I am thinking about buying one of these -advice please

[simonr100]

Hi,
For a while I have been after a nice car for the summer and after ruling out a Tuscan and a DB9 i think a 996 is what I want.
I won't use it much - just weekends in the summer.
I like these 2 cars on the classifieds
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Does anybody know either car? anything look wrong? Are these dealers good?

I am not buying as an investment but my eye is always on the money too- is the x50 likely to always command a premium?

Finally what should be a fair price to pay for each? I am paying from savings so no credit. I don't want to insult a dealer with a lowball offer but I want the best price i can.

Thanks in advance
Simon

[mollytherocker]

Both daft money no matter how good they are.

35k will get you a lovely one. 40k+ is 997t money.

X50 is a premium though, maybe 5k?

[IMI A]

Good choice. Doubt you will get much of a discount though as there aren't many low miles turbos for sale. The X50 has already been reduced £5k.

[Denno B]

Wow, top dollar those are! Are 996 turbo's starting to go through the roof?!

[simonr100]

Thank you for the replies so far.
I won't stretch to £46k for the x50, it looks perfect but I couldn't stomach that - I wanted a decent discount. I have emailed them asking if price is flexible, if it is then great if not I will pass.

[IceBoy]

Those both look to be "super" examples the 996 Turbo.

The more expensive one, as well as being a X50 power pack car has the areo kit, which was also another expensive option.

When I was looking, not so log ago, I opted for a low milage car but nothing as low as that was for sale at the time!

Super examples will hold their value and if it was my money, I think the £46k car with a little haggling could be a great weekend toy. Actually....both are great!!

My 2p's worth anyway.
IceBoy

Edited by IceBoy on Monday 24th November 10:36

[simonr100]

I got a reply, for the x50 they will service it and knock £500 off only.
I think that's too much so it's out of the question. A real shame as it looks perfect

[IceBoy]

I would wait another week or so, so you are in to December!

Then ask for £1500 off and a service!

You never know, they might budge.

I think the problem for you might be they are not depreciating, so they might just want to hold on?!

IceBoy

[Adam B]

£46k for a 996 turbo seems crazy to me - paid the same for a 997 turbo manual, bit more miles at 28k but 5/6 years younger than these examples, and 30bhp more than an X50 as standard (before I mention interior and styling)

X50 carries a premium but £2k not £5k IMHO

X50 wouldn't overly bother me, far better to go for the black interior with some decent option upgrades, than that grey interior with few options to brighten it up, and ruffled leather is my kryptonite

[Adam B]

more leggy but I would go for this one and try to knock off the cost of a rear GT2 wing

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

[m33ufo]

I've owned a 2004 X50 and a 2009 997T. Personally, I wouldn't necessarily agree that the 997 was the better car. The X50 may have actually felt the more urgent in its power delivery and so quicker.

Also, and probably controversially, I think the 996 interior is now looking more retro classic and the 997 (certainly gen1), more dated.

Wouldn't surprise me If in the not to distant future the 996 became the more desirable option. Very boring if we all agreed

[Budweiser]

Surely if you pay a premium for a low mileage car and then actually 'use' it you will loose more money than a a more leggy one with an very good history?

I must say they both look very desirable....

[simonr100]

I understand what you say about mileage but I will only do 2000 miles a year in it so it will always be low mileage.
If there was a nice one that had 30k miles I would be interested in that but I can't see any.
I will keep looking as a deal can't be done on that x50

[hondansx]

Why would you get a 911 Turbo as a car to do 2,000 miles in?

As has been discussed in another thread, the Turbo is not a weekend car. Very competent, but not very fun.

[jakesmith]

Low miles is deluded on an older car, it bites you twice
Firstly they cost more
Secondly all the components are still old and many suffer from lack of use
It is no guarantee that it will be more reliable and in my experience of 3 water cooled Porsches' the older low milers have way more problems including a new gearbox in a 9 year old 997 that just relieved me of nearly £5000
I think both of these cars are crazy overpriced and very poor value, for a weekend car with £45k to spend I'd really be looking at a 997.2S or 997.1 Turbo
I don't understand discounting a turbo as a weekend car. If you're into power it's the one to have.

[Shaoxter]

jakesmith said:

Low miles is deluded on an older car, it bites you twice
Firstly they cost more
Secondly all the components are still old and many suffer from lack of use
It is no guarantee that it will be more reliable and in my experience of 3 water cooled Porsches' the older low milers have way more problems including a new gearbox in a 9 year old 997 that just relieved me of nearly £5000
I think both of these cars are crazy overpriced and very poor value, for a weekend car with £45k to spend I'd really be looking at a 997.2S or 997.1 Turbo
I don't understand discounting a turbo as a weekend car. If you're into power it's the one to have.

Very much this. You want a car that makes you feel like driving, not a garage queen.

Porsches aren't that mileage sensitive anyway (at least compared to Ferraris, Lambos etc.) just look at the values of high mile 964/993 Turbos.

[Xpuffin]

If you could get the std parts put back on this is where you should be looking
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

[mollytherocker]

Xpuffin said:

If you could get the std parts put back on this is where you should be looking
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Worth a look certainly. I would find out why they rebuilt the engine.

Might cost more than you would imagine to get back to original.

[IMI A]

simonr100 said:

Thank you for the replies so far.
I won't stretch to £46k for the x50, it looks perfect but I couldn't stomach that - I wanted a decent discount. I have emailed them asking if price is flexible, if it is then great if not I will pass.

Perhaps buy the other one then. Standard 996t is less laggy hence in many ways nicer to drive. They both look beauties and I honestly do not think you'd lose a penny doing the mileage you do. I'd go and see the dealer and see if you can build a rapport with him. At least he will then know you're dead serious.

996 turbo has better steering, less problematic turbos, more predictable 4wd system than a 997 turbo so I wouldn't fall into trap of thats 997 turbo money. Yes its 997 turbo money for the very poorest examples. A 997 turbo with 15,000 miles in the condition those 996 turbos are is easily going to cost £55-60k. Is a similar condition 997t worth £20k more? I do not think so. You should also try a C2s Gen 2 as suggested - they're fabulous.

[simonr100]

Low mileage cars will always be more in demand, I want a nice summer car, I don't need to use it often, just looking at it and the occasional drive is enough. It's not like it's all my money and I must use it every day.
I want something very special in amazing condition hence buying the best of the best. Look at 993's low mileage are worth far more than higher mileage cars.
I want a 996 rather than a 997, I prefer the looks and interior plus I think a 996 the standard that I want won't depreciate, a 997 still has money to lose.
No offence meant to anybody, just surprised that some say a nice car can't be enjoyed at weekends.....wow!