My 99 C2 Tip is the most fun car I have ever owned! While it started life as a DD, a few stints at our DEs has gotten me hooked down that slippery slope. While the car is now playing double duty, on the track and street, it is now properly set up for both and has 122k miles on its clock. I just did the IMS retrofit while in for an RMS leak and changed anything that could go soon while the engine and tranny were out. The car is ready for another 100k. This will buy me enough time to save my pennies for my next P-Car.

 

Had my 2 month old 996 C4 in for an oil change today having driven 3000+ miles in that short time. It went buy fast and I am still smiling. While waiting, John - the Service Guy at Chris's - and I reminised about the good old days of Porsche 911 engines. We remember how everyone needed to upgrade their Chain Tensioners back in the day... oh and that Pop-off valve thingy. Then of course there was the threat of your 3.6 dual pluger (964) going balistic due to a distributer design issue. Latter there was the Coaking issues and CEL on 993's ... and along the way Valves and Head Studs and...
Ah - for the good old days ;-)

 

Are the 996 GT3 as bullet proof/reliable as the legend says ? even though I read they cost more to maintain ?

 

Amen!

Rudy

 

I continue to see posts of people slamming the 996 interior, which I do not understand. What is supposedly so bad about it? I'm quite fond of mine and found it to be much nicer than my friend's 964 that I drove last week.

 

the biggest issue with the 996 interior/exterior design is it was leaps and bounds from the previous 911's. People were not ready for a new 911. Thats why the 997 is more pre-996 design. A shame really, Imagine what the designers could of drawn if the buyers were more open to letting go of the precious aircooled cars.

 

I agree, I like my 996 interior especially when compared to my previous 2 Porsches.

 

DITTO on the interior in the 996! It is modern functional and very tasteful. It is not "Space-age glitz" like a 350 ZX. And I must admit - the first time I saw a 997 I wondered why they went Backwards. But then what do I know - I am one of those weird folk that actually like the 996 Headlights? I am also one of those guys that do not want a Boom Box & TV Nav system in my dash! Over the last few weeks I have been in two PNWR club events with dozens of Porsche's all around my simple Narrow body Silver Carrera. While I love them all & still enjoy seeing a 356 - the simple clean shape of the 996 is my favorite - and I think the truest evolution of the original 911 - and it's mine... so :-)

 

Just speaking for myself, my issue with the interior isn't with the design. It's with some of the materials they had to use to hit their cost targets. I agree that the 997 lacks character by comparison, and I think that the 996 improved some over the the life of the series.

From a design perspective, I think you can't really 'get' the 996 interior until you do the console delete. Then you kind of understand it... it's a very witty take on the 911, and quite a nice place to be.

 

I completely agree. To me, the interior is comfortable and satisfactory for a high-performance sports car. Is it appropriate for a luxury car? Probably not.

That said, I'm glad Porsche put its dollars into the suspension, brakes, and drivetrain rather than into a fancy or more upscale interior.

 

The standard full leather (dash, doors, etc...) plus a few extended bits in my C4S make the interior look far superior to that of earlier 911's...certainly doesn't look cheap and still looks new at 95K kms. By comparison the interior of a 997 C4S didn't get full leather as standard and looks cheap and plasticky without it. I've also seen 2005 and 2006 997 with less mileage than mine with an interior that looks a little ratty, particularly on the seat bolsters.

 

I hear all the talk about cheap interiors....and I don't get it. Mine has full leather and maybe that makes the difference. But nothing is fading, chipping or looking cheap. I'm also thrilled it doesn't have some of the (seems to me) gaudy accent's or video-game style instruments I see on other (particularly Japanese) cars. It's comfortable, conservative and nicely done.

The early Porsches were austere at best. Serviceable. Nothing that you'd ever use to show off to someone else (English cars with burled woods were better for that). That's why the early ones were more owned by engineers & enthusiasts who were willing to have more of their money invested in engineering. But every car design makes choices about how the money will be spent to keep the car in at a particular price point. As consumers, we get to choose cars that match how we want to spend our dollars.

I am also a little lost on the extensive whining about dry sumps. They don't make your car go faster. They add plumbing and demand more oil. For the vast majority of owners, a dry sump is merely for bragging purposes. The 996 offers a larger, gated sump for those that need/want more. If you really are a track junkie, then a GT3 really is a better choice.

Mine has run well, never broken down, no issues. It has a wonderful balance between fuel mileage and performance, between road holding and compliance. I did the IMS bearing upgrade. So what?

But....I guess, complaining gives people something to post.

 

Well said, RF5BPilot.

 

Very well said !

 

Just so we're clear, I'm delighted with the design of the interior, and I would not want it to be any more posh. The less so, in fact, the better. My comment is more about tactility than amenities. Early 911s were austere (as is my particular 996) but mostly quite rugged and meant for everyday use.

I do think full leather makes a big difference. I think if you had an early example with the standard interior, you'd wish for sturdier plastic paints, slightly thicker and better grained vinyls, that sort of thing, precisely because the rest of the car is going to last a long time.

I'm not a 996 hater.