996 911 vs FRS/BRZ

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by Cjymiller

Where the 996 is ugly is the steering wheel, head unit, and climate controls. Its like a 90's Taurus!

The 3-spoke steering wheel isn't bad. I know there are some versions that have the old-school 4-spoke wheels, which are ugly to me. The dashboard would need an update, but the enjoyment I get from driving far outweighs the styling queues. Pardon the expression: fat girls and mopeds are fun to ride, but you wouldn't want to be caught on one. But there is more to enjoy.... lol

[korhun]

TLDR and read but couldn't understood some parts, so I hope I'm not very irrelevant here.


Unless my house is not something like this:


I wouldn't bother how my car looks. I think outside look is for the other drivers and what is inside and the feel of the car is for you. I cannot see how cool my car looks, while driving it. And I don't have time and will to sit near and watch it all day.

I hate to look at this car at almost every angle, but especially:



But if I did not have a chance to buy a BRZ, I would definitely buy it. I don't like the look of Miata ND, but if I could fit inside, I would bought it in the first place.

And I love the look of this car at every angle:

but I'd never bought it.... OK. I would. But not to use it. To sit near and watch it all day.

[bfrank1972]

You could make the same argument about people and vanity. Untold fortunes are spent every year on fashion, cosmetics, plastic surgery, you name it. People like to make an impression. Also there is an aesthetic component - the way a car looks can just make people feel good. Just like looking at a beautiful painting, or beautiful architecture. I personally agree form should follow function, but that doesn't mean form isn't important

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by bfrank1972

You could make the same argument about people and vanity. Untold fortunes are spent every year on fashion, cosmetics, plastic surgery, you name it. People like to make an impression. Also there is an aesthetic component - the way a car looks can just make people feel good. Just like looking at a beautiful painting, or beautiful architecture. I personally agree form should follow function, but that doesn't mean form isn't important

This is the explanation every time someone pits this car (or any other car) against the miata. So much vanity.

[Lantanafrs2]

I still get compliments on my car at least once a week. Imo miatas are too small and look like a gay giants rollerskate.

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

I still get compliments on my car at least once a week. Imo miatas are too small and look like a gay giants rollerskate.

To that I'd say you need to be more specific because there are four generation models of Miata. I'd also say, you should drive/thrash an MX-5 club car and see if you feel differently (assuming you fit, I know I'm too tall in the legs).

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by bfrank1972

You could make the same argument about people and vanity. Untold fortunes are spent every year on fashion, cosmetics, plastic surgery, you name it. People like to make an impression. Also there is an aesthetic component - the way a car looks can just make people feel good. Just like looking at a beautiful painting, or beautiful architecture. I personally agree form should follow function, but that doesn't mean form isn't important

Vanity is a funny topic. I bought my 11-yr old LS460 barely used (27,500 miles) for $20k. Brand new it was optioned to $75k. Everyone I've run into (my family, relatives, friends) assume "Wow, ROFL is doing well, that's a beautiful Lexus, must be nice." Other people assume you bought it new (when it's in great shape of course). I will admit that I do enjoy the vanity however petty it is lol, but I like to bargain shop which is exactly why the 996 came into scope, and why other fun cars (Gen 1 NSX) are also tantalizing my interests in a fun weekend/good-weather car. I still love the 86 to death since it goes back to my roots of slow-car-fast enjoyment, but I also don't own one yet lol.

To me, a car is an extension of your personality, and what you choose to do with it will be represented in a conglomerate of categories including but not limited to vanity, functionality/utility, drivability, livability, words words words....

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Cjymiller

Unpopular Opinion: I like the headlights, once you get the orange from the indicator out of there.

Where the 996 is ugly is the steering wheel, head unit, and climate controls. Its like a 90's Taurus!

Outside the car is fineeeee.

Most 911s came with hideous steering wheels.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Cjymiller

Unpopular Opinion: I like the headlights, once you get the orange from the indicator out of there.

Where the 996 is ugly is the steering wheel, head unit, and climate controls. Its like a 90's Taurus!

Outside the car is fineeeee.

Well it was their first attempt at a 911 without a 1960s interior.. but yeah it wasn't the best. I almost bought a 996 but noticed how badly it was leaking oil. Funny there was no oil stain under the car when I arrived (salesguy knew I was coming so likely moved it) but after parking it and looking over it again you could see the oil dripping off it.

I still kind of want a 996 GT3 even though I have faster, and more reliable, track cars already.

[serialk11r]

I like how the 996 looks on the outside, but man the interior is BAD. I think the 997 interiors were pretty bad too. The 981/991s finally had a nice interior.

Engine is definitely a problem, I guess if you like it enough you can get LN Nickies put in. I kind of wonder what it would be like with a Honda J35 though lol, that would shed over 100lbs.

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Most 911s came with hideous steering wheels.

get the black interior and it takes care of the problem. That is just a hideous color 🤮

[porsche550s]

not a 996 but just upgraded from my FI BRZ to a 987.2 cayman and wouldn't go back in a heart beat. so much better power delivery and much higher build quality. completely agree that the 996 is an older car so it comes with much higher possible maintenance costs but with a little shopping around you can find a well sorted example that requires minimal work. just my 2 cents and I know the 996 and the 987.2 are two different beasts but still similar amounts of fun factor. and the 996 is hard to beat cost for performance.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Stomachbuzz

Right before my FRS, I had a 1997 Boxster project. Mine had the 2.5L flat-6, vs the Boxster S models that share the 3.2 flat-6, 6MT with the 996.

The Boxster is nearly identical from the doors forward. It had a lot of parts stamped "996"
It was really just like a smaller, roadster version of the 996. Most of the interior is the same as well.

Anyways, the car was a mess. And not because it was a project. It had 45k miles, and mechanically was fine. Despite being rated at "201" hp, my FRS felt like a rocketship in comparison. The Boxster also didn't handle in any sort of remarkable way. Looking over the car, there were a number of awkward or downright stupid things Porsche did when designing that platform. Many, many excuses made by owners.
It was ridiculous. The FRS was vastly superior in every way. Power, handling, reliability, comfort, road noise, modern features, etc.

As far as the 996 specifically, I actually did try to buy one, which is how I ended up with the poor Boxster.
A cheap 996 is ~$13k. That's for a clapped out one with the weird automatic trans.
The 75k mile ones start around $18k, and it's mid $20s for anything "fresh".
Again, that's for a car old enough to vote...that still needs to be 'gone through'.

Having driven my aunt's Boxster from around the same time period, I can say for certain I would rather have the FRS. Though I guess that's not the comparison here...

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by porsche550s

not a 996 but just upgraded from my FI BRZ to a 987.2 cayman and wouldn't go back in a heart beat.

I just sold my 987.2 Cayman because for me the BRZ is a more fun car to drive on the street. I drove them both on the street and track for a year to decide which I would keep, and BRZ won. The Cayman's steering is too slow for me, and I'm really not a fan of the nonlinear ratio. I've never been a fan of big caster and the Porsche has a ton, makes the steering unnecessarily heavy which doesn't equate to "feel" for me. The BRZ is a lot more engaging and fun in real-world driving. At the track they're both great (with mods for front camber), and of course the Cayman is much faster at most tracks, though the BRZ was within 4 tenths at Thompson, on inferior tires...