RUSSCPA

When I set out to acquire my first 911, I made a post which has led to great input and guidance from my fellow members.

As many of you have suggested, I have driven quite a few cars from
99 MY forward. My objective was to get a CAB, feeling the open air would just make the experience even better.

Yesterday I was driving at a dealer and I had an opportunity to drive a new 996 Cab & a 997. The NEW Cab is a more than I want to spend, so he's got a BLK/BLK 03 CAB with about 14,000 miles, new tires coming in Monday. The price is about $66,800. (Original MSRP $85,000).

Please let me get your comments on :

Price of the 03

Would you go for the new 997.

Thanks,

Gary

Billy Bob Dibble

I have to say (I know a lot of people won't agree with me), but I had a convertable, and IMHO I really like a coup better. The soft top really bothered me. Before I had the convertable I really wanted one for all that I imagined it would be, but I didn't like:

1. Wind noise when it was up
1a. Wind noise when it was down
2. Feel of the car versus a coup
3. Wind blown hair
4. Risk of my hat blowing off
5. My wife needing a scarf or else getting hair tangles
6. Sun exposure (didn't want to put on sunscreen)

Now my experience was with a S2000, but I think the above apply to most CABs. I think I am happy I had one convertable so that I no longer yearn for it ;-).

I would vote for a 997 all the way. If you can handle not having the latest and greatest you might also want to consider a 996 C4S. However, I am the type of person that really likes the lastest and greatest. Given a new C4S or a 997, I would choose the 997.

tgcrun

Our last three fun cars have been a '96 Mustang conv, '90 911C4 conv, and '01 BMW 330i conv (present car). All were/are my wife's daily driver, and here in the Northeast we spend way more time driving with the top up than the top down. We thought about an '03 or '04 Cab but decided on a 997 coupe (should have it in a couple of weeks) for some of the same reasons as Billy Bob mentioned. Also, we did not order an S and limited our options, so we ended up with a final purchase price under $70,000 in the color combination that we wanted (atlas/black). For the price of a used Cab, we're getting a new coupe with all the updates the 997 brings to the table. That being said, if you are buying a car that will be used on weekends when the weather is nice, a converitble is hard to beat.

rnlarctic997

I think you will find that driving dynamics--steering,handling and braking are all better in the 997. Also, IMHO the interior pieces just ooze so much more quality and style...really like the shape of the new dash--reminescent of the 993's. I'm also a coupe guy...ragtops just never did it for me...just my 02 cents worth, but definitely go for the 997.

rss997

997 sterring is so light compared to my 996....Felt very weird to me..........

I''m sure I could get used to it though...

pedsurg

Unless the 996 comes with an extended 100K warranty, I'd go with the 997 ala tgcrun. Drove 997 again yesterday and it is better than my 996 in every regard.

Jack

Roadking

Do the 997. Both cars run great, but the 997 is a bit more powerful and the interior is a nice upgrade. As for the Couple vs Cab, do the Coupe. I had a 96 993 cab and a 00 Boxster s. While the top down experience is good, the Couple feels tighter and more connected. I also got sick of the dirt and dust that would collect if you parked your car with the top down. And with a sunroof you can work a little color on your dome if you want.

RonCT

I've owned 2 cabs in the past and was happy when the business leases ran up. After the 1st, I said "no more", but about 5 years later I thought I'd try it again. Just don't like having the top off for all of the reasons mentioned here.

Now when it comes to BMW or Porsche performance oriented cars (ie: 996, 997, M3), I really can't understand the concept of cutting the perfectly good roof off of one. You change the dynamics in big ways (more weight, less stiff, etc.). Me, I don't even like having a sunroof (my M3 is without and my Porsche will have the delete). I suppose it's a philosophical thing for me - I want the maximum performance possible, and things like a sunroof, or worse yet a cabriolet top, takes away from that.

Many here have commented on the 996TT - many great deals out there where you can either get a new 997S or a 996TT with low miles for the same money.

zacharie

RUSSCPA, I am sorry to hinder your post; I hope I will not, but your question raises another one to my mind which could perhaps give another orientation to your original post.
If some of our fellow members had to choose between a 996 C4 S [new] and a 997S, what would be their choice?

Le Chef

Admittedly my C4S (just sold) was a Tip, so moving to a 997S is a big change for me. I really began to hate Tip! But with no "she-who-must-be-obeyed" to consider any more I can choose stick without worrying. I like the feeling of the lighter, faster reacting front end of the 997S to the 996 C4S which feels heavy. Also I could never get the car to oversteer properly, whereas the 997S you can do that seemingly whenever you feel like it.

When I switched from an Audi S4 the awd aspect of the C4S felt very reassuring and familiar. Down the road it's not what I'm looking for.