I think just finding the better car is more important unless you specifically don't want a cab. For a while I wondered about all the older guys driving cabs, then realized that these were the very same guys who drove the ragtop MG's, TR's, Austin Healey's, etc., in the 60's -- so it was "natural" for them to drive a cab. If there is a SignificantOther in your life, finding out what that person likes may influence your decision. (Yet, a cab can always put the top up, but the coupe can't put the top down.)

DE days do not require additional roll protection as it's built into the car. While it is true that someone who is "serious about the track" may want a coupe, the claim that they are faster for the average driver is largely unfounded. There will usually be greater differences due to driver skill, tires, etc., than you can attribute to cab/coupe weight or torsional differences. Some people may go faster in a coupe because they feel safer in a coupe & are more comfortable approaching their own limits in one.

A 2003 Excellence article compared a 996 Turbo, a cab and a Boxster at the track and preferred the cab, saying that with the top down (which added a little more weight in the rear), it made the car more fun to drive.

If you can garage the car or are not worried about the neighborhoods in which you park, then either will do. If you park on the street or always outside, the cab may be slightly less secure and may show a bit more age over time. (However, the newer top materials stand up to the weather elements very well & if someone really wants into your car, they are as likely just to smash a window as they are to slit a soft top...so the real differences are minor.) If I'm going to leave the car parked in the sun all day at work, I'll use a cotton cover to protect the interior as much as the top.

My '03 came with a hard top which I do put on for the winter. I don't have a lot of space in my garage, so I bought an electric hoist from Harbor Freight (about $60) and a harness for the top and let it hang during the summer. I do enjoy the hardtop during the winter when I'm more likely to make use of the local Porsche dealer's free car wash during cold weather. I don't use it often, nor would I use it with the soft top.

Frankly, most of our driving is at slower speeds due to neighborhood limits or other traffic. Top down, the car is Much more enjoyable at typical speeds on a nice day

Some guys seem to prefer the sense of invincibility they feel with a coupe. But open driving connects you with the world around you and the car (you hear the engine/tires better). Driving on city freeways can be noisy. A number of cab owners keep a "mild" set of ear plugs in the car to soften high traffic noise. But driving on country roads or even just highways with nice views--the trip is more impressive with the top down. Nothing quite like it.

Yet--you are more likely to crack open a sunroof on a marginal day than you are to open the top. The cab is "all or nothing" (open or closed)--it can't be just partially open.

I don't think the issue is how often do you drive with the top down, but whether you enjoy it when it's down. You may pay a bit more for a cab--but you will sell it for more as well. So, get what you want--but getting a car in the best condition will be more important than one feature or another.

 

+1
Also in the city, the un-obstructed view of the buildings is really cool, I loved my Cab before, but opted for a coupe. The back seats have more room for the kids too in a coupe if you have to think of that

 

I do have to think about kids. I have a 3 year old daughter and an 11 year old son. My son is quite willing to sit in back (he's done it in a friends 996 cab). I've found a number of posts showing car seats in both cabs and coupes. This was an essential criteria that let me even consider a 911 (a BMW is my second choice).

 

Cabrio pros and cons:

Pros:

- Open air feel cannot be matched by a sunroof or even a Targa top.
- 996 cab is one of the great practical convertibles, 2+2 seating, all weather, great performance, available hardtop.
- The ragtop is suprisingly good for a convertible top. Get a 2002+ w/ a glass rear window.
- Some people just look good in convertibles. Usually it is correlated with the amount of their own hair on their head.

Cons:

- Weight. Cab top and extra stiffening add weight. It doesn't matter on the street but on the track/autoX it feels a little pokey compared to the coupe.
- Stiffness. Without a rigid roof the body flexes a bit more than the coupe. Doesn't matter on the street, but may matter to you on the track/autoX.
- IMHO the hardtop doesn't look good and just adds weight. Mine hangs from my ceiling 12 months out of the year. Both hardtop and ragtop creak a bit while driving.
- For DE, some tracks require cabs have a fixed rollbar in addition to the spring loaded factory rollover protection. With rollbar installed, the rear seats are almost useless.
- Cell phone calls are almost impossible with the top down, with the exception of Jawbone II Bluetooth headset. It's still noisy with the top up.
- Some people just do not look good in convertibles. Usually it is correlated with the amount of their own hair on their head.

 

Another here who has had both, but it's not an easy question. We just came off a PERFECT cab summer (for MN, anyway) and I had a coupe. When I had a cab it was either too hot or seemed to be raining. Or, of course, too cold.

While it would wreck the 911 lines completely, I have been thinking a little about the retractable hard tops like the Mercedes SL series, or the 2009 BMW Z4. Both look nice either top up or top down.

 

if you want a cab I would get a 05+ Boxster S, if you want a 911 it has to be a Coupe. (Just my opinion)

 

I was always being told nice Boxster when I drove my wife's 01 cab. But I have to admit I loved driving it. I now have a coupe which I track .

 

I think the purist will lean toward coupe

 

I'm probably more of a purist - but I think that my wife would rather drive the cab. However, at this point I don't think she'll really want to drive it much - "Imagine me showing up to teach a yoga class in that!" (she would prefer a 3-series convertible).

A Boxster is out of the question because I need the 2+2 seats for the kids. I went and looked at a Cayman - but that's even less practical. No - I think the 996 is the best blend of price, performance, and practicality. I've always wanted to own a convertible - but have opted for the coupe (had a Volvo C70 coupe) or in my recent history for turbo wagons from Subaru (WRX and Outback XT - well suited to Colorado). I test drove a Saturn Sky Redline convertible this fall which was an absolute blast but is way overpriced (honestly I like my Outback better).

 

Anyone have recommendations for a mechanic in Austin to do a PPI? Anyone have experience with TPWS?

 

Get both!

 

I agree with the others. If you have never been compelled to own a convertible before than you are probably going to see more negatives than positives to the soft top. Plus hard tops handle way better.

 

While I would normally recommend a cabriolet to you there are two big factors not to recommend them to you,--(1) Central Texas has limited Cab weather, and (2) the 996 Cabs are not that great,--they are substantially loose cars with a lot of shakes and issues from the lack of rigidity. (The 997 cabs are substantially better, but that's an entirely different economy). Stick to the coupe in the 996.

 

Don't the early 996 cabs even have plastic rear windows, just like my '95 Miata?

 

Yes, they do.