Originally Posted by Fastball32

Hi, this is my first post on the site.
As a fan of sports cars my whole life, last year I bought my first Porsche, a 996 TT. I loved it and think I'll be a Porsche fan forever now.
I'm fortunate enough to make enough money where I can buy almost any car I'd like, but also prefer "almost new" cars because I hate paying for depreciation of new cars.
I was researching for the perfect Porsche for me on several forms and test drove a 991 Turbo S, 997 GTS, 991 4S, and a 997 TT.
I ultimately decided that a 2009 997.1 TT 6-speed is my perfect car.
It's the last year of the Mezger engine, it has the updated audio system of the 997.2, and importantly it has a manual transmission.
I waited 2 months and purchased a mint one with 19k miles with only one previous owner.
Although I could have bought other models, this is the one I could potentially keep forever.

Originally Posted by SpeedyD

Here are some simple "truths" (as I see them...so obviously not truths at all...but here goes anyways)

1. What is deemed likely to be collectible today (but not yet appreciated in value) is not necessarily as likely to be collectible in the future
2. What is not deemed likely to be collectible today (given the other points below), has a good chance to be collectible in the future if: A) treatment of cars as "non-collectible" vs. "collectible" will mean fewer unmodded, low mileage, highly cared for cars in the future and B) the car is currently well-liked and has positive and differentiated attributes vs. new offerings.

I would not view a 997.2 as an investment. However, while the volume wasn't extremely low, it also wasn't extremely high, thanks to the recession period during its introduction and most of its life. As far as cars go, the 997.2 production volumes are "low volume" just not "ultra low".

Populations increase in time, as do general automotive production volumes. Relative to other cars on the road today, the 997.2 is no more or less rare than a 993 variant from its own time. In fact, on a relative basis, the 997.2 is rarer. Keep this in mind.

The current collector car market is likely in a bubble. 993 valuations may therefore be overstated and come down over time.

The 997.2 is more sports car oriented than the 991. It is more attractive than the 996 that preceded it. It is likely one of the last 911s with a manual transmission. There are cases to be made for various iterations of the model as most or least desirable (though, generally, you can just look to the initial sticker price to figure that out).

These will never be 250 GTOs. Nor will 993s. In a future speculative bubble (20 years time?) it is possible to see the same sort of appreciation for the 997.2s.

Remember, history repeats itself and everything is relative. Harping on how this model isn't nearly as "Porsche-like" as a past model can almost be repeated right back to the first iteration... and won't be the sole determinant of value. The production volumes of 911s today may be dwarfed by production in the future when you have China with an upper middle class in the mid-hundreds of millions. We may look back to this period and talk about the few thousand made per year as "very low volume".

There is what I like to think of as a "present time" bias in investing. I think this applies to any analysis and speculation applied here too.

Originally Posted by Fastball32

Hi, this is my first post on the site.
As a fan of sports cars my whole life, last year I bought my first Porsche, a 996 TT. I loved it and think I'll be a Porsche fan forever now.
I'm fortunate enough to make enough money where I can buy almost any car I'd like, but also prefer "almost new" cars because I hate paying for depreciation of new cars.
I was researching for the perfect Porsche for me on several forms and test drove a 991 Turbo S, 997 GTS, 991 4S, and a 997 TT.
I ultimately decided that a 2009 997.1 TT 6-speed is my perfect car.
It's the last year of the Mezger engine, it has the updated audio system of the 997.2, and importantly it has a manual transmission.
I waited 2 months and purchased a mint one with 19k miles with only one previous owner.
Although I could have bought other models, this is the one I could potentially keep forever.

Originally Posted by CAA

Just like the 993 Carrera S. At least my 993 4S came with the big red brake kit. ; )

The 997 GTS will be a collectible.

Originally Posted by wardrive

Possible collectibles 997.1 GT3 997.1 TT 997.2 GT3 997.2 TT 997.2 GTS Everything else, forgettaboutit.

Originally Posted by Dennis C

I wouldn't say the 996 sucked... although I would definitely admit that the styling didn't appeal to everyone. It was lighter, faster and an overall better performer than the 993. It was a logical next step. Unfortunately, the controversial headlights along with a water cooled engine and mass produced numbers really hurt the car. Anyone who has spent any time driving one wouldn't say that the 996 sucked.

Originally Posted by Jaye Bass

I'm ok with the 996's exterior, its the interior that I can't abide.

Originally Posted by 997rs4.0

This is accurate! Just add the RS.

Obviously the TT has be manual to get your money back in 15 years time.

If you look at the 993 market today. To really see a car as an investment means that you can't drive it. A 993tt with more than 50k miles has not been a great investment. The car costed 100k in 96 and cost 100k today. So a 997tt that you drive 2000k miles/year might get you your money back 2027!

Just drive your cars and enjoy them.

Originally Posted by KNS

Plenty of guys out there with high miles on their 911SCs or 3.2 Carreras that are selling them for a profit over what they paid for the car. If I sold my '84 today I'd easily double my money over what I bought it for in 2008.