Best Porsche as Investment?

[KH]

I wasn't going to say anything....but thank you, keep 'em coming.

Edited by KH on Tuesday 12th July 20:44

[graemel]

With 40K I'd say mint low mileage 3.2 Carrera or SC. 3.2 club sport or super sport. 930 turbo 5 speed the best bet. But it is a thought as to where will be in 10, 20, 30 years time. All us youngsters where into cars nowadays it's computer games and loud stereo's

[Robbo66]

BertBert said:

I'd suggest a much more balanced financial portfolio. Buying a car as an investment is a completely daft idea.
Bert

I would beg to differ.

[Orangecurry]

I just SOLD the Supersport!

I vote 996 GTx

[jackal]

DiscoColin said:

I suspect the later - just not a 'poster on the childhood bedroom wall' car is it? Great car, but not a game changer nor a classic IMHO. Derivative of a main production model and there will always be a much better one just around the proverbial corner... Much like Porsche (but to a lesser extent) - Ferraris just aren't that rare any more

[I reckon that the revered status of the Mezger engine will make the ones that have it the only water cooled 911s to hold value in the long term and I just don't see a parallel from the contemporary Ferrari range - even the track specials. But again just MHO.]

I'm guessing here that you haven't driven one. If you want to know whats going to go up you only have to look around you to find out what is most loved. The Strad, amongst people who have never driven one and amongst people who have scuds and enzos in their garage as well, seems to be universally loved and deemed to be the last true raw ferrari in the same vein as the F40 and Enzo as a driving experience. Maybe not a game changer but as an experience that makes it very much a true ferrari. Just as you say, other so called better ferraris have come around the corner since the Strad but none have been quite so visceral and raw. In that sense, i.e. As a intense driving experience, it actually is rare and is very special and then there's the noise which is another topic all by itself. Even people who have only passengered in a stradale always seem to proclaim that its an experience they will never forget. Its also one of the prettiest cars of the last 30 years and perfectly proportioned ... Yes looks are totally subjective but on this one I know i'm right

[graemel]

I've only driven a couple of Ferrari's. The Enzo being one and yes very special courtesy of Mr B. The missus was not so impressed at the time
Still fancy a 550 or 575 when funds are replenished.

[BertBert]

Robbo66 said:

I would beg to differ.

I am over-awed by the overwhelming strength of your argument.
Bert

[Robbo66]

BertBert said:

Robbo66 said:

I would beg to differ.

I am over-awed by the overwhelming strength of your argument.
Bert

Wouldn't want to 'over-awe' you further.

[mollytherocker]

A good return on a 40k car in a 'few years'?

A decent return would be say 5% a year, so sell at 45k'ish. However, there are running costs such as maintenance, insurance and tax, so you would probably need circa 50k back.

Possible? Yes. Probable? No. An early 911S or a 924CGTS maybe? It would have to be the right car though.

If the term was a little longer, a Mk1 996GT3 might be a proposition. MIGHT be. The market seems unsure.

However, if the question is, can I run a fabulous car for a few years at a relatively low ownership cost, there are many possibilities, most of which have been mentioned.

MTR

[Aused]

All the investment oracles... spare the man the grief

Your ideas (houses, shares, paintings etc) are no more valid than his idea and you'll find that alternative investments have been doing very well in recent years if you know what you're doing (do a search of returns on leading wine managed funds for interesting reading)

you have no idea what is going to happen and look where mainstream advice like "can't lose money on houses" got everyone.

personally, if you want to 'invest' in a car i think an early GT3 would be a reasonable place but get informed, make up your own mind and take any 'advise' with a big grain of salt.

[marky911]

Aused said:

you have no idea what is going to happen and look where mainstream advice like "can't lose money on houses" got everyone.

I don't know anyone who has lost money on their house from taking the mortgage out, to paying it back 25years later.
Depends how long you think an investment should take to give you a decent return.

My point being that you need somewhere to live anyway and they generally do go up.

Anyway, I don't want to take this thread off topic, sorry.

Edited by marky911 on Wednesday 13th July 00:46

[uktrailmonster]

My money is (literally) on a mint 911 SC. Due to all the rotting piles of junk out there these cars can still be bought for relative peanuts, although finding a worthy example is not so easy. Don't think you'd go far wrong with a tidy 3.2 Carrera either. The key with "investment" cars is originality and condition. The best kept and most original examples always appreciate more and are easier to sell for top money.

Of the newer cars, I'd fancy a 996 GT3 RS to be a potential investment in the long term, although far from a certainty.

[Aused]

marky911 said:

I don't know anyone who has lost money on their house from taking the mortgage out, to paying it back 25years later.
Depends how long you think an investment should take to give you a decent return.

My point being that you need somewhere to live anyway and they generally do go up.

Anyway, I don't want to take this thread off topic, sorry.

Edited by marky911 on Wednesday 13th July 00:46

You want to start talking about returns lets look at more than just nominal values and consider the opportunity costs as well. I'll stand by my comments thanks!

rant over

back to the original question.

I'd say just about any GT3 will have a fairly good future. time will tell

Edited by Aused on Wednesday 13th July 03:12

[bikemonster]

For a car to be an investment proposition it needs at least two things:
1. Room to increase in value. IMO that rules out the early air-cooled cars. They have been "discovered" and are probably at their medium to long term sustainable value. You would need to identify currently unloved cars that have been overlooked by market hysteria. Somebody suggested 911 SC's, which is probably a good call, as they will be dragged upwards by 3.2's. Similarly 964's, which will most likely be dragged up by 993's in years to come.
2. An absence of downward price pressure. A blinding flash of the obvious, I know, but as an observer it seems to me that the sexier 996 variants are being overshadowed by their 997 equivalents. This is similar to the way the 993 overshadows the 964 cars. At some stage in the future the 996 may become the overlooked car ready for a bounce back, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, and will, I think, get worse when the (?)991 is released.

[rog007]

bikemonster said:

At some stage in the future the 996 may become the overlooked car ready for a bounce back...

Especially in the particularly fast colour of Lapis Blue, and not the much slower Midnight Blue...

[KH]

Many thanks for your many insightful replies. I am now of the opinion that Porsches are not a great investment. lol. I've changed the original post below.

KH said:

I have a mate who has very little interest in cars, but likes the idea of owning a classic Porsche, using it at weekends and being able to sell it on in a few years time without losing too much money.

He came to me for advice, but I've lost money on every Porsche I've ever bought and sold so I'm not ideal.My first thoughts would be a 70's 911S but as he only (!) has up to £40,000 I think that's probably out of his reach. I own a 993 myself, but I can't keep track of 993 values. Maybe a 3.2 carrera and stick the rest in the bank. Dunno.Any thoughts welcome but I appreciate no-one's got crystal balls.

Edited by KH on Wednesday 13th July 07:36

[cragswinter]

Well in reply to the change above I'd suggest any pre2000 Porsche would do, even early 996's & boxster haven't got too much room to move & even if they did half in value you'd only be talking about a few grand?!

Of course it all depends on how you quantify "losing too much"

I've said it before & I'll say it again, testarossa (just make sure his garage is wide enough!)

[billy964]

KH said:

Thanks Ben.

I have had a few nice cars in the past that I sold too early and could have been sitting in Barbados now had I kept them. Maybe it's not possible any more. I mentioned the 2.4 911S because I've had a few of those. Highest price I ever got was about £7k, now going for... £60k?

more like 70-90k for a good one!

[shoestring7]

mollytherocker said:

If the term was a little longer, a Mk1 996GT3 might be a proposition. MIGHT be. The market seems unsure.

My rules for a high value collectable car:

1. High profile, international Competition History
2. Looks fabulous
3. Drivable on the road
4. First or last of their type

Its seems to me that the GT3 meets these parameters - certainly the Porsches that have soared in value over the last 5 years have. My last tip based on these rules was the M3 E30 Evo Sport, and good examples are noe £40k and rising.

But I could be horribly wrong.

SS7

[shoestring7]

mollytherocker said:

A good return on a 40k car in a 'few years'? .......a 924CGTS maybe?

This boat is long gone, I believe Edmund Harris was asking well into 6 figures for his examples earlier this year.

SS7