I was dropping off the Alfa Romeo Spider S4 at Mac’s Radiator shop to have the A/C compressor replaced.
It was a hot day, and I asked about putting A/C in our 1975 Porsche 911S Sportomatic. They quoted me “about $10,000” if it is a factory A/C car with all the right holes and bits in place. And that still doesn’t address the $25,000 Matt Crandall of Avant-Garde Collection says it will take to properly fix the broken head studs.
I’ve been driving the Porsche recently and OMG is it a primitive car. Forget the lack of A/C, it has no power brakes, steering or power anything! For precisely that reason, it is a hoot to drive. I discovered it weighs about the same as a Carrera RS, so the car really hustles. And as I can’t use a clutch pedal, the Sporto lets me “pretend I’m driving a manual.” At least so long as I don’t let myself remember the gearbox is similar to the semi-automatic offered by VW in the same era. Our 911 is fun, but it’s a handful.
I started thinking about a 2001 996 5-speed I owned several years ago. It had 60,000 careful miles. I paid $21,000 for it, drove it 8,000 great miles (we used it to pre-run an SCM 1000 route) and sold it for $21,000.
It had A/C, PS, PB and PW. I didn’t even notice the fried-egg headlights while I was driving it. And it was an infinitely more comfortable and refined car than the narrow-body 911.
For under $25,000, I bet I could find a 996 with a Tiptronic (as much as I detest that transmission — I sold my 996 Turbo because of that slushbox) and be a happy air-conditioned guy. After all, I’ve learned to live with and even (secretly) enjoy the antediluvian 3-speed Borg-Warner auto in the Alfa.
I say keep the Sporto and get 996. Why not have the best of both worlds!
As an owner of an ’02 996.2 Carrera (with a 6-speed) I’d say your thinking makes a lot of sense. While unloved by the P-car snobs, I think the 996 is a sweet spot with modernish technology and conveniences, but still retaining the general size and analog feel of older 911’s. Their potential flaws have been discussed to death (IMS, RMS, bore scoring…) – get a PPI and bank the 20k differential for upgrades and the inevitable future maintenance.
I ‘m 50+ years into owning old Porsches. I can’t believe someone wants $25k for head studs. As for A/C, from the picture of the dash it appears to be a factory A/C car. Have you looked in the “smugglers box” in the trunk to see if the components are there? Of course you would use a modern rotary compressor not the old York units. That said, factory A/C on older air cooled 911’s was nothing to brag about. Might be OK in the PNW. Get a 996 Tip, put it in Manual and shift it, it’s almost fun! I had one for a couple years, always drove it in Manual mode.
Why buy another 996 just to have AC? Why not sell the Sporto and look for a 987.2 Boxster (or Cayman), 2009-12? Most came with PDK transmissions and the engine changes did away with the trouble prone intermediate shaft of earlier water-cooled nat. asp. Porsches. They also precede the intro of electric steering so they retain that Porsche road feel. I am not a Porsche guy by any means, but that model is one I have my eyes on.
None of the above !
You already “did” the 996 to great success and as you have said “been there done that”.
Time for a 2009 911 PDK – experience what Formula One drivers experience on every shift –
This one – https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/ac5ceac6-0534-4fe3-a818-cb15e9193671/?aff=atempest&utm_campaign=atempest&utm_source=autotempest&utm_medium=trp&utm_campaign_id=1&utm_trusted=TRUE $44K in California – yes it is a cabriolet but “putting up” with sunshine on your head saves you big $$ when you are looking for the next 911.
Between all of your 911 adventures this with a PDK should complete them.
Sell the Sporto and use that $25k to buy a nice used Alfa Stelvio TI Sport.
Keith,
“Sell the Sporto and buy a 996. It’s the first modern, grown-up 911.” That is definitely the way to go, for your own comfort and safety. Honestly, the 911 without power brakes does not even sound safe. Move up to real comfort and safety – you deserve it!
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY
Keith, you and I had this conversation on the phone a few days ago. What I SHOULD have said is, the 75 will “talk to you” 100x more than the 996 (I’ve had a 77 TC and a 99 996). It’s not the transmission, it’s the rest of the car. You’ll have so much more fun in the older car. With my 360 on BaT (auction ends Tuesday), I’m thinking long and hard about my next car. And for all those reasons, I’m looking at Healey 3000s, 911SCs and early Turbos (ok shoot me cause I want the zinc anti rust thing), and….Aston Martin Lagondas. OMGWHI started….
Head studs – get out while you can…..
Disclose it and move on.