Hold or sell??
 

So my 996.2 is 4,000 miles away from hitting 100K miles.
I have about 50K miles on a Porsche remanufactured engine that's a M96-05 engine.

I still love my car. Apart from the leather looking really scuffed on the driver's side seat bolster, the car is pretty well sorted.

However, I am really itching for something new. I still enjoy daily driving her, but I have about a $55K budget to get something new and here are my options:

2010 Panamera Turbo
2013 991 Carrera (basic)
2011 Mercedes CL63 AMG

I realize all of the above 3 are completely different cars from the 996....but I'm no longer tracking the car, I just want something reasonably reliable, fun to drive and comfortable as a daily driver....and want some extra room in the rear seats for the growing kids.

Thoughts?
Keep? or change, and if I change over, which one?

None of the above:

For a fun to drive daily driver, save yourself $20k or so and
buy a used E Class Mercedes.

The Panamera will be very expensive to maintain. Few of them around
so few can service them well - and you don't want to be forced
to use the dealer - (double the estimated cost).

Same with the Mercedes CL63 AMG - although most indie Mercedes shops should be able to service this.

Last, there is not that significant amount of difference between the 996 you have and the 991. Why spend that money. Put it aside for your kids education and drive the wheels off the 996 - you'll probably get another 150,000 miles out of it.

If it were me, I would sell the 996 before it hits the 100K mark as that number seems to put off many potential buyers.
The 991 sounds like an intriguing upgrade. I've got to disagree with porschemikeandnancy that there is not a significant difference between a 996 and a 991. They are a whole different generation of 911 and I think you might like it.

The Panamera doesn't thrill me much, though I believe they are a good and very capable car.

A modern Mercedes still scares me as I think about past reliability problems I've encountered and heard about. Maybe this is all different now....

Interesting options you've listed. Get the one that you think you will own the longest as that probably means good reliability, good usability, and more timeless aging.

If you get the CL get a bulletproof warranty. I bought an 08 CL550 in 2012 from carmax and bought a fidelity platinum warranty at Costco. 45 days later I heard a buzzing sound so took the car to fletcher jones. They saw small shavings in the bottom of the transmission. Ended up replacing the entire thing to the tune of just under $15,000. An AMG would've been worse. Other small things added up as well, I think by the time I sold it the warranty receipts added up to $21,000 or so. Other than that it was comfortable, reliable, and just oozed presence (the AMG offers all that X2 and more). Driving a CL makes a statement, and I would definitely buy another (in AMG form). Of the cars on your list that would be my choice.

Why not spend some of your $$ on a few upgrades to your 996 and make it even more fun to drive every day. It's an amazing sports car, especially with some personalized aftermarket mods like exhaust, suspension, aerokit. Suspension is next on my list.
If you sell a car you really love... you're gonna regret it!

+1 They're a LOT different.

Why C63 and not a CLA45 AMG have one im the family it's brilliant!

Sounds like he doesn't want a FWD Chrysler

Why not a 996tt?

Well played, +996tt

Keep the 996. Buy low, sell high. The 100,000 mile psychological marker only matters in the short term. Right now, selling a 996 isnt exactly selling high. Consider buying a used Mini Cooper S for $8,000 as a beater (yes, a beater for a beater). They are more fun than anything (even the 996) and can carry the same amount of stuff.

But, If you must scratch that itch and spend the $50k, I would...

996 TT
2017 Boxster/Cayman
2005+ Bentley Arnage T (hey, gas is cheap again)

Why get a a stripper 991? For $55k you can get a nice 997.2, a near perfect 996TT, or a decent 997TT that might need a thing or two or have higher miles.

Alternatively $55k would easily get you some new seats with a little left over for a 4.0 from Jake ;)

I can't speak to the Merc as they just don't do it for me (OK. The AMG wagon does it for me :D) and the couple of loaners I've had haven't made me any more interested.

I want to like the Panny, but every time I'm close I see it from the wrong angle again and get put off. The lack of trunk space and a bench seat in the back also hurt it's chances at replacing our aging 3 series.

I know depreciation can hit hard in this case but I would go with the stripper 991.

It'll offer the equivalent of the 996 experience but with a few additional modern conveniences. It should be more comfortable than the 996 so ideal for a daily driver and again you get to retain the old car's character with the new one.

Not a bad position to be in as you seem to have good choices ahead of you.

Reliable daily driver and growing kids?

Toyota Camry.

The 911 is great for growing kids. It encourages them to get outside and be active so they don't get fat and can still fit in it to go for rides :D

+1 for the 996tt

Given your budget, you can get a very nice 996tt and it gives you a totally different car from the NA 996.

Plus, you will get price appreciation vs depreciation.