986 as a future classic

[thstone]

Remember that 20 years ago, you couldn't give away an early 911 - they were worthless junk.

986's will be collectable in about 20 years. At that time, a vast majority of those built will have been junked for financial reasons (too expensive to repair) and in the interim time the Porsche World will come to admire the first water cooled car for the design language that it defined for the 996, 997, 981, 991, and eventual 992, 994, and 998 models still to come. The first model in a new series is ALWAYS collectable (eventually).

[Boxster_S_girl]

Totally agree with Perfectlap.

I love the 986/987 Boxsters, but the post '97-ish watercooled cars will never retain their value the way earlier cars did (save for anything Mezger-powered) because of the volume of units Porsche pushed.

The air-cooled, up-to-993 values have shot through the roof! I'm kicking myself for not buying up a near-perfect SC I test drove 10 years ago for $11,000! They're up to $20,000 now.

I do think right now is the time to buy a 996 GT3, though. I think it's a ton of car for current values!

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Boxster_S_girl

The air-cooled, up-to-993 values have shot through the roof! I'm kicking myself for not buying up a near-perfect SC I test drove 10 years ago for $11,000! They're up to $20,000 now.

I think people who don't plan on selling short term worry too much about what their Porsche will be worth in the future. Especially all of water-cooled folks who buy their car only to freak out every time the odometer eats up $5K in resale. Most 993/964's despite a hot market have not recouped their original prices. But still they treat it like the Ferrari in Ferris Beuller's Day Off, a car that can never see the slightest hint of rain for fear of wrecking it and the longest drive is to go out for ice cream cones. That's what they bought a Porsche for? A sports car is something you're supposed to drive, so that gas mileage is terrible and tires never last. A sports car that sits like a Tiffany lamp 90% of the time isn't really a sports car anymore its more like a baseball card with wheels.
But that's the great thing about the Boxster/996/997 you MUST drive the wheels off it, you MUST enjoy it because tomorrow you'll be bartering it for a bar-b-q grill or hot tub.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by thstone

Remember that 20 years ago, you couldn't give away an early 911 - they were worthless junk.

986's will be collectable in about 20 years. At that time, a vast majority of those built will have been junked for financial reasons (too expensive to repair) and in the interim time the Porsche World will come to admire the first water cooled car for the design language that it defined for the 996, 997, 981, 991, and eventual 992, 994, and 998 models still to come. The first model in a new series is ALWAYS collectable (eventually).

Idk if 986's will become collectable. S's might, but the lack of HID headlights and the "runny egg" headlights are turn-offs for the 2.5/2.7, although maybe when all cars are HID the "old" 986 lights will be cool? Who knows.

I'd say 987's will be collectable before 986. At least they were all HID, no runny lights, more low rpm power, standard traction control, all around a better vehicle IMHO

Oh but I will say the 986 will be collectable more-so than the 944. etc for a few reasons:
1) Mid-engine: Few vehicles are mid-engine and all of them are expensive
2) Roadster: having two seats and convertible makes it more of a toy than a practical vehicle, making the boxster more likely to become collectable
3) 911 looks: 986 body is beautiful, which is more than I can say about the 914 or 944