Buying my first 911 - A choice of two, please help

[Por-sche]

DJMC said:

Do you NEED rear seats?

Why not buy the nicer looking (imo), better handling, 981 Cayman AND a 981 Boxster too, for your £65k?

OR, buy a 997 and drive an arguably better car with cash to spare?




Untitled by David Chapman, on Flickr

Edited by DJMC on Tuesday 24th May 12:15

Yes the Cayman was my original choice, but purely as I 'couldnt afford' a 911, I love the 911 and prefer the look. I have always said to myself if I can scrape into a 911 I will. Love the side profit, love the rear, dont 'need; rear seats but camera bag with 10k camera equipment might not do so well above a Cayman's front or rear Axle.

[DJMC]

Por-sche said:

Yes the Cayman was my original choice, but purely as I 'couldnt afford' a 911, I love the 911 and prefer the look. I have always said to myself if I can scrape into a 911 I will. Love the side profit, love the rear, dont 'need; rear seats but camera bag with 10k camera equipment might not do so well above a Cayman's front or rear Axle.

Fair do's. BUT... why not a 997?

There's a far few on the Porsche Approved website and personally, in the same way as I'd buy a 987 or 981 over the new 718 Cayman, I'd be attracted to the 997 more than a 991. Having said that, the 987 didn't do it for me due to space and "old" interior, PLUS I've not gone out of my way to compare the two 911's in detail.

Have you at least considered a 997? Just trying to get you back down toward your original budget, but hey, if you've got it, spend it!

[jackliebling]

You can ask to take the car to the OPC pre-sale for the warranty checkup and add it once you have bought it. Around £2k and exactly the same warranty that you would get with an OPC approved car. Would save you about £6-7k

[GT03ROB]

Por-sche said:

Non Main dealer - But award winning Porsche Specialist

No disrespect to Harbour Cars but an award from 911uk has about as much credibility as voting in the Eurovision Song contest!

[Koln-RS]

Don't agree that Cayman/Boxster/997 are better choices, despite being less money. It's what you really want that matters. It's often the case that this means stretching your original budget, but if you want a 991 then stick with it.

[Por-sche]

DJMC said:

Fair do's. BUT... why not a 997?

There's a far few on the Porsche Approved website and personally, in the same way as I'd buy a 987 or 981 over the new 718 Cayman, I'd be attracted to the 997 more than a 991. Having said that, the 987 didn't do it for me due to space and "old" interior, PLUS I've not gone out of my way to compare the two 911's in detail.

Have you at least considered a 997? Just trying to get you back down toward your original budget, but hey, if you've got it, spend it!

I have considered the 997 yes, it is purely the styling of the new 991 I love. My thought process is, I am better spending 60k on a car I love then 50k on a car I like. Sounds extremely picky I know!

[Por-sche]

GT03ROB said:

No disrespect to Harbour Cars but an award from 911uk has about as much credibility as voting in the Eurovision Song contest!

Ah I see. I am new and naive to the Porsche world I will admit!

[Por-sche]

Well... I have just put a deposit down and I have gone with the Carrera S instead of the Carrera. Semi excited... but the nerves and worry about the cost are overshadowing it a little.

I feel I have got a decent price, I have questioned them about the warranty issue and have also researched online about it and I am happy with it. Hopefully I will never have to let you know how good or bad it is.

It has 1 less owner, 5k less miles, Porsche VTS Tracking, Torque Vectoring and its the S, so I expect to get 4-6k more for this then the carrera, and that swung it for me in the end.

Any advice, do's and dont's or any recommendations on a good part time job are welcome : 0

[Nimerino]

Massive congratulations! Welcome to the fold, and enjoy your new purchase in good health.

[DJMC]

Por-sche said:

I have considered the 997 yes, it is purely the styling of the new 991 I love. My thought process is, I am better spending 60k on a car I love then 50k on a car I like. Sounds extremely picky I know!

That's fine then, sorted.

As for the money you'll lose over the years. Push it to the back of your mind. The more you spend, the more you lose. BUT the more you enjoy too (hopefully!).

I don't worry that I'll put 15k miles on my 981 each year because that's 15k miles of enjoyment. It's the same thinking.

[jackliebling]

you made the right decision...... . . .

[Por-sche]

Thank you chaps. Feel slightly better about this already... I am finding a little surreal though and it won't sink in for a while...

Any advice on insurance? Specialists better or just anyone who is cheap?

I feel I made the right decision too. Just felt like with the carrera I was shelling out 53.6k on a car that I could probably sell for 55 ish. Maybe 56. Whereas with the S maybe it's worth 4 or 5 k more than that... anyway I'm happy. It's made me look at my finances too ha

[Cheib]

Join the PCGB pronto. They have a 997 register day at the PEC in SEp. £185 for 90 mins of one to one instruction on the skid paln, kick plate and two handling circuits. No better way to get to know your car!

I did it a couple of weeks ago and have signed up for the Sep one having picked up my 997 in March.

[RichieRuss1]

Nice choice I too just bought one and it has blown me away!!!

Cheers Richie

[Por-sche]

RichieRuss1 said:

Nice choice I too just bought one and it has blown me away!!!

Cheers Richie

Very cooo indeed. I am now starting to get excited... don't think my friends and family will quite believe it to be honest. Don't think I'll tell friends as not sure what they'd say. I know its not the biggest thing to some people but I have never spent and never thought I'd spend this much on a car. Shame the insurance is £1000

[RichieRuss1]

Por-sche said:

Very cooo indeed. I am now starting to get excited... don't think my friends and family will quite believe it to be honest. Don't think I'll tell friends as not sure what they'd say. I know its not the biggest thing to some people but I have never spent and never thought I'd spend this much on a car. Shame the insurance is £1000

I spent a fair bit on mine too but after a few drives in the thing in Sport or Sport plus mode it is just so amazing that I know I made the right decision! Also everyone seems so happy for me, most say well done, you deserve it you work hard, it's a once in a lifetime experience... congratulations!

Pity about the insurance I managed to get a really good deal due to 20yrs no claims but a full set of OEM tyres on Blackcircles look about £800. I dont think that it's going to use tyres though like a AMG Merc as it's so well planted but we will see!!

I bet that you cant wait to pick it up. I must admit that I had trouble sleeping the previous few nights!

[Por-sche]

RichieRuss1 said:

I spent a fair bit on mine too but after a few drives in the thing in Sport or Sport plus mode it is just so amazing that I know I made the right decision! Also everyone seems so happy for me, most say well done, you deserve it you work hard, it's a once in a lifetime experience... congratulations!

Pity about the insurance I managed to get a really good deal due to 20yrs no claims but a full set of OEM tyres on Blackcircles look about £800. I dont think that it's going to use tyres though like a AMG Merc as it's so well planted but we will see!!

I bet that you cant wait to pick it up. I must admit that I had trouble sleeping the previous few nights!

I like the feeling of 'yes this was the right choice'. 800 is a lot, however my golf would have been maybe 140 a tyre so nothing too drastic.
Yes afraid so, little steep, I have 9 years but I am 27 (kinda lucky do be picking this car up at my age I know)...

I test drove (or was driven actually as forgot my license) an F Type S. I was blown away and went to the Porsche 'specialist' thinking 'is there any point' as I thought the Jag was the car for me... As soon as I looked at the 911 I just knew if was the right car! Then I drove is and its just infectious!!! That sound, wow. Never really put my foot down and put it into Sport Plus once and ran out of room on the dual carriageway.

[sleep envy]

Por-sche said:

Oh sorry, its from Harbour Cars in Chichester - http://www.harbourcars.com/

I was always going to buy from Porsche Franchise, but I have heard great things about them. Let me know what you think. I know what you mean about salesman BS and I am not naive to that and was a tongue in cheek comment when I posted it : 0

Have bought a few cars from Rob, he's a genuine guy

Resolved a couple of aftersales issues without fuss and have no issues from buying from him again

[Por-sche]

sleep envy said:

Have bought a few cars from Rob, he's a genuine guy

Resolved a couple of aftersales issues without fuss and have no issues from buying from him again

Thanks for the reply. Great to hear. You can always find something negative about any company... But I literally cannot find a thing about Harbour Cars, so unless they control the internet, it must be genuine

In fact they impressed me more then the Jag and Porsche main dealers - One main dealer still has not come back to me since last Monday.

[SAG6Y]

I bought my GT3 from harbour cars a few years back. Brilliant after sales care. Every issue was resolved without question via the AA warranty. It really was as good as a Porsche but they were happy to for me to have a sports exhaust.

Congratulations.