HereIam

Wow...what a tough call! I'd like to hear some thoughts on this...
I've been planning to put a classic 911 next to my Boxster and classic Beetle in my garage (best room in the house). But the way undervalued 996 Turbo is so tempting!

The 996 isn't going to be "special" like the classic 911 anytime soon, but good Lord the bang for the buck is off the hook. It looks like the classic 911 will be forbiddingly expensive for average guys like me fairly soon.

Get a jewel or a tool? Thoughts?

911 Rod

I hate to tell you this ...... you need one of each.

HereIam

Totally. And ultimately, in time, I may. Each one is it's own unique driving experience, and has it's own special appeal.

One concern I have, which I forgot to mention...
I'm actually worried that the Turbo will be too much power for me to really enjoy. Having never driven one, so I can only speculate.

nesposito

I've owned both and can tell you for sure that if it's not going to be a daily driver do the classic 911. The 996 turbos are fast, comfortable and easy to drive. Almost too easy which make them less fun. It's like owning a REALLY fast Honda but they make great daily drivers if that's what you're after.

JCP911S

Apples and Guava.

First, what is your budget... last I looked, a good 996 Turbo was about a $50K car or so.... so lets say $50-60K.

This would buy:

A really ratty small bumper (pre '74) 911 that needs a total restoration

A concours quality 74-77 2.7 911S, and a nice Boxster.

A concours quality 78-89 911 SC/Carrara.

A really clean 993.

A driver-quality 930 turbo with needs$$$.

IMHO, the 996 turbo will hold value, or maybe even appreciate, but is a very expensive car to maintain, and really just a fast car for over-cafinated stockbrokers (boy am I going to hear it about that!!!)

Depending on your needs, for $50K, I'd buy a really nice 993... this is a modern, drivable car that is the ultimate air-cooled 911 and one of the most powerful, and best designed... a future classic.

lucky strike

+1

Tom 97 C2-S, So. Cal.

Hi:

I think all of us struggle with conundrums similar to this. I agree with all the comments made thus far. What will this car be to you? A DD, a Driver or Show Car.

My .02$:

By multiple definitions, the 996 Turbo will never be "special" like an air-cooled 911. It is a great car in it's own right and offers some great bang for your buck. I would be tempted to switch the word undervalued to under appreciated, especially the S variant. Unless you were to get a S or modify the Turbos, 415hp is nice but isn't a beast. It can easily be a DD. I looked simultaneously for an S Coupe or an 84-89 Carrera.

A car not mentioned is the 997.2 S, which can be found for near the same money as a 996TT, and has near the performance, sans the turbo. This may save on maintenance down the road. In my mind, neither model has air-cooled appreciation/appeal in their future.

The classic 80's SC/Carrera's are special. A little crazy in price now, but they are 30 yrs old with 911 examples out their running past 500K miles.

I LOVED my 993 S. If it was a 993TT or TTS, I would have never have sold it. At the time, I did yearn for more power but have come to realize it's a never ending chase. They are perhaps costlier to maintain than a 911, but are more civil as a DD.

Drive as many variants as you can. Use the Boxster as your DD. Once you get a 911 variant, the Boxster will soon be gone so you can replace it with another 911.

Spyerx

50k isn't going to get you a concours quality g car. Really clean yes. Perfect. Nope.

To answer your question. Both. Sorry. Gotta have both. Ideally one from each major generation :-)

race911

You can't even start to understand what's going on until you have some seat time in each.

At this point I could do the 996 Turbo as my only 911. But it would also be the first to go if I had to get rid of one.

pcarfan944

Drive both and see what you prefer. A month ago I would have told you classic 911, but I drove my first 996 C2 a few weeks ago and was very impressed, can't imagine the car with twin turbos. Most believe the 996tt will be one of the next cars to appreciate, along with the 996 GT2 and GT3, while it looks like the party is over for the air-cooled cars at the moment. Food for thought.

dhc3

As mentioned above, these are two very different cars. I currently own an 87 Coupe and an 02 Turbo. The 87 is a much more visceral car, more raw, tremendous steering feedback and adequate power. I drove it everyday and have over 150 track days on it as well as coast to coast. Now it is not tracked but used as a more occasional weekend car. I might be buried in that car. The Turbo is a fantastic car, more modern, more comfortable, blindingly fast. I have driven it Chicago-New York and done a DE at WGI. It loves the track and running flat out, that being said it is not an ideal track car. I drive it everyday for 10 months of the year and it puts a smile on my face everyday. They both do.

rodneyr

It really depends on your mission or purpose with the car. The 996T is a fast easy to drive luxury GT touring car. It is something I would take my wife out on a date. A vintage 911 is an acquired taste that an enthusiast would love to drive. It is a little raw and the older cars do not have any power steering. I enjoy both for different reasons. An older 911 is likely a appreciate so that could be a plus.

tcsracing1

I assume that it will not be used for a daily driver given that you want a classic 911.

therefore, get the classic 911. It is a keeper.
the 996 turbo is a daily driver. A keeper? not so much.

Duc Hunter

I have both. My Turbo is an 01 creampuff with 40k on it. My 3.2 Carrera is an 89 25th Anniversary Edition. Since I bought the 3.2, the Turbo has sat mostly. The AC is amazing in the Turbo, it drives beautifully, and is very fast. It is also a great GT car, long road trips etc. It felt like a Porsche too........until the 3.2 came into my life.

This is what a 911 feels like. Smells a little like oil, very different noise, heavier steering, smaller car, longer throw shifter...... The other thing to consider is that the air cooled car is slower, so getting on the freeway and ripping to redline 3 or 4 gears is 1 min of sheer pleasure, and you are only doing 100mph at the end. Do the same thing in the 996 Turbo and you are doing 150mph and it lasted a lot less time.

That said Iw as considering selling my Turbo for a 964.....then the last 2 days I drove it, and looked at it sitting there, with its HUGE rear tires and sexy lines and I thought...."I own a Porsche 911 Turbo...how could I ever part with it." When you step on it, even a little, that rush of torque is so amazing. It is FAST....but not to fast. It is a very well mannered car.

So...catch me in a mood and maybe you can buy my Turbo.....either way you are getting an amazing car. I do think the 996 Turbo will go up in value soon...and the air cooled 911's have had a great run. I personally think the 996 Turbo's will catch up to a great extent, as people realize they are cheap only because of the bad rap the non-turbo 996's have. This is a tidally different car with none of those issues. When people figure that out...look out.

JCP911S

I love old cars... I have a '70 911S that is fantastic, and an '84 3.2 Carrara, and '71 Corvette convertible, and I just love the visceral basic and direct nature of them... Sunday morning, I get coffee, and turn off the radio, and enjoy.

But I won't drive them more than 50 miles because they are hot, noisy, and if they break down, I'm screwed.

I drove my '84 Carrara as a DD for over 10 years, and let me tell you, sitting on the DC beltway Friday afternoon in August in a suit with no A/C and 4 hours of driving to Philly is no picnic.

If I were rich, I'd buy a 4 1/2 Litre Bentley, and a P51 Mustang, and be the town eccentric, but if I had to get somewhere, I'd drive a new car.