Buying used from OPC

[lavaman]

Hi Folks

Having just recently sold my March 03 M3 I've decided it is time to go for a 911. Not sure about the looks of the 997 and judging from pics of the 997 I'm in the opinion that the 996 looks better. Having recently driven the 996 C4S I thought the 911 is definately the next step for me.

I'm holding back from buying until after September in anticipation of a slight drop in 996 values (heres hoping). My budget is £60k so that can get me into a 996 C4S,mk 1 GT3 or possibly even a 996 Turbo.

Having sold the M3 for £34k after running it for 15 months from new (£41k new), I'm looking for used to benefit from a bit of depreciation.

I'm also wondering even if I'm looking to purchase a used 911 from OPC, will a professional inspection be recommended as I'm not really keen on buying a lemon?

And for £60k, what's your recommendation?

[bosshog]

Get a 996 turbo if its your daily car, or a GT3 if you've got another car.

Personally love the look 997.
The basic 996 is very plain IMO, but the GT3,C4S,etc look good.

Regarding buying from an OPC - I'm undersided about this, as I currently think about that - the only advantage for me is the warrantee, other than that I'd buy private or specialist (with an OPC inspection).

IMHO of course

[kamal996]

lavaman said:

Hi Folks Having just recently sold my March 03 M3 I've decided it is time to go for a 911. Not sure about the looks of the 997 and judging from pics of the 997 I'm in the opinion that the 996 looks better. Having recently driven the 996 C4S I thought the 911 is definately the next step for me. I'm holding back from buying until after September in anticipation of a slight drop in 996 values (heres hoping). My budget is £60k so that can get me into a 996 C4S,mk 1 GT3 or possibly even a 996 Turbo. Having sold the M3 for £34k after running it for 15 months from new (£41k new), I'm looking for used to benefit from a bit of depreciation. I'm also wondering even if I'm looking to purchase a used 911 from OPC, will a professional inspection be recommended as I'm not really keen on buying a lemon? And for £60k, what's your recommendation?

Go ahead and buy from an OPC if you feel like spending £7k more than you need to!

[JamieBeeston]

kamal996 said:

Go ahead and buy from an OPC if you feel like spending £7k more than you need to!

But getting the piece of mind you need, and the legal comeback should it prove neccesary

£7k ? learn to haggle

I wouldnt buy £60k car privately!

Dealer please. foster a relationship.. always good.

just make sure you buy the car from the right dealership, regardless of where it is at present.

[poorcardealer]

You should get a keen deal on a 996 when the 997 arrives as there will be more around the dealer network than they want.
Your the first person I have heard diss the look of the 997......good luck with your purchase

[lavaman]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think the best thing to do is to wait until 997 arrives then see what's available out there. I'm sure they'll be some good deals out there by September.

On the looks of the 997, for me the jury is still out but I'll reserve judgement until I see it in the metal. I'm willing to bet the 997 will be a grower though. I'll just have to wait and see. I may even try out a 996 Turbo to see the difference between this and the C4S.

[mikejt]

The difference in performance between a C4S and a Turbo will astonish you: 320 vs 420 bhp doesn't tell half the story. Also don't expect any noticeable dip in 996 values until early next year as they will probably trickle thro' early 997's in the first few months. 997's will probably command a premium for a couple of months thus supporting 996 values. Turbos will not get hit by the next one for the foreseeable as it's not due any time soon. Try one and buy one now and enjoy!

[kamal996]

JamieBeeston said:

kamal996 said: Go ahead and buy from an OPC if you feel like spending £7k more than you need to! But getting the piece of mind you need, and the legal comeback should it prove neccesary £7k ? learn to haggle I wouldnt buy £60k car privately! Dealer please. foster a relationship.. always good. just make sure you buy the car from the right dealership, regardless of where it is at present.

£7k for piece of mind!!! What piece of mind do you need on a nearly new car? They come with a 2 year warranty and its not that difficult to check provenence. Contact Porsche UK, do a HPI, contact any dealers who have serviced the car/sold the car and make sure that you are buying from the owner in a private sale. If its on finance then all the better as you are paying the finance company directly and they will be the beneficiaries of much of the money you pay for the car.

From my experience of trying to buy a Porsche from a main dealer its fruitless to haggle. On each occaison I have bought a Porsche I have visited/contacted main dealers with no joy. I now stick with independents such as RSJ or Portiacraft etc. These guys are 5-7k cheaper than main agents and care much more about their reputation then some wage slave.

Foster a relationship with who? Some sales guy or service mechanic who will be at a stealership for no more than 2 years before they are fired for not having met their targets (ie overcharged customers for anything and everything).

I would suggest that you have a look at some of the accounts of these dealerships..concentrate on the gross margin figure...

I also suggest that you read Autocar coloumn about buying from OPCs. It was very negative and illustrated my own experience of these guys.

>> Edited by kamal996 on Monday 14th June 13:50

[Cyrus1971]

Go OPC only if you want a warrantee. I have one on my 996TT and frankly they are very stand offish about honouring claims so I have to question the value of it. See seperate thread.

Car wise 996TT is the only choice in my opinion. It is truly accumplished in all the places the standard 996 is ordinary. 60K will get you a mid 2001 (but pre glove box) RHD, 996TT.

Test drive them back to back at an OPC and you will never even look at a non TT again - your heart will be set.

[lavaman]

Can anyone suggest some reputatable idependents I can try? Mid £60k for a used 996 TT is mightily tempting. Are the running costs on a TT much over a C4S? I have an everyday runabout so will be looking to do about 6k miles a year.