I’ve been kicking around the idea of picking up a well sorted and maintained 996 to scratch the Porsche itch I’ve had since I was an 7 yr old. However, I’m facing the reality that despite a low cost to entry, there is a high maintenance cost.

I’ve read through several threads on using a 996 as a daily, but most are 2-4+ years old so I’m looking to obtain a renewed perspective given the passage of time.

Am I crazy to think that a 996 could still be used as a daily driver? Please be frank with your perspectives and don’t hesitate to break my inner child’s heart.

Additional details: I live in Utah and have a Subaru, which would continue to be my poor weather vehicle. I probably around 8,000 miles on the odometer a year.


Cheers!

 

I have an '04 C4S w/ 93xxx miles, black/black, 3 pedal. I don't drive it daily, but at least once per week as it is a great Friday car. I also have a Subaru (2012 Forester XT, about 55xxx miles), its a struggle NOT to grab the Porsche keys on my way out the door. The build quality and feel of the C4S is so superior to the Subaru that its not a fair comparison. It is more to maintain, but its more car, more hp, closer tolerances, etc. I just had it serviced - serp belt, brakes flushed, plugs, filters, its good to go for quite some time. When I don't drive it, I find solace in seeing those wide hips as I pull into the garage.

 

I picked mine up last year with the intentions of using it as a daily driver. The one I bought was not as described so I had several hurdles to get through. Well sorted is the goal and I still have some projects to go before that will happen. So I have had periods where I do daily drive it. Followed by periods of DIY repair. I'm pretty confident that after this next round of repair it should be good to go.

the price of premium fuel may be a deterrent.

 

I was in a similar situation and I bought a 1999 C4 Tip for $15k. I sorted it for $3k and drive it daily. 21k miles (from 119k to 140k) in 18 months. It has never stranded me or made me regret my purchase. 20 mpg premium fuel and expensive oil changes are worth the driving experience. These cars are reliable, much more so than my BMW (540iT) or my Mercedes E320 wagon.

Mark

 

I have a 2001 Carbiolet with a hardtop and all season Contis on her. I've been putting on a bout 1K a month between daily driving to/from work and around town and the occasional couple hour country drive. Yes, there is maintenance to be done, regular oil changes, some fuel additive, brakes, etc. but the reward is driving a car that's a hoot to drive, especially when the weather warms up and the top is down. The best $17K I've ever spent on a car, I found this one with only 49K miles and the owner I bought it from had just put on the tires and a new soft top. I've spent about $4K in various upkeep & upgrades but even with $21K into this car it is worth every penny to me.

 

Two reasons I don't daily drive mine... I don't have a set of snow tires for the Colorado winters, and I pick up my kids from daycare every day. If not for that, I'd have no issue daily driving it.

 

I daily drove my mk1 c2 for 6 years, and only one time did it let me down. Ignition switch went bad.
Other wise it was great
It had 124k when I bought it and sold to a fellow rennlister it was sitting at 205k miles.
Yes it had original ims still in it.
This was year round driving Northeast Ohio, never got stuck and was a blast to drive in snow.
Keep up on maintenance and use the correct tires depending on weather if driving in snow, you won’t regret it.
Nothing like walking out after work and unwinding on a nice back road heading home in the 996.

 

I bought my 2002 996.2 with a manual transmission with 50k miles in September 2017.
I daily drove it(46 miles 1/2 of which was 80+mph, and 1/2 stop and go traffic) until COVID induced working from home in mid-March 2020.
Now I only drive it on weekends.
I have 82k miles on it now.
Post-COVID I‘ll be daily driving it again.
IMHO the 996 is a great daily driver.

 

I’ve had mine for 4 years and added 20k miles. Spent about $17k in repairs since then.

 

I had a 2010 Forester. Very disappointing car. I had a 2000 Outback before that for 10 years and 200000 miles. Loved that car. I think Subaru has lost their way. Now I daily a Jeep Wrangler. Having owned most Japanese cars, I must say the Wrangler is the most dependable car I have ever owned. In 6 years, 80000 miles. Rear pad change and a battery. That's it. And it is 3 pedal: the real reason I bought it.

 

I don't DD mine but I don't see a reason you couldn't, like anything keeping up with maintenance, is key. There are a few guys here that drive their's a lot, Optionman is one of them, he has put a lot of miles on his cars.

 

OP: The only thing keeping you from DD-ing a Pcar is the extra cost. If your driving is, ex.,mostly freeway, it may not be worth it to you. Here's what goes through my head.......rear tire cost alone is/has been $.05/mile. It pales in comparison to depreciation over the past 20 years, but it's, to me, a striking figure. YMMV

 

2003 4s. I've put on 32,000 miles in 24 months, using both summer and winter tires. I change oil religiously every 5,000 and don't track it. Have needed motor mounts, new starter, window regulators, and recently diagnosed with leaking front differential. Preemptively replaced water pump and added low temp thermostat. These cars love to be driven, letting them sit around is worse IMO than driving them daily. Good Luck

 

What Optionman1 said. Drive it. It's a car and not a museum piece. Well maybe someday hah. If you read about all the issues people are having they are most often on cars that do not get driven enough. Maintenance will cost more but the driving enjoyment will be much higher too!

 

Well I sure hope you can daily drive a 996 since I just bought a 1999 C4, 74k miles, aerokit, full leather, 6 speed with the sole intention of daily driving it. I should have it next week it's on a truck coming from Oregon to NY. I plan to sort everything out this summer and then start to daily it. People daily drove these cars when they were new so I don't see why I can't daily it now especially with all the knowledge in the community identifying the weak points. If it breaks down I have an e46 M3, e46 330Ci and MKIV GTI that I can drive so I'm not to worried about getting to work but it might hurt my wallet but I guess you gotta pay to play. I enjoy cars and I would rather break down in a 911 than drive a Camry everyday.