3 more reason, maybe quite important ones: 6. Gives best bang for buck for a 911. Previous and newer models in good (like for like conditions are more expensive. 7. It’s problems well known / understood, couple with lots of permanent/ good solutions for these issues 8. It’s a compact car, easy to drive, park etc. Some newer models like the 991 onwards became too spacious, luxurious and bigger as well Will think of more good reasons and comment accordingly 🙂
Do definitely agree with the C4S in particular which I own - especially the rear of a 996. I think many sports cars have nice fronts but the rear often seems neglected and can be very plain, or much like a box. The 996 has beautiful curves, and the red reflector matching up with the brake lights really sells it for me - if the newer models had the 996 C4S rear, they would be perfect. The C4S looks stunning from every angle
C4S is a wonderful car. I have a neighbor with a 996 C4S and I drool a bit each time he has it out. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Good point. It handles very well. Different than my previous Boxster. You have to respect it, but it is just planted and has so much traction coming out of a corner. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
That is a beautiful car. I have a neighbor right behind my house with a C4S and it is a great looking car. His is black like mine so a lot of people can’t really tell them apart. I figure this helps separate the true car guys / gals. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Sounds like you have owned some great cars. The 996 is definitely among the wonderful cars that Porsche has made. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Sounds like a great ride. I’m a big fan of the Factory Aero Kit styling. Enjoy driving it as often as you. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I've owned a 1977 911S & a 2001 996 Carrera 4. Both cars are a great cars, its fair to say one is not better as each are their own driving experience. Technically the 996 is a far superior car, but the 911S has a sound & feel that sets the air cooled apart.
Yes, I think and argument can be made for each 911 being the best 911. The air-cooled cars have so much character, but the water-cooled are better in other ways, such a better air conditioning and a more modern driving experience. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I have a 2002 996.2 C4 Cab with the hardtop. I bought it for year-round driving in New England. I have only put 6,000 miles on it, but I do love it. My wife has a 2003 targa, and I have a 74 targa carrera that was my father's so I know something about older porsches. My 996.2 is an amazingly fun car and cost less than $30k with 65k miles. The plan is to drive it to 150,000 mikes and enjoy. At 20 years of age, it is still fun to drive and never gets a bad reaction that newer porsches sometimes generate. Hard to imagine there is another 170 mph convertible you can drive in the snow and not worry!
I used to hate the 996 headlights and smooth body lines, but the 996 has certainly aged gracefully. All of my objections to the styling seem a distant memory because the 996 stands out from the crowd as perhaps the most unique modern 911. As much as I like the bulging hips on every other 911, the sleek 996 seems special with its small size and great proportions. Thanks for the video!
Good point. Having a clean slate helped them be able to change a few more things than would have otherwise happened. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I certainly agree and once you own one, even if they weren’t your favorite at first, they tend to grow on you. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I have a 99' (996) coupe c2 with tip, 102k, and purchased it in 2010 with 80k (Cost was $19,965)...."price was NOT - negotiable by private owner", which made me want it even more ! lol -- It has been running like a charm all along and it never had the IMS upgrade and I don't worry about it now that has many miles on the clock -- The SINGLE row bearing used in the 2000 - 2005 996's had a high failure rate of 8% according to the Eisen class action lawsuit compared to the 99's DUAL row bearings 1% failure rate ! , which I feel comfortable enough taking my chances not doing the upgrade :) I've had the car serviced at the local Porsche dealer since I purchased it, and the head mechanic explained that if you change the oil and filter once a year and use a magnetic drain plug to help keep aware of any floating metal bits then you shouldn't have any concerns with the IMS as what it really needs is enough lubrication with clean oil to keep from failing - Aside from that, the car has been a total joy to own and drive. Haven't had to replace anything MAJOR all along, and I drive it year round, rain or shine, and even snow ! : ) And I love the michelin pilot sport all-season 3 + tires which are perfect for year round use,(living here in Boston,USA) - The 996 is meant to be drivin', and not sit as a garage queen, (like many ferraris, for instance !) hehe -- I don't stress or worry about the car and the IMS, as life is TOO short. Just enjoy the Porsche ownership experience, and drive it like you stole it ! : ) Great videos you've been doing. Keep up the good work, and us 996 lovers can enjoy your ongoing appreciation of them !
Thanks for sharing your experience and adding the detail of your 996. I went for a ‘99 partly because of the dual row IMS Bearing and partly for the cable driven throttle body. Also, glad you enjoy the videos. Hopefully the quality continues to get better. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
We have a '99 996 C4 and our local Porsche workshop echoes the same things you do. My experience with vehicles- the higher the performance, the more critical the scheduled maintenance. To each their own, but to buy heavy-duty/high-performance and defer maintenance is just asking for a bummer downstream.
A well presented video. There definitely seems to be a lot of interest in the 996 these days and we've seen prices start to approach 997 levels. I can't imagine ever parting with my 996.2 it's just such a pure joy to drive. I'm glad you're enjoying yours and trying to spread the love, but....... (just between you and me) you need to trade in the Tiptronic for a manual - you're missing at least half the fun of the car.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I know that the manual is the best driving experience (my previous three Porsches were all manual cars) and you get more out of the car from a performance perspective. I ended up going for the Tiptronic because of knee issues with using my Porsches as a daily driver. I was starting to have issues walking after I would drive the manual due to driving in traffic. I have been tempted to get an additional 996 or 997 (or possibly a 987 or 981 Cayman S) with a manual transmission for enjoying on the weekends when the clutch wouldn’t be used quite as much. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@OurRideLife you definitely get a pass for knee issues. It was a knee issue that forced the previous owner of my 996 to part with his beloved 911. A Boxster or Cayman with a 2.5, 2.7 or 3.2 would make a great addition, and those engines don't suffer from bore scoring. I'm thinking I might grab one while they're still cheap, if I don't find a 996 or 997 donor car with a blown motor that I can have rebuilt with larger displacement Nikasil cylinders. Then again maybe I'll give in and buy an air cooled SC. No matter what though, I'm keeping the 996!
A true statement. I always find that once you own a good car it does become more beautiful in your own eyes. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@crkproductions5000 Thanks, I really like the look- all purists, (Porsche, Ferrari, et cetera), should feck off and let us enjoy our cars! Oh, had "front engine only" Corvette to the mix, ha, ha!
@@rumrnr78 the drive is heaven. I have made very few modifications to my 996. I love the feel, the sound and the speed. It’s glued to the road in curves and gives a thrill in the straight always. Just a car to buy and never sell.
Thanks for sharing this video because i was looking at a video of a 996 gt3 and it sounds so amazing and i was thinking about getting one over the new gens
The 996 is a great car. The later generations have more modern interiors and a traditional 911 look, but the 996 is still smaller and lightweight while being completely analog. Once you are ready to buy one try to test drive a few different generations to make sure you get what you like. All 911s are wonderful cars, but some prefer how one drives over another. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
The Cabriolet is a good car and nice for summer driving. The convertible does mean that the 911 has a bit more flex compared to the coupe. It also has a few more parts to maintain, but it isn’t terrible. Before getting the 996, I had a 986 Boxster and did replace the top myself. That particular top was on sale for just over $500 and it included a rear-glass window. I did the install of that myself which can be done, but it did take me about 12 hours to do it over a weekend. I had the Boxster for over six years and the new top had been on for about four years without any issues. A shop will charge more so you are probably looking at a $1,200-$2,000 with parts and labor, depending on the shop and the top you go for. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@OurRideLife Spot on with the price quote for after market top and install. I am waiting to do mine- have the top but yet to install. My OEM top looks pretty good and I can run through car wash without fear.
It is one of my personal favorites for driving feel. The earlier cars without power steering are more pure, but the 996 hits the sweet spot for feel versus power assistance. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Always best to be up front. Glad you enjoyed the video. They aren’t all controversial, but sometimes it can be fun to talk about controversial topics. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
It could be strange but, I love this generation because two reasons: 1 - It was in NFS Porsche Unleashed and I played a lot, 2 - At the same date as I played this game, I was a huge fan of the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (the name AMV12S says something) and this headlights TO ME, reminds me so much Aston Martin headlights...(I said it could be strange 🥴😅)
I played a lot of that game back then too. I also loved the opening scene of Gone in 60 seconds, so have had a soft sport for the 996 since I was in college. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Best reason is the value! Even with the recent surge in 996 values they are by far the highest smile-per-dollar car of any Porsche, except perhaps for a Boxster.
Very good point. Other 911s may have this or that about them that is considered better, but they aren’t quite the value as you get with the 996 and having experienced other 911s the true driving experience isn’t better (perhaps quicker, but not better) especially for the price difference.
I was close to getting a 996.1 with a factory aero kit (as close as the US got to a 996.1 GT3) and that was a nice looking car. Unfortunately for me it was in Southern California (I’m in Northern California) and it was sold before I was able to make a trip to Newport Beach. Of course I did still end up with a 996.1 and paid a lot less (just $12,500 for a coupe with under 100K miles and a clean title, so not too bad). Still the GT3 aero kit looks nice on the 996.1. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Good to hear the "purists" being called out, and as you say, nothing to do with value. The 996 was the first total redesign since the Porsche 911 started. It was probably the biggest decision Porsche had to make to survive, and boy did it turn Porsche's fortunes around. It isn't just a good looking classic, it should be right there in any and all serious Porsche collectors line up.
I think more collectors are starting to look at adding one. Prices of the 996 Turbo and GT cars are up considerably from the past few years and the C4S is starting to get pricey for a good example. I even saw a 2000 C2 Coupe that was a basic option car with a Tiptronic transmission for $24,000 on Bring a Trailer. It did have fairly low mileage at just over $50K and there is the BaT tax that always drives prices up, but a car like this would struggle to fetch $18,000 about a year ago. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Low mileage cars in good condition are getting harder to find and will certainly command a higher premium on the used market. Enjoy yours as often as you can. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
The only real way to know for sure would be to take out the IMS Bearing. However, you are highly likely to have a dual row bearing with a 2000 model. In the class action lawsuit over the IMS Bearing with Porsche 2001 models were the first year mentioned according to what I found online. topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/porsche-ims-engine-defect-class-action-lawsuit-settlement/ Hope that helps.
As Porsche Turbo owner for years, 1st '85 slant nose 930 & What A Dog! So I spent Big Dollars on Turbo, Intercooler, Ect & it doesn't hold a candle to my 996 Turbo..Both are/were manual trans, But thers No Comparison..Far as plastic, Well if they didt order Carbon Fiber packages then like all cars lik that usually black plastic & If You Saw My Interior, Well I have Terracotta Orange w Black & Alot of Carbon, lik even the dash is Carbon Fiber, So I also have newer 996 so the better head lights, bunch of stuff is different on 02-05 996s, So Id definitely suggest the newer 996 not older 99-01 cars..Thers more to say But this is by somebody whos got alot of cars & has/had both air cooled & water cooled, No Comparison, Water Cooled Is Far Better In My Opinion🎸
Sounds like you have had some awesome cars. The 996 Turbo is one of my favorite modern cars and while prices have gone up a lot, they are still good value for what you get. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
In the south good A/C is not an option. I’ve owned a few air-cooled cars myself and have a few friends with 993s and they are great cars, but the A/C just doesn’t work well. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
It is funny that most of the people I see being negative about any Porsche are people who have never driven a Porsche. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Good luck with the search. There are a number of good examples out there, just do your homework and make sure to get a pre-purchase inspection as it can save you a lot of cash later on. Hope you find a good dependable one. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Mine has just over 100,900 miles on it now. I bought it with just over 98K miles on it. Because of stay at home orders I haven’t put too many miles on it yet, but haven’t had any issues so far after nine months of ownership. Hope you end up with a good dependable one. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I think prices will keep going up, but at a slow rate for a while. We could see a dip if the economy doesn’t recover quickly, but that hasn’t happened so far. Eventually I think there will be a good price jump like we have seen with other 911s, but it is probably a few years out. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
One thing not mentioned as a negative is the steering wheel. I'd pay extra and for a different generation just to not look at that ugly steering wheel. Combine that with the headlights and I don't think it matters to me if there are a few positives to how it drives. It's also underpowered by a large margin. I have a Toyota Avalon that nearly has the same HP as a 996.
Not everyone is a fan of the 996 and that is fine. When I made this I was doing Devil’s advocate series, so there are similar videos about the 993, 997.2 and 991.1. With the steering wheel some of the newer wheels are very nice looking, although the PDK in the 991.1 isn’t my favorite as they are much better once they switched to paddle shifters (the Tiptronic switches are actually better designed when you use them in real life). However, the four spoke wheel is the same as the 993 uses and the three-spoke was used in the Carrera GT. Obviously, the steering wheel isn’t usually mentioned on either of those. But it is personal preference. The horsepower argument is legit when compared to a modern car, although the power to weight is still a bit better in a 996. Of course you could make a similar argument to any older Porsche and even the 997 doesn’t have much more power (they also happen to feel very similar to a 996 to drive in the real world). I think you need to compare power outputs to similar cars from the same era. Otherwise you could make the argument that a Ferrari 308 is less desirable than a modern Honda Civic. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I figure if you aren’t enthusiastic about a car you own, then it probably isn’t the right car for you. Of course I like Porsches in general, so I’m pretty happy behind the wheel of any of them. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I have the 3 spoke burl nut wheel with matching parking brake - it really makes the car interior feel more upscale. Now, I need to address the center console with a bunch of scratches and black showing through! 996- best bang for the buck!
The 996 is the best 911, apart from the 997...haha. Although I think you can add an extra highlight for the 996, it's the last 911 before the introduction of the variable ratio steering rack.
Good point about the steering rack. When it all comes down to it, I guess the best 911 is the one in your own garage. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I love my 996, and I think you picked the wrong five reasons. Reliability, and best 911 bang for the buck both deserve to be in the top five, more so than interior, or GT3. GT3 doesn’t apply to the vast majority of 996 owners.
Fair point. It certainly is an overall reliable car and definitely the best value for the money in a 911. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I’m a fan myself. All Porsches are great to drive in one way or another, but I find the 996 to just be a fun car to drive that is modern enough, but still has a bit of old school feel. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Well if most folks were rich then the options open wide up. But for most of us the 996 is a pretty sweat ride. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
You would think so, but so far the market hasn’t been showing that. Having said that, I bought mine for just $12,500 with a clean title and under 100K miles (it is a Tiptronic, so that kept the price down some) during the start of the pandemic, so there are deals out there right now. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@OurRideLife I contact the dealer and very straight forward I ask them what is their best offer and they just told me to make an offer with not pressure.
Look, I really appreciate your passion for the 996, and I totally agree with you, BUT... You've got to be quiet and stop making videos like this. Let everybody else hate them while we all quietly buy them up at terrific prices. They're a phenomenal car. Perhaps a video about how your engine is guaranteed to blow up? Maybe even a video about how the fried eggs affect aerodynamics? Thanks again, and keep putting out good content!
You do have a point. A few of videos of the negatives that can easily explode on the internet and prices would tank. Then we each buy three more and then I start putting out more like this. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Very good point. If there was just a bit less exposed plastic I don’t think there would be so much said about the interior. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
At least it helped you in some way. Obviously, every situation is different and each year and mode will have different potential issues. Also of note is that Bore scoring can happen in the 997 as well as the 996. In both cases the larger the bore of the 3.6 liter in the 996 cars or the 3.8 liter 997 cars are more likely to have the scoring issue. Also more frequent oil changes may help prevent scoring as it helps keep the oil cleaner. I personally change my oil every 5K miles or every year whichever comes first (usually I do it every six months to be safe). Porsche’s recommendation for the 996 was originally 15K miles and they later updated it to be every 10K miles. 5K miles with full synthetic just feels a bit safer and doesn’t cost that much more (at least if you do it yourself). Hope whatever you decide to go for is a good dependable car for you and one that you can have plenty of fun driving. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
You would probably like my videos on why the 997.2 or 991.1 is the best 911 better then. As for the 996 interior, compared to a modern car, the materials do appear cheaper, although even Ferrari of the same time frame had a lot of exposed cheaper looking plastic. So, some of that is the era when the 996 was made. Of course with full leather it is better and some have the carbon fiber package which replaces much of the plastic. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I only have about 70 more videos like this to make, so after that. Although, I should probably buy a few more 996s first to help my bottom line. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Best post award.😄 Know exactly what you mean. 996 Targa, bottom of the tick list and rarer than a GT2, that's how popular, but she's mine and she's bloody lovely. Even got the original phone installed lol.
Completely agree - whenever anybody describes a 996 headlights as “fried eggs”, I correct them and say “do you mean the GT1 Le Mans headlights? The ones that replaced the old Beetle headlights?!” I just purchased my first Porsche, the 996 3.4 Carrera in manual with cable operated throttle - I’m very excited! 🍾
Sounds like an awesome first Porsche. That is the last time cable driven throttle body was available, so that alone makes it special. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Straight to the point. Just out of curiosity what is your favorite 911? They are all very good and everyone has a preference, so always like to ask. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@OurRideLife 997 GTS Manual. Agree all 911’s are “good”. “You said Best”. It’s my favorite because it’s mine, but it’s not “the best 911”. I won’t go there without defining what mission is and defining “best”.
@@OurRideLife All are good in the 911 hood. Enjoy! Agree that they are to be driven. Sports exhaust at 6k rpm is a beautiful thing. I am third and last owner (until my son gets when I can’t push a clutch some day). Two more payments and she’s all mine.
Thanks for watching. If you like videos like this then subscribe and check out my latest videos.
3 more reason, maybe quite important ones:
6. Gives best bang for buck for a 911. Previous and newer models in good (like for like conditions are more expensive.
7. It’s problems well known / understood, couple with lots of permanent/ good solutions for these issues
8. It’s a compact car, easy to drive, park etc. Some newer models like the 991 onwards became too spacious, luxurious and bigger as well
Will think of more good reasons and comment accordingly 🙂
Thanks for adding these very good reasons.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I’ve got a 996 911 Cabriolet and I absolutely love it!!
Enjoy it as often as you can.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Do definitely agree with the C4S in particular which I own - especially the rear of a 996. I think many sports cars have nice fronts but the rear often seems neglected and can be very plain, or much like a box. The 996 has beautiful curves, and the red reflector matching up with the brake lights really sells it for me - if the newer models had the 996 C4S rear, they would be perfect. The C4S looks stunning from every angle
C4S is a wonderful car. I have a neighbor with a 996 C4S and I drool a bit each time he has it out.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
As an owner of an 01 996 I love my ride and it’s a 911 seven days a week !
Couldn’t agree with you more.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
You should mention how well it handles too!
Good point. It handles very well. Different than my previous Boxster. You have to respect it, but it is just planted and has so much traction coming out of a corner.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I love the 996. I know someone who has a 2004 Carrera 4S in speed yellow. Only has 32k miles and it's a beauty
That is a beautiful car. I have a neighbor right behind my house with a C4S and it is a great looking car. His is black like mine so a lot of people can’t really tell them apart. I figure this helps separate the true car guys / gals.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I've owned 3 air cooled Porsche cars. I bought a 1999 OCT 1998 build 996. I love this car!!
Sounds like you have owned some great cars. The 996 is definitely among the wonderful cars that Porsche has made.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Yes, in full agreement with your evaluation. Mine: Speed Yellow 2004 C4S Cab. Rear design is exceptional.
Sounds like a great ride. Enjoy it as often as possible.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I have to agree with you. Although I love all Porsche models, air and water cooled, I absolutely love my 03 C4S. Get a lot of complements on her too👍🏻
Sounds like an awesome car.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Totally agree with every reason you mentioned. I’m the very lucky owner of an aero kit carrera. A joy bringer!!
Sounds like a great ride. I’m a big fan of the Factory Aero Kit styling. Enjoy driving it as often as you.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I've owned a 1977 911S & a 2001 996 Carrera 4. Both cars are a great cars, its fair to say one is not better as each are their own driving experience. Technically the 996 is a far superior car, but the 911S has a sound & feel that sets the air cooled apart.
Yes, I think and argument can be made for each 911 being the best 911. The air-cooled cars have so much character, but the water-cooled are better in other ways, such a better air conditioning and a more modern driving experience.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Ive noticed 4s prices have gone up since we got ours. A nice surprise.
Always nice to see a car you own go up in price instead of down.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I have a 2002 996.2 C4 Cab with the hardtop. I bought it for year-round driving in New England. I have only put 6,000 miles on it, but I do love it. My wife has a 2003 targa, and I have a 74 targa carrera that was my father's so I know something about older porsches. My 996.2 is an amazingly fun car and cost less than $30k with 65k miles. The plan is to drive it to 150,000 mikes and enjoy. At 20 years of age, it is still fun to drive and never gets a bad reaction that newer porsches sometimes generate. Hard to imagine there is another 170 mph convertible you can drive in the snow and not worry!
Sounds like an awesome ride. Enjoy it as often as you can.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I used to hate the 996 headlights and smooth body lines, but the 996 has certainly aged gracefully. All of my objections to the styling seem a distant memory because the 996 stands out from the crowd as perhaps the most unique modern 911. As much as I like the bulging hips on every other 911, the sleek 996 seems special with its small size and great proportions. Thanks for the video!
I have to agree with you, of course since I own one, I may be a bit bias.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
A clean sheet redesign, inside and out, that kept the purity of the 911 lines. Function follows form.
Good point. Having a clean slate helped them be able to change a few more things than would have otherwise happened.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I like the headlights. To me it looks like its going so fast that the headlights are being melted back
I certainly agree and once you own one, even if they weren’t your favorite at first, they tend to grow on you.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I have a 99' (996) coupe c2 with tip, 102k, and purchased it in 2010 with 80k (Cost was $19,965)...."price was NOT - negotiable by private owner", which made me want it even more ! lol -- It has been running like a charm all along and it never had the IMS upgrade and I don't worry about it now that has many miles on the clock -- The SINGLE row bearing used in the 2000 - 2005 996's had a high failure rate of 8% according to the Eisen class action lawsuit compared to the 99's DUAL row bearings 1% failure rate !
, which I feel comfortable enough taking my chances not doing the upgrade :) I've had the car serviced at the local Porsche dealer since I purchased it, and the head mechanic explained that if you change the oil and filter once a year and use a magnetic drain plug to help keep aware of any floating metal bits then you shouldn't have any concerns with the IMS as what it really needs is enough lubrication with clean oil to keep from failing - Aside from that, the car has been a total joy to own and drive. Haven't had to replace anything MAJOR all along, and I drive it year round, rain or shine, and even snow ! : ) And I love the michelin pilot sport all-season 3 + tires which are perfect for year round use,(living here in Boston,USA) - The 996 is meant to be drivin', and not sit as a garage queen, (like many ferraris, for instance !) hehe -- I don't stress or worry about the car and the IMS, as life is TOO short. Just enjoy the Porsche ownership experience, and drive it like you stole it ! : ) Great videos you've been doing. Keep up the good work, and us 996 lovers can enjoy your ongoing appreciation of them !
Thanks for sharing your experience and adding the detail of your 996. I went for a ‘99 partly because of the dual row IMS Bearing and partly for the cable driven throttle body.
Also, glad you enjoy the videos. Hopefully the quality continues to get better.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
We have a '99 996 C4 and our local Porsche workshop echoes the same things you do. My experience with vehicles- the higher the performance, the more critical the scheduled maintenance. To each their own, but to buy heavy-duty/high-performance and defer maintenance is just asking for a bummer downstream.
A well presented video. There definitely seems to be a lot of interest in the 996 these days and we've seen prices start to approach 997 levels. I can't imagine ever parting with my 996.2 it's just such a pure joy to drive. I'm glad you're enjoying yours and trying to spread the love, but....... (just between you and me) you need to trade in the Tiptronic for a manual - you're missing at least half the fun of the car.
Glad you enjoyed the video.
I know that the manual is the best driving experience (my previous three Porsches were all manual cars) and you get more out of the car from a performance perspective. I ended up going for the Tiptronic because of knee issues with using my Porsches as a daily driver. I was starting to have issues walking after I would drive the manual due to driving in traffic.
I have been tempted to get an additional 996 or 997 (or possibly a 987 or 981 Cayman S) with a manual transmission for enjoying on the weekends when the clutch wouldn’t be used quite as much.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@OurRideLife you definitely get a pass for knee issues. It was a knee issue that forced the previous owner of my 996 to part with his beloved 911. A Boxster or Cayman with a 2.5, 2.7 or 3.2 would make a great addition, and those engines don't suffer from bore scoring. I'm thinking I might grab one while they're still cheap, if I don't find a 996 or 997 donor car with a blown motor that I can have rebuilt with larger displacement Nikasil cylinders. Then again maybe I'll give in and buy an air cooled SC. No matter what though, I'm keeping the 996!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
A true statement. I always find that once you own a good car it does become more beautiful in your own eyes.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I love my 996 and I like the headlights-fried eggs and all. A beautiful car
Even if they aren’t your favorite when you first get one with them, I find that they grow on you.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
If they were good enough for the GT1 then good enough for my 996!
@@rumrnr78 so true
@@crkproductions5000 Thanks, I really like the look- all purists, (Porsche, Ferrari, et cetera), should feck off and let us enjoy our cars! Oh, had "front engine only" Corvette to the mix, ha, ha!
@@rumrnr78 the drive is heaven. I have made very few modifications to my 996. I love the feel, the sound and the speed. It’s glued to the road in curves and gives a thrill in the straight always. Just a car to buy and never sell.
Thanks for sharing this video because i was looking at a video of a 996 gt3 and it sounds so amazing and i was thinking about getting one over the new gens
The 996 is a great car. The later generations have more modern interiors and a traditional 911 look, but the 996 is still smaller and lightweight while being completely analog.
Once you are ready to buy one try to test drive a few different generations to make sure you get what you like. All 911s are wonderful cars, but some prefer how one drives over another.
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Good vid. Definitely the best bang for buck Porsche 911
Glad you enjoyed it and that is probably the best reason for get a 996.
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Very happy with my 1999, great car at an even better price...
I’m certainly a fan of the ‘99 myself.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I want one. Is it worth getting the covert because they are cheaper ?? Because the top needs to be replaced at some point.
The Cabriolet is a good car and nice for summer driving. The convertible does mean that the 911 has a bit more flex compared to the coupe. It also has a few more parts to maintain, but it isn’t terrible.
Before getting the 996, I had a 986 Boxster and did replace the top myself. That particular top was on sale for just over $500 and it included a rear-glass window. I did the install of that myself which can be done, but it did take me about 12 hours to do it over a weekend. I had the Boxster for over six years and the new top had been on for about four years without any issues.
A shop will charge more so you are probably looking at a $1,200-$2,000 with parts and labor, depending on the shop and the top you go for.
Hope that helps.
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@@OurRideLife Spot on with the price quote for after market top and install. I am waiting to do mine- have the top but yet to install. My OEM top looks pretty good and I can run through car wash without fear.
I have read and heard the 996 has the sweetest steering feel.
It is one of my personal favorites for driving feel. The earlier cars without power steering are more pure, but the 996 hits the sweet spot for feel versus power assistance.
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Well you're refreshingly up-front about your bias toward the 996. Good video, if a somewhat controversial claim.
Always best to be up front. Glad you enjoyed the video. They aren’t all controversial, but sometimes it can be fun to talk about controversial topics.
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It could be strange but, I love this generation because two reasons: 1 - It was in NFS Porsche Unleashed and I played a lot, 2 - At the same date as I played this game, I was a huge fan of the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (the name AMV12S says something) and this headlights TO ME, reminds me so much Aston Martin headlights...(I said it could be strange 🥴😅)
I played a lot of that game back then too. I also loved the opening scene of Gone in 60 seconds, so have had a soft sport for the 996 since I was in college.
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The 996 is one the best water cooled Le Mans model cable throttle last esperated engine!!
That should pretty much be the description for this video.
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Best reason is the value! Even with the recent surge in 996 values they are by far the highest smile-per-dollar car of any Porsche, except perhaps for a Boxster.
Very good point. Other 911s may have this or that about them that is considered better, but they aren’t quite the value as you get with the 996 and having experienced other 911s the true driving experience isn’t better (perhaps quicker, but not better) especially for the price difference.
2001 996.1 C2 with GT3 Aero - So fine!!!
I was close to getting a 996.1 with a factory aero kit (as close as the US got to a 996.1 GT3) and that was a nice looking car. Unfortunately for me it was in Southern California (I’m in Northern California) and it was sold before I was able to make a trip to Newport Beach.
Of course I did still end up with a 996.1 and paid a lot less (just $12,500 for a coupe with under 100K miles and a clean title, so not too bad). Still the GT3 aero kit looks nice on the 996.1.
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Good to hear the "purists" being called out, and as you say, nothing to do with value.
The 996 was the first total redesign since the Porsche 911 started.
It was probably the biggest decision Porsche had to make to survive, and boy did it turn Porsche's fortunes around.
It isn't just a good looking classic, it should be right there in any and all serious Porsche collectors line up.
I think more collectors are starting to look at adding one. Prices of the 996 Turbo and GT cars are up considerably from the past few years and the C4S is starting to get pricey for a good example.
I even saw a 2000 C2 Coupe that was a basic option car with a Tiptronic transmission for $24,000 on Bring a Trailer. It did have fairly low mileage at just over $50K and there is the BaT tax that always drives prices up, but a car like this would struggle to fetch $18,000 about a year ago.
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I have one!! Convertable!
Very nice, have the option to have the wind in your hair.
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own a low milage 1999 996. love it! JDR
Low mileage cars in good condition are getting harder to find and will certainly command a higher premium on the used market. Enjoy yours as often as you can.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Hi, I just got a 2000 996 Cabriolet, how do I know if it has the dual row IMS?
The only real way to know for sure would be to take out the IMS Bearing. However, you are highly likely to have a dual row bearing with a 2000 model. In the class action lawsuit over the IMS Bearing with Porsche 2001 models were the first year mentioned according to what I found online. topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/porsche-ims-engine-defect-class-action-lawsuit-settlement/
Hope that helps.
@@OurRideLife Thanks so much for responding and for putting out good content!
As Porsche Turbo owner for years, 1st '85 slant nose 930 & What A Dog! So I spent Big Dollars on Turbo, Intercooler, Ect & it doesn't hold a candle to my 996 Turbo..Both are/were manual trans, But thers No Comparison..Far as plastic, Well if they didt order Carbon Fiber packages then like all cars lik that usually black plastic & If You Saw My Interior, Well I have Terracotta Orange w Black & Alot of Carbon, lik even the dash is Carbon Fiber, So I also have newer 996 so the better head lights, bunch of stuff is different on 02-05 996s, So Id definitely suggest the newer 996 not older 99-01 cars..Thers more to say But this is by somebody whos got alot of cars & has/had both air cooled & water cooled, No Comparison, Water Cooled Is Far Better In My Opinion🎸
Sounds like you have had some awesome cars. The 996 Turbo is one of my favorite modern cars and while prices have gone up a lot, they are still good value for what you get.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Love my 99’ 996. I can’t see the headlights they hare from behind the wheel 🏁
Very good point. They are just wonderful cars to drive.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Headlights and interiors are WAY better than all previous and later models.
Hey I’m a fan, some won’t agree, but I enjoy them in my car and that is all that matters.
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And as I live in the south. It has A/C that works great!!
In the south good A/C is not an option. I’ve owned a few air-cooled cars myself and have a few friends with 993s and they are great cars, but the A/C just doesn’t work well.
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Totally agree, it’s a great car and only people who have never had one will moan about them. They are on the rise and will be a future classic
It is funny that most of the people I see being negative about any Porsche are people who have never driven a Porsche.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I am currently searching for a 996!
Good luck with the search. There are a number of good examples out there, just do your homework and make sure to get a pre-purchase inspection as it can save you a lot of cash later on.
Hope you find a good dependable one.
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I’m getting one, and you influenced me! How many miles does yours have again? The one I’m getting has 91k
Mine has just over 100,900 miles on it now. I bought it with just over 98K miles on it. Because of stay at home orders I haven’t put too many miles on it yet, but haven’t had any issues so far after nine months of ownership.
Hope you end up with a good dependable one.
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@@OurRideLife wow nice! You got a killer deal on yours. I don’t see any near that price with a hard top. They have gone up.
Yes prices are definitely going up.
@@OurRideLife thoughts on future prices?
I think prices will keep going up, but at a slow rate for a while. We could see a dip if the economy doesn’t recover quickly, but that hasn’t happened so far. Eventually I think there will be a good price jump like we have seen with other 911s, but it is probably a few years out.
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One thing not mentioned as a negative is the steering wheel. I'd pay extra and for a different generation just to not look at that ugly steering wheel. Combine that with the headlights and I don't think it matters to me if there are a few positives to how it drives. It's also underpowered by a large margin. I have a Toyota Avalon that nearly has the same HP as a 996.
Not everyone is a fan of the 996 and that is fine. When I made this I was doing Devil’s advocate series, so there are similar videos about the 993, 997.2 and 991.1.
With the steering wheel some of the newer wheels are very nice looking, although the PDK in the 991.1 isn’t my favorite as they are much better once they switched to paddle shifters (the Tiptronic switches are actually better designed when you use them in real life). However, the four spoke wheel is the same as the 993 uses and the three-spoke was used in the Carrera GT. Obviously, the steering wheel isn’t usually mentioned on either of those. But it is personal preference.
The horsepower argument is legit when compared to a modern car, although the power to weight is still a bit better in a 996. Of course you could make a similar argument to any older Porsche and even the 997 doesn’t have much more power (they also happen to feel very similar to a 996 to drive in the real world). I think you need to compare power outputs to similar cars from the same era. Otherwise you could make the argument that a Ferrari 308 is less desirable than a modern Honda Civic.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Best price for a 911 for sure but like yr enthusiast take on the 966.
I figure if you aren’t enthusiastic about a car you own, then it probably isn’t the right car for you. Of course I like Porsches in general, so I’m pretty happy behind the wheel of any of them.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
My 2000 996 has the wood interior...pretty rare...
Yes, you don’t see that all that often.
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I have the 3 spoke burl nut wheel with matching parking brake - it really makes the car interior feel more upscale. Now, I need to address the center console with a bunch of scratches and black showing through!
996- best bang for the buck!
The 996 is the best 911, apart from the 997...haha. Although I think you can add an extra highlight for the 996, it's the last 911 before the introduction of the variable ratio steering rack.
Good point about the steering rack.
When it all comes down to it, I guess the best 911 is the one in your own garage.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I love my 996, and I think you picked the wrong five reasons. Reliability, and best 911 bang for the buck both deserve to be in the top five, more so than interior, or GT3. GT3 doesn’t apply to the vast majority of 996 owners.
Fair point. It certainly is an overall reliable car and definitely the best value for the money in a 911.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I own two 996s' plus 991.2 Turbo S and a Cayenne Turbo S. for just pure fun its my 996 period and oh ya I have owned 11 other Porsches
I’m a fan myself. All Porsches are great to drive in one way or another, but I find the 996 to just be a fun car to drive that is modern enough, but still has a bit of old school feel.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
if I was rich, I wouldnt get a 996. With that said, i want a 996. :)
Well if most folks were rich then the options open wide up. But for most of us the 996 is a pretty sweat ride.
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spot on. bravo!
Glad you liked the video. They are wonderful cars and don’t deserve the hate some have given them.
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Love mine... ride it like I stole it!
The only way to drive it.
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Certainly my favorite as a well. Lightweight and compact, low on tech nonsense. And forget the 918, Carrera GT for the win!
I may have forgotten a few cars to make the point, but it certainly is a great car.
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I am thinking the 996 is not selling because of COVID19 who is interested in buying a sport car? So prices should be down.
You would think so, but so far the market hasn’t been showing that. Having said that, I bought mine for just $12,500 with a clean title and under 100K miles (it is a Tiptronic, so that kept the price down some) during the start of the pandemic, so there are deals out there right now.
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@@OurRideLife I contact the dealer and very straight forward I ask them what is their best offer and they just told me to make an offer with not pressure.
Look, I really appreciate your passion for the 996, and I totally agree with you, BUT...
You've got to be quiet and stop making videos like this. Let everybody else hate them while we all quietly buy them up at terrific prices. They're a phenomenal car.
Perhaps a video about how your engine is guaranteed to blow up? Maybe even a video about how the fried eggs affect aerodynamics?
Thanks again, and keep putting out good content!
You do have a point. A few of videos of the negatives that can easily explode on the internet and prices would tank. Then we each buy three more and then I start putting out more like this.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
It's predecessors interior is horrible. This is a huge upgrade.
Very good point. If there was just a bit less exposed plastic I don’t think there would be so much said about the interior.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Great video, it helped me decide not to buy a 996. Cylinder scoring, no thanks.
At least it helped you in some way. Obviously, every situation is different and each year and mode will have different potential issues.
Also of note is that Bore scoring can happen in the 997 as well as the 996. In both cases the larger the bore of the 3.6 liter in the 996 cars or the 3.8 liter 997 cars are more likely to have the scoring issue. Also more frequent oil changes may help prevent scoring as it helps keep the oil cleaner. I personally change my oil every 5K miles or every year whichever comes first (usually I do it every six months to be safe). Porsche’s recommendation for the 996 was originally 15K miles and they later updated it to be every 10K miles. 5K miles with full synthetic just feels a bit safer and doesn’t cost that much more (at least if you do it yourself).
Hope whatever you decide to go for is a good dependable car for you and one that you can have plenty of fun driving.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Cylinder scoring is not an issue on the first years of the 996. Do some research so you don’t end up talking out of your ___ next time.
Have fun with your Prius.
I don't agree at all 😂 The crappy plastic interior is enough to make me run for the hills🥂
You would probably like my videos on why the 997.2 or 991.1 is the best 911 better then.
As for the 996 interior, compared to a modern car, the materials do appear cheaper, although even Ferrari of the same time frame had a lot of exposed cheaper looking plastic. So, some of that is the era when the 996 was made. Of course with full leather it is better and some have the carbon fiber package which replaces much of the plastic.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Let's stop all these videos that talk about how great the 996s are! I prefer everyone hate them and only a few of us really appreciate them. ;)
I only have about 70 more videos like this to make, so after that. Although, I should probably buy a few more 996s first to help my bottom line.
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Best post award.😄
Know exactly what you mean. 996 Targa, bottom of the tick list and rarer than a GT2, that's how popular, but she's mine and she's bloody lovely. Even got the original phone installed lol.
Les mazz. Like the pregnancy class?
It’s all about breathing.
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996 is the best 911
As a 996 owner I can’t say that you are wrong.
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Completely agree - whenever anybody describes a 996 headlights as “fried eggs”, I correct them and say “do you mean the GT1 Le Mans headlights? The ones that replaced the old Beetle headlights?!” I just purchased my first Porsche, the 996 3.4 Carrera in manual with cable operated throttle - I’m very excited! 🍾
Sounds like an awesome first Porsche. That is the last time cable driven throttle body was available, so that alone makes it special.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Nope
Straight to the point. Just out of curiosity what is your favorite 911? They are all very good and everyone has a preference, so always like to ask.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@OurRideLife 997 GTS Manual. Agree all 911’s are “good”. “You said Best”. It’s my favorite because it’s mine, but it’s not “the best 911”. I won’t go there without defining what mission is and defining “best”.
Fair points and sounds like you have a great car. Enjoy driving it as often as you can.
Thanks again for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@OurRideLife All are good in the 911 hood. Enjoy! Agree that they are to be driven. Sports exhaust at 6k rpm is a beautiful thing. I am third and last owner (until my son gets when I can’t push a clutch some day). Two more payments and she’s all mine.