Dennis C

I only hand wash mine, and it's a DD. I can't stand the sight of swirl marks in dark colored paint.

zabuch

i have a 03 cab4 i also have a hard top its the best of both worlds

zabuch

and i only hand wash mine ,but the top holds up good

B r i a n

i prefer Cabriolets but if I tracked the car, I would get a Coupe.
I think both cars (Cabrio & Coupe ) are good looking (elegant) their own and different way.
Before I got the Cabrio, I thought the coupe was a better looking car - but now that I have been with the Cabrio and seen it from all the angles - it really is a good looking car.
Just this weekend (while I had my Dad in the car) we received a bunch of unsolicited comments on how "pretty" the car was (top was down - and I had just washed it).
As for washing - 996s are so small that you could do it yourself wile you are waiting on line for a car wash.
Especially if you wash it every couple of weeks.

Byprodriver

Much faster to hand wash Cabrio than Coupe.

robrichtx

I am definitely not planning on tracking the 996. If I track anything, it will probably be the ole air cooler.

Gotta admit - I was out riding my bike the other day and a 996 convertible passed me - sure looked good from behind with the top down.

Guess I'm gonna have to go out and start checking a few out - this is gonna be rough

Thanks again guys.

And wyovino, if I could recommend a fun road, Old Post Road on the north shore between Port Jeff and Miller Place. I always wanted to drive it in a performance car, but back when I lived there I was flat broke. Next time you're up that way, drive it for me!

frisbee91

I love the look of both the Cab and the Coupe. I agree that the classic lines on the coupe are nice, but you can't really see them from the driver's seat!

Cab+Hardtop=perfect

Rob996

No one has suggested the TARGA, which could really be the compromise between the coupe and convertible...

discuss................

AndyK

I think a lot depends on where you live. In Texas, you will get a lot more top-down time than if you were in Colorado, etc.

That said, I like a solid roof over my head!

wyovino

Robrichtx - I have a friend in Miller Place, so I will give Old Post Road a try. Two weeks ago I drove the car up to Hunter Mountain in the Catskills. Some of the mountain roads were a blast.

stairmasterman911

i think if you're not going to hand wash it you should stick with toyotas. just me.

rwiii

I wanted a coupe but the rest of the family wanted a cabrio so to make the purchase go smoother I went with the cabrio and have no regrets. I love it.

nick49

I went with a Cab, and after 7 years no regrets. Wife has a Boxster, that I love to drive, and to keep peace in the family, she insisted that I buy my own. I went with the Carrera and loved driving topless so it was the Cab. Now looking for another to replace the '99 I sold, and it will most likely be a Cab.

My younger brother had a '01 996 aero Coupe, then an '03 C4S, now an '05 Cayenne TT. He will be getting another 996TT or 997 and assures me it will be a Cab. He drove mine for about 60 miles top down and said it made a great driving experience much better.

M3 Defector

I love my cab and since you already have a great coupe I think the answer is easy...CAB. Mine is 11 years old and I have the top down A LOT, no squeaks or creaks and with the top up it's not too loud in my opinion. I had the hard top on for about a month and a half last winter. I'll probably put it on again in January depending on the weather.

robrichtx

Hey, just for a follow up guys - I finally found my 996. I ended up going with a cabrio, since I already have a coupe, but I was undecided right up until the end. I sprung for a garnet red 2004 with 45K miles (one owner, local car). She's got a few minor things that need fixing, but overall, a joy to drive.

Thanks to everyone who contributed their opinions to this post - your voices were in my head as I looked from car to car (basically took 1 year from the date of this post).