Rennlist and 6speedonline are good forums. I would also add PCA (pca.org) where you can find good information. Specific for Dallas/Ft. Worth: mavpca.org. Plenty of local 911 owners who'll be happy to help. Also the poster on here who goes by Buck Turgidson knows everything about Porsches.

2000 - 2008 covers two models: 996 and 997.1. The latter does look a bit different the former so take a look and see if that difference matters to you. I daily drive mine in Colorado so I have a 4S and winter tires to handle the snow and ice. It's an exceptional car in the snow. However, probably not an issue for you so just find the ones that meet your price point and check them out. Even a base model is incredibly fun to drive.

Since I daily drive mine I'm putting about 10K miles a year and that means I need a new set of tires every year. That's been the biggest maintenance cost for me. Since I rotate between summer and winter tires I'm putting about 5K miles on each every year. Maintenance otherwise will largely depend on how aggressive you drive and how often you track it. I've enjoyed fixing a few things since most everything not engine related has detailed instructions available. Some things engine-related are pretty tight given size and location, probably more so with the 997.1.

Good luck in your search!

996 with ims done will be most bang for buck. 996 turbo in that range too. 997 early years had ims issues too. I would go 996 turbo

TSW2012 said:

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996 with ims done will be most bang for buck. 996 turbo in that range too. 997 early years had ims issues too. I would go 996 turbo

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Yep. If you don't mind the looks, then the 996 is the biggest bang for the buck in P land.


Other than that, buy at the end years of a model run. Porsche is pretty good about doing incremental fixes to little stuff every model year. So the longer that body style goes the better it they tend to get.

As mentioned, the 996 will be the most performance per $ option. It goes for a significant discount compared to newer and older models in equivalent trim. That being said, it's rough on the eyes.

Based on my own preferences if I was going to spend $50K on a 911 that I would use for a daily driver I would get a 997 C4S. You should able to find a mid mileage example for that price point. The reason I'd choose that is you get a power bump over the std 911, and you get the widebody. IMO the narrow body 911 proportions just don't look nearly as good as the widebodies.

If that's your true budget I would be searching out the best Focus RS with a tune on it I could find.

Like this primo example: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1088610604927767



These things will give you 80% of the pure performance of the porsche, but they also give you 120% of the fun factor. They are just plain fun machines. Cracking and popping exhaust, Fun Button (drift mode), Too fast to be a pure street car yet can be daily driven with no issues.

A call to Mountune can make these things monsters.


It's a street legal rally car.

Well I see you've got the elitist *P attitude down, so I'll bow out. You and your new Porsche will be a perfect fit together.

FlyingSquirrel95 said:

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Nothing elitist about it. It's just the car that I want. No big deal. Didn't come here to hear all the "you can get this other POS for less money and more fun". I don't give a sh*t. I can also get a Corvette with twice the horsepower too. I don't give a sh*t. I'm looking for information on Porsches from Porsche owners who happen to also be Aggies.

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Well I did give actual P advice further up the thread. I mistakenly thought you might be looking for a fun driving experience. My mistake.


And, I am a Porsche owner btw, and while I didn't graduate from A&M I did spend 8 years working there and my wife did graduate from A&M and I've lived in College Station since 98. I figure I'm due an honorary membership at least.




Good luck with the search.

Focus RS with the head gasket issue and 95% of the interior of a regular Focus in lieu of a Porsche 911, haha even this Ford guy wouldn't recommend that.

I second the Rennlist forum... or like alternative (and one with recent and daily acitivity). Those guys are enthusiasts and, occasionally, are known to sell their cars. Those are the types of owners from whom you'll want to buy.

The "maintenance and what not"... are you going to do your own maintenance? I've saved, literally, $6K+ working on my 986. That was by virtue of a forum and wrenching on my own stuff. Except the Tiptronic. Nope. Shop on Monday.

FlyingSquirrel95 said:

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ac04 said:

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i would go 997 for sure. 996 probably more bang for the buck as others have mentioned but i just can't get past the aesthetics. 997 is a big step up for exterior and a huge step up for interior. i would definitely drive at least one of each.

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I haven't stared at the aesthetics enough to even tell them apart on the street at this point, much less have a strong opinion either way. I definitely agree on driving one or more of each though. I think the only Porsche I've ever driven was a 914 about 15 years ago. I have ridden in the back (I hesitate to call it a seat) of a 356 though. Cool little car.

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You can't tell a 996 from a 997 but are 100% certain you want a 911??

im not the biggest fan of the fried-egg lights on the 996

I am an Aggie. I am a pcar owner. Reading thru this thread made my brain hurt (I am also hungover from a fun Halloween night but I digress).

You don't care about HP differences, you don't care about the MASSIVE difference in looks between the 996 and 997, but you must have a 911?

Sounds like a Chris Chris to me (ticket reference since you are in DFW). Might as well go lease an m4 if all you care about is being seen in a car that handles well...

FlyingSquirrel95 said:

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ILikeTacos said:

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I am an Aggie. I am a pcar owner. Reading thru this thread made my brain hurt (I am also hungover from a fun Halloween night but I digress).

You don't care about HP differences, you don't care about the MASSIVE difference in looks between the 996 and 997, but you must have a 911?

Sounds like a Chris Chris to me (ticket reference since you are in DFW). Might as well go lease an m4 if all you care about is being seen in a car that handles well...

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I'd just as soon have a '70s 200hp 911 as a modern 350+hp anything. If you need to swing your HP dick around to feel special, go for it. Doesn't matter that much to me.

I don't listen to ticket. None of that **** interests me either.

Massive...yeah, whatever. I get the headlight thing. A lot of people have strong opinions. I don't. Not about that anyway.

I'll buy the nicest example that I can, and that may indeed be a 997.2 just by chance, but it won't be because of any HP difference I can promise you that.

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HP differences make different driving experiences. You cite you want something for the driving experience and yet you don't care about the differences? And I am not just talking turbo models here.

You can't see the differences in the 996 and 997 outside of just the omelette lights? Seriously?

You don't care because you aren't actually a car enthusiast. You want to have a 911 to be seen in a 911, not because you actually care how it drives.

You already have your mind made up about what you want, go get it done. Good luck with your quarter/mid/whatever life crisis!

I get you may not like everyone's response or added 2 cents but there is only one jerk on this thread. No one came at you being hostile.

MrsFlyingSquirrel95 said:

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Thanks but he already had his midlife crisis and luckily wasn't too picky on that model either

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/End Thread. LOL

MrsFlyingSquirrel95 said:

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ILikeTacos said:

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FlyingSquirrel95 said:

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ILikeTacos said:

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I am an Aggie. I am a pcar owner. Reading thru this thread made my brain hurt (I am also hungover from a fun Halloween night but I digress).

You don't care about HP differences, you don't care about the MASSIVE difference in looks between the 996 and 997, but you must have a 911?

Sounds like a Chris Chris to me (ticket reference since you are in DFW). Might as well go lease an m4 if all you care about is being seen in a car that handles well...

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I'd just as soon have a '70s 200hp 911 as a modern 350+hp anything. If you need to swing your HP dick around to feel special, go for it. Doesn't matter that much to me.

I don't listen to . None of that **** interests me either.

Massive...yeah, whatever. I get the headlight thing. A lot of people have strong opinions. I don't. Not about that anyway.

I'll buy the nicest example that I can, and that may indeed be a 997.2 just by chance, but it won't be because of any HP difference I can promise you that.

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HP differences make different driving experiences. You cite you want something for the driving experience and yet you don't care about the differences? And I am not just talking turbo models here.

You can't see the differences in the 996 and 997 outside of just the omelette lights? Seriously?

You don't care because you aren't actually a car enthusiast. You want to have a 911 to be seen in a 911, not because you actually care how it drives.

You already have your mind made up about what you want, go get it done. Good luck with your quarter/mid/whatever life crisis!

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Thanks but he already had his midlife crisis and luckily wasn't too picky on that model either

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The 996 can look good with the right wheels and wing

https://www.racperformance.com/2004-Porsche-911-Carrera-4S-Carrollton-TX/6867064

tk for tu juan said:

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The 996 can look good with the right wheels and wing

https://www.racperformance.com/2004-Porsche-911-Carrera-4S-Carrollton-TX/6867064

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Nope