"Nine-Year Itch"
08-05-2016, 01:53 PM
#1
Track Day
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"Nine-Year Itch"
I just ran across this amusing piece - not Porsche-specific but still relevant:
Dyer Consequences: The Nine-Year Itch/
There's one quote I'd like to comment on:
There certainly doesn't seem to be a lower notch than the 986/996s.
And I'm not really interested in an air-cooled. I wasn't compelled to buy one when they were in the $20K range so they are even less appealing (to me) when double that.
Sure, there were zillions of 986/996s produced so they will never enjoy exclusivity. Yet that huge base of donor cars will ensure that body parts are available at reasonable cost essentially forever. But there are quite a few (mostly engine) "gotchas" from that era (IMS, RMS, AOS, MAF, d-chunk, MOST-bus, etc).
I don't need a turbo, AWD, the fiddliness of the Targa assembly. I don't need PASM. Heck, I would be fine with rollup windows and lack of "climate control". About the only modern accessory I prefer would be a backup camera. And I like to know the outside temp.
So...a 986/996 C2 would work for me. But it's possible it could have a catastrophic engine failure rendering it essentially value-less. It would **** me off, but wouldn't change my life plans.
What do you 'listers think?
Dyer Consequences: The Nine-Year Itch/
There's one quote I'd like to comment on:
"People admire new cars and they admire thirty-year-old cars, but the nine-year-old car exists in a drab netherworld, neither new enough to confer status nor old enough to imply connoisseurship"
In Porsche terms, this must be the 986/996 models. I had a 986.2 (S with no significant issues) and am thinking about getting another from that era. Our other two cars are as reliable "as a Lexus" because they are - 10 and 11 year old and LS and GX. But of course the 987/997s are newer, better performance, yadda yadda...but are they merely waiting to ratchet down another notch? I hate depreciation.There certainly doesn't seem to be a lower notch than the 986/996s.
And I'm not really interested in an air-cooled. I wasn't compelled to buy one when they were in the $20K range so they are even less appealing (to me) when double that.
Sure, there were zillions of 986/996s produced so they will never enjoy exclusivity. Yet that huge base of donor cars will ensure that body parts are available at reasonable cost essentially forever. But there are quite a few (mostly engine) "gotchas" from that era (IMS, RMS, AOS, MAF, d-chunk, MOST-bus, etc).
I don't need a turbo, AWD, the fiddliness of the Targa assembly. I don't need PASM. Heck, I would be fine with rollup windows and lack of "climate control". About the only modern accessory I prefer would be a backup camera. And I like to know the outside temp.
So...a 986/996 C2 would work for me. But it's possible it could have a catastrophic engine failure rendering it essentially value-less. It would **** me off, but wouldn't change my life plans.
What do you 'listers think?
08-05-2016, 02:12 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
I bought a 996 because I was tired of waiting to see if the air cooled models would ever go down. That being said, I love it. I have driven 993s and early 911s and while they were fun to drive, they weren't as fast or comfortable as the 996.
Also, I don't think the values are going to get much lower. Why? There's a generation of people who were kids when the 996 came out, so it's the one they lust after. As those kids get older the demand for well sorted 996s will grow, whilst the supply is continually dwindling. I didn't buy as an investment but I am willing to bet I could drive the car for 5 years and sell it for at least what I paid for it. If the engine doesn't grenade, of course.
Slakker - isn't the '99 the best?
Also, I don't think the values are going to get much lower. Why? There's a generation of people who were kids when the 996 came out, so it's the one they lust after. As those kids get older the demand for well sorted 996s will grow, whilst the supply is continually dwindling. I didn't buy as an investment but I am willing to bet I could drive the car for 5 years and sell it for at least what I paid for it. If the engine doesn't grenade, of course.
Slakker - isn't the '99 the best?
08-05-2016, 02:14 PM
#4
Race Director
"People admire new cars and they admire thirty-year-old cars, but the nine-year-old car exists in a drab netherworld, neither new enough to confer status nor old enough to imply connoisseurship"
This is true with a 9-year-old Honda, but my '99 996 and my '03 986 were both lookers. Anyone who things an aero 996 is drab in any way is insane and/or blind. My 996 still gets parked in front by the valets (between an R8 and a Maserati at Fleming's most recently); that's good enough for me. I don't pick cars for status or to demonstrate connoisseurship; I pick cars that I derive pleasure from driving. That other people seem to like it as well is just gravy.
This is true with a 9-year-old Honda, but my '99 996 and my '03 986 were both lookers. Anyone who things an aero 996 is drab in any way is insane and/or blind. My 996 still gets parked in front by the valets (between an R8 and a Maserati at Fleming's most recently); that's good enough for me. I don't pick cars for status or to demonstrate connoisseurship; I pick cars that I derive pleasure from driving. That other people seem to like it as well is just gravy.
08-05-2016, 02:38 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
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08-05-2016, 06:08 PM
#9
Pro
On behalf of Slakker and as another Dual row IMS(B) early 1999 (98) car yes they are best, most reliable funpacked 996 of them all. Ohh and it has a 993 4 spoke steering wheel, so its almost like an air-cooled car really.
Lighter, faster, better.
I think that's what he would have said.
Lighter, faster, better.
I think that's what he would have said.
08-05-2016, 06:27 PM
#10
Race Director
If only it was a little heavier, and a little slower, and smelled a little worse, and looked a little like it had been upholstered by Gilligan and the Professor...THEN it would be just as good as an air-cooled 911.
08-05-2016, 08:24 PM
#12
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08-05-2016, 08:38 PM
#13
Sir Thomas Lord of All Mets Fans
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Originally Posted by centerisl
I just ran across this amusing piece - not Porsche-specific but still relevant:
Dyer Consequences: The Nine-Year Itch/
There's one quote I'd like to comment on:
There certainly doesn't seem to be a lower notch than the 986/996s.
And I'm not really interested in an air-cooled. I wasn't compelled to buy one when they were in the $20K range so they are even less appealing (to me) when double that.
Sure, there were zillions of 986/996s produced so they will never enjoy exclusivity. Yet that huge base of donor cars will ensure that body parts are available at reasonable cost essentially forever. But there are quite a few (mostly engine) "gotchas" from that era (IMS, RMS, AOS, MAF, d-chunk, MOST-bus, etc).
I don't need a turbo, AWD, the fiddliness of the Targa assembly. I don't need PASM. Heck, I would be fine with rollup windows and lack of "climate control". About the only modern accessory I prefer would be a backup camera. And I like to know the outside temp.
So...a 986/996 C2 would work for me. But it's possible it could have a catastrophic engine failure rendering it essentially value-less. It would **** me off, but wouldn't change my life plans.
What do you 'listers think?
Dyer Consequences: The Nine-Year Itch/
There's one quote I'd like to comment on:
"People admire new cars and they admire thirty-year-old cars, but the nine-year-old car exists in a drab netherworld, neither new enough to confer status nor old enough to imply connoisseurship"
In Porsche terms, this must be the 986/996 models. I had a 986.2 (S with no significant issues) and am thinking about getting another from that era. Our other two cars are as reliable "as a Lexus" because they are - 10 and 11 year old and LS and GX. But of course the 987/997s are newer, better performance, yadda yadda...but are they merely waiting to ratchet down another notch? I hate depreciation.There certainly doesn't seem to be a lower notch than the 986/996s.
And I'm not really interested in an air-cooled. I wasn't compelled to buy one when they were in the $20K range so they are even less appealing (to me) when double that.
Sure, there were zillions of 986/996s produced so they will never enjoy exclusivity. Yet that huge base of donor cars will ensure that body parts are available at reasonable cost essentially forever. But there are quite a few (mostly engine) "gotchas" from that era (IMS, RMS, AOS, MAF, d-chunk, MOST-bus, etc).
I don't need a turbo, AWD, the fiddliness of the Targa assembly. I don't need PASM. Heck, I would be fine with rollup windows and lack of "climate control". About the only modern accessory I prefer would be a backup camera. And I like to know the outside temp.
So...a 986/996 C2 would work for me. But it's possible it could have a catastrophic engine failure rendering it essentially value-less. It would **** me off, but wouldn't change my life plans.
What do you 'listers think?
Seriously though, I think your penultimate sentence is the key. If it breaks, your life ain't materially changed. If you want one, can afford it, do due diligence, maintain it reasonably, etc. then go for it. Life's too short, YOLO, and so forth. All 911s are great cars. There are no wrong answers. Get the one that floats ya boat. Enjoy the hunt. Drive the **** out of it. And, if it blows up, as long as you or anyone else are harmed, you're gonna have some great memories...T
08-05-2016, 08:41 PM
#14
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