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Folks discussing in the 992 forum about the 992.2 are talking about how expensive the new cars are. It’s now $122k for a base 911, and the GTS is upwards of $200k.
Since so many items have gone up in price these last 5 years or so, not just cars, but many items, something is amiss in the 996 world.
Prices for 996s cannot stay this low for long. I know we have that thread about prices going up, and they did during Covid. Sure, they are still holding, but still, the days of the $20k 996 are still around.
It’s wild you can still find a Porsche 911 for $25k here and there.
Think about this: I have a triple black manual 99 C2 Cab. Isn’t not really anything special. It could sell for $25k, $28k, $30k, $32k. But here’s the problem: how many triple black manual 99 Cabs are there for sale? I go to Cars.com and search the nation, and I see only one for sale.
I don’t think it will be that much longer that folks can pickup a 996 in the 20’s. Same goes for the Boxster S.
Perhaps after they are all past the 25YR (antique plates) status we will see prices into the 30’s and 40’s.
I know some of you will rightly point out that we already have 996s well into the 30’s and 40’s, some even much higher. All true.
But there are some still in the 20’s, that’s my point. It’s bizarre, and it cannot last.
Last edited by Mike Murphy; 06-14-2024 at 01:18 PM.
I was in Porsche South Orlando on Tuesday, and they had a 2022 Cab for $122K. and my first thought was that I could buy 5 or 6 996s for that and drive a different one every day.
The problem as I see it is that there are still 996s in the market that have never been properly cared for but still run, and most of us on this board would never buy one of these. We also see people on this site every week that are surprised that something went catastrophically wrong within weeks of purchase despite the ample buyer beware information on the web. That gives the whole 996 market a black eye.
It makes me sad to say this but eventually the market will only consist of 996s that were well maintained for all or a vast majority of their lives, at which point, the market will change dramatically. I don't think it will take more than another 2-3 years for this to play out.
And yeah, no one craps on the headlights anymore. They look more modern now than they ever did.
Folks discussing in the 992 forum about the 992.2 are talking about how expensive the new cars are. It’s now $122k for a base 911, and the GTS is upwards of $200k.
Since so many items have gone up in price these last 5 years or so, not just cars, but many items, something is amiss in the 996 world.
Prices for 996s cannot stay this low for long. I know we have that thread about prices going up, and they did during Covid. Sure, they are still holding, but still, the days of the $20k 996 are still around.
It’s wild you can still find a Porsche 911 for $25k here and there.
Think about this: I have a triple black manual 99 C2 Cab. Isn’t not really anything special. It could sell for $25k, $28k, $30k, $32k. But here’s the problem: how many triple black manual 99 Cabs are there for sale? I go to Cars.com and search the nation, and I see only one for sale.
I don’t think it will be that much longer that folks can pickup a 996 in the 20’s. Same goes for the Boxster S.
Perhaps after they are all past the 25YR (antique plates) status we will see prices into the 30’s and 40’s.
I know some of you will rightly point out that we already have 996s well into the 30’s and 40’s, some even much higher. All true.
But there are some still in the 20’s, that’s my point. It’s bizarre, and it cannot last.
The crazy thing is that not only is the price insanely low, but if you like the lightweight sports car feel of the earlier 911's, a base 996 is the best driving of all of 911 models ever produced. I say that without any asterisks. If you're a power junky, get a newer 911 model, or a Turbo or GT, but if you just want the best driving 911 sports car there is, I don't think you can beat a 6-sp/coupe/2wd 996. How often is the best driving model also the least expensive (by a wide margin) to buy????
Polarizing styling, loads of BHPH examples, tons of well documented critical engine issues, and just sheer production numbers will hold the 996 down for awhile yet.
Once a lot of the bad and abused cars get pulled from circulation, you may see values rise more. The special cars like the early ‘98, 40AE, 2000ME, aerokits, PTS/rare colors, and the like already command a decent price.
Just picked up an early build (1/98) with nearly zero options (even has 17" wheels) which should make it one of the lightest 996 models for not much more than a well used VW GTI.
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I ran into that same issue when I was looking for a low mileage white manual Carrera 2 - there were hardly any anywhere! I ended up paying in the upper 30s for one of the very few I could find since it was at a local dealer and I could have it inspected by my favorite shop. Silver cabriolet? All over the place. White coupe? Good luck!
I said this in the other thread too. I was looking at 992s but saw a 2003 C2 with 21K miles with good service history and IMS bearing update for $45K near me. I test drove it with a friend who has a 997.2 GTS and I bought it on the spot. I've always wanted a 911 and the 996 is amazing. After driving the 996 about 2K miles the last two months the desire for a 992 is gone. The 996 is so fun and engaging to drive everyday. I don't need anymore power and to me that is all the 992 really adds. I have a 718 with the more modern infotainment and I've realized all the extra creature comforts and technology don't do anything for me.
More often then not I pick the keys to the 996 over my 718 GT4 for my daily commute. Might be because it is new to to me so we'll see how it goes long term. The 996 price to fun ratio is unbelievable. I'll take the $100K I saved from not getting a 992 to get a Flat 6 engine upgrade or maybe another car with a different driving experience down the line (S2000, NSX, Z3M coupe, old AMGs are on the short list).
Polarizing styling, loads of BHPH examples, tons of well documented critical engine issues, and just sheer production numbers will hold the 996 down for awhile yet.
Once a lot of the bad and abused cars get pulled from circulation, you may see values rise more. The special cars like the early ‘98, 40AE, 2000ME, aerokits, PTS/rare colors, and the like already command a decent price.
The polarizing styling thing has gone away for the most part.
Engine rebuilds for the 996 are no worse than any of the other 911s, if not 1.5X to 2X cheaper than the other models. By the time an engine gets to 25 years and 150,000 miles, a 911 owner will need to understand that the engine may need to be rebuilt.
I have a 718 with the more modern infotainment and I've realized all the extra creature comforts and technology don't do anything for me.
Wellll, I did have a 2DIN Alpine head unit put in mine with android auto, and front and back cameras. I'm old and spoiled, I know, but I really like those features. With those additions my little C2 Coupe is better than most of the new cars I've encountered - it doesn't flash, beep, squawk, vibrate, or otherwise try to split my attention when there's something serious going on. It doesn't turn itself off when it feels like it. It doesn't help drive whether I want it to or not. I'll take the ABS though - I'm not that good at cadence braking. Awesome car with old-school functionality combined with a more modern interior. Another thing - today's sportscars have so many vents, ducts, fins, etc, that they look like they're ready to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Kodan armada. Nothing wrong with that look, but I loooove the clean lines and look of my little '02 C2.
Last edited by JohnnyOTS; 06-20-2024 at 01:39 AM.
Reason: Grammar!
The headlight bs coupled with a complete lack of understanding of the issues and the availability and affordability of preventative solutions all play a part.
We still have many owners and potential owners that dont get how easy it is to bullet proof these cars. But what's encouraging is that many of the new owners have read up on issues and preventative procedures and are proactively addressing everything at the beginning of ownership. Great to see.
Funny thing is the biggest issue which is bore scoring, can afflict all water cooled models from the 986 to the 991, but even bore scoring can be mitigated and managed. Haven't yet seen anything on the 992 and bore scoring, but who knows.
We can tell the 996 market is still misunderstood accross the board when a 996 Turbo is getting the same price as a C4S. Not to mention when a C4S is getting susbtantially more than a 40AE. Shows us that the market still doesn't understand the 996 variants, issues and plethora of solutions that are available.
But to your point, it's only a matter of time. At least we have stopped focusing on the headlights.
Polarizing styling, loads of BHPH examples, tons of well documented critical engine issues, and just sheer production numbers will hold the 996 down for awhile yet.
Once a lot of the bad and abused cars get pulled from circulation, you may see values rise more. The special cars like the early ‘98, 40AE, 2000ME, aerokits, PTS/rare colors, and the like already command a decent price.
unfortunately the ME appears to be a duckling for some reason. The most recent museum quality result was insanely cheap.
I was in Porsche South Orlando on Tuesday, and they had a 2022 Cab for $122K. and my first thought was that I could buy 5 or 6 996s for that and drive a different one every day.
The problem as I see it is that there are still 996s in the market that have never been properly cared for but still run, and most of us on this board would never buy one of these. We also see people on this site every week that are surprised that something went catastrophically wrong within weeks of purchase despite the ample buyer beware information on the web. That gives the whole 996 market a black eye.
It makes me sad to say this but eventually the market will only consist of 996s that were well maintained for all or a vast majority of their lives, at which point, the market will change dramatically. I don't think it will take more than another 2-3 years for this to play out.
And yeah, no one craps on the headlights anymore. They look more modern now than they ever did.
The problem as I see it is that there are still 996s in the market that have never been properly cared for but still run….
IMHO this combined with high production numbers will keep prices low for the foreseeable future.
The market is full of 996s that were treated like the sub 20K used cars they were for many years.
Just go to Cars and Bids and see for yourself.
I’m convinced that the 996 will always be the cheapest entry into the 911 world
Not that there’s anything wrong with that
Anecdotally, when plugging in my 2000 XAA's MSRP on an inflation calculator comes out to roughly $145k today. $122k for a new base model, while not "great" (whatever that Porsche definition is for you), doesn't seem far off base. Then comparing buying a bunch of 996's that are still at a heavy low comparatively (much like 964's and others saw for a time), seems odd.
996's were mass produced and inventory (especially good low mile) will always dwindle with any model or series as it ages. That means, there will always be 20-30k options out there that actually got used or maybe didn't get proper maintenance, it's the outliers that bring the bucks over time (Supra, NSX, E46, hell even a low mile Type R Integra). The economy & older collector car demand, will all be different in 2044 (24 years forward just like my 996 - who the hell can truly speculate at this point), so maybe 992's then will be the 996's of now.
Folks discussing in the 992 forum about the 992.2 are talking about how expensive the new cars are. It’s now $122k for a base 911, and the GTS is upwards of $200k.
Since so many items have gone up in price these last 5 years or so, not just cars, but many items, something is amiss in the 996 world.
Prices for 996s cannot stay this low for long. I know we have that thread about prices going up, and they did during Covid. Sure, they are still holding, but still, the days of the $20k 996 are still around.
It’s wild you can still find a Porsche 911 for $25k here and there.
Think about this: I have a triple black manual 99 C2 Cab. Isn’t not really anything special. It could sell for $25k, $28k, $30k, $32k. But here’s the problem: how many triple black manual 99 Cabs are there for sale? I go to Cars.com and search the nation, and I see only one for sale.
I don’t think it will be that much longer that folks can pickup a 996 in the 20’s. Same goes for the Boxster S.
Perhaps after they are all past the 25YR (antique plates) status we will see prices into the 30’s and 40’s.
I know some of you will rightly point out that we already have 996s well into the 30’s and 40’s, some even much higher. All true.
But there are some still in the 20’s, that’s my point. It’s bizarre, and it cannot last.
Well, when you factor in inflation, base price for a 1981 911 would be about $100K today. A 2011 would be about $110K, and 2024 base is $120K. So, yes, they have been going up, but the same is probably true for every make and model. Safety and fuel economy have added costs ove the years, so it makes sense.
The 996's valuation has not risen as much due mostly to its looks and the stigma attached to it. It's still a great car, but overshadowed by the 997 and subsequent models. I guess Harm Lagaay must have thought the world would go "Oooh - Ahh" with the 996 first debut, but the world sort of screwed up their mouths and it kind of stuck, despite all of the technological advancements. Even the doors were stronger and better, but people complained about the sound of it closing.
Porsche was forced back to the drawing board to make the 997 doors sound like the air cooled thunk. And they revamped the interior and headlights for good measure. Go figure.
Personally, I'm glad the 996 is "affordable", at least relatively. It provides a gateway for young enthusiasts to join the Porsche ranks. God knows we need the new blood. The latest models have become more like status symbols. Just look at the ADMs some people are paying.
06-14-2024, 01:15 PM
996s shouldn’t be this affordable
