Bought 40th Anniversary 911

[roblav]

I just bought this car:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/970320-porsche-911-40th-anniversary-edition.html

and want to provide here the most positive experience possible for my 15th Porsche. The car was better than described, and Anthony (seller) is organized, forthright, diligent, and he clearly cared for this car. He remained very positive and gave me the benefit of doubt even while I started to back off from the transaction. So now I get to try out my first water-cooled 911!

After driving it around the block, it's a totally different feel than my current Cayman, and I'm very pleased to have a Porsche with the engine way out back again. It feels more related to my old 964 than to the Cayman, with a closer attachment between car and driver. I don't understand why these 996's are treated like ugly stepchildren. Sure, they have the IMS issue, but I do recall the problems with pulled and broken head studs and of course the timing chain tensioner issues with our older air-cooled cars. I recall a day at Cape Cod in 1982 having to pull a bad tensioner on a 1970 911E and doing a quick re-fill and re-install to get me and an old girlfriend back home from a night in a tent. And my 964 had something like 5 broken studs when I bought it. So yeah, we all have had issues with these cars we love. So be it.

So I rambled more than intended... bottom lines are: a great car,... and I do recommend a 996 for anyone on the fence. A lot of performance for the buck. And even though Anthony (the seller) has not been here on Pelican or Rennlist, he's a true enthusiast. Best to everyone who reads this.

[donpower]

Had my eyes on that car for a friend. It really must be a great car. Enjoy!

[Matt Monson]

More power to you if it makes you happy. That's all that really matters. A number of us just don't see the value in it when, to borrow your phrase, we can have a lot of performance for half the bucks you paid for it. Understand, your decision requires no defense and I'm not attacking your buy. There's an arse for every seat and you found yours and it makes you happy. That's the important part.

[Rick Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by roblav

I don't understand why these 996's are treated like ugly stepchildren.

I'm with you, and I think in the end history will be kind to the 996. The lines were 20 years ahead of its time, it's aged wonderfully.

[Matt Monson]

I think it is largely because they were the first water cooled 911. The GT3 got some sort of a pass because of the Mezger engine and winning race history. I don't get it personally.

[Catorce]

I have a 40th, it's a great car. Love it.

Congrats!

[Patrick3000]

The 40th is a special car, enjoy!

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by Rick Brooklyn

I'm with you, and I think in the end history will be kind to the 996. The lines were 20 years ahead of its time, it's aged wonderfully.

Completely agree. I've owned a few. Great cars.

[christiandk]

Congrats - whats up with the tinted tail lights - was Tony a made guy?

[roblav]

Not sure why he did the tail lights, but the originals are with the car.

[TAZ40JAHRE]

Originally Posted by Catorce

I have a 40th, it's a great car. Love it.

Congrats!

Catorce...sorry if we've already made contact about your 40th but I'm not connecting the dots from your forum name. What's the number of your 911 40th? Just seeing if we have it listed in the Registry car list (probably do but best to check!). Thanks. Ted

[gearby]

I just drove my first 996 a couple days ago. I have to say I was very unimpressed. I totally get why they're considered the ugly stepchildren. It had nothing to do with the speed of the car. I just don't know how you guys can be so impressed with the sound of those motors. Give me a light air-cooled car with a screaming motor any day of the week.
If you got your car and you love it, good for you. The owner of the car I drove also loves his car which by the way is a 2003 Targa with a Tiptronic tranny. A lot of the displeasure I had was over the sound of the motor and the Tiptronic transmission. The delay in the shift down and the delayed acceleration was too much for me.

[roblav]

The X51 engine with Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE) and the standard LTD slip box is a much different animal.

[gearby]

I don't doubt that. I've seen videos on YouTube where the water pumpers had a great sound to them. Not sure why the stock out of the box version doesn't.

[roblav]

I was thinking about Gearby's comment last night and was amused that I used to make similar negative comments about all 911s built after 1973!

[specialtyoneinc]

Originally Posted by gearby

I just drove my first 996 a couple days ago. I have to say I was very unimpressed. I totally get why they're considered the ugly stepchildren. It had nothing to do with the speed of the car. I just don't know how you guys can be so impressed with the sound of those motors. Give me a light air-cooled car with a screaming motor any day of the week.
If you got your car and you love it, good for you. The owner of the car I drove also loves his car which by the way is a 2003 Targa with a Tiptronic tranny. A lot of the displeasure I had was over the sound of the motor and the Tiptronic transmission. The delay in the shift down and the delayed acceleration was too much for me.

Drive a GT3 and it will change your mind about the engine sound. The tips are horrible also IMO.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by specialtyoneinc

Drive a GT3 and it will change your mind about the engine sound. The tips are horrible also IMO.

You don't even have to go that far. Drive a regular Carrera S or 4S with a 6 speed and flog the living daylights out of it.

Then come back and tell us you were unimpressed.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by NYNick

You don't even have to go that far. Drive a regular Carrera S or 4S with a 6 speed and flog the living daylights out of it.

Then come back and tell us you were unimpressed.

That is the whole point, you can not "flog the living daylights out of it" any where on the street without seriously losing your license or maybe even your freedom.
These cars are just so overly capable that you feel like you are doing nothing driving one around at anywhere near the legal speed limits, because you are doing nothing in these cars performance envelope.
Driving a fast car slow is kind of boring.

[roblav]

"Driving a fast car slow is kind of boring."

Well, that's it in a nutshell. I bought the car to run it as an almost daily driver with a few track days here and there. But frankly, it's just too nice and well-preserved to do that to it. Since we don't really "own" these cars but are more "temporary custodians", I decided to list it for sale.

[NYNick]

Believe me I get it. It's the main reason I sold my 997TT last year.

I was just defending the 996's capabilities, ugly stepchild or not.