Anyone traded up from a 986 to a 996?

[Goldenzrule]

I have a stage 1 S6. We have a Pathfinder. I don't need another of either. I am not looking for recommendations for anything else. I love my car, and simply wish to enjoy it with my family. The 996 is the answer to that. As I mentioned, I've spoken to others that have 996s and use them with their families happily. Some with very young children and some even in to teenage years. All of them love that they can share it and have no issues with using the car as such. My question is simply for those that have gone from a 986 to a 996, and can speak to your enjoyment of the cars and how they differ from a driving experience.

[husker boxster]

I have no kids (that I know of) and have only had 1 911 as a Wheeler Dealer car, but I'd like to add my perspective. As similar as they are, a 996 and 986 are different animals. A 996 is more of a GT cruiser while the 986 feels more 'athletic'. Granted, we're talking degrees of difference between the two, but you'll know they're different cars when you drive them. Obviously you're looking to change for reasons other than 'the experience', but be aware the 996 has different characteristics than the 986.

I would suggest not poo-pooing the Macan suggestion without trying one. They're kind of a tall 986 in abilities. Our club hosts a club race at a track that's a 3 hr drive from OMA. 2 yrs ago I wasn't going to do the DE portion of the event so I was tasked with driving the pace car to the track. It was a Macan GTS. Sun morning there was a DE session that was empty, so I was given the opportunity to take the GTS out for a few laps. I was really impressed. Granted, I wasn't running her hard but even at the speeds I was going she was fun. The 2 enduro races were still on the docket, so there's no way I was going to run hard and wreck the pace car. I pulled into the pits and the Chief Steward asked if he could go for a ride for a couple of laps (I was Asst Chief Steward - basically his flunky). Then he invited the Chief Scrutineer to ride along too. Once again, I drove slightly spirited but not wild. The Steward asks me if I had it floored on the straight. I said no, my goal was to 1) not wreck the pace car and 2) not kill the Chief Steward, in that order. But I came away from the experience with a lot of respect for the Macan's abilities.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

I said no, my goal was to 1) not wreck the pace car and 2) not kill the Chief Steward, in that order.

Your club needs to develop a "designated survivor" policy. The Chief Steward and the Assistant Chief Steward should never be in the same vehicle together. If you had both been killed or injured in the same accident, the event would have been delayed for at least 30 minutes while they found a substitute. (Provided of course that they could identify an alternate pace car.)

But, I digress. I faced a similar dilemma to that of Goldenzrule when my daughter was younger. At that time I had a Miata. I think that being able to share the Porsche non-SUV experience with the entire family at the same time is worth the trade offs of acquiring a 996.

When I was a teenager, I sat in the back of a 1966 912 during a (mercifully) short trip. By comparison, the rear seats of a 996 look like they would be relatively hospitable to small children.

One of my co-workers switched from a 986 to a 996 because his wife wanted a car with a tiptronic. His comments on the subject are similar to most of the other posters. If Goldenzrule goes into to the 996 experience with expectations aligned with the comments in this thread, he won't be disappointed.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

Your club needs to develop a "designated survivor" policy. The Chief Steward and the Assistant Chief Steward should never be in the same vehicle together. If you had both been killed or injured in the same accident, the event would have been delayed for at least 30 minutes while they found a substitute. (Provided of course that they could identify an alternate pace car.)
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Ha, ha, ha, Kevin you made my morning, thanks!
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[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

Your club needs to develop a "designated survivor" policy.

Thanks Kevin. We're working out the details of our upcoming May Club Race so I'll be sure we have a succession list for both personnel and pace cars.