Greetings all and thanks for the opportunity to draw such knowledge from a group of enthusiasts! Over the years the car bug has visitedand never left me. I've recently purchased a couple of high performance Mercedes roadsters for myself to add to the collection and nowmy wife informed that she loves the Porsche 911 convertible's, (I think Cabriolet is the correct term?), in any case her birthday is coming up in May so I'm trying to get my feet under me before making a purchase. I hear references to "air cooled" Porsche's which I believe are the older ones? As opposed to what type of coolingfor the new ones? I've toyed with the idea of getting her a 2004 or 2005 turbo but she can't drive a stick and is hardly an aggressive driver so I'm thinking an automatic turbo convertible that rarely sees 55 mph would be a waste. Given that I've broadened my horizons but nowthe choices area bit overwhelming. The criteria is an automatic, (triptronic I believe is the term), convertible with under 50,000 miles but preferably in the 30,000 or lessmile area. Beyond that the sky is the limit; I'm writing for help so I pick the right year. Although Porsches are great vehicles I'm sure they have some years that are less reliable than others just like any other manufacturer.I'm not looking for a maintenance machine at any price,I just want to put my wife in a nice dependable vehicle that doesn't leave her stranded on the road. She'll probably put 1500 to 2000 miles a year on it so I don't want something already used up as she'll be incredibly easy on it. What to look out for or stay away from, I've read that 2003 was a big model changeare they better or worse after this year? Are turbo's worth it? Meaning are they significantly more desireable and therefore retain the valuebetter over the long haul. Notlooking to resell by any means but eventually it like everything else we own will be sold at some time; justbeing a realist. Any help would be great and again thanks in advance for allowing arookie to benefit from some of your hard earned knowledge I truly understand just how valuable that is.

 

Hi
Thinking about your requirements, I think you are clear it has to be tiptronic. As further consideration of your wife and her safety, I thinkI would also go for a 4WD version, which gives a little more security in the wet or on greasy roads.
I think I would look for the older model 3596cc 996 4S Cabriolet with Tiptronic. These should be possible to buy at a reasonable price. This also benefitsfrom the uprated brakes as fitted to the Turbo, another safety feature to support your wifes Porsche encounter.
This model has the wider Turbo body and should give you the best of both worlds.

But if you feel that your wife could cope with it, the 996 Turbo with Tiptronic is a formidable vehicle giving a good package compared to the 997 prices.

Best Regards Big Bob

 

Thanks for the help Bob. Looking at the 996 and 997 it appears as though they're some type of an off shoot from the 911? If so, what's the difference in the 996, 997, 911? Also I don't know if I mentioned but a roadster is what I'll need to get her.

 

Hi
The very first 911 appeared in the late 60's and was aircooled. Then to differentiate as new derivatives of the 911 came along thet gave them new derivative numbers. So in more recent years there was the 964, followed by the 993, then the first water cooled 911 or 996, and the current model is the 997.
My recommendation is for the 996 which in the 3596 cc engine, provides much without the expense of the later 997 which essentially started appearing in 2005 in numbers. So a 2003/4 996 Carrera 4S Cabriolet would be my suggestion for the reasons already given.
Best Regards Big Bob

 

Great information Bob! Thank you. What is better? Air cooled or water cooled? As far as the body style goes I'm pleased with the asthetics back into the early 90's so I'm basically considering the quality of the automobile. Also what was the first year of 996? First year runs seem to be a good year not to buy. When I purchased my SL55 I learned quickly that 2003 and early2004 were not goodyears forcertainmechanical aspects so I paid a bit more for a 2005 which was great information.

 

Hi
I understand the dilemma. I have the 5.5litre SL500, which was infinitely better than the original 5.0litre version. My S500 is the original 4961cc version so I know what I'm talking about. However the SL55 is a great car whatever year.
Now Air Cooled or Water Cooled Porsche 911? The purists believe that the air cooled 993 was the pinacle of the marque. Certainly from reading the tales etc the first of the 3.4litre watercooled 996's were apparently troubled with engine internal leak problems and interior trim quality/durability issues.
If you go on the official Porsche Pre Owned Website for the USA per :http://www12.porsche.com/usa/pre-owned-vehicles/search/
You will find that there are a total of 36x 993s of all derivatives (your choice of Cabriolet with Tiptronic very very limited), while there are 38x 996 Carrera 4S 320 BHP Cabriolets to choose from. The interesting thing is that the prices of the cheapest cars in both categories start at around US$ 75,000. For info there are 26 Carrra 4 997's (equivalent to 996 Carrera 4S) for sales but prices are nearer US$ 100,000. (Note the 997 Carrera 4S has a 3.8 litre engine with 355 BHP compared to the Carrera 4 997 @325 BHP).
On a practical basis time impacts any car however well built and protected, so the 993 is now a little old in the tooth, and as a practical every day car, it perhaps is not such as good a deal as say the younger 3.6 litre 996.
In the end you will need to look at them all ie 993, 996, and 997 to see which appearance design you like the most versus price and useability. Colour is a key issue. Brighter colours are on their way back. The market is saturated with Silvers and Seal Greys etc. I've got a Speed Yellow996 and I'm very happy. Certainly on the USA Porsche Website there is a Speed Yellow 996 Carrera 4S Cabriolet with a Black Hood that looks great!
Anyway I hope that helps and does not confuse you further.
Regards Big Bob

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Hi Oklahoma
After I signed off I went back to the US Porsche Website, and rechecked out the 996 Carrera 4S Speed Yellow with Black Hood. 11,801 Miles, Tiptronic, and US$ 78,000.
There are only 2 993 Tiptronic Cabriolets, all high mileages but arounf $50,000.
Happy hunting!!
Big Bob

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Hi Oklahoma
Have a look at www.total911.co.uk, there is a good article on pages 56 to 65, on the 993 vs the 996. Get an internet copy through the website.
There is also an article on my 996 Carrera 2 on pages 88-95.
Regards Big Bob

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Thanks for the information on the different body styles. After viewing all the different body styles out there I believe the 1995 to 1998 is the most appealing asthetically; this is a 993 correct? Any issues from any particular years of this car?

 

Yes, there is a problem with 96-98 993 cars having to do with an emissions issue which causes a CEL and failed emissions test. The 1995 version of this car does not have the CEL issue even though it can have the same fault, it will not fail emissions testing. That is if this is a concern of yours. 1995 is a OBDI and 96 and later are OBDII.

You may want to do a search on this issue as it is a well known problem.

If I were you, I would go with the water cooled cars and of those, I would get a 997 model which first came available in MY 2005. But if you want a C4S, in 2005 it was still a 996.