Talk me into / out of this (996tt vs SC)

[Sicklyscott]

I posted this in the 911 technical forum and thought I'd get a balanced answer by putting it here as well. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Hi Folks -

I am the proud owner of a black on red widebody SC. I will be taking it to the track a couple times a year to start learning how to really drive it. My last time (and first time) out I noticed how "slow" similarly weighted and powered cars are to most modern day track rats and it's left me feeling a bit inadequate. Now granted the skill I have (if you can call it that) will use up maybe 50% of what my 911 can do? So knowing that the next step up for this car would probably mean a 3.6 swap I was thinking about what I'd have into the car. The way I see it it's a 30k car as it sits plus the 20k into a swap. Even if I sell the 3.0 I'm still somewhere around the 40k mark.

For that money I can grab a 996 turbo. It'll be much more capable on the track, have modern conveniences, and looks to fit a child's seat in the back better. Drawbacks being consumables are more expensive and it's not an aircooled 911 (I enjoy the street cred of the older cars).

- So what do you think?
- Am I worried too much about track speed when it's only a couple events a year?
- Would the 996 prove to be a viable "investment" and not depreciate over the next 5 years?
- Do I need to stop *****ing about what I have and just enjoy it?

So here's what I have:
Untitled by sicklyscott, on Flickr

And here's what I'm thinking of selling it for:

[Hunt3R]

Your SC with a 3.6 in it would be much more fun to drive than a 996tt whether on the track or the street, plus the widebody SC just looks soo much nicer. The AWD in the turbo is a big downside IMO and even though it would have a working A/C and some other more modern features, some of those modern differences might make the turbo harder for you to work on yourself too, if you do that, and the maintenance will generally be more expensive too.

That being said, I sold my 3.2 a couple years ago and bought a 997S and holy crap can it tear up the track.

[WPOZZZ]

Keep the SC, but use that $20k budget to get a na 996. Do the IMS retrofit and add some mods and it'll be a fun car on and off track!

[jwetering]

Normally I would encourage trading a 911 for a 996tt - but you r 911 is much nicer than most. You *will* regret selling that car.

[Greater fool]

Excellent problem to try and solve. That looks like a great sc. I have an 86 930 that I've owned for a little over a year. It's the first Pcar I've had aNd I love everything about it. So when my dd m3 needed some work that didn't make sense relative to value, I jomped into an 01 996 tt to daily drive. One week in and it's an amazing car. Scary fast. Modest creature comfort but still has analog charm.
I haven't tracked either and don't expect to anytime soon but if it's either or, I think you'll regret selling that sc - the soul in an air cooled car and the mechanical feel/nature of a non abs/power steering etc is hard to beat.

[wayner]

What don;t you like about the SC, lets start there?

[Capecod 02/4S]

I had an 84 Carrera Targa and sold it and bought a 02 C4S. Your SC is gorgeous and I love the look of the older ones but my C4S is truly a pleaseure to drive and is very fast compared to the 84. The 84 was prior to the G50 gearbox and was crude compared to my new one. Find myself driving this one much more frequently!

[300cd300sdl911]

Air cooled 911's are a blast on the track and a great car to really learn on. They communicate very well when you do stuff right and equally well when you don't.
Don't sell the SC. 996's are ridiculously affordable and fun track cars with very little expense- relatively speaking. Much more capable than the air cooled's. I have and greatly enjoy both.

[craigmakes3]

I currently own both, and the 996 is my choice. The only advantage to the SC is that it looks the coolest.

[gshase]

We have a 78 SC and a 04 996 40th anniversary Edition. The SC has been fun but my wife and I really like everything about the 996.