996 TT valuation

[gilbo]

Hi guys and gals, I wonder if any of you can help me with the valuation of a car.
A friend of mine has a 996 TT that I'm tempted to buy but being a git he won't give me a price, only saying 'make me an offer!' (In all seriousness he doesn't need to or really want to sell it, which is why he's not forthcoming with a price.)
It's silver with blue leather (not high backs) manual, I believe it's an '02 but need to confirm as it's got his private plate on. It's done 30k miles and he's had it from a few months old. It has 675bhp, monster brembo's all round, 19" gen2 997 turbo wheels to fit over the brakes and Bilstein coilovers. He also has everything to revert back to standard. It is absolutely mint and I really do mean mint. I wasn't really looking for another 996 but I've always loved this car.
So what are your thoughts?

Cheers
Gilbo

[shantybeater]

Its a difficult one, if you know and trust him then you have a greater understanding of its history, especially since he's almost owned it from new (adds value in itself). Due to mileage/condition in standard form I'd be placing it above £40k easily, with mods on the open market it would actually reduce the value but they probably cost the earth and you could always revert to stock and sell the parts off. If he put it on the open market in a modified state he'd be lucky to get £35k for it (that is the backwards world we live in)

I'd be throwing an offer of 40k at him, if he accepts you have a cracking deal!

Edited by shantybeater on Friday 3rd July 09:19

[gilbo]

Cheers for the reply, that's pretty much the figures I had in mind.
Seems crazy they are so close to 997 TT prices....that is my conundrum!

[Crimp]

40-45k
It will only go up in value.

[gilbo]

Am I better off buying a standard one from a long term residuals perspective? I can't get my head round 996/997 price differences. Surely 996 should be a lot cheaper than 997!

[gemini]

Finding one will be your difficulty!
They are like the proverbial rocking horse -
Speaking to JCT on Wednesday they can't source any!

[Mad March Taffy]

gilbo said:

Hi guys and gals, I wonder if any of you can help me with the valuation of a car.
A friend of mine has a 996 TT that I'm tempted to buy but being a git he won't give me a price, only saying 'make me an offer!' (In all seriousness he doesn't need to or really want to sell it, which is why he's not forthcoming with a price.)
It's silver with blue leather (not high backs) manual, I believe it's an '02 but need to confirm as it's got his private plate on. It's done 30k miles and he's had it from a few months old. It has 675bhp, monster brembo's all round, 19" gen2 997 turbo wheels to fit over the brakes and Bilstein coilovers. He also has everything to revert back to standard. It is absolutely mint and I really do mean mint. I wasn't really looking for another 996 but I've always loved this car.
So what are your thoughts?

Cheers
Gilbo

+ points - good colour combo, manual and low mileage and low owners - must have lots of history

- points - wheels and brakes (but you can change them back) and power upgrade...

Taking it back as close to stock to possible would probably be the way to go, and selling off the parts - not sure about taking the power back to stock though - depends on how this was done.

Price wise - I would agree with previous comments - £40K would be a sensible starting price to secure this - sure that a dealer would offer this and have it on the forecourt from £49,995 in the blink of an eye...

[fredt]

Mad March Taffy said:

Taking it back as close to stock to possible would probably be the way to go, and selling off the parts

Yeah makes sense, take an awesome car and revert it back to the mediocreness(in comparison) off the standard standard car.

Then sell all the good parts so someone else can have all the fun..

Way to go no doubt.

[Mad March Taffy]

If you want to maximise the price/return, then a stock car would be better in the longer term (IMHO)

[Shaoxter]

Mad March Taffy said:

+ points - good colour combo, manual and low mileage and low owners - must have lots of history

I would say silver exterior with blue interior is a bad/boring colour combo but each to their own...

Personally at £40k+ I'd get a 997 Turbo, won't be as low mileage or as in mint condition but just looks so much better IMO. Also reverting things back to standard takes time and effort and money if you can't do it yourself.

[Chris355]

As said, finding good low mileage 996t is now quite challenging. The mileage and condition of this car puts it in collector/investor market to get best money. In order to maximise sale price it definitely needs to go back to standard.

If you are buying it, then I'd leave it as it is, but make sure you get all the parts so that it can be returned to standard.

I don't think the colour combo is that appealing so that is a negative in my mind.

I'd price as above 35-40k, but a trader could get lucky and get into the 40s IMO.

As for a 997t for 40k. Yes they are out there but expect a significant pay off ... Tip, high miles, average condition. An equivalent 7 to the 6 you are looking at will be north of 50k IMO.

Both 6 & 7 are rising at the moment. Whether that is seasonal is yet to be seen (i think the 6 is a genuine increase, not seasonal).

I've just bought a black manual 7t and it took a long time to find it!!

[g7jhp]

Yep like all things Porsche prices are on the up.

Good 996 turbo are sort after and manual cars with low mileage are commanding a premium.

Even the likes of Portiacraft are selling 75k mile tips at £35k.

You can still get the odd £40k 997 turbo but most are high mileage, the nicer cars are closer to £50k.

Looking at other cars around both the 996 and 997 turbo are still performance bargains.

[Mad March Taffy]

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

This is not a bad price - until you see the seats!

:-)

[shantybeater]

gilbo said:

Am I better off buying a standard one from a long term residuals perspective? I can't get my head round 996/997 price differences. Surely 996 should be a lot cheaper than 997!

Gilbo, its all matter of preference. The majority of difference between the 996 & 997.1 is cosmetic, either way it's difficult to say the performance/driving experience is vastly different or better. So the question is how much do you value the appearance of the 997 over the 996? many do, but how much? 5k? 10K?

some say the 996T has better steering and a slightly rawer driving experience. Either way buying one is a complete minefield, they are not cheap cars to run and any used car could have hidden costs.

Personally if I was interested in a 996T and a friend had one (and I trusted him), this alone would be enough to tempt me, especially since he has owned it for so long. The mods are not really a downside, just swap them back to standard and sell off for a profit. I have a funny feeling you won't though!

I'd like to see a pic of it out of curiosity! Is the brake upgrade the Brembo GT's? If so I really need to ask a favour of him!!! (or you if you buy it)

Edited by shantybeater on Friday 3rd July 15:11

[gilbo]

I'll try and get some pics and upload. I hate the wheels to be honest but standard wheels don't fit over the brakes. Speaking to him today I think he's going to want top money to be convinced of selling it. He doesn't need the money or the space and as he put it 'Me and that car have been through some good years!'
I've enquired about the blue one at GP cars as it seems relatively good value but I just feel it's been 'chavved' a bit which puts me off. The lack of bonnet and boot badging always makes me wary.
Maybe a 997 is the way forward for me. If a V8 Vantage had more power I think I'd have bought one of those by now!

Cheers again guys
Gilbo

[shantybeater]

gilbo said:

I'll try and get some pics and upload. I hate the wheels to be honest but standard wheels don't fit over the brakes. Speaking to him today I think he's going to want top money to be convinced of selling it. He doesn't need the money or the space and as he put it 'Me and that car have been through some good years!'
I've enquired about the blue one at GP cars as it seems relatively good value but I just feel it's been 'chavved' a bit which puts me off. The lack of bonnet and boot badging always makes me wary.
Maybe a 997 is the way forward for me. If a V8 Vantage had more power I think I'd have bought one of those by now!

Cheers again guys
Gilbo

Please do, it sounds very much like the Brembo GT kit and I'm yet to find anyone else in the UK who has it (since it costs £4k+ new)

Either way good luck with the search, I believe the one with the missing badge has been viewed by a PHer who left unimpressed by its conditon

Edited by shantybeater on Friday 3rd July 15:34

[Mad March Taffy]

Seats are a relatively cheap fix but I know what you mean about the wheels - bit 'marmite'

[Crimp]

Mad March Taffy said:

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

This is not a bad price - until you see the seats!

:-)

This car is very cheap.
Based on current values don't let the seats put you off, they'll no doubt look better in the flesh.
I would say its these that have held back the vehicle been sold, its certainly a looker and providing the condition/history stack up someone will get a bloody bargain and seats are easily replaced or re-covered

[Mark A S]

OK, just out of interest as I have no intention of selling what would my 2003 996t factory X50, 48,000ms, GT3 front brakes Tubi exhaust system, miltek manifolds, Fearnsport re-map [ makes around 550bhp ] few other nice options, great condition, lots of history, new brakes, rads etc all within last year be worth,,,, ish now ???
Its Artic silver black interior.

Thanks in advance

[Pepsi Max 996T]

I never think it's a good idea to buy from a mate and in the case of a heavily modified car, I'd be even more cautious. It sounds like he is messing you around anyway and what happens if it goes pop . Forget about it and head for a specialist for peace of mind. And if your "mate" didn't want to sell anyway, he won't be offended.