and lay your clubs across them.

Good luck.

[fuelie600]

It seems to me, you have shifted the problem of replacing the 3 series with a comparable vehicle into swapping your P-car for a P-car?

Why not get a 4 seat beater car to replace the 3?

As far as the 996 goes, it is similar but different. I had a 1999 996 I bought new. It was a great car, but I enjoy my 87 more. The 996 was fast and the limits were high. As a daily driver I was tempted to get in trouble nearly every day. With the 87, the limits are more reasonable. I enjoy working on the car and the great air-cooled music it makes.

Good luck deciding!

[89911]

It didn't sound too bad until you got to the "tiptronic" part. Now you are buying a car that is neither that much fun or practical at all. It's only quality is that is says "Porsche" on it. If I had to limit my requirements as far as you have, I'd get a 5 series BMW or similar (Acura TL). You would have doors your kids could actually use. No one should get a 2 door car if they really plan on using the rear seats on a daily basis.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

You just don't sound convinced in your actions. Wait until you get back!

And George is right!!! Something about a woman who can control a '46 Farmall B, a 915 transmission, help you wrench, work horses, and clean up to put others to shame at the ballet!!!

[CharlesJones]

I drove a friends 996 once. It was an incredible car - felt very stable and comfortable at high speed - but it offered nothing like the driving experience as my '84 3.2. To my mind there is no comparison - I would take the sensory thrill of my 3.2 over the effortless efficiency of a 996 anyday, and that's not just because I can't afford a 996!

Why not spend the money you saved not buying the 996 on getting you're 3.2 in absolutely tip-top first class shape? I'm sure it would be just as reliable as a 996 if you did that. Then fit some rear seat belts and enjoy what you've got.

[chgrec]

Having owned a new Porsche (boxster) and now an older one, I would have to say they are definitely a different experience. I have never agreed with the purist view of there is only one true Porsche. The boxster was well engineered, better than the older 911. The 996 is as well. back in their day, the older 911 were tops, but the new cars benefit from technology advances so it isn't really fair to compare them apples to apples....

All of these cars have their issues (915, head studs, etc) so a RMS issue that would be warranty covered if it happened shouldn't be an issue.

I do of course agree with the manual transmission...I would fall asleep driving an auto trans all the time....We drive my wife's 3 series on the weekends (with the family) and while a nice car, there's no real sports car without a stick shift.

The upside to the newer Porsches is the feel of luxury while sitting in one..they really improved the cockpit on these cars and its easy to get used to...ultimately, it all depends on the type of driving experience you want....As for the timeline, there is ALWAYS another good deal out there so never rush....

Good luck....either way you win

Chris

[kilodawg]

Random thoughts:

Don't go thru dealer, get a seperate extended warranty if you need to

Wait until you get back

Get a 993. Just compare engine replacement costs for a 993 to a 996 to see where the quality went

On a related note Dry sump

don't let a Tip scare you off

[lateapex911]

You guys are missing two things...you completely discredit his wife's opinion, and she IS taking a hit too. She's going from a 3 series, (great car, it's true...) to a Tahoe..(OK SUV). That's a BIG step back in my book.

Second, he doesn't need the car to be practical EVERY day, so your comments about a lousy sports car AND a lousy practical car are invalid.

Third, there are many measures of the term "sports car", and ....shockingly....each of us has an opinion...wildly different, no doubt. I guarantee, someone on this board doesn't consider the 84 in question to be a sports car compared to an old 356 Roadster!!! So, lets just say that the driving experiance is equally involving, but in different ways.

Fourth...If you have clear roads, which car will get you to point B faster? The newer car DOES have a LOT of advantages! Driven hard, you can't tell me it's not an involving ride!

Fifth. A properly written warranty is a powerful thing, and getting one for the 84 (So the comparison is apples to apples) is impossible....so a HUGE vote for the new car for reliability.

Sixth...Maybe it's a good time for a change. Buy the new car, drive it for a few years. If the old aircooled cab still calls you, get one ....the values won't be skyrocketing for at least 5 years.

Give it a week, there are always more cars out there to buy. Besides, making car dealers sweat is kinda fun!

[CharlesJones]

err.. that's more than two things..

[Fast Eddy]

Let me know how much your asking for the 3XBlack cab, might be interested. I had one till I bought a house and had kids, the toy had to go so I know exactly what you dealing with.

Thanks, Eddy