I always thought the Dino's were a beautiful car to look at, and not terribly expensive nowadays to purchase for tracking. I undertand parts are through the roof though.
I say all the 996 stuff tongue in cheek, I bought it as a daily drive not the intended use of a true sports car granted, so I am on shakey ground with that argument though it's not slow. I bought it because I love the marque, and thought I'd like to drive one everyday, and that it'd be a sin to subject my '64C or '89 3.2 to the rigors of daily Washington traffic expecially if there's salt on the road. When the 996 gets dirt on it like it has right now, I don't run right out to wash it - sad but true. It's everything I'd hoped it would be.
Are 996 and Boxter owners snobs? Surely many are, certainly many are not. Are they unaware of the marque? Again surely many are. But ask yourself this. If a F-40 and a 275GTB were to pass each ther on the streets of LA, would they flash?
Was the 996 built for the weekend racer? Honestly I'd have to say no, and for that reason it's hard to argue that it's not a departure for Porsche, but then it's no wilting flower either, and contrary to what everyone is posting on Pelican as the premature death-nail of Porsche design, my car has NO factory cup-holders either, and NO tiptronic - 6-spd manual for me.
On a different subject from a purely fantasy point of view - I bought a issue of Evo last night, and was absolutely floored by the Koenigsegg CC8S. That's the most incredably beautiful exotic I've ever seen, also think the Modena is a work of art. I'm not a big fan of the F-40's styling. I like the GT-40s that are coming out next year and think they were about 40 years ahead of their time in the body styling dept. Take a Ford GT-40 and a new Modena and park them next to each other, and there isn't much difference on the outside in 2003.
Speaking of fantasy, given all the money in the world I still seek out the classics, with the ability to get the cars of my dreams I could drive street or race, I'd be looking for a Jag D Type, a Porsche Spyder, or a Ferarri 275GTB. 8)
Keith