RE: You Know You Want To: Porsche 911 (996) Carreras

[Lucozade]

Emley said:

Thanks

Back looking at Cerberas then...

Just make sure you have big deep pockets and plenty starter motors then.

[Flatinfourth]

BliarOut said:

Flatinfourth said:

Surely caution is required with that rather sketchy engine...?

It's an opportunity to own a sixty grand car... Go in with your eyes open if you're not risk averse. You could of course get a tidy Mondeo with warranty for similar money

Don't get me wrong, I love the way the Boxster drives, not so convinced by the 996 though, and neither car has any sense of occasion. But when values get lower the relative cost of repair becomes more important, these things are not TVRs with steady value, they are depreciating still, and are in no way a classic. Those buying a low value car will not be budgeting for matching or exceeding the purchase price in sudden failures due to a time bombed design, in that situation a TVR has the edge, didn't think I would ever say that, and it is with experience of both.

[Emley]

Emley said:

Er No!

Going to see a 40th anniversary C2 tomorrow

Thanks

Edited by Emley on Wednesday 2nd January 22:53

And hopefully a couple of Cerb's on Saturday

[BliarOut]

Flatinfourth said:

BliarOut said:

Flatinfourth said:

Surely caution is required with that rather sketchy engine...?

It's an opportunity to own a sixty grand car... Go in with your eyes open if you're not risk averse. You could of course get a tidy Mondeo with warranty for similar money

Don't get me wrong, I love the way the Boxster drives, not so convinced by the 996 though, and neither car has any sense of occasion. But when values get lower the relative cost of repair becomes more important, these things are not TVRs with steady value, they are depreciating still, and are in no way a classic. Those buying a low value car will not be budgeting for matching or exceeding the purchase price in sudden failures due to a time bombed design, in that situation a TVR has the edge, didn't think I would ever say that, and it is with experience of both.

I reckon my Griff will outperform my pension

[Blackpuddin]

Nowt wrong with blue and tan in a 911 IMO, my old Prussian blue 3.2 looked good, wish I stiil had it.

[J4CKO]

I really cant see them dropping too much further, even in bright metallic green with Caramac skin interiors, perhaps even a Targa Tptronic its still a Porsche 911, if running ok, taxed an MOT'd it always has a value, suspect the ropiest, leggiest examples in challenging colour combos change hands for 5 to 7 grand in the trade but cant see them dropping below current levels, too tempting already, hence threads like this, even allowing for them being fairly over supplied realtive to earlier models there arent that many out there.

[Horrisnorris]

Been watching these on eBay and here for a few months , been tempted !
I take on board the repair worries - but apart from that surely good solid cars ?
And if not a porker - what else to buy to get loads of fun solid build quality and good performance in this price bracket ?

[Flatinfourth]

Blackpuddin said:

Nowt wrong with blue and tan in a 911 IMO, my old Prussian blue 3.2 looked good, wish I stiil had it.

But that is a 911... Air cooled with all of Porsches history stamped through it like a stick of rock, I'm afraid I can't make the link between a 996 and that car.

[monthefish]

MC Bodge said:

Better than a Boxster?

Much.

[jakesmith]

monthefish said:

Much.

I disagree & have owned both. Different cars but in the final analysis you pay a lot more for the Carerra & I don't think it's worth it.

[Slobberchops]

Flatinfourth said:

But that is a 911... Air cooled with all of Porsches history stamped through it like a stick of rock, I'm afraid I can't make the link between a 996 and that car.

Times move on, if they hadn't changed the model they wouldn't sell much.

[Benjaminbopper]

jakesmith said:

I disagree & have owned both. Different cars but in the final analysis you pay a lot more for the Carerra & I don't think it's worth it.

I would possibly agree, a newer boxster which has been well maintained and in theory should be a safer bet with better performance, could be the thinking man's Porsche at this price point.

Just have to overcome the obvious boxster/poor man's 911 hate issues you may hear occasionally(!)...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[JonLock]

My dads 911 on 118k still running strong. All work has been carried out on it through Porsche JZM and RPM. Only used at weekends really and is in immaculate condition only mod is the stainless race exhaust.

[Dave_ITR]

Not this again.

[Flatinfourth]

Slobberchops said:

Flatinfourth said:

But that is a 911... Air cooled with all of Porsches history stamped through it like a stick of rock, I'm afraid I can't make the link between a 996 and that car.

Times move on, if they hadn't changed the model they wouldn't sell much.

true enough i suppose, but the relationship between a true 911 and a 996 is nearly as wide as an Austin Mini and a BMW one. The 996 is a pastiche of the early car, with none of its character, but just enough styling cues to carry the brand. i don't see anything in a 996 that demonstrates positive progress from a 911, just a homogenised, sanitised and neutered shadow of its predecessor.

What i would love to drive would be an aircooled, turbocharged Boxster, has anyone built one yet?

[hornetrider]

Flatinfourth said:

I don't see anything in a 996 that demonstrates positive progress from a 911

Which 911?

For me it all went downhill after the 3.2. In fact Porsche are little better than Audi these days, may as well buy a TT eh?

[MadDog1962]

As soon as I have a house with a double garage I'll be looking at something like this. The only question is whether a new GT86 or clean used 'vette would be a more sensible choice.

My thinking is if you buy a 10 year old Porsche, or any upmarket sporty car, you need to have £10k as a contingency fund just in case something big goes wrong. If it's something more exotic like a Ferrari or Aston etc you better have even more in reserve.

[soad]

Blackpuddin said:

Nowt wrong with blue and tan in a 911 IMO, my old Prussian blue 3.2 looked good, wish I stiil had it.

Agreed, looks better than silver and black.

[pSyCoSiS]

p4cks said:

I know I wanted to. About a month ago I bought this for sub £10k

Readers Cars: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Pic


and I absolutely love it!

Now THAT is a bargain! They look SO MUCH better than the pre-facelift models.

[garypotter]

It seems like many last year i was watching the market, with a few low £8 some with history and 140k miles, i remember a lovely looking met burgandy on in London for sale,

Yes many horror stories on the internet and I remember back in 98 my director had a brand new one 800 miles anf the ngine seized!! oops, then about 6 yrs a good friend bought a 98 model took it to OPC Gford for a service they rang him after 45 mins said the car was done and gave him a huge bill and an a4 page of things they would recommend be replaced which included a plastic inner wing thingy as it had stone chips - doh!

I really wanted one but i think the itch has moved on to something else, i feel these cars are a bargain and buyers need to get the cars checked over before parting with cash. Plenty of miles left in the 996 yet