Back in 1988 I was introduced to the 924/944 series while I was a high school student in Germany. Since that time I'm lusted after the 944 S2 Cabrio. Finally I was able to purchase one in February 2002.

I loved that car and felt like I would be keeping it forever. She had been a daily driver for the past four years but after 153k miles I was spending a fair amount of time keeping her running. I started adding up what it would take to get her back to tip-top shape and it was a decent amount of cash as most of you can imagine.

Then I ran across an ad for a 2002 996 Cabrio. This down economy created quite an opportunity I couldn't ignore. So I made a deal and got a decent offer on my vehicle and ended my 7+ year relationship with my 944. My stomach was in knots and I felt pretty emotional but I think in the long run this is a good move for me. I needed a daily driver (25 mile commute one way every day) and my fiancee and step-daughter wanted more room in the P-car so we could all take rides in it.

So here are the photos of the incoming and the outgoing vehicles. It's all I have for now but I'll take more this weekend. I've also got a bunch of parts I'll be listing here shortly since I no longer have a need for them. I'll still be visiting since I love 944s but I'm no longer an owner of one

 

so was this a straight-up trade or what?

Hopefully the 996 won't prove to be any trouble. Or at least any more trouble than a 944 usually is.

 

good move..944 are not reliable for crap..

 

Nope I now have car payments - but I got this car for significantly less than what I've seen others like this go for. So that part will suck but the extra 112 horsepower sure feels good

I wouldn't say that...My car never left me stranded or failed to start. But I was pretty proactive with maintenance so I'd like to think that helped. The main reason I did this is because adding up the cost of a new top, engine rebuild, repaint, power steering rack, new belts/rollers, a/c, and reupholstering my seats was going to cost me an amount that was difficult to justify on a 19 year-old car. In seven years I had all good experiences with my car.

 

Congrats! Looks like Ocean Blue (like my 996). I think you're going to love it to death.

996s are the next 944. Mark my words.

 

i havent had much of any problems in about 3 years, they just need to be sorted through and through and things go great. might change belts over the summer just for the heck of it but basically its been oil changes only.

 

Sorry to see you go but glad you're still with a cab!

How come? Our S2 has 160K miles and is still running strong.

Happy trails!

 

You can't be serious.

 

NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Fernando, when you gonna let me take it for a spin? Is it grey interior, looks pretty.

 

them 996's can be had for a pretty good deal right now

I'm still sticking with the 944 though

 

Sounds like you don't quite know how to work on one.

 

That's exactly how I feel. The deal I got on this was unbelievable because there are so many out there being sold. The car gets absolutely no respect (just like the 944) so as a result it's a great vehicle but heavily discounted.

My engine was still running real strong too - but in the back of my head I still had the engine rebuild as a pending item since I knew it inevitably would be necessary. I could have probably gone for years without worrying about it but it was just another item on my checklist.

Are you going to be heading to Charlotte anytime soon? If so give me a call. Otherwise next time we get a fun run going in the mountains I'll let you take the wheel. Trust me though, it is WEIRD driving this thing after so many years in the 944. I still haven't dared take it through a corner at any decent speed because I haven't figured out the handling of it yet. But hopefully I'll figure it out soon enough.

In the short amount of time I've had it though it does feel like a "real" Porsche. I know some of the comments about the 996 have been that it feels like a Toyota or Honda. Trust me the road feel is still there and there's plenty of noise to go along with the ride. So it rides almost like the 944 did but just feels more planted. Sort of hard to describe but you probably remember when we took that GT3 out for a spin so it's like that minus 60 horsepower and 1500 RPM!

I would have loved to have kept my 944 and had initially planned to do so. But I only have a two car garage (and my fiancees car HAS to go in the garage too) and both cars would have served the same purpose. If I would have purchased a coupe I probably would have tried harder to keep it, but with two cabrios it didn't make sense.

 

The 25 mile commute justifies the purchase. That was what i was supposed to have when i moved out of NY. turned out to be 7 and i didnt drive the 330 which also had to be a convertible. I got slaughtered on the sale price. the economy is down. if i can get anything decent for the 951 it will be gone too and replaced by one newer M3.

 

First of all, congratulations.

You are correct about the 996. Unfortunately it is the least desirable of the newer 911 models out there. The Boxter style headlights turn many people off and the problems with them in the first couple of years are well documented. They are easily the least expensive compared to the other 911 models recently.

 

Congrats! I did the opposite. I sold my 2002 996 and bought a 944 cab. You will love your new ride, I miss mine every day and the 3.6 in the 02+ makes a big difference.