Quote:
Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
The market is just going very soft for them right now because they made a whole lot of them.
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Wayne's statement here is the key. There are a huge number of these cars and, in the case of the Boxster, it is not an "icon" car. What has saved nearly all 911s is the fact that Porsche left the car largely unchanged from the '69s through the 993s. The largest reason the cars in that range hold their value (especially the '69 to '89) is the fact that there are so relatively few of them. Demand has to fall to nearly zero before the value plumets.
The 996, in my opinion, is a doomed car. Inferior to the 997 in nearly every way. Need proof? How many people refer to them as 911s? Most enthusiasts call them 996s not to differentiate a model of 911 as in 930, 964, 993, but rather out of almost a disdain for the car. I am willing to bet that most owners of 996s on this board can't wait to trade up to a 997, and those who are in the market (Wayne excluded, he has money to make
) are buying them as something to use until they can afford a 997!
With so many 996s and early boxsters out there, combined with the loss of icon status, what will keep the value of these cars up?
The 997 may be a different story, provided Porsche finds a way to keep the body largely unchanged for the next 30 years or so like they did with the aircoolers.
Lastly, especially with regard to the Boxster and the 996, this type of value loss is very common, even for the likes of Ferrari and Laborghini. Need proof? Look at the value of a Ferrari 308 once, like the one in Magnum PI, or an early Countach. A patient person could find one of these for a rediculously low price despite their rarity, though why you would want one would be a mystery to me.
So, those of you who own or are about to own a 996 or any boxster.....my advice is.........use it up!! They are great cars, a blast to drive, and fairly reliable for the performance you get. Just dont bother protecting it and expect depreciation like you would in a BMW or Mercedes cause that is, more or less, what Porsche has become.