996tt selling dilemma...
#16
Hi all,
I'm sure many of you who own your turbo for a while and don't get to use it much were at one point thinking about this.
I drove my car very little in the past year and a half, mostly just starting it regularly, and as much as I want to keep it I just don't know if I should. Even when I take it for a drive, the roads down here are extremely flat and boring, and I never track the car. Other than that insurance is very expensive.
p.s. Moving from a mountain area to a flat area is DEPRESSING.
I never went to a track day, so I was thinking of buying something Japanese and much cheaper that I would actually try and take to the track once in a while. I would feel much more comfortable taking a cheaper Japanese car to the track.
For those of you who kept, or those who sold, are you happy you kept? Are you sad you sold? If you sold what did you get instead?
I'm sure many of you who own your turbo for a while and don't get to use it much were at one point thinking about this.
I drove my car very little in the past year and a half, mostly just starting it regularly, and as much as I want to keep it I just don't know if I should. Even when I take it for a drive, the roads down here are extremely flat and boring, and I never track the car. Other than that insurance is very expensive.
p.s. Moving from a mountain area to a flat area is DEPRESSING.
I never went to a track day, so I was thinking of buying something Japanese and much cheaper that I would actually try and take to the track once in a while. I would feel much more comfortable taking a cheaper Japanese car to the track.
For those of you who kept, or those who sold, are you happy you kept? Are you sad you sold? If you sold what did you get instead?
You will spend more money (mostly headaches) in the long run if you plan to track a Japanese car - bottom line. If you plan to occasionally go to the track, then a stock 996 turbo will easily handle the task with no mods. The difference is the P car is built to take the abuse at the track and then shuttle you to work the next morning with no ill effects. I just cannot think of a japanese car under 100K that can take track abuse like a Porsche without suffering the consequences in the long term.
Also, it just boggles my mind that you would get rid of a 996tt and replace it for a Japanese track car. The experience will not be even remotely similar.
I am not a Porsche snob when it comes to cars. However, I do give Porsche when credit is due. What I state above also applies to BMW and the reason why I have gravitated toward Porsche. So, I am not knocking the Japanese only - I owned a Mark IV back in the day. The average owner of a P-car only utilizes about 70-80% of the potential of the car and basically has much room for growth as the driver gains more experience, whereas many other cars put out good street numbers but would not fare well with track use the same way in terms of longevity.
Last edited by mmm635; 04-13-2011 at 09:04 AM.
#17
track it track it track it!!! you WILL have a whole new appreciation for the car, a used TT is not expensive to track considering some of the other cars I see on the track. I was in the same boat, driving in flat Florida boring roads and only drove it on the weekends, now that I track it I would love to (when I have more time) take to some of the northern tracks with hills. Keep it and come join us on the track.
#19
You will spend more money (mostly headaches) in the long run if you plan to track a Japanese car - bottom line. If you plan to occasionally go to the track, then a stock 996 turbo will easily handle the task with no mods. The difference is the P car is built to take the abuse at the track and then shuttle you to work the next morning with no ill effects. I just cannot think of a japanese car under 100K that can take track abuse like a Porsche without suffering the consequences in the long term.
Also, it just boggles my mind that you would get rid of a 996tt and replace it for a Japanese track car. The experience will not be even remotely similar.
I am not a Porsche snob when it comes to cars. However, I do give Porsche when credit is due. What I state above also applies to BMW and the reason why I have gravitated toward Porsche. So, I am not knocking the Japanese only - I owned a Mark IV back in the day. The average owner of a P-car only utilizes about 70-80% of the potential of the car and basically has much room for growth as the driver gains more experience, whereas many other cars put out good street numbers but would not fare well with track use the same way in terms of longevity.
Also, it just boggles my mind that you would get rid of a 996tt and replace it for a Japanese track car. The experience will not be even remotely similar.
I am not a Porsche snob when it comes to cars. However, I do give Porsche when credit is due. What I state above also applies to BMW and the reason why I have gravitated toward Porsche. So, I am not knocking the Japanese only - I owned a Mark IV back in the day. The average owner of a P-car only utilizes about 70-80% of the potential of the car and basically has much room for growth as the driver gains more experience, whereas many other cars put out good street numbers but would not fare well with track use the same way in terms of longevity.
#20
thanks for all the great comments!!
I'll answer one by one:
ROCK: Maybe, I will look into spoiling my car with something for its 10th anniversary.
pat: Not a bad idea
OS Inspector: I should go drive those anyway just to know how better the Porsche is. 10k in 3 months? Nice! Maybe I should go on a road trip in the summer.
Aerodude: Yep, I know I should treat it more like a car, but... It's so pretty! I guess it's somewhat similar to your friend, mostly lack of time and I have it in a garage so I need to drive somewhere to take out the Porsche, but that will change I'm moving soon.
Hayabusa: Yes please! A Prius!!! haha
YZWILLY: I imagine that's how I would feel as well...
LiNks: The roads might be better here, but the terrain is boring.
Etchhead: Yeah, I probably should.
MY996TT: I have reasons to sell true, but I posted here to get feedback on not to sell, and I did!
Blockhed: Can't wait to.
pinoy911tt: Might do just the same and get the car something!
mmm635: I was thinking about a track pgk 350Z/370Z or maybe an Evo X for the track. Anyway I know the experience will not be even close, after all the feedback I think I will do what I really want, keep it...
2muchtime: Yep I should, where are you about in FL?
Tonka858: Not an option...
Tj Hunter: Just to make sure, you are going to get a Porsche instead of your BMW?
I'll answer one by one:
ROCK: Maybe, I will look into spoiling my car with something for its 10th anniversary.
pat: Not a bad idea
OS Inspector: I should go drive those anyway just to know how better the Porsche is. 10k in 3 months? Nice! Maybe I should go on a road trip in the summer.
Aerodude: Yep, I know I should treat it more like a car, but... It's so pretty! I guess it's somewhat similar to your friend, mostly lack of time and I have it in a garage so I need to drive somewhere to take out the Porsche, but that will change I'm moving soon.
Hayabusa: Yes please! A Prius!!! haha
YZWILLY: I imagine that's how I would feel as well...
LiNks: The roads might be better here, but the terrain is boring.
Etchhead: Yeah, I probably should.
MY996TT: I have reasons to sell true, but I posted here to get feedback on not to sell, and I did!
Blockhed: Can't wait to.
pinoy911tt: Might do just the same and get the car something!
mmm635: I was thinking about a track pgk 350Z/370Z or maybe an Evo X for the track. Anyway I know the experience will not be even close, after all the feedback I think I will do what I really want, keep it...
2muchtime: Yep I should, where are you about in FL?
Tonka858: Not an option...
Tj Hunter: Just to make sure, you are going to get a Porsche instead of your BMW?
#21
+1 to this statement, I come from a BMW background and getting into the Porsche realm for this exact reason. I currently own a 2001 BMW M5 as a Daily Driver, and I would not have it any other way. People think I am absolutely nuts to drive my car in the winter or on bad days, but fortunately enough for me I do all my own work and maintenance, so maybe that is why I am able to afford to drive my car all year.
My current 996tt has about 16,000 track miles on it which were put on early in it's life (It was originally my brother's car and we both tracked it). It currently has 64K miles on it and it still feels like it is chiseled out of one solid steel ingot. All of the suspension arms are original oem and they are in amazing shape for a 10 year old car (You know all about BMW bushings!). My M3 had only a fraction of the miles of the P-car and I could feel the abuse on the car, even after many upgrades suited for the track. They are street cars with track abilities, whereas the Porsche is a track car with street abilities - generally speaking. I have had other cars with a similar experience as well.
I just finished doing a complete overhaul on the 996 and will post up a thread explaining all that was done.
Last edited by mmm635; 04-13-2011 at 11:32 AM.
#22
jeez. if i lived in MIA - i would drive the Turbo every freakin day. awesome roads with no potholes....
__________________
#TeamAIM
997TT SilverSpool - 210.8 mph 1/2 Mile WR Apr 2019, 9.2 @ 168 mph 1/4 Mile Manual World Record , 3.15 60-130 mph , 2.72 100-150 mph , 1400whp E85
996TT SpoolBus - 204.6 mph 1/2 Mile 996TT WR Aug 2018, 9.5 @ 154 mph, 3.23 60-130 mph, 2.5 100-150 mph Manual Porsche World Record, 1400whp E85
997TT SlowBerry - 205.0 mph 1/2 Mile WR Nov 2018, 9.7 @ 170 mph 1/4 Mile , 3.2 60-130 mph , 2.4 100-150 mph , 1420whp E85
ESMOTOR | DO88 | TPC DSC | SYVECS | COBB | IPD | KLINE | XONA | AMS | ID | ERP | SACHS | TURBOSMART | CSF | DODSON |
#TeamAIM
997TT SilverSpool - 210.8 mph 1/2 Mile WR Apr 2019, 9.2 @ 168 mph 1/4 Mile Manual World Record , 3.15 60-130 mph , 2.72 100-150 mph , 1400whp E85
996TT SpoolBus - 204.6 mph 1/2 Mile 996TT WR Aug 2018, 9.5 @ 154 mph, 3.23 60-130 mph, 2.5 100-150 mph Manual Porsche World Record, 1400whp E85
997TT SlowBerry - 205.0 mph 1/2 Mile WR Nov 2018, 9.7 @ 170 mph 1/4 Mile , 3.2 60-130 mph , 2.4 100-150 mph , 1420whp E85
ESMOTOR | DO88 | TPC DSC | SYVECS | COBB | IPD | KLINE | XONA | AMS | ID | ERP | SACHS | TURBOSMART | CSF | DODSON |
#23
OH NO WAY, haha! The M5 will just get "demoted" to track and fun duty I am starting to collect rather then get rid of at this point. I am wanting to get into the Porsche realm because I want to learn more about the car, as I am in the process of putting together a tuning and repair shop for mostly German and higher end vehicles.
#24
OH NO WAY, haha! The M5 will just get "demoted" to track and fun duty I am starting to collect rather then get rid of at this point. I am wanting to get into the Porsche realm because I want to learn more about the car, as I am in the process of putting together a tuning and repair shop for mostly German and higher end vehicles.
I can imagine the 2001 is great, I saw a review of the 2000 M5 on Youtube, the car looks so balanced and controllable. Drifting amazingly.
#25
I've had a six Porsches since I was 25. They were always second cars. I usually put 3k to 6K a year on them. (low milage listed as a second car really helps your insurance rates when you live in San Francisco and are 25). In the beginning my daily drivers were beaters to knock around in. Whatever was cheap and reliable. As life improved so did the Porsches and the daily driver beaters became more presentable. They I got to the point of affording two nice cars, hence a series of BMW and MBZ. Even with M BMW or AMG MBZ, the Porsche always remained special. Not driving it so much makes it all the more special when you do drive it. I can't see myself without one until I'm too old to drive it. Economically, you've already taken the big depreciation hit, since you don't drive it much, maintenance shouldn't be a killer and make sure your insurance company understands its a pleasure only second car. I'd keep it.
#26
I'll give you the contrarian position.
I sold my car one year ago this month. I had a 3 month old baby at home and I commute to work on the train. Combining those two factors, I never drove the car. It used to be a weekend car, but now with an infant seat to tow around, I picked up a Q7. I turned the key on the 996TT only once in those three months (and had a dead battery from it sitting there).
It was a rotten shame for such a great car to just sit there, I was paying NJ insurance rates, $200 a month to park it and it was depreciating daily.
I set an unrealistic purchase and unfortunately someone came and bought it, even after I pointed out every knick, door ding and imperfection.
Do I miss it? Hell yes, but it was the right decision. The sale money is sitting untouched in an account and once I change jobs to a non-train commute, I'm going to pick one up again.
Bottom line, between depreciation and carry costs, it's cheaper for me to rent an exotic 3x a year than own that car and I'd probably get as much road/track time.
I sold my car one year ago this month. I had a 3 month old baby at home and I commute to work on the train. Combining those two factors, I never drove the car. It used to be a weekend car, but now with an infant seat to tow around, I picked up a Q7. I turned the key on the 996TT only once in those three months (and had a dead battery from it sitting there).
It was a rotten shame for such a great car to just sit there, I was paying NJ insurance rates, $200 a month to park it and it was depreciating daily.
I set an unrealistic purchase and unfortunately someone came and bought it, even after I pointed out every knick, door ding and imperfection.
Do I miss it? Hell yes, but it was the right decision. The sale money is sitting untouched in an account and once I change jobs to a non-train commute, I'm going to pick one up again.
Bottom line, between depreciation and carry costs, it's cheaper for me to rent an exotic 3x a year than own that car and I'd probably get as much road/track time.
#27
Just north of Palm Beach small town on the coast Jupiter, PBIR is 15 minutes west, Sebring 1-1/2 hrs north and Homestead 2 hrs south, try it once and see what you think? I'll be at Homestead this saturday, PBIR the next two Saturdays -
#28
yea and the average traffic on I-95 is cruising @ 90
#30
Nice place Jupiter, I'll probably be karting in Homestead on Sunday, I'll see if I can make on Saturday. Are you going on the track on Saturday? What club has a track day there because Chin/Hookedondriving have nothing for this Saturday.