986 Wrecked, Replacement Thoughts...

[thstone]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Buying a 996 for the street will only make you wish you had a Boxster. Why not take the opportunity to try some other great sports car. Porsche isn't the last name in sports cars...

I thought hard on this one and I don't feel the pull of many other sports cars as strongly as a 911. To be honest, I have been looking at some of the air cooled 911's but the 996's are so cheap, they are hard to ignore.

I test drove a 1999 996 C2 with 98,000 miles this morning and the owner was asking $14,000. $14,000! The 996's are so cheap right now they are hard to pass up.

[Skrapmot]

Originally Posted by thstone

I thought hard on this one and I don't feel the pull of many other sports cars as strongly as a 911. To be honest, I have been looking at some of the air cooled 911's but the 996's are so cheap, they are hard to ignore.

I test drove a 1999 996 C2 with 98,000 miles this morning and the owner was asking $14,000. $14,000! The 996's are so cheap right now they are hard to pass up.

I'd probably go that route also, maybe a little newer.
For a dedicated race car I'd love to go Factory Five Race Spec series.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/factory-five-racing-spec-racer-specialty-file

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by thstone

I thought hard on this one and I don't feel the pull of many other sports cars as strongly as a 911. To be honest, I have been looking at some of the air cooled 911's but the 996's are so cheap, they are hard to ignore.

I test drove a 1999 996 C2 with 98,000 miles this morning and the owner was asking $14,000. $14,000! The 996's are so cheap right now they are hard to pass up.

Air cooled 911's would be quite pricey compared to the 996's, and for a daily driver they are quite cozy (except for having a rear seat, my 993 is noticeably smaller inside than my 986 was) and more spartan regarding comfort.

The upside of an air cooled car would be value (mine is worth ~$5k more than I paid for it fall of '11), but to use it as a DD and run up the miles would negate that somewhat.

A couple of pics for perspective on air cooled cars proportions:

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by thstone

I thought hard on this one and I don't feel the pull of many other sports cars as strongly as a 911. To be honest, I have been looking at some of the air cooled 911's but the 996's are so cheap, they are hard to ignore.

I test drove a 1999 996 C2 with 98,000 miles this morning and the owner was asking $14,000. $14,000! The 996's are so cheap right now they are hard to pass up.

Every time I drive or ride in a 996 I think "this is a great car, almost as much fun as the 986".

[WhipE350]

987 Cayman 'S' with high mileage. Since you know how to wrench Porsches this would be a breeze for you.

[Perfectlap]

Boxster Spec. You are probably over due in moving up to the next level if you feel racing and not just DE cups, time trials, cone dodging, etc is the fastest way for you to get to the top of your skill set.
And there is no more cost effective way of racing a Porsche. With the absurd prices for the 991, GT3 and variants many people will be looking at Bosxter racing and 996 Cup Cars as better value options for Sunday recreation.

For the street I would go a cars and coffee route with an antique Porsche or 964/993. Personally I think the 964 feels tighter not as mushy. The 993 is a bit more street oriented. Either way These cars hold value, are straightforward project cars for people with good wrench skill and if done well a restored racy'ish/RS 911 will be a piece of cake to sell without bleeding value like all the 996/997/991. And since you live in LA I would add one of those 356 with the fat Hoosiers to the list.

For me since I'm no Carrera softee the lack of mid engine options have me thinking about other brands and possibly skipping midengine altogether. The new Corvette with a "get your taxes back" sort of GM financing sounds compelling. As does their far friendlier attitude for track use. A lot about Porsche has left me a bit less enthusiastic about rushing into another one.