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I agree with previous posts in that the 996 is an amazing, well-tuned, well-balanced, powerful, dependable car. That said, the very act of refinement removes some of the unique character of the earlier air cooled cars (imho, pre 993).
So the good news is that the newer cars are more "turn key." I am still impressed that I can hit the cruise control and get a genuine 29-30mpg at 65mph--and yet, have it respond so well to the throttle. As in any car, consider the options you get and how well they will age. Some features are great with a new car under warranty...but pale with the weight of their upkeep over time.
My '69 911s was a pure European version. As a small block, it started to get decent power at about 4,500rpm, at 5,500rpm you could hear the cams come alive, and from 5,500-7,200 it screamed like a banshee trying to claw its way from the engine compartment into the back seat. It was great. On the other hand, given the traffic we drive in near large cities and the impact that weather has on the older cars, I can drive the 996 and simply not worry.
So, if you can have both a 996 for transportation and an early 911 for sport--that's ideal. For a single car, the 996 is hard to beat. The 3.6l engine vehicles seem to be aging well with no consistent, major weaknesses showing up.
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James
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