Which 911 Convertible?
Discussion
What should I buy?
I want to buy a convertible that will be used for high days in the summer but I’m not too sure which car I will prefer. The car I buy probably won’t be sold again (if I can help it) – so whatever I buy, it has to be the right car.
I initially started looking at a 996 C4S convertible as I love the styling, I’ve previously owned two 996 Carreras where they have both required an engine rebuild. A C4S manual convertible is circa £25k + £12k for the ultimate engine rebuild. That puts it up to circa £37k. I can buy a 996 Turbo for similar money, but as most new cars are going Turbo charged, will it feel more of an event in a few years, to be in a NA Porsche?
A few more pounds will allow me to buy a 997.2 Carrera 4S Manual Convertible. This mostly avoids the need for an engine rebuild, the interior is a huge leap forward with a bit more space (I’m fat) and I can still find a low mileage, low owner car as it’s still relatively modern. This has to be the best option yet.
However, I’ve always had a soft spot for a 993. I can jump into a narrow body Carrera 2 Manual Convertible for almost the same money.
What would you do?
I want to buy a convertible that will be used for high days in the summer but I’m not too sure which car I will prefer. The car I buy probably won’t be sold again (if I can help it) – so whatever I buy, it has to be the right car.
I initially started looking at a 996 C4S convertible as I love the styling, I’ve previously owned two 996 Carreras where they have both required an engine rebuild. A C4S manual convertible is circa £25k + £12k for the ultimate engine rebuild. That puts it up to circa £37k. I can buy a 996 Turbo for similar money, but as most new cars are going Turbo charged, will it feel more of an event in a few years, to be in a NA Porsche?
A few more pounds will allow me to buy a 997.2 Carrera 4S Manual Convertible. This mostly avoids the need for an engine rebuild, the interior is a huge leap forward with a bit more space (I’m fat) and I can still find a low mileage, low owner car as it’s still relatively modern. This has to be the best option yet.
However, I’ve always had a soft spot for a 993. I can jump into a narrow body Carrera 2 Manual Convertible for almost the same money.
What would you do?
i'd go 993 Cab - if I was going cab. Just because I totally love them!
I was lucky enough to back to back as a passenger in a 991 Turbo Cab and a 993 Cab...............i'd have the 993 personally. Just a wonderful. This was a good one though, low mileage.
Have you seen the price of them though? They've gone up!
Also - some say the 997 will need engine rebuilds too, so don't rule that out of your thinking if you go to a 997 I reckon.
I was lucky enough to back to back as a passenger in a 991 Turbo Cab and a 993 Cab...............i'd have the 993 personally. Just a wonderful. This was a good one though, low mileage.
Have you seen the price of them though? They've gone up!
Also - some say the 997 will need engine rebuilds too, so don't rule that out of your thinking if you go to a 997 I reckon.
Have you had a cabriolet before of any kind?
I had various for 15 years as daily drivers and on the right day (three times a year) they were a joy. But on other occasions, like when it's a really hot sunny day, they were a pain. You end up over hot, wife complaining about the wind and noise, but feel a compulsion to have the roof down, rather than bathe in air conditioned shade with it up, or you'll be seen as a nob. Also, as Clarkson says, any man must be under 27 to own one. A balding 50+ year old in a 911 with sunglasses and a Porsche cap makes me laugh every time.
So I've gone back to solid roof (Cayman rather than Boxster) and don't miss those three days a year one little bit.
We did own one, a 1988 E31 325i convertible, which was kept in the garage purely for those "perfect" days. It did 750 miles in one year, then we got shot of it as a stupid waste of money.
I guess I've answered my initial question... you haven't had one before. In which case you're bound to buy one!
I had various for 15 years as daily drivers and on the right day (three times a year) they were a joy. But on other occasions, like when it's a really hot sunny day, they were a pain. You end up over hot, wife complaining about the wind and noise, but feel a compulsion to have the roof down, rather than bathe in air conditioned shade with it up, or you'll be seen as a nob. Also, as Clarkson says, any man must be under 27 to own one. A balding 50+ year old in a 911 with sunglasses and a Porsche cap makes me laugh every time.
So I've gone back to solid roof (Cayman rather than Boxster) and don't miss those three days a year one little bit.
We did own one, a 1988 E31 325i convertible, which was kept in the garage purely for those "perfect" days. It did 750 miles in one year, then we got shot of it as a stupid waste of money.
I guess I've answered my initial question... you haven't had one before. In which case you're bound to buy one!
Hi All,
Thanks for the responses,
I agree, 996 looks wonderful hence why I’m swaying towards the 997.2 C4S as it also has the light bar going across the rear end. That together with a decent exhaust, it should make the perfect summer car.
The Boxster doesn’t really do it for me. It may be a better car but when I think about Porsche, I think 911.
Thanks for the responses,
The Selfish Gene said:
i'd go 993 Cab - if I was going cab. Just because I totally love them!
I was lucky enough to back to back as a passenger in a 991 Turbo Cab and a 993 Cab...............i'd have the 993 personally. Just a wonderful. This was a good one though, low mileage.
Have you seen the price of them though? They've gone up!
Also - some say the 997 will need engine rebuilds too, so don't rule that out of your thinking if you go to a 997 I reckon.
That’s the trouble, everything circa £40k has above 100k miles and may be ropey. I’ll try to get out to see a few over the weekend.I was lucky enough to back to back as a passenger in a 991 Turbo Cab and a 993 Cab...............i'd have the 993 personally. Just a wonderful. This was a good one though, low mileage.
Have you seen the price of them though? They've gone up!
Also - some say the 997 will need engine rebuilds too, so don't rule that out of your thinking if you go to a 997 I reckon.
DJMC said:
Have you had a cabriolet before of any kind?
I had various for 15 years as daily drivers and on the right day (three times a year) they were a joy. But on other occasions, like when it's a really hot sunny day, they were a pain. You end up over hot, wife complaining about the wind and noise, but feel a compulsion to have the roof down, rather than bathe in air conditioned shade with it up, or you'll be seen as a nob. Also, as Clarkson says, any man must be under 27 to own one. A balding 50+ year old in a 911 with sunglasses and a Porsche cap makes me laugh every time.
So I've gone back to solid roof (Cayman rather than Boxster) and don't miss those three days a year one little bit.
We did own one, a 1988 E31 325i convertible, which was kept in the garage purely for those "perfect" days. It did 750 miles in one year, then we got shot of it as a stupid waste of money.
I guess I've answered my initial question... you haven't had one before. In which case you're bound to buy one!
I’ve got a few other cars and so I don’t expect to do more than 1k miles in the Porsche. It really will be for those perfect days where it isn’t too hot or too windy. Every time I drive one of the other cars on THAT perfect day, I always feel like I’m missing out.I had various for 15 years as daily drivers and on the right day (three times a year) they were a joy. But on other occasions, like when it's a really hot sunny day, they were a pain. You end up over hot, wife complaining about the wind and noise, but feel a compulsion to have the roof down, rather than bathe in air conditioned shade with it up, or you'll be seen as a nob. Also, as Clarkson says, any man must be under 27 to own one. A balding 50+ year old in a 911 with sunglasses and a Porsche cap makes me laugh every time.
So I've gone back to solid roof (Cayman rather than Boxster) and don't miss those three days a year one little bit.
We did own one, a 1988 E31 325i convertible, which was kept in the garage purely for those "perfect" days. It did 750 miles in one year, then we got shot of it as a stupid waste of money.
I guess I've answered my initial question... you haven't had one before. In which case you're bound to buy one!
kev.RS said:
What about a 997.2 Targa 4S?
You can have the roof down as much as you want and won’t look a nob and have best of both worlds.
Too late, I already look like one lol. I really want the full open top experience. You can have the roof down as much as you want and won’t look a nob and have best of both worlds.
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I’m not on 911UK. I agree, 996 looks wonderful hence why I’m swaying towards the 997.2 C4S as it also has the light bar going across the rear end. That together with a decent exhaust, it should make the perfect summer car.
The Boxster doesn’t really do it for me. It may be a better car but when I think about Porsche, I think 911.
The thing that the C4S has going for it are looks, if you like the wide-body and the full width rear reflector it's unbeatable.
The only thing I'd ask is for a summer/weekend car do the positives of 4WD outweigh the, well, weight.
A C2 Cab such as this one is 1395kg and 300bhp, giving you ~215bhp/tonne:
Whereas a C4S Cab such as this one will be 1565kg and 320bhp, giving you ~205bhp/tonne:
Not a huge difference, but you're having to accelerate, turn, and brake that extra mass - which to some extent is why you need the turbo brakes etc.
The only thing I'd ask is for a summer/weekend car do the positives of 4WD outweigh the, well, weight.
A C2 Cab such as this one is 1395kg and 300bhp, giving you ~215bhp/tonne:
Whereas a C4S Cab such as this one will be 1565kg and 320bhp, giving you ~205bhp/tonne:
Not a huge difference, but you're having to accelerate, turn, and brake that extra mass - which to some extent is why you need the turbo brakes etc.
I love 911s, but for roof down driving - 981 Boxster.
IMO all the 911 Cabs look better with the roof up than down - or better still - Coupe
The Boxster was designed to be a 'roadster'- superb chassis, boot space front and rear, fast electric roof, and new enough to get one still under warranty.
IMO all the 911 Cabs look better with the roof up than down - or better still - Coupe
The Boxster was designed to be a 'roadster'- superb chassis, boot space front and rear, fast electric roof, and new enough to get one still under warranty.
Koln-RS said:
I love 911s, but for roof down driving - 981 Boxster.
IMO all the 911 Cabs look better with the roof up than down - or better still - Coupe
The Boxster was designed to be a 'roadster'- superb chassis, boot space front and rear, fast electric roof, and new enough to get one still under warranty.
997 Cab much more comfortable (less wind buffeting) cruising at speed roof down than 987 Boxster was. IMO all the 911 Cabs look better with the roof up than down - or better still - Coupe
The Boxster was designed to be a 'roadster'- superb chassis, boot space front and rear, fast electric roof, and new enough to get one still under warranty.
911 every day for me.
DW
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