I'm a new registered user on this site andlooking for some advice/recommendations from you more experienced Porsche owners...

Here's my situation.

1) I really like the 911 cabriolet from a looks / fun perspective - always wanted a convertible. But I'm open to the 911 coupe.

2) Not sure how much differenceI would see between the 911 Carrera and the Carrera "S" model - but curious to know your opinions. (Turbo is out of my price range)

3) I like the idea ofsome track time at one of the PCA "Driver Education Days" but it's not the primaryreason for my purchase.But would want toknow if the handling / performance is SIGNIFICANTLY different for the 911 coupe vs the 911 cabriolet. I'm assuming I would have a lot of fun in either car, but would like to hear if anyone purchased a cabriolet and then wished they had bought a coupe!

4) To the untrained eye of a newbie like me I can't tell if the body style on the 911 Carerra has changed much over the past few years. The 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 models all look basically the same to me - only real difference I see is the wheel styles. Curious to know if the body style is the same and if Porsche is planning to release a new body style anytime soon.

5) I'm leaning towards the 2005 Model Year 911 Cabriolet, but when I search online at eBay, Autotrader.Comor the websites of my local Porsche dealers it looks like the 2005 Cabriolet model is very difficult to find. I can usually find plenty of 2006 models and plenty of 2004 models, but not 2005. Am I missing something or is it just the timing of my search?

6) My price range is pretty broad - $60,000 to $85,000. Looking for something in the 2004 - 2006 range, but prefer a low mileage 2005 model.

Any suggestions, thoughts, opinions or advice would be welcomed!

Thanks,

Gene

 

Gene I am also anewbie to the forum. So welcome to both of us.

I own a 1999 Porsche 911 CAB.I bought it new. Let me see if i can help a little.

Most Porsche people like the 993 (286 hp)version of the 911. it was built between 1995 and 1998. They are air cooled and have the same ride and handling as the 996 model (296 hp till 2002 when it was increased to 325 hp) which was started in 1999 and ended with the 2005 997 variant of the 911.

I still like my CAB use it regularty even though I have 8 sport cars all of them faster or better handling. my car has been perfect concerning reliability. The 997 is a much better car and the 911S at 355 hp is quite satisying to drive. There is a package costing $17k that raises the power to 385 hp. The 996 requires an oil change every 15,000 miles or once a year. The 997 is 20,000 miles or two years whatever comes first.
The daler cost for thus service will varying between $350 to $500. If you buy a car off of warrenty you can go to most places and spend $57 instead.

If cost and investment is important I would recommend the 993 911.I would not recommend before 1995. While the earlier cars are satisying to drive they beat you to death with a harsh ride and very bad over steer at the limits. The 993 is probalby a good investment where the 996 is not. If you can only afford a 996 a 2002 or newer model is the best choice. They raised the power form 296 hp to 325 hp plus added variable valve lift to the already included varible valve timing. This change is fairly dramatic it gives more torque at the starting line and low RPM's. it make the car feel like a small V8.

The folding top is very easy and automatic starting with the 1999 model year. if i was buying a 993 it would be a coupe. If i was getting a 996 or 997 it would be a convertible.

The 996 or 993 will feel and drive like a perfect car untill tou drive a 997. These are awesome and a better car by maybe 10%. The 2005 model years are now starting to drop to mid $60's. A new 2007 cab MSRP is $82k plus whatever you add to it.

Soo good luck and the good thing is you cannot make a bad decision all of them are great cars.

Lee