To say that a car will certainly go up in value is rather questionable, but the current value trajectory of the 996 Turbo is fairly promising because the best time to buy a 996 Turbo was a few years ago, but even now the 996 Turbo is somewhat of a bargain.
The design was initially rather questionable due to the ‘’fried egg’’ headlight cluster, but the Porsche 996 is starting to look more and more appealing as the years go on. The transition to water-cooled engines was also fairly controversial, but the Mezger engine in the 996 Turbo is nothing short of spectacular.
A fairly well-maintained 996 Turbo is good for around $50k, but many people still believe that the 996 Turbo is extremely undervalued, and the future value of the 996 Turbo is only going up. The 996 Turbo was the first 996 model to gather increased attention from Porsche collectors.
It’s rather safe to say that the 996 Turbo is going up in value, but the amount is questionable. Judging by the direction of newer Turbo models becoming more and more heavier and potentially over-powered, the 996/997 generations might be the perfect soft spot compared to later 911 Turbo models.
A modern classic
The term ‘’modern-classic’’ is becoming more and more consistent in recent years, and a modern classic is a 10-20-year-old car that has only gotten better with age. Some models like the Ferrari F360 or the 987 Porsche Cayman R are nowadays true modern classics, and the value of these certainly reflects that.
Modern classic cars are somewhat of a time capsule. A way of going back into previous times, and a way of remembering what a true driver’s car was 10-15 years ago. And the 996 Turbo certainly does seem to fit the bill.
A modern classic has to be reliable, a car that manages to break down often can not offer the proper nostalgia of older cars, and the 996 Turbo thankfully is incredibly reliable because the engine in the 996 Turbo is a Le Mans-derived racecar engine that is capable of a few hundred thousand miles.
A modern classic has to offer decent performance too, and the 420 horsepower 996 Turbo is widely considered as ‘’adequately powered’’ for the future. A modern classic has to offer a likable character, and the 996 Turbo certainly does offer an iconic 911 driving character.
Modern car industry
For an older car to increase in value, lots of modern-day cars have to lag behind in some aspects. And for some, modern cars are becoming way too boring. A 992 Turbo S is incredibly fast, comfortable, good-looking, but a 992 Turbo is not as exciting as a 996 Turbo is.
Taking into account that all the future Turbo S models are likely going to offer smaller engines, a quieter engine sound, more comfort, more sound isolation, and more distracting technology, all the older Turbo models will still offer a period correct driving experience.
The main reason why the air-cooled 911s were skyrocketing in value in recent years is that there are no air-cooled 911s anymore. People who were growing up when these air-cooled 911s were being introduced are now mostly older men with enough money to afford an air-cooled 911.
You can not buy a manual Turbo 911 anymore, and you probably never will. It’s fairly safe to say that the 996 Turbo has lots of upsides compared to the modern iteration of the Turbo, and that’s also a reason as to why the 996 is going to go up in value.
Porsche collectors
In the entire car world, there are only a few designated car-brand enthusiast groups that can match Porsche enthusiasts. Porsche AG treats its most loyal customers with the most limited-edition cars, and the extensive Porsche customer base never fails to appreciate a worthwhile 911.
All of this means that most 911 models worth considering are a fairly safe investment. They will either not lose a ton of value or they are even going to appreciate. Some car manufacturers like McLaren are pumping out new cars endlessly, and the specialty of each model is further questioned every time a newer model comes out.
Porsche does not do that, and that’s partly why some Porsches are more valuable than comparable McLaren models. A 996 is not a limited edition model per se, but as time moves on the demand is getting bigger, and the supply is getting narrower, which also means that the values of the 996 Turbo are going up.
FAQ Section
What are the rarest, most valuable Porsche 911 models?
One of the rarest, and most sought-after 911 models is the GT1 Straßenversion, only 20 of these were ever made as a homologation version of the 911 GT1 racecar. Judging by a few relatively recent sales, the value of a GT1 Straßenversion is upwards of $5 million.
A 1979 Porsche 1935 Paul Newman raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans sold for nearly 4.9$ a few years ago. A 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo Classic Serie ”Project Gold” was sold back in 2018 for almost $3.5 million, this Turbo used an older chassis, but a newer engine, and a timeless 911 design.
Which newer 911 models seem like the best investment?
Many people believe that if you want to make money owning a 911, you should go air-cooled. But as the air-cooled 911 market is somewhat reaching its plateau, many people believe that some relatively newer 911 models are the ones to gather the most attention in the upcoming years.
Models like the 991 GT3 Touring, or the 991 911R are the most promising 991 911 models because both of these are extremely limited. A 997 GT RS 4.0 is always going to fetch big money, and there are no signs of slowing down.
Should I buy a 911 as an investment?
From a financial standpoint, the potential benefits are rather obvious. But, a 911 is made to be driven, and the entire ”make money with garage queens” situation is rather soul-less because lots of these incredible machines are made to be driven, not to be garaged.
While they certainly are a prized possession, people tend not to drive them because additional mileage lowers the value. Porsche classic car collectors are vital for the 911 market, but they also take away some of the most special aspects of 911 ownership.
