Keep in mind that 993s are becoming more and more "blue chip" because of sentimentality. The 996 is relatively "unloved" much like the 964.

Given the return to the 993 shape that the 997 has, I think it'll hold value once the depreciation settles. I think it'll bottom out in the $40K range and hold steady. I seriously doubt it'll take a long-term hit like 996s, however the first-year depreciation is a monster.

 

I recently sold my 993 C4 Cab and can attest, at least for me, that the depreciation on that car was pretty flat. In fact, in my case, the value of the car went up. I bought it (a 1996 C4 Cab with 25K miles about two years ago) for $37K and sold it this year for $43.5K. It ended in a bidding war that went up to $46K, but I was unwilling to break my deal with the first buyer to take the $46K offer.

Anyway, I think generally speaking the 993s are ~currently~ depreciating the slowest of the more recent models from a percentage standpoint. If we wanted to break this down a bit more, the narrow body 993 (non-S) is probably doing the best from a percentage standpoint of all 993s. The "S" bodies and the TT will probably lose more percentage as they compete close to the same price range of the 997s.

Over time, as the price of used 997s comes down and more 993 buyers look to/ move to 997, the value of 993s will fall a~bit~ faster. In other words, for those buyers who like the curves of the 993s, but would never consider a 996, the 997 provides a nice modern alternative. If anything, I'm probably an example of this--a 993 owner that is currently looking for a nice 997S.

 

You're probably talking about the launch models. What's the difference? Well, the launch models had like twenty-five thousand dollars worth of options including the eight thousand dollar brakes. Optioned out cars always get killed in resale value so it's not surprising that they would depreciate like that. There's no way that a 997 that someone paid $75k for would lose 30K in two and a half years.

My opinion from reading this site and personal experience is that you can expect to lose 5-6k per year in depreciation on 996s or 997s. I had a friend who bought a new 911 every year and traded in the one he bought the previous year. The deal basically was to negotiate about 5k off sticker and then get around 10-12k less than sticker the next year as a trade in. (The year that he bought a Cayenne S they gave him a check for around 5k back.) Net cost $5k-7k per year or $400-600 per month.

I don't think the depreciation has been bad at all on 996s. If people are selling 1999 996s for $30k that they bought nine years ago in 1998 for $75k, I mean losing 45k over nine years is $5000 per year or about $400 per month to drive a Porsche 911. The car is still worth 40% of its initial price. That's good resale value compared to most other cars.

The 993 Turbo won't depreciate and may increase in value, but remember that's only if you don't put a lot of miles on it so it's going to depend on how you are going to use it.

 

Good analysis. Re the 997S, I've seen a late 05 997S Cab that stickered at about $102k (full leather, chrono etc), less than 20k mi, asking under $75k. You're right, the cars with many options tend to drop quicker in early years. I'm very tempted with this one.

 

Come on guys. The 996 is depreciating because of the volume of them available and the fact that the 997 has superseded it. Thinking about the 'loss' and looking at a '99 996 for $30K will certainly freak you out, but you can also still easily pay $60K+ for one.

When the 998 comes out, exactly the same thing will happen to the 997.

It's a car. It's a depreciating asset the moment you leave the dealer lot. Don't buy it as an investment.

 

and don't garage it - but it and drive it!!!

 

[QUOTE=dgcate] Not so with a 993. It's a small car. It's really a "compact",[QUOTE]


Got curious just how small the 993 is compared to the 997.

993 narrow: 68.31" wide, 167.13" long
997 narrow: 71.18" wide, 175.63" long

993 wide (S): 70.67" wide, 167.13" long
997 wide (4): 72.91" wide, 175.63" long


So.........a narrow body 997 is actually wider than a 993 turbo......and more than 8" longer, and a widebody 997 is almost 4 3/4" wider than a base 993 and also 8" longer. Compact seems like a good word for the 993....

http://www.idee.demon.nl/993/993spc.htm

 

997's will really start to depreciate when large numbers either come off of the standard 3 year lease or the warranties start to run out. You will see large numbers start coming on the market as the original owners get out of them. That is when supply and demand will kick in and the price starts to drop.

Of course on the other hand, that is when those of us who went from used 993's to used 996's will make our move up used 997's. Please do me a favor and don't put too many miles on my next Porsche. I will be looking for it in another year or two.

 

I just lost my 996 to another driver's careless error, so I'm hoping that I can find an 05 997S for a decent price when the 08's come out and I heal enough to drive a car aggressively in an autocross and track days.

Or do you think that it will take the 998 to come out to drop the 997 prices? I really don't want to wait another year to get a replacement for my 996.

Pete

 

Bite your tongue! My g/f has a very nice Carrera 2 and I have enjoyed driving it again after my time in the 997. It reminds me of the days when I drove an aircooled 911.

 

I'm not insinuating that the 993 isn't worthy of maintaining value. Quite the opposite - because it is so worthy, now 993s have bottomed out and are climbing back up. I'm actually checking on a couple of 993s right now for myself.