Test drove a 996...
 

I finally got to test drive a 2000 Carrera C2 that I have been eyeing up over the weekend. The car had 49k miles on it but really felt more like 20k miles. I took it on a little back-road near the lot and couldn't believe the power and throttle response on it. My Boxster feels fast once it gets moving but from a stand still this thing feels like the front end is raising up and the tail end is going to kick out. I buried first and second and was doing about 80 in no time. It was at that time when the lot attendant riding with me said "Please don't kill me." :p

I actually got pulled over on the test drive but luckily not for speeding... the cop said we were leaving a parking lot that just had an alarm go off but I think he was just making sure the car wasn't stolen, etc. Kinda tells me how high profile these cars must be. Braking and shifting feels about the same as in the Boxster. The steering feels similar but a little heavier. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any good twisties to really test it's capabilities.

I am contemplating getting the car because it seems like a good deal ($15k over my trade-in of a same year Boxster with comparable mileage). I may need to take my Boxster out with the top down again before making any final descision though. Plus I need a couple months to get my financing in order so I hope it doesn't sell anytime soon. Here is the car to anyone who didn't see my last post... http://www.midnightracing.com/mra/W620448porsche911c2.htm

If only the Boxster had this kind of power I wouldn't have this problem. But I guess the 2007 Boxster S's will have similar power.

I remember you posting pictures of this car awhile back. Im glad you've given it a good review because i will be in the market for one in acouple years. Whats the asking price of that 996?

$35,000 which is about the best i've seen for a decent mileage 911. I can't imagine it taking too much more of a depreciation hit in the next few years either. I would definately get a PPI before buying it though. I also loved the Litronics... if I decide to keep the Boxster I may need to get a set.

I've simply never been impressed with the power in any of the non-gt2/gt3/Turbo 996's (Nothing like getting into a 500+ HP Corvette or similar). And pendulus cornering is well pendulus.

Not that this is your motivation but, I would never consider a standard 996 as "trading up". Maybe its fullfiling some sort of childhood fascination with the 911 legend but from a DRIVER'S point of view, its "trading down" for a bit more power. 0-60 times are marginally better between a 986S and a C2. And the standard 996s are not holding value particularly well. The higher end 911's are doing much better but even the 996 Turbo with a true GT1 dry sump engine can be found for under $60K all over the internet. Kind of amazing that a genuine exotic that can be parked next to a Ferrari can be had for less than the price of new fully decked ouut CaymanS or BoxsterS. Porsches are simply not holding value like they used to.

This car looks nice but you will miss the wind in your hair on the open highway. And you won't be any better off in the snow. Get a C4 if your going to a coupe.

You forgot the most important part.


THE EXHAUST NOTE!



:)

I understand power is all relative. My old modded Altima felt much faster than in stock form. My Boxster felt very fast compared to that. And the 911 feels fast now. I guess it's all in what type of power you have experienced. I did come across a 2002 996 turbo in the $50k's although it was a tiptronic... If this car passes me by maybe i'll hold off until I can afford a car like that. And I will admit that the childhood 911 fascination does come into play. Snow isn't a factor because I have an A4 Quattro.

no matter how much power you get into you'll get "used to it". Kind of dangerous condition. That's what I loved about my puny 1.8 Miata. It was a tuna can and when you were doing 70 you felt your speed, you respected it.
The 911 has more than enough power for high performance driving as does any Boxster. I think you have to evaluate what factors other than power will make you happy. The I prefer the styling of the (2002-2004) 911 to the Boxsters and that's a big motivation for many. Scratch that itch if you feel it because well maintained Boxsters will always be available for even better prices.

Looks like everyone needs to own a Z06 or a 911 Turbo to get the power bug out of their system (get bored by it) and start appreciating the finer things in cars. I haven't owned either but have driven a lot of high powered (300+) cars. There's so much more about a car than HP and kick-in-the butt acceleration -- same as a value of a house not being solely defined by the # of bedrooms or its sq footage.

Porschekid, nothing wrong with just getting the darn 911 and getting it out of your system. It's only a car, after all, and there will be others.

Z.

Sometimes too it's access to places to use all the other factors. Here in LA, a Miata is easy to enjoy on a twisty Malibu road. But back home in boring-road Texas, sports cars are rather useless unless they have the power to do a good peel-out. Back there I'd say get a Corvette or a 4x4 and go muddin' :)

-David

Very good point. Roads and geography matter a lot. It feels like my Box has been custom built for the roads it's being driven on 90% of time.

Z.

I don't think you'll be happy with a 2000 C2 because it's only marginally faster than a 986S. I've been to the track many times and I don't think there was one time that a 996 ever pulled away from me on the straights. Our club also have a Breakfast drives on the Sea to Sky Highway here on the westcoast and the same story here - on long stretch hills, the 996 still won't pull away.

If you want power, wait a few more years for the 996 TT to come down. After that, there are very few cars in the world that could top it. Or you can chip the 996TT and get extra 50 ponies.

God damn it. You didn't tell me about the exhaust note yet.



By the way, I would save the money and use FI on your car to get the power. It wouldn't cost nearly 15k and you'd have the convertibleness. So unless the 911-ness is what's important and convertibleness and fast-ness are not necessarily relevant, I would go this route.

Exhaust note was nice... a little bit deeper than the 986 but didn't sound as loud as the Boxster with the top down. I think the Boxster is more of an intake growl while the 996 is more deep exhaust note. I can't really say from the drivers perspective that the 996 sounded any better than the Boxster though. I assume from spectators that the 996 may sound a little better.
I was thinking about forced induction but am worried about reliability. Plus most supercharged Boxsters are 2.5's and not 2.7's so I don't know if there are any problems there. I also would love a 996 engine swap but it would probably cost more than getting a 996 and wouldn't have a very good return on investment. I'm still kinda up in the air though.

Check this out.


I think some guy on here did this and it cost him...13000 for everything, including labor?


I might be wrong.

49K seems like a high milage, even for 7 years old car...which means high risk of breaking down, and possibly RMS issue?

I think there's better option out there if you wait a little more.

All that aside, if it makes you happy, I'll say go with it! :)

Perhaps part of the 'front end is raising up and the tail end is going to kick out' feel was because the carrera is has the engine in the rear vs the boxster's mid engine layout.

I myself have been looking for a car that replaces the boxster (besides a newer boxster) and have not been able to find any. Seems the boxster is the most powerful mid engine rear wheel drive convertible roadster this side of $80k-$100k?

Since you said "If only the Boxster had this kind of power I wouldn't have this problem. But I guess the 2007 Boxster S's will have similar power.", I would also suggest boosting it and keeping the top down.

do the engine swap and dont look back. Dont look at it as an investment, but I am sure I would have no trouble selling mine with the swap. I doubt I would get back the entire 16k I put into it however. But one drive and the induced permagrin would sell it no problem. You definitely get that "kick in the ass" acceleration with the 3.4 in the box. It is addictive, but the best part is that you end up with a Box that beats a 911. Best of both worlds. Quick and mid engined.

having said that tho I also have the "Iwanna911someday" issue.... :rolleyes:
but I have my heart set on a 993tt. Better looks and rocket thrust. And air cooled. A real 911.

PECivil, do you have a thread anywhere where you describe your experience upgrading to a 3.4? e.g. who did it? And do you have to practically steal an engine to keep the cost down (i.e. high labor costs?)?

High milage?! Ha! Even my insurance company considers that low milage.....

PorscheKid, I only saw ONE key in those photos. I'd write $300 off the final negotiated price for the amount you'll spend getting a spare one made with a couple of bucks to offset the pain in the arse it will be.

Where do all these Pcar keys go anyway? eBay?

Haha. He did have two keys, although no valet key like my Box has.

That is one beautiful 911, Porschekid !

Make sure to let us know what you decide...

Good luck !

Nick

Yeah, I would pull the trigger on that one - the car looks sweet in the pics.

While I respect the other responses regarding the swap as poor logic, I maintain that this hobby of ours is all about emotion.

If you are like me, having drooled over 911s since your earliest memories and discovered the Boxster as a stepping stone on the way to that ultimate goal, this might be a good move for you.

Maybe I don't drive as aggressively on the streets as some others, but the "step down" in handling would probably not be noticed at all by me as I really don't explore the outer limits of vehicles of this caliber. The lifelong love of the 911 though would be gratified by the swap.

Good luck - either way you win. They are both amazing cars.

911 vs. Boxster
 

I myself considered trading my Boxster in for a 911. My reason was I wanted more power. I love my Boxster, but was starting to get bored of the power of my 2.5L. I agree, to each is his/her own, but for me the 3.4L swap was the best thing I did as now I love the car even more. 911 is a great car, an icon, but for me I love the Boxster's mid engine layout, 2 seat, top down etc. I got to take a 996 C4 for a ride before I bought my Boxster and loved the power of the C4 and just the way a Porsche drives and sounds. Now I have the best of both worlds. In the end, the swap was less expensive with lower kms & of course a naturally aspirated engine and reliability. A 911 that would have costs the same on average had higher kms. Plus, the Boxster with its layout and lighter weight, make the Boxster with a 3.4L a blast to drive. A great balance, that is the word for it!!! Yes, some will say it is not a 911 still, but for me, I don't care, I love my Boxster and everytime I look at her I smile. I have made it my own and there isn't one that looks like it that I have seen. In the end, you gots to love what u got to be satisfied.

3.4 L Engine
Re-Mapped ECU
Evo Intake
Dansk Headers
Schnell Sport Cats
GHL Exhaust
B&M Short Shifter
H&R Lowering Springs
Techart 18" Rims
Techart Rear Wing

Excellent point.

In 1991 I traded in an 80' Ferrari 308GTSi (underpowered) for an 86' 930 Turbo for 2 reasons.....needed the back seats for newborn twins (the justification to the wife!) and wanted more power. In 2002 I bought a 2000 Carrera 2 Cab with 11,000kms on it. Very nice car but it felt more "Japanese" than my old 930 and the 993's I'd been in (but never owned) previously. That is not a slight to the car, just merely an observation. I enjoyed the Cab while I had it, excellent balance and performance but I felt something was missing.

I traded the Cab on a 2003 Corvette Z06 for "more power". I certainly got that. The car had awesome exceleration and handled amazingly well but it lacked that certain something....a "soul" if you will. I put 8,000kms on it without a stitch of trouble and did not hesitate a moment when I traded it in for a new "slower" 2007 987S. I can't describe it (the sense of being one with the car) but the Boxster has IT (the Ferrari had IT too...just needed a bit more HP). You need to drive the cars to understand. Power is nice but it certainly is not the be all and end all...trust me.

I think, on balance, the Boxster S may be the best Porsche out there. Apparently the March issue of GT Purely Porsche has a story about this very subject (2007 Boxster S). It is not on the newsstands where I live yet so I have not read it.

Dang, I was just at the Barnes and Noble and forgot to flip through the Purely Porsche. I'd be curious to read that article as a few other magazines have voted the CaymanS as the best handling Porsche sold today, albeit maybe the most over priced as well...

p.s.
I was also reading up on the Cayenne Turbo S and this one magazine trashed its accelaration saying that the $100K Porsche SUV was getting beaten off the line by the $40K domestic SUVs.

I liked this car when you first posted and still do. Beautiful car with low mileage. See what you can negotiate them down to and go for it.

How can 49K be considered low milage?

Thanks for that.



This was my concern when I went to test drive a Corvette.


I remember driving it and flooring it and...It moved. Man, it moved. But I didn't feel it moving. I didn't feel like I was going fast.



I love accelerating and thrills, but I worry it may not be so thrilling in a car like the Corvette.



I was MUCH more thrilled in a Lotus Elise...Even though it's slower than the Vette.



I wonder if I will be unhappy after buying a Corvette and I will be wanting more out of my car.

So what did you do? The pics look great. I think I would've pulled the trigger and traded for it. If you got bored with it, you could always trade it for a newer boxster later on.

That comes out to 7,000 miles a year. That's not super low, but it isn't a high mileage daily driver either. A car might have 100k miles on it, but if it is a 1975 model then that would be considered low mileage because it was only driven an average of 3,125 miles a year. You always have to take the model year into account.

anyone notice it had a CASSETTE TAPE holder? That's a deal breaker for me!!

I still love that 996 and the color, Any update on weather your getting it or not?

Keep us updated, please.

Easy fix thanks to eBay.

Yeah, that's an easy fix. I decided to wait until I can get a day of top down driving in my Boxster again before I make a descision. Plus I thought I should pay off what's left of my home theatre first. If it's still there in April-May I will make my descision on it. If it's sold i'll just wait until I find another opportunity.

There will always be another opportunity to buy - always good to not rush into a big purchase for something you don't truly need. I don't have that kind of self control (I would have bought the 911), but I recommend it to others.