Major Dash

Maybe I am wired a bit differently, but I think I could more easily justify an engine rebuild if it didn’t cost as much as or more than the car purchase itself. I’m sure that’s some kind of logical fallacy though or could be hand waved away by saying “you should have considered that before buying the car.”

GC996

If you paid $80k for the 996 would you do a rebuild?

Mike Murphy

No, I think you are right. A new GT3 engine is $80k or more, and that’s new and a GT3 is $200k all day long. So that’s what I mean, the 996 should cost at least $50-$60k based on engine rebuild costs, lol.

GC996

The world did go "Oooh-Ahh" over the 996. I remember it clearly. Everyone was complaining about how slow, antiquated and ugly their air cooled 911s were in relation the the 996 during track days. Everyone was in awe of the brand new 996. I remember my first driving instructor eventually sold his 964 RS America in frustration.

All you have to do is look at the number of 996s sold. It was the biggest selling Porsche model in history at that time and a big freaking hit.

I will go out on a limb and say that the majority of 996 owners today didnt own their 996 back when it was the new "it" model. Today's 996 owners have been conditioned by the same BS that happened to the 964 and 1995 993 with the basket handle.

Good to see the people and markets finally came to their senses. But it took a long time for the people to weed thru the BS. Same is happening with the 996. But it takes time.

Marv

Well, the 996 did outsell previous models, but the 997 production topped the 996. The 991 topped that...

GC996

Yep, and so on, and so on with every new model until it isn't.

It's a fallacy that the 996 wasn't popular and sought after as the new model. Back in the day, it was just as hot to the world as the 992 is today. Why, because it was the all new whizbang 911 and everybody wanted one, as demonstrated by its sales.

GC996

So let's put into perspective the home run that Porsche hit with the 996 by comparing the number of cars produced and sold by porsche by model according to the porsche.com.

964 - 63,762 cars
993 - 68,881
996 - 175,262 (more than the 964 & 993 combined)
997 - 213,004
991 - 233,540

On any scale, the 996 was a HUGE incremental success over the previous 964 and 993 air cooled models. It's success paved the way for the water cooled 997, 991 and now 992.

Marv

Part of that difference in production numbers between the 993 and 964 was due to changes at the production line. Porsche could only hand build so many cars a year.

Porsche's breakthrough was being able to ramp up (modernize) production and lower production costs (increase profit) along with a new model, the Boxster. It was the pivot point.

The one factor that demonstrates the discord amongst Porsche owners with the 996 is the resale numbers (compared to all other models).

Not that I am unhappy with what I own. It is a great car just like all 996s are and a great value today.

cqhall

You write this as though the 996 is some big secret that the rest of the Porsche world isn't aware of. Porsche buyers and sports car buyers are well aware of them.

996s show up in every time when someone search for: "Porsche 911" [sort by price - low]

They just aren't buying them. Which is fine. But, that's the reality of it all. Porsche buyers are spending good money on the 996 Turbo, GT3, and GT2...because they buy them for the performance. Those who buy the non-fast 911s of all generations, buy them for the styling. The non-fast 996 don't sell at a premium because they styling is (was?) the least desirable.

What's more, every day the prices of the non-fast (but more stylish than the non-fast 996) 997s and 991s go down, making them more attractive to folks who want the look.

I bought my 996 C4S WB because it has one of the best looking a$$es of all 911s. If the 996 C4S weren't available (for conversation's sake), I wouldn't have bought a 996 NB for a steal and I wouldn't have jumped up in cash to buy the 996 Turbo/GT3/GT2. I probably would have bought a 997 NB or BMW M3. No way in hell I was gonna buy a vert (of any make/model).

The 996 prices will always be lower than 996 fans expect. And now that they are within reach of younger buyers, don't be surprised if they get a new stigma of being, "the entry level 911 for kids".

So, this is from a guy who is constantly in the car market as a hobby.

GC996

^^^This

GC996

No, people are buying plenty of them.

The 996 is one of the hottest cars in the used car market. Just ask any Porsche dealer. They are all looking for 996 trade-ins because they sell quickly. Problem is there is alot of 996 supply due to the sales success of the 996 model.

Just be glad you didn't pay top dollar for a 997, 991 or 992. As Marv points out, even more of those babies have been manufacturered and sold than the 996. They will be riding a depreciation cycle that won't be kind.

I lived thru it back in the day. There was no discourse or complaints on styling when the 996 was released. Everybody loved the new 996 or it wouldn't have crushed 993 and 964 sales. These babies sold like hotcakes.

996love

Nice, I’m now looking forward to purchasing a 991 or 992 in the future.

GC996

Wait till it drops 60% after all the warranties are over. 😀

cqhall

Maybe I should have clarified that people aren't buying them at the premium that OP is suggesting that they should sell for.

It's very difficult to sell a C2 for $30-$40K when there are so many of them.

And if the suggestion that the 996s will go up in value as their numbers wane over time (due to wrecks, neglect, and normal attrition), my assertion that the 997s and 991s will become less and less expensive as they age and get miles on them seems to line up with yours:

peterp

First of all, I don't really care what happens to the 996 market -- if I win the lottery 10 times in a row, I will still keep the 996.1 I own right now (don't think I can find a better one for my needs). I don't think your comment that people "know" the 996 is accurate at all. Most people are internet educated about the 996, which means they've heard oodles of horrible stuff, and that 996's are the worst car, but they've never driven any 996 (so they don't really know anything about it), nor have they driven any other of the 911 models (so they don't know how the 996 stacks up). The second thing is that even people who own a 996 may not know 996's. Why? Because the way they drive changes completely based upon options (most profoundly Tip or 6sp, 2wd or 4wd, cab or coupe. Unless you've driven all the models of 996, you don't really know what the 996 can be.

We've all benefited purchase-price-wise because of internet-educated ignorance, combined with presumptive ignorance (e.g. Porsche owners who have never driven a 996 but presume it's horrible). I've owned several air-cooled 911's, all of which are worth many multiples of my 996. And even though I am a huge fan of the earlier lightweight 911's, the 996 is profoundly better in every way. It's a highly unique model in Porsche's entire line-up -- it's lighter than the both the 993 and 964 models that came before it (when has that ever happened????) and it only weighs 35 lbs more than the late 80's G50 Carrera 3.2 (but the 996 is profoundly more powerful, plus power steering). The 996 uniquely captures the great light feel of the early cars, but with way more power, better handling, and creature comforts.

Very few people realize any of this about the 996 -- which is the single thing that makes the 996 so special among all 911 models. So, no, people don't know the 996. They just think they do (and literally 99% of them are wrong because they've "learned" about them from the internet). As long as they stay uninformed, we can all buy cheap 996's. Viva la ignorance!