abetaque

I recently sold my '01 TT, and I have serious seller's remorse. I really want to run out and get another 911 (a C2 or C4S). However, by my nature I always want the "latest-greatest." So, I'm really torn -- I suspect I'll really regret purchasing a 996 when the 997s arrive. If you believe the rumors, the 997s will be 350 bhp. Thus, to get a somewhat comparable 996, I would need to get the X51 package (and even then, a 996 will be an "old model" within a year and presumably the interior of the 997 will be a lot nicer)... The discounts on the 996s right now are good, but don't seem to be so good as to override these considerations.

Obviously those of you who have purchased 996s recently have different logic.... I would really be interested to know why you decided to go ahead and purchase now instead of waiting, as I'm really looking for someone to talk me into buying now!

PS - Money is a pretty serious consideration for me, so I won't have the luxury of buying now and they simply replacing it with a 997 in a year.

Thanks in advance!

DonW-Cape Cod

If the 997 is just a re-skinned 996 with the X51 pkg included then I would assume there would be little or no "first year glitches." If that were the case I would wait. However if you wanted a 997 Turbo or perhaps a Cab then you'll have to wait longer, so in that case I would get a 996.

I don't know (maybe someone does) whether or not there will be a narrowbody and a widebody during the 1st MY of the 997?

If you wait a bit until you know more, you could still pick up a 996..probably cheaper.

Who really knows!

Tbred911

well I don't know how much cheaper you want them to get... Porsche is known for their price increases... although I could be wrong about the 997... then again even if porsche bumps the price up by $5,000 (which would be a smart move) WE'LL STILL BUY IT lol

cheers
Peter

Geneva

In my view, I'd wait until I knew more about the 997 before actually deciding to wait for it. What I would have done if i were you abetaque, is kept the 996 TT until summer of next year perhaps, and looking more into the 997 at that point.
Right now, that you've sold the Turbo already, I'd go ahead and get a 996, and keep it about 2 years, just in time for the 997 Turbo or Cabriolet to sell.

Personally, I have no idea how much the 997 base model will be, likewise for the Turbo, but it would be better to get the 996 for now, and then wait until you actually see one on the road maybe.

Poursha

I just bought a '04 Carrera and went through the same thought process. It seems the 997 will be released in about a year (who really knows!), and the common wisdom is to wait until after the first year of a new model, so now we're talking about 2 years--more if you want a turbo or any other variation.

I decided to get a '04 Carrera because I really like the styling (not sure I'll like the retro look of the 997), after 6 years they've had a chance to refine the car, and I didn't want to wait 1, 2, or more years. I had a '99 & '02 Carrera, and have already (after 3 days) noticed many refinements in my '04. It's the old marketing thing--do you want to be an early adopter (in tech we call it the bleeding edge!), or wait a while until the kinks are worked out?

I decided that life is too short, so get what you like now, and worry about what else you might like later...

Geneva

Nice Mercedes Pourscha, I was going to get a CLK 55AMG, but didn't want to get a normal Carrera, and just got the G35 sport coupe, while being able to get the lovely, C4S.

Tbred911

I agree with Poursha, get it now because life is short.... think about it... to be porscheless for over a year.... wooooooooooow

LOL

Peter

SYMA

I am so tired of buying and seeing the new version next week.
Bought the latest greatest Apple notebook last month... New one is out.
Same happened with my desktop.
There is always something "new" on the drawing board. If what you see now you like BUY IT!.
I don't care what the 997 offers. I fell in love with what the 996 offered and the 997 won't change that. If you keep waiting.....

Scouser

Yep life is too damned short. So let's say you wait. It may be 18 months two years before you get your 997. You will have it a year or two then wind breaks loose and a 998 is on its way. Where do you draw the line.
It's like buying a PC. Should you go for this one or wait until the faster one comes out.......but then there is even a faster one coming out next.

Why don't you do this: buy a high mileage 98 C2. You can get em real cheap. Put your deposit on the 997. When it arrives sell the 996. My bet is you won't lose much money...and you get to drive a porker in the meantime.

Scouser

Hmmm.... I see SYMA got there before me

Renoir

I'm with everyone else...get an '04 and enjoy it now. I'm gonna have fun with my 996 for a few more years, wait for the 997 to mature (work out the quirks and kinks) and then go for one.....

Why wait, there's always going to be something newer coming out....

20C4S

i won't but the first year Porsche, period!

opps, got a Cayenne not long ago.

AeroSmith

Yeah, I'd rather have a perfected, de-bugged third, fourth or fifth year model than go with first year model that may have some annoying problems.

Palting

There was no impending 997 when I bought my C4S. Regardless, I would still have bought it. Lets say I was in the market today, the soonest the 997 would be out would be for MY 2005, since 2004's are already out. I would't wait that long, for something that we know nothing or close to nothing about.

There are other reasons. If 997 comes out in 2005 as a totally new car, you don't wan't the first edition, since these usually have bugs, so buy now. If the 2005 997 is just a spruced up version of the 996, then you would have wasted all that waiting, so buy now.

Will the 911 for MY 2005 be better than 2004? Sure, things improve every year. 2006 will even be better. As will 2007. If you wait just because there will be something beter, you will never buy a car. Or computer. Or TV set. Or anything electronic. Etc, etc.

abetaque

Thanks for all the replies... you might have convinced me.

I think I will at least talk to the local dealer about an '04 C4S. Maybe someone could save me the research... about how much off of MSRP can I realistically expect to get?