What do you think of the 996?

[Brian993]

I have owned 6 different 911’s. From a 1974 911 to several 993 models and now a 996 cabriolet.
So before I try to be a part of this community I want to make secure I’m not going to get bashed at every post.
Please be honest and fair.

[Cajundaddy]

Get over your own self.

A 996 Cab is honestly one of my least favorite 911s but on a grand scale, it is still a lotta car and currently available at very attractive prices. I owned a 986 for 10 years and had a ball with it but I am keenly aware of that era's shortcomings. If folks look down their nose at you due to your model year choice, ignore them.

[juanbenae]

rennlist is a better resource for 996's and even 993 than pelican IMO. this place is more air cooled oriented.

[Canada Kev]

The 996 in all its forms gets a bad rap, but for valid reasons, I think. Lots of people don't like them, myself included (except, to me, the turbo, C4S and GT3 varieties); they look like a Toyota Camry IMO. They are, however, very good sports cars, excepting the IMS issue. It is a Porsche after all.

If you bought the car for the right reasons: performance, pedigree, price, and because YOU like it, it doesn't matter what others think. People here might take a jab at you from time to time but it'll be in fun and not malicious (well, except for a few of, you know, those guys...) Deal with it. Poke back at us with the sewing machine sounding oil leakers.

If you're concerned with others' opinions you probably bought the wrong car and likely deserve that treatment.

[Harpo]

The 996 is a whole lot of Porsche for the money if you do your research and home work. My wife got hers for $16,000 including the new IMS & RMS

[Tippy]

It’s really a shame Porsche didn’t adopt the water-cooled, 4-valve heads for the classic air-cooled engines. You’d have the reliability of the past with modern airflow for big power.

Then, we could have adopted those heads to our 2-valvers for great power.

I owned a 996 Aero tiptronic, hence my Tippy board name. That thing was nearly impossible to oversteer and you had huge confidence knowing when it was going to let go. Not so much in my 87, but the 87 is more fun. The 996, I had sideways at 90 MPH, and recovered. Amazing suspension stock.

[Brian993]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

rennlist is a better resource for 996's and even 993 than pelican IMO. this place is more air cooled oriented.

Thank you for your response I appreciate the tip. I’ll check it out.

[Alansglide]

I own a 77 wide body and an 02 996. Both cars are serious fun to drive but in different ways. The 996 after an IMS bearing change and coil overs is a blast in the canyons with its power and handling.

The 77 with a hot rod 3.0 motor is a barrel of fun too. There's that smell and that sound. Hard to describe but once you drive an air cooled you'll never forget it .

[NutmegCarrera]

There are a few of us here that appreciate the 996
I have a C4S and really enjoy it - despite it not being a short hood, long hood, 964 or 930.
Have had an ‘85 Carrera. Great car, but my wife will come along in the C4S.

[Brian993]

I love my car. I just wanted to join up with like minded people. For obvious reasons.

[Brian993]

Originally Posted by Alansglide

I own a 77 wide body and an 02 996. Both cars are serious fun to drive but in different ways. The 996 after an IMS bearing change and coil overs is a blast in the canyons with its power and handling.

The 77 with a hot rod 3.0 motor is a barrel of fun too. There's that smell and that sound. Hard to describe but once you drive an air cooled you'll never forget it .

I’m with you on that brother. I’ve had a 1974 911, two 993’’s and a 1991 Carrera.
My favorite car was my 91 Carrera having been built the same time as the 959 it has some nice features. I took the entire suspension out of that car. Put in Bilstein coil over shocks and lowered it at the same time. If I can find some pictures I would be happy to post them.
Porsche is in my blood and heart. I didn’t have one for 10 years. They were very unhappy years for me.
Like I said to my wife. It feels good to be back in the Porsche family. Air cooled or water cooled im in that’s all I can say. I’m no snob that’s for sure.

[smokintr6]

996 has great performance stats especially compared to the cost to purchase. Unfortunately the best I could tell from driving one, it has a Japanese gear shifter, and no soul.

[rattlsnak]

All the things that make a 996 great are the same things that the air cooled crowd hates.. Roomy cabin, A/C that works, ABS, cup holders, antifreeze, etc.. lol..

I had an '03 that I basically made into a GT 3 clone and it was a very capable car that got a lot of looks. I just did a Track Night in America event with my newer car and my friend brought his 99 996 Tip cab out there. He certainly had a blast...

[Speed metal]

Ive driven a Turbo 996, great car to drive. Not as great to look at.. I think the later cars look more like 911's. I The camry look is brutal.

[Nick Triesch]

The truth is the 996 does everything better than our air cooled cars. Handling, brakes, 0-60, top speed, steering. Everything. They make an 85 Carrera feel like a 67 bug. Truth hurts but it is true.

[Matt Smith]

The 996 is a great car, no question. But this is probably not the right forum for you Brian.

[Bill Douglas]

Relax Brian. We even have 944 people on this forum. So if we are going to taunt anyone; we'll taunt them

Anyway how has the 996 Cab' been and what sort of driving do you do in it?

[WPOZZZ]

My first Porsche was an 85 RoW Carrera Cab. A 99 Carrera Tip joined it a year later. Both were great cars, bt the 996 made a great daily driver! Comfy with good ac, great acceleration, and I was managing almost 18 mpg in primarily city driving. One thing I learned is it has a really stiff chassis. Going up a hill to my aunt's house, it would lift one of the tires off the ground.

[ACDrums]

I've owned three 996s: a low-mileage Millenium, a low-mileage C4S, and a higher-mileage but pristine '99 Carrera (105k). LOVED all of them. The '99 had the IMS retrofit, which lead me to believe I was safe. Low and behold, the 6th cylinder wall crumbled (d-chunk) while shifting from 3rd to 4th gear at full throttle. The engine was trashed and the estimates to repair/replace ranged from $24k-31K, so the car was sold for a fraction of what I had into it. I was a 996 evangelist up until that point. Amazing cars to drive, awful cars to watch being towed away on a flatbed. Still makes me very sad. I'm now restoring a '72.

[Brian993]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Relax Brian. We even have 944 people on this forum. So if we are going to taunt anyone; we'll taunt them

Anyway how has the 996 Cab' been and what sort of driving do you do in it?

Sir I am quite relaxed. Just looking for a forum to add to the fun of Porsche ownership.
I can remember way back before the 996 came out. We all took a dump on the water cooled cars that would be coming out. Myself included. The car I bought is just so clean for 20 years old. It’s almost like owning a new 996. It’s a cabriolet and even the top is perfect. It would not be possible in my pay grade to own a 911/997 but someday I may.