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Driving a coupe or cabriolet is very similar until you get the magical experience of opening the top on a nice day, so there should be a 25 to 50% premium for the one with the special feature. Fewer persons can repeatedly push in a heavy clutch all day so there are many more potential customers for Tiptronic transmissions, balancing against it does slow the 911 maybe today it is a wash and in the future a small premium for the Tip.
Driving a coupe or cabriolet is very similar until you get the magical experience of opening the top on a nice day, so there should be a 25 to 50% premium for the one with the special feature. Fewer persons can repeatedly push in a heavy clutch all day so there are many more potential customers for Tiptronic transmissions, balancing against it does slow the 911 maybe today it is a wash and in the future a small premium for the Tip.
The coupe 6 spd is .5 seconds faster to 60. I enjoy getting mine to triple digits and listening to my factory radio (the eagle houston 80 and 90s classic rock and roll. I have only driven a convertible to 100 and there was too much noise, my car was at 160 after my mechanic adjusted the passenger window. Complete different experience. Nice car, my wife wants me to get a convertible for Sunday drives.!
I think this is because the customer population has changed. When they were new, many bought the 996 as a driver and therefore Tiptronic may have been more attractive to them. These days the 996 is being bought by people more interested in a specialty / fun car and less interested in using them as a daily driver. And so perhaps the sporting feel of the stick is more important than the convenience of the Tiptronic. With the cab, the reasons they may be less attractive now might be simply personal preference. For example much of my driving is on freeways and boulevards, I absolutely don't want the top down at 80 mph or while sitting at red lights in the middle of the exhaust or noise of 10-20 cars. The cab comes with even more maintenance needs, and personally I think the look / view / lines of the coupe is much more attractive. Oddly the cab and tip were expensive options which now bring down the value of the car.
I think this is because the customer population has changed. When they were new, many bought the 996 as a driver and therefore Tiptronic may have been more attractive to them. These days the 996 is being bought by people more interested in a specialty / fun car and less interested in using them as a daily driver. And so perhaps the sporting feel of the stick is more important than the convenience of the Tiptronic. With the cab, the reasons they may be less attractive now might be simply personal preference. For example much of my driving is on freeways and boulevards, I absolutely don't want the top down at 80 mph or while sitting at red lights in the middle of the exhaust or noise of 10-20 cars. The cab comes with even more maintenance needs, and personally I think the look / view / lines of the coupe is much more attractive. Oddly the cab and tip were expensive options which now bring down the value of the car.
Every aspect of it comes down to personal preference and how the vehicle (any for that matter) is going to be used. I've always had a manual since first car. At a certain point in life, went through crotch rocket phase and decided having an automatic daily was now preferred. The situation is the same except the bike was replaced with the 996 as a "fun manual" car. Same thing with Cabriolet verse Coupe. Would love a cab because who doesn't like it when (all) tops go down. The problem is, what lies under the tops usually costs much more to upkeep and sometimes can fuss and become unresponsive for unknown reasons. That is unless you trade it in for a newer model every couple of years....,
Sorry, got side tracked...., stopped talking about 996's at a certain point there, but you catch my drift.
Never drove a Cab 996. Would be nice to own a high mileage model a bit worn but mechanically sound, and keep the top down. I'd never use the door, my seat bolsters would be fresh.
Every aspect of it comes down to personal preference and how the vehicle (any for that matter) is going to be used. I've always had a manual since first car. At a certain point in life, went through crotch rocket phase and decided having an automatic daily was now preferred. The situation is the same except the bike was replaced with the 996 as a "fun manual" car. Same thing with Cabriolet verse Coupe. Would love a cab because who doesn't like it when (all) tops go down. The problem is, what lies under the tops usually costs much more to upkeep and sometimes can fuss and become unresponsive for unknown reasons. That is unless you trade it in for a newer model every couple of years....,
It indeed all comes down to personal preference.
I also switched from riding bikes to driving convertibles and rode/drove them both at the same for awhile. Riding a bike just became too much of a hassle and certainly no fun driving in traffic. So, I eventually gave it up.
Also the GFs in my age group (over 60, when I quit riding) weren't into riding on a bike. They are much happier in a convertible.
I currently own 3 rag tops, including my C4 Cab. I prefer the top down because it gives me the open road feel that I use to get on a bike; a sunroof doesn't cut it.
I also learned how to drive w/a stick. It's 2nd nature to me and I don't even think about it. Paddle shifting doesn't cut it either. My BMW and MB both have paddle shifters but I almost never use them; if I do, it's usually to downshift w/o braking.
I don't feel that it's a burden/pain to drive a stick and I would never buy any "sports car" without one.
I have an M3 modified BMW 335i E90 AT sedan which is faster than my 996 but I do not consider it a "sports car." I consider it a high speed GT alternative to driving my MB SUV in "bad" weather (too hot, too cold or rainy) and/or on long drives where comfort and luggage capacity are more important.
So, to each their own. I'd never by a 911 Tip (whether a coupe or a cab) but the fact that cabs are not in demand is GREAT for me as a buyer; not so much as a seller.
It is what it is. People are fickle and preferences change. Some day sticks and cabs may be come more popular and cost more again.
It is what it is. People are fickle and preferences change. Some day sticks and cabs may be come more popular and cost more again.
Time will tell . . .
I wouldn't count cabs out. Time is already telling and the people are speaking. BAT isn't exactly a metric for pricing across the board, but there are plenty of recent cabriolet sales that are $25k - $33k. Probably would have been $20k - $25k about a year ago. Holding steady with coupes! Drop them tops down!
Never drove a Cab 996. Would be nice to own a high mileage model a bit worn but mechanically sound, and keep the top down. I'd never use the door, my seat bolsters would be fresh.
I'm not a convertible person since I had an E30 convertible a hundred years ago but something about a real cheap 996 cab is mildly appealing
Nice!
If this were close by I'd be tempted to pick it up.
But adding shipping puts it too high considering it's going to need a rebuild soon.
Plus, where am I going to park it?
I wouldn't count cabs out. Time is already telling and the people are speaking. BAT isn't exactly a metric for pricing across the board, but there are plenty of recent cabriolet sales that are $25k - $33k. Probably would have been $20k - $25k about a year ago. Holding steady with coupes! Drop them tops down!
Getting no serious bites in response to the Rennlist and CL ads for my 2000 C4 Cab at $25k OBO.
Not sure what the problem is (if has any "insights" please PM them to me) but if no one takes it at or near that price, I'm going to fix the minor body issues which are the only "problems" w/the car and list it on BAT instead w/a reserve of $25k to see what happens.
05-25-2021 | 04:55 AM
