Learn me: 996/997 Cabriolet vs Coupe

I autocross occasionally. I'd like to be eligible to participate in a good portion of non-competitive track events, like Track Night In America.

I've been looking at the 996, and to a lesser extent, 997. Around here, it seems like the most common car is the Carrera Cabriolet. The Cabriolet is so much more popular, I'm inclined to ask after them. If I choose a Cabriolet, what am I giving up dynamically, how am i complicating my ability to enter track events, and what reliability issues are added?

I already know about the weaknesses that exist across the 996 and 997 range. IMS, for example, is understood. If I have an otherwise identical Coupe and Cabriolet, how does the Cabriolet suffer?

Cab is heavier and not as rigid. I'd say that it depends upon if ypu want to do mods. I went cab because I love driving top down, because I think they look better on the 996/7 body and, well, it isn't a sports car unless the top goes down. I'm old school like that. Also, the top is one more thing that can go wrong.

Oh, and FWIW, hard tops for cabs cost a lot less than a Miata top

Porsche specs for the 996 have the cab being 176 pounds heavier than the coupe. I don't know if that includes the hardtop for the cab that was standard equipment, but could be deleted for credit. I am sure the coupe is more rigid, but I doubt whether most of us could detect that difference.
For track events you would want to check with the sanctioning body to see if they place restrictions on convertibles, and how they handle the 996 cab's roll bar that is designed to deploy for an impending rollover.

There's a guy near me that has a black 2007 997/1 cab with 50k miles for 29k. Seems dirt cheap to me. Nice looking car. Has 19 inch lobster wheels.

Because of the auto deploy roll over protection, Ibelieve most sanctioning bodies have no problem with them. I've done pca evets with mine.

Off the cuff, I think the 996 Coupe had a rigidity value of ~27k Nm/deg. The Cab was something like 11.6k? FWIW.

Let's say I'm a very well-turned driver. What will this flex look or feel like to me? I've read so many reviews (not necessarily Porsche reviews) that mention "cowl shake," but I don't think I've ever seen a good definition, or why I care.

Never felt anything like cowl shake. My guess is that you will notice it if you have a good amount of seat time behind one or the other or you drive them back to back.

How bad is removing and storing the hard top?

Mike wrote: How bad is removing and storing the hard top?

Assuming it is similar to a 986 top, it will be a little awkward but two people can handle it. Preferably two tall, fit people. They make block-and-tackle kits that hang from your garage ceiling, and also little folding storage carts with casters to help you store the top standing up. The hardtop will take up a lot of room in your living room but makes a nice conversation piece. Tip: When installing, put some foam blocks in place to set the rear of the top on, while you get the front edge lined up with the windshield frame. Then remove them and lower the rear into place. I also protect the rear bodywork with a heavy quilt or mat during this process, just in case one of those little pointy alignment pins should come in for an early landing. Truth is, you hardly ever see 911 cabs running around with the hardtops on. Once they come off and get stored, they don't tend to go back on very often.

markwemple wrote: Cab is heavier and not as rigid.

This is all you need to know.

I personally prefer my tops to be rigid.

The damn-near 200 lbs heavier (and probably somewhat high even with the top down) is something, but if that doesn't even include the hardtop, then the prospect of a hard-topped cabrio being ~300 lbs heavier and mostly up high is pretty off-putting to me. I just bought a 996 C2 6spd Coupe and to be perfectly honest, it doesn't feel particularly fast or flat-handling most of the time (although I still like it very much). Adding 200-300lbs fairly high up sounds like it would take the performance edge off more than I would personally be willing to give up.

Add tiptronic to that and im 140% not interested. Personally. That's one of the reasons I took so long finding the right one for me. Most of the cheaper ones are auto, cabrio, or both.

In reply to Mike:

Top goes on like so: put your top down, pull 2 plastic plugs, place top on, latch the single latch up front, tighten 2 allen fixtures into the holes where the plugs were, put up your windows. Under 5 minutes. Storage is another issue. Mine covers the open cabin on a bugeye.

Hard top is under 50 pounds, maybe under 30. Really light. Although I could be wrong. I know 2 guys can lift it 1 handed easily.

markwemple wrote: In reply to Mike: Top goes on like so: put your top down, pull 2 plastic plugs, place top on, latch the single latch up front, tighten 2 allen fixtures into the holes where the plugs were, put up your windows. Under 5 minutes. Storage is another issue. Mine covers the open cabin on a bugeye.

Thanks! I'll tell my wife we're needing a bugeye for the living room. I think my biggest problem is having a place to put the roof. I really don't have one.

Vigo wrote: The damn-near 200 lbs heavier (and probably somewhat high even with the top down) is something, but if that doesn't even include the hardtop, then the prospect of a hard-topped cabrio being ~300 lbs heavier and mostly up high is pretty off-putting to me. I just bought a 996 C2 6spd Coupe and to be perfectly honest, it doesn't feel particularly fast or flat-handling most of the time (although I still like it very much). Adding 200-300lbs fairly high up sounds like it would take the performance edge off more than I would personally be willing to give up. Add tiptronic to that and im 140% not interested. Personally. That's one of the reasons I took so long finding the right one for me. Most of the cheaper ones are auto, cabrio, or both.

Tiptronic is a non-starter for me. I'd consider PDK, but that's too late a car to fit the budget.

I might be willing to sell the 60 in my garage

Hard top is under 50 pounds, maybe under 30. Really light. Although I could be wrong. I know 2 guys can lift it 1 handed easily.

Ok, that's not as bad as i was expecting.