autobonrun

The turbo will require lots of self control. 60-110 is stupid fast. You can enjoy a turbo, just for much shorter time periods. You can enjoy an SC, get all the visceral sensations, and still be within the speed limit. It's like a go cart for the street.

I describe my SC engine as organized chaos above 5k rpm. Sounds are worth the cost of admission.

My 993, refined chaos.

My turbo, I'd describe as a highly efficient assassin. Overly quiet for some, but still sounds like a high powered sports car. A 996 turbo will never sound like an air cooled car and will never sound as good as a normally aspirated car. You can improve the sound more to your liking but if you don't start chasing something it's not, you will enjoy it more.

If I had a boxster and was going to start adding, I'd go with a 911SC or a 3.2 Carrera first, turbo second. Your boxster is what I consider a modern car with good AC so an early air cooled will give you the greatest difference in driving experiences in my opinion.

As far as investment, no one can predict car prices in 10 years. Today's darlings are the air cooled. Hope they continue to rise and I think they will. I do know about 58k SC's were made while less than 7k 996 turbo's were imported. Of those, only 186 are Turbo S coupes and less than half that manual shift.

Here are mine together and the turbo.

Drisump

I do not have a 996 Turbo but I do have a 993 and a 3.2. They are far apart but somehow similar. I have driven water cooled cars many miles and they are comfortable and easy to drive quickly. So what do you want, easy power or a challenge/fun at semi legal speeds?

WPOZZZ

As said by autobonrun, you already have a Boxster and that is a modern Porsche with creature comforts. I have a 77 930, an 02 turbo and an 08 Boxster. They all drive differently, but the Boxster is a very good modern car. The early 911 is a very different experience and would complement your vintage VW and Boxster.

911 Rod

I have 1 of each and they are very different cars to drive. The more I work on the Turbo, the more I see the Carerra genes.

I track the 86 and love the visural feel, but I am getting tired of being passed in the top run group. I've had it for 14 years.

My wife drives the TT and has probably has never even seen boost. Very comfy and easy to drive. I drive it and she tells me I'm making her sick! Mash the happy pedal in 2nd, throw it into 3rd and mash it again.

As much fun as you can have with your cloths on!

I will never sell the 86. The TT? We'll see.

Dr. Z

I have had several P cars....944, 964, 996 coupe, 996 cab, Cayman S, 997.1 cab, 997.2 coupe with PDK, 997.2 TT PDK....in 2011 I found a 930 S Slantnose Sunderwunsch....most recently I have found a 88 911 cab and a 81 911. SC......
All of the air cooled cars that I have are totally different from the water cooler cars. The air cooled are definitely more raw...and you as the driver have to be more engaged...working a little harder to drive...the sensations are very different from the water cooled....you hear the engine and exhaust much easier....I am amazed at how smooth and stable these older cars are on the road....
The water cooled 997.2 turbo is exhilarating....very smooth and you will be at 100 mph before you realize....
They are all great driving vehicles...as others have said....you need one of each.....
Good luck on your quest....

niche

996tt

mausone46

Porsche Carrera 3,2 all life if you want a real 911
the 996 TT is a modern car like many other and like many other will boring you after a while...........

fstede1

I have a 69T, bought in 1972, a M491 Carrera bought in 1992 and 04 996 Turbo bought in 2007. That being said the air cooled cars are totally different from the "water buggy". The 911's are pure Porsche. The 996 is in a world of its own, fast, comfortable and very modern. The Turbo will be driven to Monteray this month. The M491 will be driven to Rennsport in September both have air. The 69 is used locally, CNC etc. I'm in LA traffic all the time. The M491 and the Turbo are great. Not sure I' d want to do that in the 911T. But on the other hand I bought the T in 1972 and it was my daily driver for 7 years. Bottom line you can't argue that today the Turbo is best bang for you buck. Also keep in mind a nice T will cost at least $50k plus. Good luck.

Greg Lab

I own a 993 C4S and a 997.2 TTS, and agree with everything said here -- totally different cars, like tennis and golf, completely different. I have owned 4 air cooled's over the years, love them all, but I will say this TTS with PDK is Porsches' coup de grace, unbelievable car!!! There is just so much car there. I definitely smile more when I drive it, just from the nimble handling, thrill and jolt, and to know there is even way more there under the hood!!! I would go with 996TT now (under appreciated), and try to pick up an air cooled on a market dip...

JCP911S

I've driven 996TT and its a great car, but I just bought a 2016 C7 Z51 Corvette and its a great car for the same money, faster, cheaper to maintain, and has a warranty.

Now, limited production air-cooled turbos have been going through the roof lately... but I'm not convinced that the 996TT is in that market... and I could be wrong.

My trip point is investment potential, and, unfortunately, the SC/Carraras have really become expensive for what they are. I'd put my money on a really clean, documented 993 coupe as the best compromise between price, drivability, and investment potential in the $40-50K price range.

Stone throwing is optional.

Greg Lab

Add this to the equation OP... It's a good article, entertaining to read too...

http://jalopnik.com/here-s-why-the-9...-ca-1665776219

niche

If you must get an aircooled go 964 and newer. I've had them all... 964 is still a great value. 996tt is a better one.

JCP911S

A couple years ago, 964s were dirt cheap, but lately have been closing the gap with 993s... these are very similar cars, but to me, the styling of the 993 is worth the premium.

Air-cooled turbos are stratospheric.... a '97 GT2 just sold for $973K, and a '96 TurboS for $440K.

Granted, these are very rare cars... IMHO, the 996TT is a heck of a lot of car for the money (and a lot of potentially expensive maintenance for the money), but I'm not sure its rare enough to have that sort of upside.

Greg Lab

I saw a 1980 SC with 32K miles sell for $45K on Bring a Trailer three months ago. The thing was sweet! Something like that might be a good start to a 911 collection... I mean in the end, you are really going to need both anyway...

JCP911S

Yeah, its really whether are you collecting or driving the cars.... I love my old Porsches, but day to day, I just jump in the DD for a cup of coffee.

Now, I used my 3.2 as a DD for over a decade, and I love the car.... it's still hot and fun, but shows the hard miles, if you know what I mean.