DrJay

By special models I am referring to one of the Cup cars, an imported RS, an America RS, etc... Is there any reason at all to buy one of those over a well sorted Carrera 2 if the intention is to drive it rather than store it in a garage.

GeorgeK

You'll get as many answers as there are members here.
My answer: I can't afford the price of the special versions, so I build mine according to my criteria.

As long as it is not too modified, the value will stay, if that's important to you.

misteralz

If you can afford it, sure. If I could afford it, I'd buy the highest mileage 'special' model I could, and use it. There was a rubystone RS for sale in Switzerland recently for low six figures, because it had something like 400k km on it. I can't afford that, sadly. If I could have, it'd be in my garage now.
Buy something you'll enjoy and don't treat it as an investment in anything other than enjoying your life. We only get one.

jeff33702

I have an RSA with a lot of miles. It does somewhat remove that part of the anxiety about driving it. I still can’t leave it anywhere

these are all equally enjoyable so the general rule applies - buy the best car you can find..will save you headaches and money in the future.

cjoenck

It's an emotional question with a bunch of emotional answers, for sure. There really is no absolute answer. Whatever makes you happy is the right choice. Personally, I couldn't drive a car worth that much on a daily basis without being afraid of other drivers. Since I believe these cars were made to be driven rather than a being stored in a garage, I would take a well sorted daily driver over a rare car any day. I get my enjoyment out of driving them, someone else may get as much enjoyment out of looking at them and knowing they own one. Of course the "special versions" can be driven too but you get a lot more insurance issues and value preservation questions. That's just me.

Vegas993

A properly setup C2 is plenty of fun to drive for a lot less money. With the significant cost increase for a Cup Car or RS, you're essentially paying for cool factor.

Spyder_2011

Much of it will really come down to intended purpose. If your intentions are to drive it around town and take it on some short trips then any MT 964 variant will be an engaging and fun drive. If you plan on using it for track and or canyon runs primarily then yeah an RS would certainly be better than a C2 since it already has many of the upgrades you want for that purpose. But a C2 can be very easily transformed to about 95% of an RS with some suspension and basic chassis upgrades. One benefit of the C2 is the power steering and functioning AC which comes in handy on hot summer days and maneuvering in tight places.

The other benefit of getting an C2 is the ability to tune it however you like. There are so many aftermarket options and majority are fully reversible. Tuning them is part of the fun too, you can take your time and make changes as you find deficiencies. There’s a reason so many tuners choose the 964 as the starting point for a backdate/off roader etc, even with the elevated prices.

DrJay

This is a very good point for a car I want to drive regularly and enjoy with my wife and kids. No AC would likely rule that out entirely.

Hella-Buggin'

I may be biased because I live in Portland and get to drive with several Rothsport built cars...
But for RS or RSA money, you can build one hell of a hot rod. Going out in my GT3
and getting smoked by a properly built 964 is an amazing, albeit humbling, experience.
If you by an RS/RSA, it's either been maintained and sorted, price delta goes up, or needs some work.
If you buy a properly sorted C2, I opted for a well sorted C4, your entry price is lower and you've got time to enjoy the car and see what if anything you are missing.
Mine is a super clean well loved car that has had suspension and engine refreshed and is a pure joy to drive.
Since getting the 964 about 7 months ago, my GT3 has been out three times and two of those were track days.

The 964 is just a vibe. And it's fast enough to have tons of fun.

Ken D

And none of the ‘special cars’ you mention have rear seats. So you can only take one passenger at a time.

Not sure what your Porsche ownership history is, but if you’re considering a ‘vintage’ Porsche for enjoying with the family, don’t overlook the 928 - they are outstanding grand tourers, you get power, handling, seating for four, rear a/c, and they always turn heads.

Hella-Buggin'

I was out with the crew this am. 3 g bodies and me in the 964. Super fun. We passed a gorgeous 928 and it was a rare and impressive sight.

DrJay

That's a good point but I would likely only have one passenger at a time, likely my wife, or one of my girls who are almost too big to fit in the backseats anyway. I don't think any of them wants to be in a car without AC though.

Edit: I have had a bunch of newer Porsches starting with a 997.2 C4S, a 991 GT3, and a 992. Out of those 3, my favorite was the 997, maybe due to nostalgia, maybe I just liked the way it felt more.

jeff33702

If you need AC and still want something that is a litle different...I'm biased but an RS America can be had with A/C and has a unique factory look to it - they all have cup 1 wheels and m030 sport suspension - cool seats and some other little things.. As you'll see, it's a sensitive subject around here regarding what an RSA is and what it is not. If you're not hung up on something with lower production numbers or is factory stock - you can add some fun touches to a C2 and the driving experience will be the same or better (depending on what you upgrade ).

Vote RSA if you want 100% stock (try to get one without sunroof)
Vote C2 if you're going to freshen it up a little and don't mind mods

speednme

First I would recommend knowing what your usage, budget and expectations will be. Will the extra few dollars for an RS be worth it? Maybe, especially if you’re planning to modify a C2 or C4. Things add up fast, especially in today’s current market. As far as AC goes, that’s a personal choice. I most likely will be adding electric AC to my RS. Why? Because I want to plus it’s easily reversible..lol

Matt Andrews

Drive them. Kind of depends on what type of owner you are. To me, there is a world of difference between a 964 C2 and the 964RS. I've owned a very nice 94 C2, a museum quality 964 US Carrera cup, and a 964RS that is "driver quality". I won't own another C2. That's not to say C2's aren't great cars. they are just pedestrian compared to the RS. I didn't consider the RSA because to me its just a C2 with sport seats. Not bad cars, but not worth any premium from a driving experience perspective.

The C2 was great. I put my own mods on it in an attempt to mimic a "RS", but personally, I don't beleive you can for a resonable budget. I honestly didn't believe the RS was greater than the sum of its parts before driving one. But afterwards, it definitely is. I've let several 964 owners drive them and they are also surprised. If you were in socal, we could get together. The biggest differences are the weight,. the lack of a sunroof, transmission gearing, the seats, dampers, the seam welded tub, brakes, the sound of the uninsulated body, and clutch/flywheel. You can copy this - but there is very little return for the dollars you invest. Unless you love modding or working on things yourself, I'd buy the "right" car from the beginning.

If you were in socal, I'd show you my Maritime RS. I'm considering selling it to buy a race car. But at the end of the day, get out and drive some cars to figure out what you like. They are old enough they are all different...

Matt