DP8

I am a millennial that is getting close to 40 and just bought a 996.2 C2 a couple months ago. I have an E90 M3 since 2008 and a 718 GT4 since 2021. Loved the E36 and E46 M3s growing up in the 90s but 911s always felt a little bit out of reach. Like GC996 mentioned above, Porsche is the best marketing company on the planet. When I bought my M3 in 2008, the 997.1 GT3 was released around the same time and that was my dream car. A Porsche GT car was my goal but unfortunately other priorities and the price appreciation of GT3s kept those just out of reach. I found the GT4 right at the early pandemic when prices were low (I bought it for less than MSRP) and went for it.

Like most car enthusiasts I am always thinking about cars, checking prices and see what is near me at certain dealerships. I still wanted a 911 at some point but didn't want to give up the M3 or the GT4 since I loved both. I was worried that by the time I could add a 3rd car the 911 would be a hybrid, no manual or some combination of the two, which I am not a huge fan of.

I see a 20K mile 996.2 C2 with good service records pop up at a very reputable dealer near me for $45K. The first thought in my mind was, I can buy a practically new 911 for the price of a Civic Type-R? How can I pass this up? At this point I had never driven a 911. I go test drive the car and in person the car is beautiful. I had fallen into the trap that the headlights were ugly etc. but when I saw the car in person the headlights fit the car well and the overall aesthetics are great. Compare how a 996 looks to a new M3, M2 or Corvette etc. and its not even close. The 996 wins by a mile in my opinion.

All that to say, I agree the 996 should NOT be this affordable and I paid a premium for a low mileage and well taken care of example. I have the means and I am willing to pay the preventative maintenance costs in the future to keep this car on the road so that was not a factor for me. I think that is a major factor that depresses the price of the 996 because some people my age may be scared of or unable to pay the maintenance on these cars and will buy a new Civic Type-R or GR86 instead that will have less cost in the short term.

Other people my age may want all the latest technology in the car. One attractive area for me was availability of PCCM+ to solve that problem but right now I don't think I'll get it. I may just burn a few CDs to be honest and otherwise I listen the radio or podcasts on my phone speaker, which is fine.

I think you may have a group of buyers in their 30-40s who want to experience these cars but they might gravitate to the 997, without realizing how amazing the 996 really is. I was in that place to be honest but the lower price of entry to the 996 was what drew me in first but now I am totally a 996 convert after driving this car 2,500 miles. The price of my 996 C2 plus a decent 996 GT3 would 100% be less than a mildly specced 992.2 GTS. I think I would choose the C2 and GT3 over just a 992.2.

wdb

Bluetooth adapter for the radio + @yaz996 phone mount = enough latest tech for most folks I reckon.

sublm8

Still blown away by the Walmart-special Power Acoustik CP-71W I wrote about in another thread last month. It is phenomenal.

CP-71W - Power Acoustik

cqhall

The Blaupunkt Frankfurt was perfect for me. I removed a double-din CarPlay unit to install it.

I have a 2016 X5M as the family ride, and a big media center and large maps are appropriate there. But, in the 996, a single-din radio with BT audio and phone is perfect. It fits the vibe and solves all problems. If I need a map, I'll just use my phone. Also, maps were difficult to see when I did have CarPlay in my 996. The radio sits kinda low and the angle is such that there is a lot of glare on the screen somehow. The experience wasn't good. The Blaupunkt Frankfurt is great. Plus I now have double cubbys!

I went from this:


to this:


and couldn't be happier.

I documented the journey here: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...do-i-need.html

Mike Murphy

The E36 and E46 M3 were also “too affordable” maybe 10 years ago when I was looking. Easily, I could find E46s in the teens. It was a tough choice between the M3 and the 996 that came down to real back seats and the exclusivity of the 911.

How are M3 prices today?

brontosaurus

E46 M3 prices are still very affordable -- you can still find decent drivers in the high teens & low-mid 20s. Same for the Z4M coupe (mid 30s for a decent one) which is probably the last BMW I would ever have any interest in owning.

I think the M96.0 996s are fairly priced for what you get (discounting for perceived chance of catastophic failure & general high upkeep costs). I don't really understand why P-car drivetrains cost so much -- I find it quite funny that it's probably cheaper or equal money to keep a 360/430 on the road as a 996.

ipse dixit

I wouldn't want a 996 if someone gave it to me.

Unless of course, it was a 996 GT3 RS.

GC996

Don't let the door hit you from behind as you leave.

autofiend

Go back to the 992 forums please.

peterp

Which models of 996 have you driven?

merlot

It takes a real a-hole to go in a crowded room of 996 fans and declare you'd never want to be given one.

911Syncro

I WOULD want a 992 if someone gave it to me.

And immediately sell it and buy a 996.

philbert996

How about a Ruf 996?

You know ruf, just the way your mother likes it.

peterp

Literally laughing uncontrollably out loud. You owe me a keyboard dude!

Sam-Son

E46Ms are great value.

430 probably has fewer majorly catastrophic faults and, as good as 996 is, MANY more upsides

Noone's offering