D2k

Just wondering because while I am doing research on my potentially first one I am also seeing a number of threads saying how people have sold or are considering selling theirs. I see most are going to newer p-cars or other cars but I'm also wondering why not keep the 996 instead? Perhaps just got tired of it after a few years? How long do 996 owners keep their cars on average?

For $30k or a little more I can get a decent '02 or later 996 or a slightly used 335i or an E46 M3. Which one would I keep longer? Not sure. I've test driven the 335 and it is a nice and civil ride with all the contemporary creature comforts. No luck with 996 test drives yet since all the ones near me are not great examples to drive and the dealers with the nicer ones won't let me test drive their cars unless I'm ready to talk $$$ first.

007DT

If it is Daily.. I'd say 335i or an M3. My 996 is a race car so I can't say how it is on the street as I bought it as it stands now. However, I had a stock 993 that I put lots of goodies on. It remained a car I wouldn't want to drive everyday.

The 335i is civilized and very cool from a technology standpoint, (get the nav) yet extremely quick, quicker than a 996. It is purly choice but I don't think I'd ever have a P-Car as a daily driver but I'd always have one as a toy.

New M3 is fantastic but you won't touch it for $30K. But the 335 is better than the old M3.

My $.02...

Van

Out of all the $30k cars out there, there are very few I want more than my 996. A Lotus Exige S comes to mind - but I can't use that in the snow.

I don't have the funds to spend double or triple that, which is what it would take to get some of the other cars I lust for.

As a caveat, I want a slightly raw street car that can also double as a backup track car when I don't want to trailer the race car to the track. The 996 C4 with the X74 suspension fits the bill for me.

johnov335i

I currently own a 335i and am looking to replace with a 996 as a DD, though I do have a Yukon to back me up. The 335i is a nice ride. Very fast and refined. However, the refined bit and driving excitement don't do it for me. When I think about the cars I enjoyed most, I think about my Mini S or going way back, the Golf GTI I had back when I was in school. Both were relatively slow, but fun to push the limits and gave you feedback to your butt, your hands, and your ears. I've had Audi's, Benz's and a few BMW's, and I'm ready to get back to something that gets my adrenaline pumping on the morning drive to work. In fairness to BMW, I have driven M3's and do love 'em. In fact, if I can't find a p-car soon, an '04-06 is my fallback.

Have you read the latest Motor Trend (maybe Car and Driver)? Track shoot-out with Cayman S, R8, Z06, 135i and others. Cayman whomped the competition – praised as “best sports car ever”. R8 came in second. Beating the z06 and everything else was the lowly Miata. Why? It's a kick in the pants to drive.

Receiver

I've owned 6 Benz's, 3 BMW's, 1 Audi, 1 Lexus and various assorted pieces of junk when I was younger. I test drove the BMW 335i and found it to be more of the same re the luxury cars.

I want to smile every day when I get in my DD. Accordingly, I bought the C4S. It goes through rain and snow (as long as not too deep (although it wil go through it but I don't enjoy stopping to pick up pieces of stray undercarriage)) and just about everything else. The ride is firm but my wife and I just came back from a 2000 mile trip and we were both happy with the ride. A ton of fun to drive and I've pretty much decided to keep it for many years to come and fix it as necessary.

It doesn't compare to my 993 TT but then not much that I've driven does.

Marlon

For a street car, the mid-engine Cayman will run rings around a LOT of cars.

Dennis C

The only things I would consider if I sold mine would be: a 996 Turbo or GT3, a 997 C4S, Turbo or GT3.

450knotOffice

Have to agree. My 996 is a daily driver (happy me). When it is replaced, the next car will likely be a 996 Turbo.

Jon Moeller

I'm using my 996 as my daily, and I love it. I smile every time I get in the car, and continue to smile until I leave it in the garage.

I sold my e36 M3 for it, and went for the 996, because the e46 wasn't enough of an improvement. The 996 will leave the garage, when I can afford a GT3 to replace it.

-Jon

chriswaxman

The last BMW car I've owned was a 1973, so not much basis for comparison in that regard. But I've driven newer ones. The 996 is much more the sports car, in every way I can think of. It is also a great daily driver. It has incredible feedback without being harsh. It can be driven in a mellow fashion around town, but when it opens up it absolutely delivers.

I bought my 996 planning to keep it for a long time and have no plans to move on to anything else.

ArneeA

I wouldn't even consider the turbo. Sure, power is there, but the lower redline just doesn't have that "fun-ness" to it.

I'd consider a 997 C4S Aero or 996 GT3!

ervtx

In my case, I had gone from a '98 996 C2 Coupe to BMW 740iL, which coincided with a significantly longer daily commute. But after a few years, I missed the Porsche, and went back. This time into an '02 C4 Cab.

After about 3 years, I started the whole "what would be next" mental tease.

At 4 years, I was pleased to have stayed in it that long, and was enjoying it more than ever. I stopped letting myself get distracted with newer cars, but I did make note of the GT3 as the most likely next step.

At 5 years I started to track the '02 and thought I would keep it forever.

At 6 years, I started looking for a dedicated track car, but could not help myself from also looking at every GT3 that came up for sale. I was torn, but since the 996 was as great as ever, I just lived with the unresolved dilemma.

At 7 years, I was literally about 2 or 3 more conversations away from buying a 944 as a dedicated track car, when a perfect GT3 deal landed in my lap. My head said "buy a 944". My heart said "keep the 996". My butt said "buy the GT3" (The GT3 engine reverberates through the chassis and delivers an intoxicating sense of its power right to your spine).

In the end, I went with my butt. My head is just fine (not disappointed for having not bought a 944). And my butt is just plain giddy over the GT3. And the '02 996 will be missed. It gave me the best ownership experience I have ever had. It was as gorgeous a car the day I sold it as it was the day I bought it.

tgt40

NIIIICE Avatar ERv. I love my 996 and yeah, I'd like to upgrade, the newer ones ARE better but damn. It's pretty tough to beat a 996 as a DD. Sure wouldn't trade it for a BMW or a Vette....

10 GT3

After 4 years I am getting ready to move on from my 996, which is a fantastic car. I have a 2010 GT3 on order. A 335i or E46 M3 are not bad cars, but would be a downgrade in both performance and class from the 996.

wwest

A new 911 with DFI and variable displacement oil pump and only 300HP is VERY tempting.

Why must technological advancements always equal more HP and less FE.