996 Marketplace - Cabriolet Heavy?
11-14-2010, 05:42 PM
#1
1st Gear
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Orange County, CA
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996 Marketplace - Cabriolet Heavy?
Hello All,
I like to work on the cars I own, and since my 2000 BMW 540i is getting long in the tooth (soft in the engine) at 202,000 miles, I started looking at other daily-driver semi-project cars to replace it. I decided to get a Porsche as my next mechanical challenge.
I'm currently targeting the 2002 and later 996:
1) Relatively New
2) Active communities with useful mechanical Info
3) Reliability and performance
4) Very good stock of used cars at good prices
An irrational negative attribute (looks like a Boxster) may be helping to keep prices down. Just like the irrational positive (last air-cooled) may be keeping 993 prices up.
I prefer the coupe, but when I check out the ads on the internet it seems that most listing are Cabriolets. I mean it's not really close. In a recent Autotrader search 19 out 28 listings were cabriolets (about 2/3).
I'm looking at listings in Southern California, where convertibles are popular, but still this seems extremely skewed.
It's good to see an active Porsche forum.
I like to work on the cars I own, and since my 2000 BMW 540i is getting long in the tooth (soft in the engine) at 202,000 miles, I started looking at other daily-driver semi-project cars to replace it. I decided to get a Porsche as my next mechanical challenge.
I'm currently targeting the 2002 and later 996:
1) Relatively New
2) Active communities with useful mechanical Info
3) Reliability and performance
4) Very good stock of used cars at good prices
An irrational negative attribute (looks like a Boxster) may be helping to keep prices down. Just like the irrational positive (last air-cooled) may be keeping 993 prices up.
I prefer the coupe, but when I check out the ads on the internet it seems that most listing are Cabriolets. I mean it's not really close. In a recent Autotrader search 19 out 28 listings were cabriolets (about 2/3).
I'm looking at listings in Southern California, where convertibles are popular, but still this seems extremely skewed.
It's good to see an active Porsche forum.
11-14-2010, 05:48 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Welcome & I agree with your comments. I am in O.C. looking for the same 02 Cab. 996 in need of engine rebuiding. 
11-14-2010, 05:59 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Shawsheen River Basin
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Welcome . Lots of information and help here.
I would put it at supply and demand (or said differently ...overproduced)
993 total production 68,029
996 total production 175,262
11-15-2010, 02:44 PM
#5
There may have been more cabs than coupes produced.
I did this same search just about a year ago. I live in NC and found my car in Boston. Through Rennlist and PCA I had someone look the car over and recommend a shop for a pre-purchase inspection. I had the car shipped down and saw it for the first time when it rolled off the truck. Was a little nerve-wracking, but a tremendous success!
Three quick suggestions:
1. Learn about all of the different options and their codes. There are 02 Carreras that sold new for $70k and 02 Carreras that sold for $80-90k. The difference is options. A few, like the Technics packages, PSM and full leather are really nice to have and really won't effect the value/price of a used one today.
2. Use a Craigslist/autotrader/ebay aggregator site like Search Tempest to broaden and refine your search across a larger geographic area.
3. Be very picky. Do your homework and get a thorough ppi by a good Porsche shop. There are lots of cars out there.
Good luck!
I did this same search just about a year ago. I live in NC and found my car in Boston. Through Rennlist and PCA I had someone look the car over and recommend a shop for a pre-purchase inspection. I had the car shipped down and saw it for the first time when it rolled off the truck. Was a little nerve-wracking, but a tremendous success!
Three quick suggestions:
1. Learn about all of the different options and their codes. There are 02 Carreras that sold new for $70k and 02 Carreras that sold for $80-90k. The difference is options. A few, like the Technics packages, PSM and full leather are really nice to have and really won't effect the value/price of a used one today.
2. Use a Craigslist/autotrader/ebay aggregator site like Search Tempest to broaden and refine your search across a larger geographic area.
3. Be very picky. Do your homework and get a thorough ppi by a good Porsche shop. There are lots of cars out there.
Good luck!
11-15-2010, 10:10 PM
#6
Drifting
My younger brother has had 2 996s, both very nice, an aero (GT3 look) and a C4S. All it took was for him to get behind the wheel of my Cab for a 50 mile drive and he assures me his next 911 will be a cab. He's currently driving a Cayenne TT.
Take a drive in a cab, you'll be hooked.
Take a drive in a cab, you'll be hooked.
11-16-2010, 06:39 PM
#7
Don't fret that they look too much like Boxters as this is easily remedied by headlight covers from expensive ones all the way down to vinyl. Most of the guys on this forum like the way their lights look so a sure way to wake them up is to remind them that every 911 before and after the 996 has round headlights for a reason. They look better.
