MrCanuck

If you saw my other thread about 993 market values, I recently had a guy approach me about adding my 993 Targa to his 993 collection. I've owned it since 2002 but I've always had my eye drawn by the 997 Targa 4s and coincidence or not, for the first time in 3 years my local Porsche dealership has a 2008 Targa 4s with a manual transmission available. (To be honest I'm not 100% thrilled about the interior color of beige.)

Having never driven a 997 before I went down this afternoon and took it for a very spirited test drive and wow, the power difference is palpable. The structural rigidity in the 997 Targa over my 993 Targa is also really noticeable. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, we are talking 11 years in age difference here and a Targa that was sourced from the cab versus the 997 sourced from the coupe. However I was also a bit disappointed by a couple things. The line of sight out the rear window with the 997 Targa top open is exceedingly poor. With my 993 Targa roof open, I have no problems looking in the rear view mirror for cars. The electronics in the 997 also already look exceptionally dated. And in a long freeway offramp the steering seemed, squirley? Maybe I'm just not used to the 4WD, but it seemed to be ever so slightly back and forth. With the 993 I get the *** of the car to sit down and just power through the corner, chewing up the rears like a beaver going at a tree. But, the one thing I've never really liked about my 993 Targa is that it doesn't have the wide body. It's still a beautiful 911, but it looks, meager? Anemic? The 997 Targa has that wide body, gives it that beefier presence.

I've no real idea what to do at this point. User 997rs4.0 feels the 993 market has peaked and that if I'm going to sell, now is the time. The fact that I can sell my 993 and basically get into a 11 year newer 997 at the same price is pretty amazing to me. (I have yet to hit the point where I have the funds to justify the luxury of having a 993 and 997). However I've heard so many people hear say they regretted selling their 993, and the shop foreman at the dealership told me the same thing - "sell that car and you'll regret it." First world problems..

I know this is the 993 forum, but does anyone know what the maintenance needs on the 997 are like by comparison? With the exception of the window switches which drive me completely bat**** insane, I've been shocked at how reliable my 993 has been and one thing that would quickly make me regret a decision to sell would be getting into another model that has me in the dealership more than I want.

tanger

keep the 993. in another few years the 997 will be cheap enough to where you can have both...

i love my 997GTS Cab to death and drive it everyday but I would still sell it first before I part with the 993

nile13

Did you buy your 993 as an investment? If not, why are you thinking of it this way now?

goofballdeluxe

Maybe because, unlike 99.9% of all cars, the 993 has appreciated rather than depreciated after 20 years, and the value of it has risen to the point where it's a factor, and he's the kind of guy who like to take as much information into consideration before making a substantial change in his driving life so he doesn't regret it?

Just a thought

The 997 series are fine cars, but made by the tens of thousands. Like Tanger said, pick one up on the cheap in a few years. They're disposable and plentiful. Nice problem to have

nile13

I'd honestly look at what I'd enjoy more. If it's 997, it's 997, nothing's wrong with it. Appreciate or otherwise, it's still a car. Just a car. The thing to be driven.

goofballdeluxe

I get it. But with some early and special 911's like the 911S trading for $100K-$200K or more, I can see why someone might be tempted to hold a 993 for another 20 years and see if it really does become worth some real money.

A few hundred grand isn't a huge amount of money, but it's nothing to sneeze at either. I'd be willing to bet the many 993s (Turbo, C4S/C2S etc.) could easily follow the same pricing as early 911S's, and if one can park the car for a few more decades and make a real windfall, it's worth considering for some people, I'd imagine.

I don't think of my C4S as an investment. But I can't discount folks who consider our 993s could be worth some real money someday, and how that may factor into their decisions about what to do with them.

MrCanuck

I'm not at all looking at it as an investment. I've owned it 14 years and have never really paid attention to its value. I love it, I grin all the time when I'm driving it. (I would do that with any 911, I've loved them since I was 11 or so). What has surprised me is getting approached by someone to buy it, and the subsequent research to see what the market value is. That market value indicates I can almost swap right into an 11 year younger, faster 911. I mean, that's appealing on a lot of levels.

However it seems as though the 997 is going to be another car that just depreciates whereas the lower production numbers and air cooled engine of the 993 means it will more or less hold its value.

chsu74

Selling a 993 to get into a 996 or 997.1 NA is a downgrade IMHO. 997.2 would be understandable.

MrCanuck

I've seen this remark a couple times now. I apologize as I don't follow these things closely, but what is the difference between the 997.1 and 997.2?

Pichu

Test drive a 996 Turbo before you make up your mind I'm man enough to admit that's too much car for me that's why I didn't do it.

993 is in that sweet spot of old/new and not actively trying to murder it's owner.

CLK993

Love the 993 too much to sell it for a 996 or 997.......ended up adding a 996TT to the 993

MrCanuck

Yeah, no offence to the 996 owners but for me that car will always be the black sheep of the family. Those fried egg headlamps, what a disaster of a decision that was by the Execs.

squidge

Let the 993 appreciate for another 6-8 years and then get a 991 Targa. They're beautiful.

Pichu

The guy who approached you doesn't own any 993's. His name is Pritt or whatever name he goes by. He lowballs people and tries to get deals for his dealer friend (Mitchel) in Montreal. Sorry bud, this isn't going to end well for you, just keep your head up. I posted these guys sorry *** story of what they did to me, but it looks like the mods want to protect the scammers more than the Rennlist members.

mrsullivan

There's a reason your 993 is worth as much as a 997. Keep it.