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You must be speaking about where YOU live, because I live in SoCal and I see at least 2-3 per day if I’m out and about, what you’re hypothesizing isn’t close to being true around here.
Originally Posted by bdronsick
Impossible to know, but we can theorize of all 911 generations in history: 996 was absolutely the most raced, most wrecked, and most abused
This is probably why with 170K made almost three decades ago, you can now go the rest your life and never see a single one on the road
You must be speaking about where YOU live, because I live in SoCal and I see at least 2-3 per day if I’m out and about, what you’re hypothesizing isn’t close to being true around here.
LOL! So much truth. I live near the east coast. I took a job in 2000 that required me to live in the SF Bay area for a few months. When I got there my jaw dropped. People were driving 1966 Mustang fastbacks to work and back in the stop/go traffic. I saw more BMW's in 2 blocks than I see around my parts in 20 miles. Given the 100's of 1,000's of 996 cars built, how could you not expect to see a ton of them in your environment.
You must be speaking about where YOU live, because I live in SoCal and I see at least 2-3 per day if I’m out and about, what you’re hypothesizing isn’t close to being true around here.
This is so very true and it is kinda funny how this works. When I lived in the SF Bay Area when these cars were new I saw them everyday. And then up in the Seattle/Tacoma Area I saw tons of 911s of all years. Out in the North East I didn't see a lot and when I did it was usually only in the summer and they were usually brand new cabs. In Spokane I saw 2 other 911s in 2 years outside of the dealership. A 996.1 GT3 clone with a 3.8 FSI engine that belonged to the guy that bought my 944 and a 997.1. I have also own/owned Ford Dentside and Bumpside trucks and I belong to groups for those and a lot of people would get so excited when they saw one, but living in the PNW, especially Spokane they were a dime a dozen. It was not uncommon to see 10 in a 30 minute drive around town. Down here in NOLA you don't see many nice cars since the roads are scary bad, among other things. But aside from a 1950s Rolls Royce taking a bride and groom away from their wedding all the cool cars I have seen down here have been Porsches, mostly 911s. A 996.2 Cab, a Speed Yellow 996 Turbo Coupe, a G-series, and a 991.2 GT3 RS. And both 996s are regularly parked outside and one is street parked.
Guess we live in different parts of southern California.
I must live in your part of Southern California because in a good year, I might see three or four 996s tops. So far this year, I've seen a grand total of two.
I am in Toronto. I see 911’s daily. Usually 3 or 4. A little less in winter, not by much. Mostly 991’s and 992’s. Older models, including 996’s are summer only.
Within a 5 minute walk of my home, there is a g50, 2x997, long hood, at least 5 991’s and 992’s. I find it surprising that in the U.S. there are places where 911’s are a rarity.
Rare is a relative term. I would say the ratio of 996 to newer 911 is about 1:10 here, with the newest models being the most common, down the line to air-cooled 911s only existing at meet-ups.
Since making that post earlier, I went to pick up Baja Fish Tacos for my wife and I, and there was a 991 GT3 parked at the planet fitness next to the restaurant. Like I said before, I saw a 992 GT3 in a different shopping center yesterday.
The ratio of all 911s to other Porsches is probably also around 1:10, with the Macan being by far the most common. (Using this math you would expect see about 100 Macans for every 996, which feels about right to me, if not more)
I can remember distinctly the TWO times I have seen other 996s on the road.
But it's like I've always said, Rarity is only impressive if the object is desirable as well as rare. And the older it is, the fewer desirable examples will remain and so they will be more rare. Aside from limited production models I don't think you can argue with entropy.
Be interesting to know how many 996s actually made it to the US out of all produced. Especially by model. Bet the vast majority of 996 owners just keep them sitting in their garage admiring their beauty.
I live in Minneapolis and I see 996s all the time and I don't even drive that much. There's a couple 996 turbos in my neighborhood alone. Have another worthless anecdote
Love the ducktail on your 997 Optionman! I've toyed with the idea of doing something like that with my GT3 to make a GT3 touring. Small ducktail, add back in some of the OEM sound deadening foam in the quarters and remove an equal amount in the battery/seats to compensate. All things that would be easily reversible should I ever decide to pass this thing on.
Last edited by brontosaurus; 06-27-2022 at 11:35 AM.
Be interesting to know how many 996s actually made it to the US out of all produced. Especially by model. Bet the vast majority of 996 owners just keep them sitting in their garage admiring their beauty.
06-26-2022, 03:47 PM
I've got like 6 waiting to be featured in a 10 mile radius.