Older Turbo or newer 996

[Brian Minkin]

Chris,

As you are not planning on tracking the car the best value and therefore the least depreciation over the next several years would be an early 996.  They have taken a huge hit in depreciation already.  They have plenty of power for street flogging and are far more luxurious then your targa.  In my opinion your targa is still more fun to drive however a 996 is easier to drive.  A 993 is the ultimate "Air Cooled" but they command a high price tag even with high miles and a lot of flogging.  If you end up needing an engine the 993 replacement or rebuild cost is double what it costs to put a factory crate engine in a 996. In fact the cost to rebuild or replace your 3.2 is probably more.  

The same applies to early turbos.  Yes they have become affordable, probably will have high miles and the repair costs are very high.  And rest assured they have had a hard life and will need TLC.

For highway cruising and flogging around on back roads I would go the early 996 route.