So the wife has cleared me to move on from my E46 M3 to a 911 turbo. Funds won't allow a new 997, so I'm looking into a 996 or older car.

It'll be my daily driver and see 6-8 track weekends a year. So the "normal" civilities are needed and they have to work, things like A/C, not overheating in traffic etc etc.

My question is, does that preclude any of the earlier generations of 911 turbos like the 964, 993 etc?

996TT without a doubt, more civil than earlier generations. Many of us run our TTs in exactly the way you describe.

+1 for the 996TT. I moved from an e46 to a 996TT. Though the suspension is obviously set up a little racier (read rougher ride) than the BMW was, it is every bit as refined a daily driver...with a boat-load more torque and ponies meaning many many more

I can't speak for the 964 and 993, but I can give you my 2 cents on the 996 as I'm on my second one.

In my opinion, bang for your buck, a well-kept 996 TT is the most incredible supercar bargain in the world today.

Out of the box you get 415 HP in an ultra-reliable, almost bullet-proof package. The maintenance cost (assuming you stay away from dealerships and find a reliable indy mechanic) is no higher than that of an average family car. Except this is anything but an average family car.

There are a few things to look out for (2nd gear pop-out on 6-speed manuals for instance), all of which will likely have been caught before you buy the vehicle.

Get an independent PPI (by a trusted/neutral third party) and pay the extra for the compression check.

I bought my first 996 TT (a 2001 Tiptronic with 37K Miles) in 2007 and sold it in 2009 after I put 25,000 trouble-free miles on it. My only expenses were:
- oil changes
- 45K service ($1,100)
- tires
- brakes
- 1 MAF sensor ($300)

I bought my second 996TT (a 2002 X50 Tip) 6 months ago and same story so far. the only things I had to deal with, were aftermarket components put on by the previous owner.

It is my understanding that 964 and 993 turbos are less bullet-proof and more expensive, both to purchase and maintain. Plus you'll have a harder time finding a low-mileage one, as these are older vehicles...

I tried hard to look for another car after my first 996TT (Maserati, BMW, even some older Ferrari's) but I could not find anything comparable out there that I could use as a reliable daily driver and that would put a grin on my face every day of the week.

My last car was Z4 M roadster and I am very please with 996TT as a daily driver. It feels more relaxed yet more planted. I looked at 993TTs as well but 996 being newer with more safety equipment did it for me. Hope you find one soon though. Good luck!

if you want to modify a car and get some extra performace out of a vehicle, getting a 996tt is a no brainer. also the cars have depreciated considerably and easily the best bang for your buck. i wouldn't look at a 993tt for a daily driver but i would definitely consider a NA 993; if you change the suspension on it and keep the tach 4k to 5k when you drive, you'll have a permanent smile on your face. the A/C is a little whimpy but i see that you live in denver so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. good luck.

I sold 993 last year. Bought 996tt 3months ago.
For your DD, 996tt should suit better due to newer year. Interior, equipment, ac etc are newer. So you could enjoy more without have to repair often.
But if you you want a weekend cool car, 993tt is also good choice.

So how easy/hard is it to locate a car with heated sports seats (how many seats were available, just "regular" and sport like my 944 turbo, or other kinds?), xenon headlights, 3 spoke wheel, etc?

I know these cars were ala carte when ordering, did most of them come over with a basic menu of options and most of the other options were things like Nav and different trim packages?

did you resolve your issues with aman on those p seats?

Hey Doc,

These cars a VERY similar in many ways to the B5's. They work very well in the snow (if you choose), are VERY civilized dd's, and as you know from Mark D's experiences do very well on track/one lap.

Drop me an email if you have any specific questions. I would love to help!

Yep, took care of that dispute with Aman.

Tony, I'll give you a ring...

Just to chime in... I drove a 964 for 2 years (in decent weather) and it never failed me, but i will never look back now that i have a TT. The 964 has a vintage feel, and it will be a money pit now that theyre all at least 15-16 yrs old...the TT is a bit overpowered for daily use and an aftermarket clutch with extra power can be choppy in stop and go grind....

I have had many 911 and would have to agree the 996TT is as DD as it gets. But with a little more input on the gas you have a supercar at full tilt. cant get much better than that IMHO. My 930 was and is in no way a firendly DD for me.

I have had my car now for 6 months. I can honestly say the 996TT as DD lives up to the hype. 90% of everything said on this board relating to DD advice is spot on.

As a testament to DD status, I switched to Blizzak LM-60s around T-giving and we have had 30inches of snow in Omaha in December alone. I have bombed past four wheel drives and the PSM works.

What sizes did you get for the Blizzak LM-60?