I'm looking to buy a used 911 in the next 12 months and would like to get advice from those more experienced than me. I am planning to spend 50-60k. I am looking for a daily driver (probably a Carrera) for the summer months here in Ohio. I have been browsing through the forums and I see that there are some early types (964 vs 993) that are more bullet proof than others. What about some of the more recent types that would fit into my price range? Are there any that are particularly better than others?

 

You can pick up a 1999-04 996 C2/4 all day long for that price range, even as low as mid 30's depending on mileage. If you want a daily driver, I would stick to a boxster or a 996. 993's and 964's are decent models (the 964 being the better of the two, though older), but are not as nice of a daily driver in terms of maintenance and such. You will spend money to keep those on the road. Boxsters and 996's you put gas and oil in, and drive.

Another option would be looking at a new Cayman, or even a used one. Let the 1st owner take the depreciation hit, then pick up a nearly new car for quite a bit less than new.

 

I know the Cayman's haven't been out that long. Have there been any major problems with reliability to this point in time?

 

What makes a 964 better than a 993? What makes a 996 a better car from a maintenance standpoint compared to a 964/993?

 

Porsche did some shortcuts to save costs with the 993 line. They used cheap parts in the transaxles which leads to bent input shafts. They used cheap sheet metal for the door frames, so the door mechanisms will pop the welds, and the only way to fix them is to pull the front fenders and weld from the backside. The Climate Control units are notorious for going bad to the tune of about $1k. I can go on for a long time.

The technology is the boxster and the 996's is so far advanced over the 993's and 964's it isn't funny. The cars are built solidly and they just go. They are also much newer, which means less age related items to go wrong.

 

Doc is spot on! We owned a few older Porsches and they had a lot of maintenance problems. Our Boxster and 996 are very troublefree (Porsche recommends service every 15K mi on the Boxster and the new 996's are 20K mi). I believe Porsche beat out Toyota for initial quality in 2006 (least amount of reported defects). An amazing feat, considering the manufacturing process of Toyota.

If you are looking for power, go with the 996. If you are looking for a fun top down sports car, go with the Boxster. Either way, you can't go wrong.

 

I agree with the comments on the 996. I bought my 1999 cab new and picked it up inmid 1998. I have done nothing to it other than oil and tires. This car is bullet proof. I would buy a 911s but I feel so loyal to this car!

The 997 flavor of the 911 is a better car to drive but the costs go up. I cannot comment on the 993 relaibility DOC sees this stuff so he knows. my two freinds that have 993's have had good luck with them. My only observation is the Cab for the 993 feel flexible not quite as solid.

Lee

 

I've had my 996 for about a week now. And I can't believe how comfortable it is as a daily driver. It's really amazing. I can be stuck in traffic one minute or just cruising and it's just fine, in an instant I can downshift and just take off racing. It's just great! Can't speak on reliability, but from my experience so far this thing is rock solid.

 

For 50-60k, you can have your pick of almost anything in the 993 and 996 range.
For example, there are ample early 996 twin turbo coupesin that price range. that's a pretty nice ride. if you want a convertible, the 996 4s should be within reach as well.
Some Porsche "traditionalists" believe that porsche stopped making cars with the end of the 993 range when they switched to a water-cooled 911. The relative scarcity of the 993 vs the 996, combined with it being the last air-cooled model has seen the 993's price bid up in some cases to the same level asearly 996 models. But as you have read in the other replies to this thread above, you are getting more car for the money by choosing the 996 over the 993. if you want a "classic", go older than the 993.

 

This is SO sad to read about although it's not the first time I've seen it. The boxter is a lovely car but to scrimp on the 'flagship' model just seems so wrong. Is this something that they're rectifying?