danix

When COVID hit, I sold my Tesla and got the car I had wanted since childhood, a 911 (well, a 996. The older ones were too expensive!)
I took my time, found a nice one, and when I moved across the country, I had it shipped with me.
My problem is that I don't usually drive it. Why?

• It's a low miles unit, and I usually only drive it on weekends or to events.
• I don't have a garage so it's stored at a storage unit and it's a hassle to get to/fro to use it.
• I always drive it gently until warmed up, which is usually at the point I've reached my destination!
• It's a convertible, perfect when it's nice, but here in NC we have at least 12 seasons, maybe more. I do have a hardtop on it as well.

I still work from home so I just go to the gym, store, etc. On the weekends I'm usually using my truck for Home Depot runs.
I guess what I'm asking is this. Given a 2001 C4 Cabriolet with 55k miles, how much of a hit is value going to take if it hits 75k. 100k?
My son just got an E82 BMW 135i and this thing has 300hp stock, with almost double that easily available (N54 motor) and I wonder if I'd drive something like that more often.
I ended up getting another Tesla (Model 3 Performance) a while back but sold it when I saw prices starting to tank. Love the speed, but it has no feel.

Haalex

55k is hardly collectors miles. I'd drive that thing. Mine has 45k and I intend to drive it as much as I can (though it needs to be repaired first!).

First, those cars are there to be driven. I don't think you get much enjoyment out of it being stowed. But you probably will if you drive it.
Second, as a potential buyer, cars with too low a mileage make me wary: were they maintained well? What's going to break when I buy it and start actually driving it?
Third, with your use case you've got plenty of time before you hit 100k, and by that time 100k will seem plenty acceptable for a 25+ years old car.

As for the 135i, I drove a remapped 128i E82 with 270hp and found it completely boring. The turbos surely help though. But why would you drive that more than a 911? Plus, N54s don't exactly have a reputation for reliability (you might say they're BMW's M96 )

sublm8

Drive it.
The 996 is misunderstood. It's the ultimate 911. Some of you may disagree with me on this, but it's the ultimate because of its ubiquity and disposability. Notable exceptions notwithstanding, your garden variety 996 is unlikely to ever become a valuable collector car. They just made too many of them, something like 3x the number of 993s. They're cheap and they're going to stay cheap.

So why does that make it the ultimate 911? Because it's the only 911 variant a normal guy can drive and enjoy as it was meant to be used. Meaning, put gas in the thing, throw the kids and the dog in it, and put the pedal down. It's got an alarm, put the hardtop on it and park it on the street. The dash is going to get scratched up, seats are going to wear, who cares.

Is yours too nice to use that way? Sell it and buy one you don't care about so much. Cabs are all over the place.

I daily drove a 968 for a couple years, I put some miles on that car but man was it fun. 996 is an even weirder and amazing car, with more character, its easier to get parts and even easier to be price and wear insensitive.

JMO.

fazm

Drive the car (or give it to me, and I'll drive it.)

996-CAB

OK, so you got the dream car you always wanted. Now you need to rearrange your life so you can drive it past the gym and into some twisty NC roads. You are only here once. I can assure you that if you died while your car was in storage and you looked down from heaven, you would seriously regret it. Your car isn't going to lose any value as long as you maintain it, so get your life in gear and drive that car!

motoo344

It sounds a bit like me, I also have a cab. I don't drive much, I either work at home detailing cars or at my part-time job a mile away. I also have 55k miles on mine and I don't consider that collector's mileage but it's not high mileage. I have a 03 Cobra that realistically has close to double the power but more than double the squeaks and rattles. Porsches can be used every day and I think that is what is great about them, just wish I had somewhere to go. I told myself this is it, after 5 years if I don't use it more regularly I am selling it. It's a great car that still feels solid over 20 years later, no reason not to drive it.

2ata

Did you buy it just to resell it or did you buy it to drive it?

Drive the Damn thing.

danix

Now this is good advice. I've been here almost 3 years and have yet to see the Blue Ridge parkway or any of these roads I've heard about for years.

911Dreamer

I have to ask did you buy it thinking it was an investment? I dont know who buys a 996 and thinks is it going to take a value hit, honestly most are freaking out about the IMS and other "FEAR items" owning a 996.

I had a air cooled 911 and sold that a while ago, took me a minute to get back into the 911 and 3 months ago sold my SUV and ended up buying a 04 Targa and I cant stop driving it, but its also my daily drive. I mostly work from home as well

and take drives to the gym as well and have to drive it around until it gets warmed up past the 190+ notch, the extra miles I put on my 996 are mostly from warming it up and I dont mind, because the feel and sound of this 996 is it.

Plus everyone looks at it as if its a newer 911 and the waves from 911s, 993s, 996ers and some 991s are just acknowledge as we share the passion of Porsche. I cant driving the car and sometimes I need to say it needs a break and so do you lol

brontosaurus

My opinion is if you're actually worried about losing a couple thousand dollars you should just sell the car.

If not, keep it and enjoy it. You can't take it with you.

danix

No, not as an investment. But I saw prices of 993s hitting the stratosphere and thought "it's now or never." Having grown up with not a lot, I also have a problem getting nice things and when I get them, I tend to set them aside, because you know, they are nice
I did my research and had a PPI (which sucked) then had another, then did my own to be sure this was the one. I've already done clutch+RMS+IMS+AOS so that's not an issue, and I know there is no bore scoring.
I guess I'll try to use it more and see how it feels.

911Dreamer

993 is the last of the aircooled, those that waited to get them back in the day like myself are kicking ourselves....Lets hope the 996 gets that way since I plan on keeping mine

frederik

Why not just take a day off every once in a while, plot a trip with some nice roads and just drive? A few of my cars are primarily A-to-A and that’s totally fine. You don’t always need a destination!

Bahman

You don’t know the next owner of your car! Why deny yourself the pleasure of driving yours as much as you can in order for a stranger to have a pristine car?😂

wdb

As some have said 55K miles is not collectible territory. Cabs are not exactly the top price getters either.

Put the top down and drive it. Get it fully warmed up, at least 1/2 hour, each drive. Make sure to something that makes you smile each time you're on a drive! Keep up with maintenance. Change the oil every 6 months or 5K miles whichever comes first. That's what I do. I'm at 117K miles, just added 1,000 driving from PA to GA including some awesome roads in NC and TN. I'll repeat the drive in a few days.