gnat

I thought this forum was about Porsches, not Ferraris...

jaetee

LOL.... didn't see that. Thanks

dedens

Interesting opinion based article posted today on Road & Track Online. Anyone else read? I bought my car, not for resale, but because its one hell of a car for under 30K and I actually like the headlights


http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...e-collectible/

dgjks6

I think the guy is just an idiot who doesn't get it. The new trend in popular car review stuff is to be derogatory about something while still being amusing, aka Jeremy Clarkson/Doug Demuro, etc. doing that is an art form that not many have, and when you don't have it, you come of mean. He is just trying to stay relevant in these changing times and he doesn't know how.

As an aside, besides being mean I think he is an idiot. He started talking about how the 914 was a worthless piece of crap that would never be worth anything and makes it sound like his friend got robbed. The fact is that is what the market decided the price is the cars is. He can deny facts l day long, but that does not change them.

gnat

3 of the same thread on the same page? Really?

dedens

Didn't see the other 2 post... I'll defer to:

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...m-r-and-t.html

Flat6Music

Yup, everything he wrote is true. 996s suck and no one should consider buying one. I hope the values tank.

And when they do, I'll buy more. These cars are a blast to drive, and fun to look at. Haters gonna' hate, and those that love to drive will continue to love driving 996s.

dedens

Interesting opinion based article posted today on Road & Track Online. Anyone else read? I bought my car, not for resale, but because its one hell of a car for under 30K and I actually like the headlights

5CHN3LL

No, nobody noticed it. What did it say?

I don't have the Internet, but if you can print it out and mail it to me, I will scan it and read it on my phone.

Sorry, I was just trying to come across as clueless and technologically stunted as Baruth does in that column.

You know the moment when you realize someone has jumped the shark and they've gone from astute, interesting writer to cantankerous, ill-tempered old man? Once that happens to you, start writing articles based solely on your unsubstantiated and woefully outdated opinions.

Rock on, Jack. Chrome bumpers are still BOSS, faux plastic paneling on wagons is totally square, daddy-oh, and your air-cooled 911 is tearing up the pea patch. It really IS the cat's pajamas.

(At this point, I have depleted my supply of old-white-guy figures of speech. Please feel free to add your own awkward-without-being-endearing idioms, metaphors, and only-remotely-clever repartee.) The guy is younger than I am (by a year), but clearly has a handle on the "how to be an old man with a fixed and likely warped worldview" thing.

bulldawg

I generally like the articles that Jack B. writes. Of course, like most of his writing, this article on the 996 is just a little over the top. Classic made-for-internet exaggeration on steroids. And, if you read carefully, he clearly states that he was wrong... very wrong, on the 914:

"The market didn’t pay any attention to me, and pretty soon any 914 was worth serious money."

So, take his words in the context they are written. He could be just as wrong with the 996. That said, in the end, the value of the 996 is low because many people think exactly these same thoughts. And most of us (who bought our cars used) benefited greatly from the conventional thinking as we spent far less than would have been necessary for a 993 or a 997. Will our cars appreciate? Recent price trends tell us that is fairly likely. Will prices skyrocket like has been described of the 993 market? I'm not so sure. But then, I don't think anyone would really have predicted the rapid increase in 993 prices anyway. In the meantime, it is to us... owners of the 996... to educate the world, enjoy our cars, and wait to see what happens. At the very least, with a 15 year old car (or so), we should expect a fairly steady resale market. So long as we can avoid "the big repair," we will probably not suffer too much financially.

So... get out there and drive!

Mark in Baltimore

Merging the two threads on Jack Baruth's 996 R&T article.

AzDropTop

Like many 996 owners I am thankful for the issues the car had over the years only because it is the only way I could afford to own one and a daily driver. I have never driven one of the air cooled cars and I bet they are awesome, but I love my car and despite the headlights it is a great looking car! And I definitely didn't buy it as a collector.

5CHN3LL

When I was first interested in 911's, I thought about a 912 - you know, because they were the "poor man's 911." But I thought, "damn, those are ugly and gutless. Who wants one of those?"

Oops.

I went out with a buddy to look at some 914's a few years back. You know, the "poor man's Porsche?" He picked one up for about $6K (a California 914 with NO frame rust, but it needs new paint and some window seals. The stock battery tray is rust-free!); I said, "damn, those are ugly and gutless. Who wants one of those?

Damn.

So the next two times I had opportunities to buy Porsches - one was my 986, the other my 996, called the poor man's Porsche and 911, respectively - I was going to buy and enjoy them, even if some thought they were slow and ugly. Neither was; neither is. I still maintain that my ONLY regret between the 986 and 996 was selling the former when I acquired the latter.

cinellipro

This ne’er-do-well’s article is a blessing in disguise. If I were a car journalist with a deadline and no ideas I would have done the same thing. Find a car with a controversial history, take a nebulous stand that contradicts reality and write an article about it. In the 996’s history, there’s no better time for journalists to write an attention grabbing article than by reading and taking notes about the oldest and longest lasting Rennlist posts, there’s your material. His timing is perfect as a provocateur and notice there’s no comment section at the bottom of the article?

If you read closely he has done nothing more than rehash what has been overblown and exaggerated, made unequal comparisons and pronouncements, and he’s about a year late on his stats and dollar amounts. Contrary to his reality, 996 values have been going up and there are now permanent cures for the IMSB and RMS and criticism about the fried egg headlight are an aesthetic dead end.

Ultimately, I believe the impact this article’s reach will be to keep weak kneed “outsiders” from joining this club and let those who know continue enjoying this steal of a car for a little bit longer before it significantly starts jumping in value.

Jack I have some ideas for future articles. Look into the BMW M4, M5, Mercedes S series AMG, or any Ferrari. That should keep you busy for at least a month!

Bradstock

I read the article today and didn't think it was so off base. It clearly mentions the 996 being a great bargain, just not something that's likely to skyrocket in value. I agree with the reasoning behind both points. Sure he's a little fast and loose with the slights, but that's to be expected in this context. I bought my 996 for driving appreciation, not financial appreciation.