GC996

Yep. When you out everything into perspective the numbers look a little different.

It's like the guys that say if you are going to track a 996 you should get a 996 GT3. I love the GT3 and would love to have one. But the math doesn't work because it will eventually need a rebuild. Sure, if you a DIY guy it will be cheaper, but it still can be compared.

$100k for a GT3
$40k for a mezger rebuild someday
$140 k total

$30k for a 996
$40k for an M96 rebuild someday for durability and power that rivals the mezger.
$70 k total

I'll take the m96 powered 996 path.

Haalex

Sorry, but that just needs a #manmath

Not that I disagree, but.. well. It's man math.

hatchetf15

Easier to fit my kids in the 911. Groceries, too.

GC996

Take a swipe at it.

Haalex

a. you forgot 10k suspension rebuild, 5k for brakes, 10k for various cosmetic issues, another 5-10k for misc. improvements, etc.
b. that reasoning goes out the window the moment you sell the car (unless kept for 10+ years)
c. new vs. used is an age-old debate

GC996

A. Go up a few posts. The $30K includes that.

B. Agreed. Same for any other Porsche you may decide to own.

C. It sure is.

Bottom line is you aren't buying a Porsche to make money. They cost money whether you like it or not. However, sometimes a real gem comes up for sale that you don't need to spend $30k on an engine service, suspension and exhaust. Instead the previous owner took car if it and did it all. So you get the 996 for $35k all in. But this is the exception, not the rule.

The 996 is currently a very good deal for someone that needs an unnecessary sports car.

Haalex

We mostly agree. Bottom line is, it'll cost you money no matter what, and you have to be prepared for that. So will any 911.
But making financial sense of spending 30 large on an engine rebuild for a 25 grand 996 is still man math . The type of man math many M96 owners might make someday.

GC996

Agreed. Don't know why anybody would buy any Porsche hoping they didn't have to service it and even worse, thinking they will make money.

You buy it because you want a vehicle to play with as a costly hobby.

Porschetech3

^^^^ This ^^^^ !!! unless you are planing on putting in your labor and time and plan on selling that along with the car.....

peterp

My honest advice would be to drive every flavor of 997 (and even 996) to make sure you know which grass in greenest for your needs. It's difficult to beat the driving experience of the 996. You may find a 997.1 or 997.2 better, or worse, once you've driven it. You might find a lighter weight base 996 coupe worse or preferable (the Targa option does add 155 lbs over a coupe 996.2 and 215 lbs over a coupe 996.1). If you find a model you like better, you may be able to find one where all the work has been done (since you usually only get a small percent of maintenance back in resale).

Of course, you may end up finding out that the 996.2 Targa you already own is the perfect model for you, over the 997 and other 996 options, so then your mind will be far more at ease over the maintenance investment. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. That said, maintenance for any Porsche does tend to be "greener" than any of us would like .

hatchetf15

Golf clubs are easy in a Targa. Tennis rackets, groceries, yada, yada. Unless you have an aero spoiler.

Bender6502

Yeah, I feel you, I have the exact same thought. I recently (9 months ago) got my 02 996 TT. I really like the 997 TT, but at 2x the cost, I didn't think it was worth it. It is true that you can't include operating/maintenance/repair cost to this comparison, but it's hard not to think about it. Mine was a clean, well taken care of example with relatively low miles (35,700 at the time of purchase), but I'm starting find little issues that needs to be addressed, recent expensive one being second gear pop out. I've had it for less than a year, and the potential bill is already piling up. Yes, it is true that 997 could also suffers from these issues, but to a lesser degree. Had I went with the 997 would I had these issues? Who knows, this is something that we will never know.

I knew maintaining these beauties cost money, but I may have grossly underestimated just how much. I've done my share of research, and most of those estimates were quoted before the pandemic. Since then, the price of admission almost doubled, if not more.

So, it really comes down to passion, doesn't it? Non-enthusiasts will think we're crazy, and to certain degree, they may be right. As much as I love my car, it is a hard pill to swallow when it comes to the cost. My brain says, "no", but my heart says, "yes"!

I haven't driven 997 myself, so that is the other side is greener case. I've test driven much faster cars, but the car that made want to actually drive was the 996 C2. Yes, I do like my car, but is it worth spending all that hard earned $ to keep it going? This is my dillema.

@911Dreamer , your targa is beautiful, BTW. I too am a sucker for the aero kit, especially the wing. I always loved that 996.1 GT3 taco wings😉

theprf

Don't panic my friend, the gearbox fix is permanent and you will never need to mess with it again. Like I said you can live with 2nd gear pop for a long time if it does not make sense to deal with it now. Meanwhile enjoy your people's supercar.

BossAngeles

As impossible as it may be, I try to live within mods that fulfill a certain drive style. It's only going to be pristine to a point, or modded to a certain degree to avoid excess issues later. It was helpful to me to say "go kart" to the mechanic as a profile for mods which meant minimum engine work, and more suspension as I'm not looking at tracking or top end. Maybe smaller tweaks like aesthetic stuff, like a hood badge, hardback seats, numeric shifter or 997 airbox. I'm too timid to go modding performance to the point of not passing smog.

Marv

I don't track mine (just autocross), so I really can't say, but $100K is probably high for a track GT3 and the engine should hold up better than you think. You get a lot extras that don't come with the Carrera, too. Sure, you can make a Carrera a track rat, but you have not allowed for the cost to get it there (think transmission for one) and you are never likely to bother seam welding a Carrera.