Why are 996s so cheap?

[dd74]

Shouldn't the real question be, despite the cost of the 996 on the used market, whether or not one will see a 996 on the road in ten, fifteen, twenty or more years as we now see with older 911 cars?

[the]

For the same reason (lackluster exterior and interior styling), the answer is no.

Sports car lovers are generally "shallow." We are suckers for a pretty face and a hot body. Most do not find that in a 996, with its slab sides and the fried eggs on its face. So, while it "has a great personality," that's not enough for most.

[450knotOffice]

Maybe. Maybe not. There's a big group of people out there that love those cars as much as you love your air cooled 911. They may have the wherewithal to keep these cars running. If it weren't for people like us who love our old 911's, they would've all died by now. We've kept them alive by sheer will and desire. The crowd that loves the newer cars may do the same. Who knows.

[Norm Faustino]

I'm no automotive design expert, but I truly believe Porsche knew that they lost something when they went away from the upright headlight style. The new 997 with it's gorgeous curves and new headlight profile is pure drool. I think, had they opted to stay with the Boxster/996 headlight style, the model would have fizzled. One day, when I can afford me a 997, I'm all over it.

[Zef]

Cheap because it look like a Japanees car...demand is not there...!!!

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Maybe. Maybe not. There's a big group of people out there that love those cars as much as you love your air cooled 911. They may have the wherewithal to keep these cars running. If it weren't for people like us who love our old 911's, they would've all died by now. We've kept them alive by sheer will and desire. The crowd that loves the newer cars may do the same. Who knows.

I don't think so. The 996's are quite simply ugly - and Porsche knew it had lost the plot with them as is apparent from the 997 redesign. Not just the slab sides and the lights - but the entire interior design is also truly fugly.

I cannot imagine 996's becoming collectible - bracketed as they are between the 993's and the 997's.

[WPOZZZ]

450knot was correct. There is a glut of 996s on the market and Porsche mass produced the water cooled cars. That is why prices are so cheap. I just sold my 99 with 89k on it for $24k. the buyer thought he had a good deal and I was fine with the price.

The 996 is an awesome daily driver as it is very quick, even with a tiptronic! The handling is superb and crisp. However, it also gets boring because everything is so easy. That is why I kept my 85 cab and my 930. Those cars make you work for it and the reward is a smile on your face.

[livi]

Sure, parts of the design leaves a lot to be desired but the rest of the car is pure Porsche and in that still good quality, reliability and performance compared to many other makes. For me it would make the perfect all year daily driver. A lot of car for a very reasonable amount of money with the depreciation curve it has suffered.

[89911]

They are cheap compared to the "classic" 911 because they aren't "classic" in any sense. Faster and more comfortable yes. So are a lot of other car compared to the old 911's. Just because it has a Porsche crest on the hood isn't enough for many of the owners of the old cars to jump ship. Think of these 996 depreciation values as normal compared to other makes of the same area. 69-89 911's are in a whole different category's with those that own them and those that only want one of these cars. I'll still catch an old SC driving by me with plenty of wear and abuse and still I want to see it. Shiny nearly new 996's (and it's half twin Boxster) can cruise by and blend into the traffic. That's what 40 years of production will do.

[Maxx1]

Originally Posted by Elombard

There is some issues with the RMS on some cars that has given them a bit of a rep. Are you familiar with this? I dont think that is the driver on the price.

I am sort of in the market. I think that with many new cars they are so complex and expensive to fix that people are scared when they are out of warranty. The average DIY guy cant really do much to them and they are bargain shoppers so they dont appeal....there in a no mans land.

There is several threads on this in the 996 forum and the market place discussion where very learned and experienced folks chime in.

That's what I was thinking and exactly why I sold my 2000 Boxster S. My RMS had to be replaced at 20K miles, and at almost $3,000 a pop, that was enough for me There was another problem where some engines would self destruct at any time ....( usually with less than 10K miles ) The 911 has the same issues.

[Maxx1]

After reading this entire thread, I agree that the 996 is a decent car and a big bang for the buck. I can vouch for the level of refinement and it really is a fun car to drive on a day to day basis. The only thing I don't like is they look like a Boxster in the front.

I saw a yellow 996 turbo at a car show last weekend and I thought, WOW! what a cool looking Boxster!! .... a few seconds later as I walked around the side of the car to the rear, I realized that is was a Carrera...... stupid me !! ..... I tend to miss important details sometimes ..... to to Joe Average, the 996 does look like a Boxster at first glance from the front end. All that being said, I would go for a later model 964 if I was going to buy a newer Porsche.

[450knotOffice]

Well, we all have our opinions and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Design is a very subjective thing. As would be expected (of course), most of the people in this air/oil cooled forum greatly prefer the styling of the older cars, inside and out.

For me, because I actually own an old school '84 Carrera, a newer 996, and now a 2007 Cayman, which shares interior design elements with the 997, I can see the beauty in all of their interiors. My opinion, for what it's worth (no more or less than your opinions, actually), is that the plainest interior of the three is in the old school '84. I like the Cayman's the best, followed by the 996's (the full leather really brings the interior upscale compared to the base plasticy interior). But that's just me. Remember, too, that Porsche caught a lot of hell for many years for not updating what everybody (except for the 911 faithful) considered an antiqued interior. That interior design was penned in about 1962 and looked it.

[FenderGuy]

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Well, we all have our opinions and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Design is a very subjective thing. As would be expected (of course), most of the people in this air/oil cooled forum greatly prefer the styling of the older cars, inside and out.

For me, because I actually own an old school '84 Carrera, a newer 996, and now a 2007 Cayman, which shares interior design elements with the 997, I can see the beauty in all of their interiors. My opinion, for what it's worth (no more or less than your opinions, actually), is that the plainest interior of the three is in the old school '84. I like the Cayman's the best, followed by the 996's (the full leather really brings the interior upscale compared to the base plasticy interior). But that's just me. Remember, too, that Porsche caught a lot of hell for many years for not updating what everybody (except for the 911 faithful) considered an antiqued interior. That interior design was penned in about 1962 and looked it.

I own a older skool car then yours and better one +1 to your thoughts

[Elombard]

They just dont photograph. Look much better in real life. They are a little boring in stock form but I think the 996 GT3 looks amazing (in person).

I guess just like a 73t looks a little boring compared to the 73 RS - all things being equal....

[jwetering]

I jumped ship in April. A die hard 911 guy for 10 years, my '78 911 had been fully pelicanized - suspension, brakes, pistons, carbs - you name it. I had the car 10 years and the bond between us was oh so very strong. But family and work meant I couldn't enjoy my quasi-race car anymore, so I sold it and bought a 2002 996. Got great deal - $35K.

It ended up being much better than I anticipated. Looks GREAT in real life (everyone stares). Goes like stink (way faster than my already very fast 911). The full leather interior in my car is NICE, smalls great too. The car is obviously more rigid than my 911, with brakes (antilock of course) I could only dream about in the old days. No comparison

Don't kid yourselves boys - I've been in, and driven, dozens of air cooled 911's in my day, coupes, cabs, turbos, 964s, you name it. Sorry - the 996 is a better and yes a nicer car by every measure. When I see a cool 911 now - and yes I still look and drool - I think gee that's a neat *old* car. Nothing wrong with that, but much of the 911's charm lies in it's anachronistic feel.

Maintenance cost? Are you kidding me ? The 911 was expensive to own - I put tens of thousands of dollars into that car, almost every year! The 996 costs nothing except and oil change once in a while. You 911 guys gotta remember these are new cars so they don't need every part and piece replaced yet. They will in about 15 years or so, then maybe they'll be expensive....like the 911's are now.

Anyway - I used to think that 996 weren't all that cool, although I never bashed. In 2002 something changed though. The new front end, the upgraded interior. Five years later I made the move and couldn't be happier.

On September 12 I take to the track for the first time. My 911 buddies will be there and we'll see what happens. I kinda think I know how it will turn out because Jorian and I had a bit of a run up Cypress mountain once already and after six turn or so he was barely a speck in the rearview.

Why are they cheap? At $30K - $50K they're not all that cheap. The $25K ones are maybe...but that's comparable to buying an $8K 911SC. Sure it's cheap, but you'll pay in the end.

[450knotOffice]

Well said. As much as I love my '84 (and I really, really do, trust me), I also love the 996 I own. Also, as much as some of you don't want to believe this, there are legions of hardcore 996 owners out there who love their cars, think they're beautiful, especially lowered down to GT3 height, with Bilstein PSS9 fully adjustable suspension, nice lightweight wheels, and some or all of the factory GT3 body kit. Most of these guys are like me and are amazed by the attitudes of some of the air cooled faithful out there, especially the 993 crowd. Just go over to the very active Rennlist 996 forum and see for yourself.

There's a certain reverse snobbery within this group that is dismaying, to say the least.