Trade a midyear hotrod for a 996?

[Eli W]

I was kicking this around, but I was thinking about value of these cars and how it is getting pretty hard to find these cars from 74-89 in good shape and harder still at a good price.

I really love my car, but also just love 911s in general. My cousin had a 996 Turbo that was just a monster of a car. Yea the headlights look terrible but other than that they are great cars. They are pretty much a super car.

I was thinking, which is dangerous for me, that my car would be worth a even trade with 996 Turbo. I might be over valuing my car but on the other hand I have something that you just can't get easily and in good shape.

The way I describe my cars is it is an original midyear hot rod. It has a lot of chrome and pop out rear windows narrow body, duck tail, cork interior. It really looks like it is an early car about to step up into an SC.

It has an SC 1978 engine that has dual plugs and was taken up to 3.2 liters. Still has the CIS injection system starts easily every time. And because of the weight and power goes like mad. It is a poor mans early mid year with much of the look and performance of a Carrera. Midyear Carrera are going for a gazillion dollars last time I checked.

Any way I think if traded the car for 996 in a few years my 77 911 would be worth more than a 996 Turbo.

Maybe not but it is Sunday and I'm just sitting in my PJs kicking back.

Oh nearly forgot it has original sport seats. The best car seats I have ever sat in.

Tell me I'm nuts and my car is not worth a 996 Turbo, don't care my car is old school bad ### and there are just not that many of them out there. I think it beats a 996 like a drum on many points, first looks the car is just what you think of when you think sports car, I saw a kid that was about 9 or 10 getting off the bus with his buddies drop his book bag and point at me and say "Look at that car!". Sure some Porsche club guy says I like your car, but some little kid gives you a compliment like that and it means something.


Our shared illness starts early apparently. Then there is performance, the car handles like a go cart and you can go fast and push the car and not go to jail. The 996 Turbo? push that car on street hard and you very well might end up in cuffs.
Maintenance and reliability. These cars are simple and straight forward and the maintenance and car is really cheap. The 996 Turbo? there are a lot of things that can go wrong and if it does break, well 5k to fix it is strong possibility.

[Mark Salvetti]

I think this one is easy. Your car is already worth quite a bit more than a 996. You can get 996's for $20K and less.

Mark

[Eli W]

What about a Turbo?

I was thinking 996 Turbo, I'm going to edit my first post. I would not want a 996 with their intermediate shaft bearing and doggy weird headlights, they give another wise great car a mongrel look

[Jim Richards]

Eli, trade your hotrod for the 996 Turbo and get the aftermarket headlight covers that make them look more like the 997.

[Eli W]

That is exactly what I would do. I have seen those and they look good and a heck of a lot cheaper than doing body work.

[kyngfish]

Those aftermarket light conversions don't look great. In my mind this is a hard no. The turbo will still depreciate. There's no reason you can't eventually have both. Honestly unless it's a gt3 I wouldn't trade your car for any 997 or even 991. Performance isn't everything. You can maintain and DRIVE Your car for two lifetimes. The modern porsches will wear out. the computers, sensors. They aren't easily accessible or fixable. You'll regret it.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by Eli W

[snip]

Tell me I'm nuts [snip]

OK, you're nuts.

Keep the middie, you'll be glad you did. I sure wish my 'old' '77 was still out there in the garage!

[JeremyD]

I'm very happy with my Turbo (2003) it such a fast a capable car - The headlights look better on the wide body

[JacobS911]

Yes you're nuts.. don't do it!

Don't trade out your car for a 996turbo. They are nice cars, and I don't mind the headlights on the 996 turbo, but yes a 997 turbo's looks better. Another vote for not putting the headlight covers on it too. That doesn't look good in my opinion. Find a 996 turbo to go test drive, and drive your car there to do it. Maybe that would help you decide. I think the only thing you should trade that car out for is another "special" porsche.. any of the gt cars. Of course those are more expensive, but for good reason Sorry I just spent an extra 50k of your hard earned cash!!

[MAH77]

Don't do it. I was having trouble finding an air cooled 911 and started looking at 996tt and 997s. I ended up finally finding a 1987. I took my daughter to cars and coffee and after seeing all the generic water cooled 996/997s with a couple air cooled 911s mixed in I was so glad I waited. If you're looking something different you can buy a nice Boxster for $10-15k.

[mickey356]

I was where you are now about 5-6 years ago. I had an 83SC done up as a nice little moderate hot rod and sold it for a 2002 996C4S, it was the worst thing I ever did (related to cars).
Yes, the 996 was fast. It had all the nice little conveniences like AC, working defog/defrost, 6 CD, etc… and it was the most soulless porsche I ever owned. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice car, but you can't drive it the way its supposed to be driven (legally). Also, you get completely different looks in a 996 as opposed to a nice old air cooled (glares vs smiles).

Here's a funny little story for you - I sold my 996 about a year ago and bought a 68 912. I was driving the 912 home from purchase and while on the highway I could see in my rear view mirror a couple sets of headlights moving up fast….it was a GT3RS and another 997 of some kind and they were going crazy over my car honking and giving thumbs up….I thought it was a good sign of the a decision well made.

That said, if you do choose to get a 996 DO NOT do those horrid headlight covers!!! The headlights grow on you.

[Eli W]

Yea no worries, I'm not trading.

That is the killer thing, my car is 40 years old and it will last longer than a 996.

And agree with everything being said, and 100% performance isn't everything.

I literally went from driving a 2016 BMW M3 to driving a 2016 Civic mostly by choice. The M3 was ridiculous on the road. I have a very short commute the M3 took five minutes to warm up before the electronic restrictions went off. And then I'm at work. It was an amazing car but I was pretty much driving a 3mile straight line to work. I got sick of it, the car was great but it was like riding a Triple Crown winning race horse in pony ride, they are all tied up going in a circle. All this car and power and nothing to do with it. Hence the Honda that I like a lot, you can drive to Tokyo on one take of gas, and to fill it up costs 20 bucks. Great car for what it is.

My friend who had a GT3 said he kind of got that way too.

[fanaudical]

It does come down to a matter of personal preference. No doubt the newer car has better performance, but is it as enjoyable to take out for a drive?

For me personally, I prefer the older cars. There are times I wish I had a newer coupe so I could drive it more than I do my old Targa, but every time I take the Targa out it becomes special.

It's all about smiles per mile; choose accordingly.

[Eli W]

Oh, and I do love racing around in my car. Sure it is not fast compared to a modern car, but who cares you can pay speed racer and not go to jail.

I have no air, no heat but sport seats, that is all I need. It is hot, roll down the window.

[captain hook]

Your right. Before my 76 hotrod. I had 03 x50. Dosent get fun till it's too fast. Youll get bored of lumping around in a car fast car slow. Having a race house tied up was the perfect analogy.

[ClickClickBoom]

Like trading an orange for a watermelon. Gotta decide what you want from a car.

[Matt Monson]

I'd be scared of the condition of a 996turbo that someone considered equal value to a 77 hot rod. To get a solid 996 turbo you are in the $40k+ range and I just don't see a middie worth that.

[75 911s]

^Probably why he halfway considered it in the first place. It seems like a win....but...

[Jdub]

If I had a 996 to trade you I would do so in a second. For my part, I would be pinching myself forever - for your part, I am not sure but if I were you, I would be crying in two years time.

[picinkoff]

Noooooooooooooo.
Don't do it!!!!!
I've gone through the same dilemma with my '88.
I kept it, but bought an '06 Cayman S, thinking that I was missing out on something great.
The Cayman is a great car, but it lacks the heart of the old 911's. I suspect that the 996 series would have the same effect. The extra power is nice at first, but wears fast. Since I bought the Cayman, it's dropped to nearly have the price of what I paid! My 911, which I've owned for 11 years is still holding strong. I've decided to rebuild the engine myself, as well as the suspension and other bits. This has really gotten me reenergized.
Just my thoughts.
Paul


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