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I'm considering getting back to the 996 world after 2 years of abstinence. I used to own an air cooled model (1985 targa) and a 2001 996 turbo but ending up selling them for a number of reasons.
The thing is I'm getting a bit nostalgic, mainly about my 996 TT, and I'm considering to buy a 996 as a daily driver : rain or shine, winter, etc. My ideal model would be a cabriolet C4. Also, I noticed that the values have gone up quite sharply in the last two years. So, long story short, here's my concerns :
- Does anyone have experience with a 996 as a daily driver ? Please bear in my that I live In Montreal, Canada where our winters are awful...
- Is the IMS issue treatments have changed in the last two years (new parts, new way to check it, etc...) ?
- Would a C2 be decent in the snow (with good tires) ?
- How about he increasing values, do you guys have the same reading as I do ?
- What's the overall reliability of your non turbo 996, and particularly the electric aspect of it ?
I thank you in advance for your replies, and merry Christmas !
I have only had mine for a year, but do drive it every day. And with snow tires, no concerns about going anywhere. This is my third (first had an 86 Carrera and then a 99 C2) and all were daily drivers.
I have only had mine for a year, but do drive it every day. And with snow tires, no concerns about going anywhere. This is my third (first had an 86 Carrera and then a 99 C2) and all were daily drivers.
I used my 996 as a daily driver for a year. It was 'ok'. I didn't find it very comfortable, and the gas mileage wasn't great. So I sold it. Also, even though it had snow tires, it couldn't clear more than a few inches of snow because it sits low.
Test a few cars before you make the commitment as a daily.
I summer daily mine. To be honest, if I had to drive it in the city, or traffic, I wouldn't. A couple of times a year I take the kids to school in it and it is a terrible city car.
I’ve been daily driving my 03 4s in NJ since end of August, 130 miles per day. Love every mile, best part of my day! Bought the car in March 2019 with only 21,700 miles on it, went over 50,000 last Monday. Just got my winter tires mounted, drive it rain, snow, whatever. Changing DT 5w-40 oil every 4-5k miles max, getting UOA with every oil change, rinsing road salts off as often as possible....price i pay for putting on so many miles but i wouldn’t change a thing.
My second 911 was a '99 C4 that I drove as a daily for about a year. Enjoyed it for the most part and was never let down. Changed from summer tires to all-seasons in November and that December drove from Virginia back to New Jersey through a bad ice/rain/snowstorm. We passed countless cars either pulled over to the side or by accident slid off the road because of conditions. The Porsche just went straight and steady the whole way never losing traction or control, very secure.
My second 911 was a '99 C4 that I drove as a daily for about a year. Enjoyed it for the most part and was never let down. Changed from summer tires to all-seasons in November and that December drove from Virginia back to New Jersey through a bad ice/rain/snowstorm. We passed countless cars either pulled over to the side or by accident slid off the road because of conditions. The Porsche just went straight and steady the whole way never losing traction or control, very secure.
I just love driving my manual C2 as much as possible, even in the city. Every drive in our family car (5-series) feels like a lost opportunity to get a little bit more out of an otherwise mundane trip. Not much snow here though.
My 996 C4S was my daily driver in the Colorado mountains. I ran proper winter tires from mid October through mid May. It was a great car in all but deep snow conditions.
Daily driver thoughts
