Cabriolet verses Coupe values

[49willard]

I am surprised that 911 coupe values (at least Hagarty) exceed Cabriolet prices for Carrara's. I wanted and have a Cabriolet, but am surprised at the published values. Offhand, I can't recall another vehicle where that is the case. As they say, "if the top goes down the price goes up". I can understand it if so many 911's are being tracked, however I would question if that is a growing or even stable % of the 911's being sold given the increased values in more recent years. For example 356 Cabs are valued higher than coupes.

[Coastr]

911s have the opposite pricing to other cars. The most expensive new 911 is a 4wd auto cab. The least expensive new is a 2wd manual coupe. After ten years the cheapest used I s the auto 4wd cab and the most expensive used is the 2wd manual coupe.

It’s not going to change. Overwhelmingly used 911 buyers prefer coupes preferably with no sunroof. Is it because they are all looking for track performance? No. But that is what the market is like. Maybe it’s because the coupe has better lines. Maybe it’s because of rigidity. Maybe it’s just the way things are because they have always been that way. It’s not the only car like this - aN M3 cab trails the coupe in value as well. I’m sure there are others.

I don’t see any evidence it will ever change.

[Larmo63]

1 - Coupe
2 - Targa
3 - Cabriolet

[kamaro]

Its a supply/demand thing. There too many cabs in the market so there will be no shortage of them any soon.

[yelcab1]

Old cabs … leak water, leak hydraulic fluids, stop working, easy to steal, hazy window, less structurally integrity, heavier.

Coupes, none of the above.

[Fairview]

On the other hand, nothing beats the sound of the engine while driving a zip-out rear window cab.

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by Fairview

On the other hand, nothing beats the sound of the engine while driving a zip-out rear window cab.

Or a coupe, with windows down, sunroof open, flat out throttle in a tunnel. That comes pretty close.

I have had two convertibles in my life. I found that I drive them with the top up 90% of the time. Now I only buy coupe.

[NYNick]

Are you complaining or just surprised that your 86 Cab is less valuable than an 86 Coupe?

Personally, I think late model Cabs are the best deal going. I've had 4 water cooled Cabs, including a Turbo, and just loved them.

It's really just a leftover from the early days when Cabs were less rigid than coupes. Porsche has since learned to strengthen the Cabs with strategic welding, making their rigidity almost undetectable from the coupes, unless you're Patrick Long. Of course, everybody thinks they can feel the difference, but it's usually just the added weight they're feeling.

Enjoy your Cab. An air cooled convertible is a special treat.

[sky1jord]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

I have had two convertibles in my life. I found that I drive them with the top up 90% of the time. Now I only buy coupe.

Interesting. Here in (mostly) sunny Southern California, it's always seemed odd to me that Cabs are generally driven with the top up. Why?

[faapgar]

Fear of skin cancer and or messing that nice hairdo.Our president could not ride in a cab with that hairdo.

[Coastr]

Originally Posted by sky1jord

Interesting. Here in (mostly) sunny Southern California, it's always seemed odd to me that Cabs are generally driven with the top up. Why?

You’re really out there on display in a cab. It’s not for everyone. Plus traffic is stinky and noisy. The cab is best on open roads away from parking and traffic. Ironically I think a cab suits cooler climates better where you can really enjoy a sunny day without getting roasted alive. I’ve driven a few cabs in my life and they don’t click with me. Though I might do an air cooled cab thing some day. Or maybe just a targa.

[PFNog]

Maybe I’m lucky to live in ideal weather, but I don’t understand all the cabs (of all brands) I see with the top up on nice days. I have an ’87 cab and drive it with the top down most of the time. Usually, in April I unzip the rear window, drop the top and don’t put it back up until mid-October. Mine has been converted to manual top, so no hydraulics to leak or malfunction. I find the cab is fun when either driving slow or fast, around town or backroads, my coupe was mostly fun when going fast on back roads. Fewer speeding tickets now.
Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a removable hard-top for winter and a no-top-at-all, roadster style set up for summer.

[yelcab1]

On a sunny day, at 12 noon when the sun cooks you from above, an open cab is just too much to handle. At 4PM, when the sun is way down to an angle, an open top, a baseball cap, some open road, some music blasting away, well all that is just heaven.

[49willard]

Thank you all for your responses. I am not concerned about the value of my 86 Cab, just surprised at the opposite of the normal opens verses closed values. I live in Maine so do not have those super hot days. Top is down most of the time. I guess that I just like the open feeling when driving and I enjoy a lot of good roads for my Cab. Of my 5 collector vehicles 4 are open cars. When I lived in the Bay Area in the 70's, my daily was a Mercedes 190SL (I still have and drive it) The top on the SL was only up in the parking lot at work, I drove top down to and from work and top was down at night in the garage.

[1979-930]

Originally Posted by Coastr

You’re really out there on display in a cab. It’s not for everyone. Plus traffic is stinky and noisy. The cab is best on open roads away from parking and traffic. Ironically I think a cab suits cooler climates better where you can really enjoy a sunny day without getting roasted alive. I’ve driven a few cabs in my life and they don’t click with me. Though I might do an air cooled cab thing some day. Or maybe just a targa.

Ditto. This hits most of my feeling on the subject too.
I had a 70 Bronco in my 20's and the top was off from May to October without complaint about heat, wind, noise, ect. Although I did have a bikini top for some shade during peak summer.

I bought a convertible Mustang 8 years ago and the top was almost never down. I didn't like being on display and as soon as I got stuck in traffic I was roasting. I'll never buy another convertible.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by faapgar

Fear of skin cancer

... or lung cancer from the smoke inhalation for those running ancient fuel systems.

But on a run up Skyline, the targa's perfect.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by faapgar

Fear of skin cancer and or messing that nice hairdo.Our president could not ride in a cab with that hairdo.

Ha ha - that wedge of his would lift up and create its own convertible top!

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by pmax

But on a run up Skyline, the targa's perfect.

QFT since Maxie and I rarely agree.

I’m also gonna +1 Nick. If I ever manage to get my money back out of the Cayman it will go towards a 996 C4S cab with hardtop.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

QFT since Maxie and I rarely agree.

I’m also gonna +1 Nick. If I ever manage to get my money back out of the Cayman it will go towards a 996 C4S cab with hardtop.

Had two of those C4S'. MetroNY PCA requires hardtops at the track. They're a pain to get on and a pain to store, but I liked having them. They used to be free with the car. Ha! Try that today.

My 2003 was a color I've never seen again on any Porsche. It was an optional color that I ordered without ever seeing it in person. Dark Teal Metallic. (green) Absolutely stunning. It changed in the sunlight as you walked around the car, like a mallards neck. Just gorgeous.

I also upgrade the suspension in that car. It handled like a dream. What a vehicle!

[racer]

I see a tide change coming.. the cabs will rise again. "Old cars", to me, can be enjoyed as a cab. Sunny day use. Taking the grandchildren out etc. Until the fanboys age out and realize how much fun a cab can be, cabs and targas will always be marginalized though.

Buy a cab now while they are "cheap". 996 cabs are remarkably cheap for instance. Get ahead of the curve!