I just sold my F355 GTS. I've decided to buy a 996 and enjoy it until the 360 spiders drop in price a bit more. In your opinion which of these 2 is a better buy? I'm primarily concerned about resale value after 2 years. I will put about 6k miles on it in the next 2 years.

1) '00 polar silver c2 cab with 10k miles for $34k... perfect no stories.
2) '02 red c2 targa with 35k miles for $34k... perfect no stories.

 

That is a tough one, the cab has very low miles. But the targa has the updated headlights, and targas seems to hold value a bit better.

If i were you, i'd go with the targa, but indeed you have alot of thinking to do.

 

Both seem to be great options. In sunny LA wouldn't the cab make more sense? If you pass on the Targa, I would be interested in.

 

From a resale point of view, my 2c = the 02 Targa. A lot of updates were done to 02 and up pcars. Newer 3.6l engine, revised headlights, xenon, interior, etc.

Not sure what kind of driving you do but the Targa is a more solid chassis. 996 cabs are a bit flexible. G/L w/ your pcar purchase and be sure to post some pics!

 

The 3.6 is an updated motor from the 3.4 but the Targa is heavier than the cab.

 

I would go with the Targa... you get the larger motor, better aerodynamics with the body revisions, and I think the Targa top is awesome. The Targa is built by adding the special top to the cab (its not a couple with a huge sunroof) - but if the other car youre considering is a cab, then the slightly increased body flex (compared to a coupe) should not be an issue - and as p0rch3 said, its stiffer than a cab.

Both sound like great deals. What colors are the cars?

 

WOW, both sound SWEET and fantastic prices to boot.....ouch

Here is my thought. Either cars depretiation in the next 2 yrs should be of no great consequence. Say a 1-2K difference between them at the most, if that.
Why worry over this when buying a sports car otr any other such toy?

Don't sacrifice the one you like best over nothing much to talk about...resale

It might alos turn out that you love it and keep it much longer than planed.

Drive them both and also compare the option list and maintenance records
If color and all else is a wash and you are still split between them I would go the targa route.
Fewer of them around + newer

Either way looks like you can't f this one up, no need to wish you luck

 

Hmm- I may be mistaken, but I could have sworn I recall reading an article that stated the 996 Targa is built on the Coupe platform, not the cab platform with an added top.

 

I have a 99 C2 Cab and love it. That said, the cab is over-priced and the targa is under-priced. Given the changes made in MY02 I would go with the Targa (although you could hold out for an 02 Cab).

If you don't buy the targa, please let me have the sellers info as I know someone who wants it at that price.

Regardless, you're in for some fun.

 

34K for a 2000 cab with ONLY 10K miles is overpriced ???



pls...

 

The cab will be more fun, but at 10K miles it's spent the majority of it's life as a garage queen; if it has any issues they have yet to surface since it's been barely driven 1250 miles per year ? The Targa has the Porsche updates inclusive of the 3.6L engine; aerodynamic updates? IMHO the '02 Targa will hold it's value a little better, but you aren't planning on driving more than 250 miles per month.

HC

 

I can only use Excellence as my journal reference, but I thought I remembered reading both about 2002+ cars having increased downforce (15% ??), and that the Targa was based on the cab. I will look through my stack at home to be certain. The only reasoni think I'm right about the Targa, is that I always wanted one, but since I plan to make the 4S a track car (someday) I wanted the stiffer coupe.

 

It might be easier to sell a 16K mile 2000 cab in 2 years, than 40K mile 2002 targa.

 

My $.02 as an owner of a '02 Targa.

If you are looking for a cab then the Targa won't replace that completely, but it will come close. With the top open (it is much larger than a s.roof) and the windows down, it really does bring that open air feel. In addition to the "hatch" feature which is very useful I really like the "panorama" roof - all (tinted) glass that let's the sky in unlike the closed-in feel of the coupe's metal s.roof and the cab's closed top.

The '02s brought some useful upgrades as others have said - larger engine, different vario-cam, glovebox, etc. So the '02 would be preferred from that perspective.

To my understanding the 993 Targas were based on the cab platform, the 996 Targas on the coupe.

The 0-06 acceleration time of the Targa is 0.1 second slower than the coupe, so this is not an issue IMO.

I have never noticed a handling issue in a street application, which some people refer to, maybe different for track use. This spring I added PSS9s, sways and spacers ... it will be a long time before I can extract the full use of this set-up. So again, handling is not an issue IMO.

GL with the decision ... always fun!

Cheers

 

You might be right about the price. I'm going by my monitoring of various sales channels. The 99's and 00's are listing for abou $30k and I know two MKI's that have sold for $26k. I tossed last month's issue of EXCELLENCE that had the market review for the 996...might be a good resource if anyone has a copy.