Sorry Amir - I just had to underline in your message what sounds to me like compromises, allowances and excuses toward making the 996 as substantial a car as the air-cooled 911s.

Hence, my hesitation involving a 996...

I have both, and it really depends upon what the original poster is looking for. Not enough information given to make a recommendation...

-Wayne

This should help the decision making: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRAi6DLenZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t50hVXJ9m3M&feature=related

I have owned a 72T and 83SC.

My current ride is a 2003 C2 996.

Comparing these cars is not possible. Totally different rides and feel.

My 996 was plagued with the RMS leaking problem after a PPI (2000 miles after my purchase). During the RMS seal repair I replaced the clutch assy with a light weight assy. Highly recommend this but not cheap.

The 996 is a modern vehicle with Porsche's get up and go. The vehicle cruises well and sticks to the road when you want to get aggressive. In my opinion purchase one with a 6 speed. The tiptronic was not my cup of tea.

Before purchasing a 996, drive one. What is your intent...driving to and from work and the liquor store, racing, AX or DE. My suggestion is apply the 80/20 rule. Purchase a vehicle the suits you 80% of the time and adjust as needed 20% of the time.

I do not regret my purchase and would do it again.

If there was a perfect sports car we all would have purchased it along time ago. Determine what your needs are and find a vehicle that will satisfy your needs.

Always get a PPI from a mechanic that is familiar with what ever model you should choose.

not sometimes - generally! at least the pre y2k models (haven't written that in a while - y2k:rolleyes: )

No real argument from me, the original 996 champion in this thread. If you don't like how the 996 looks then you don't like how it looks. I for one though thinks it looks great in my carport, and I get more looks from the public then I ever did in my 911. The 997 is a good looking from the rear, but take a closer look at the front clip...not all that sexy. IMO. Here's a good shot of my 996 rear end - plenty attractive I think:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1198716541.jpg


One thing I like especially when I look at my 996 is that I can just appreciate the car rather than looking at it and mentally listing all the jobs that need to be done...that's what turned me off of my 911 a little bit to be honest.

Here's a 996 video that is right up my alley. Rally is where it's at....this has to be a GT3 though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta2RGNnIGfQ&feature=related

Now by slab sided, are you talking about the 65 - 77 911 or the 996? Just curious.

Looked fine in the 60s and 70s (like 185/70 15 tires) - not so much in the 21st century.

Ur...I'm only saying this as a community service and because the OP asked "cheap 996 v not cheap carrera." I asked around again today, and have heard pretty much the same ailments - and more - in regard to the 996. Here they are:
1) Leaking cylinders (oil), which plagues the 996s and 997s. This includes the engines that replace the stock units that are taken out of models up to the latest 997.
2) Bad clutches
3) Cracked cylinders
4) Spun bearings
5) Weak manual transmissions. 60,000 is a God-send for a 6-speed if it hasn't been replaced.
6) Any car over 100,000 is a time bomb for these ailments.

The fact is I think the 996 and 997 is a nice looking car. IMO it has nothing to do with water vs. air, because, if anything, the water-cooled Porsches are more efficient, powerful, and not as much subject to power loss due to high heat as is the case with air-cooled engines. In short, Porsche did the correct thing. It's the execution that seems to be derelict. And that's too bad, as I've been considering buying a 997 once the prices come down a bit on the secondary market.

If any of this is untrue, I'd like to hear about it.

I promised myself I would never get into one of these discusions again... (I also said I would stay off the S Registry classifieds...) Ive had so many 911s, 930s, 928, 944 turbos, Boxsters ive lost count. The gold standard for me was a 73S I had with a 2.7 RS spec motor. My dedicated track car was a hot rod 76 with a 3.0 that was nuts. I used to go to Putnam Park outside indy quite often. I would load up the Suburban and the car hauler with all my go fast track crap. There was one guy that used to drive me nuts at all the DE's... yea, yea, no racing allowed... BS. The guy was faster than me in everything I ever took up there. I bought a 996 that a friend of mine spun and smacked a gaurd rail in the ass end, I fixed it. It was bone stock, but did have a L/S transmission. I drove it to Putnam, on street tires. It was wonderful. T/C on or off, it was big fun. The guy that always was faster, next time he came to Putnam, he was driving a 996. Now, Im a big long hood guy, Ive got a 70T with a 3.0 with Webers that I just love, but my old 996 (I sold it a few years ago) was just great. Considering you can now buy one for less than $20K, give it a try. Blow up the motor, and buy a new factory unit for about what you would spend for a 2.4 rebuild, with a warranty. Or... buy a high milage Boxster S for $15K and have a rip with that. You will have no regrets. I love the old stuff, will always have one. 996s are a huge bargain, and great driving cars, on track, or off. Give them a try.

Please search for my original post on this tread to find a couple super high mileage 996's. Although the 997's are drop dead gorgeous, the 996 also doesn't cost as much. You can get an early one for mid 20's and a late one for low 50's. A 997 will be at least 60's if not much higher for low miles and options. We need to continue to remember that a 996 puts a consumer into a modern Porsche for Honda initial investment numbers.

I had a m.i.l.f. and a teenage girl compliment me on my Carrera.

+1 Carrera

One thing I remember about my 996 is the chassis is extremely stiff! I went to my aunt's house which is on a side street that has a 40* incline off the main road. Whenever I went there, I would make a left turn onto her street and I was 3 wheeling it until my car was heading straight up the hill.

My 2 cents....... I think the 996 is a great car. The earlier models with the bad headlights didn't do it for me; but since those changed, I think it's a real looker. I drove a C4S for 3 months and it was great - more than enough power and a nice cockpit to boot. I still like my SCs; but for the price the 996s have been beaten down to, it's hard to find fault with them.

If I had the choice between an SC / Carrera or a 996 for roughly the same price, I'd take the 996 every time......

Mike

If you buy a 22k Carrera you can keep it 10 years and sell it for 25k. If you buy a 22k 996 you can keep it for 10 years and sell if for 12k. In 10 yeas I'd rather have the older car and the 13k.


-Andy

My own experience: I commute a 66-mile daily round trip in an '04 BMW 325i 5-speed Sport Package. My '93 325i did 200K and is still going strong in the hands of owner #3. The '04 is very fast, smooth, and slick. However, on the weekend (or on a once in a while commute) I want something with a little more soul. I like the curves of the old air-sucker, the big central tach, the feel of a Momo Prototipo bucking in my hands, and the sound of all that monkey-motion in back. New cars are highly competent and silly fast; I certainly drive more slowly in my 20 year-old Carrera but I've got a silly grin on my face the whole time. I guess it all depends on what puts a smile on YOUR face. You're the most knowledgeable person on that topic!

Very true...for much of my adult life I was a generic daily driver / hot rod 911 on weekends kind of guy. That made me happy. Then the kids came - two of the little pocket monsters and I found that my weekends were spent at the playground, not on the road/track. So the 996 - a perfect family man car. Does everything well.

I still yearn for the 911 experience...never said I didn't. In fact a daily driver 996 and a weekend 911 would be very pleasant. I've been giving a lot of though to that lately.....and then I remember I will be able to buy a 996 GT3 for $50K in a few years. That pretty much is like a happy ending for me if you know what I mean. Nuff said.

Can I stop now?

That's just the entrance fee. :) Are you ready to take on the care and feeding of that beast? I wouldn't imagine one of those would have been coddled...

As for the original question: To be honest I've never driven a 996. Would like to. But the looks just don't do it for me...

ianc

I'm too tired right now, but tomorrow I'm jumping back into this discussion.

...and I have both, btw. Love 'em both, but will defend the 996 to the end.

(damn, I feel like us 996 guys are on a Corvette forum).