Very Approximate Valuation, 996 TT

[mls678]

A mate of a mate is selling his car and I'm potentially interested. But I'm needing some PH advice on what you guys think it's worth before I possibly go and see it.

2002 996 TT
60k
Silver, Manual
Cat D, but repaired to a good standard (I'm told, but will take this with a pinch of salt for the time being)
Engine has just seized. I'm told the present keeper has been quoted £10k+ to fix it. Reckon a new engine might be a better bet, but haven't investigated this option yet either.

Clearly I'm not buying it as an investment but any thoughts on what it might be worth in it's current state and if repaired?

Cheers

[shoestring7]

I think you're better off looking at the cost of rebuilds. If I recall correctly a new engine for a 996t is around £30k.

SS7

[IMI A]

if it wasn't a cat d id say £10k but as its on the register £5k if as you say its been repaired properly. new engine from Porsche on an exchange basis is £30k fitted. In your shoes I'd by a second hand engine with proof of low miles for £8k if the car checks out and you decide to buy it. could be a cheap way of getting into a fabulous car or a very expensive lesson if other things need doing on top.

[g7jhp]

I wouldn't touch it as it's Cat D. It's value will be low and you still have the issue of repairing the engine.

Better buy a high mileage non Cat D turbo which has had all the big bills taken care of recently.

Not what you asked or wanted to hear but what most will be thinking.

[mls678]

Thanks for the update guys. Just spoken to the owner. It's got a knock, goes into reverse but not into a forward gear.

Owner reckons might by flywheel but sounds likely to be more to me.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

[thegoose]

mls678 said:

Thanks for the update guys. Just spoken to the owner. It's got a knock, goes into reverse but not into a forward gear.

Owner reckons might by flywheel but sounds likely to be more to me.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

What kind of knock? From the engine? And the transmission's also not working right? Or is the engine OK and the box is the issue?

I think the suggestion of £5k is about right but that could still make it an expensive car if it needs engine and box.

[pork911]

unless you get a full inspection and report i'd run not walk away, especially as its a friend

[Homer J]

Walk.

As mentioned, look at a higher mile car with solid history. You know of a couple of MAJOR issues with "ya mates" car. It's sounding like a money pit.

Could be wrong, but I for one wouldn't be comfortable taking that gamble. Having owned my Turbo for 5 years, even relatively minor repairs can easily turn into four figure bills without really trying.

[mudy]

Depends upon your budget - the cheapest 996 t on pistonheads is this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

It's £22k and looks nice with some gt2 body bits. You could easily spend the purchase price of this car sorting your mates car out and you'd still have a cat d if and when it came to resale time.

I'm guessing you don't have £22k to buy now? Never buy a cheap Porsche turbo for very obvious and expensive reasons!

[monthefish]

pork911 said:

unless you get a full inspection and report i'd run not walk away, especially as its a friend

EFA.
Steer clear. Unless you're going to get it for peanuts, I can't see the value
and good point re the friend thing - big potential for long-term resentment.

[monthefish]

mudy said:

Depends upon your budget - the cheapest 996 t on pistonheads is this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

It's £22k and looks nice with some gt2 body bits. You could easily spend the purchase price of this car sorting your mates car out and you'd still have a cat d if and when it came to resale time.!

That's been for sale for over 2 years now.

[mudy]

monthefish said:

That's been for sale for over 2 years now.

I wonder what's wrong with it (if anything)?

[996TT02]

mudy said:

monthefish said:

That's been for sale for over 2 years now.

I wonder what's wrong with it (if anything)?

Personally I would not buy it for the following reasons:

I don't like the interior colour at all.
The exterior colour is just about tolerable but certainly not my first choice (or second, etc, etc)
It does not have its original bumper.
It's a TIPTRONIC. Unforgivable!

Plus points, low mileage.
Minus points, just the sort of mileage where big bills (relatively) are round the corner.

There, those are my reasons...

[Matt Seabrook]

Agreed I went for a manual transmission but a mate has a tip and to be honest I didn't expect to like it but would not turn the right car up because of it.

[Sifly]

Being Cat D, it would be worth around £20k at that age and miles if finished to a high standard.
I would recon £10k should sort the engine, I've seen 2nd hand turbo engines for sale at £10k worst case.
If your lucky it will cost a lot less to repair depending on what's wrong.
You will need a few quid in hand for all the hassle and to make it worth while, and to cover un-known issues so realistically I'd say it's worth around £7k as a non running Cat D.

[Mad March Taffy]

Who ever specced that colour combination should be shot - mind you, if you drove around all day wearing sunglasses it is cheap at £22K!

[monthefish]

Matt Seabrook said:

Agreed I went for a manual transmission but a mate has a tip and to be honest I didn't expect to like it but would not turn the right car up because of it.

I think you had a lucky escape.
Tiptronic/Manual is the BIGGEST differentiating factor when purchasing a 996. It is the factor that will make the biggest difference to the overall experience.
My personal opinion is that they are woeful and, the 996t doesn't need one. (It has enough torque that you could just buy a manual and leave it permanently in 3rd if you can't be bothered changing your own gears).

I actually really like the blue car with the tan interior, and I have no idea why it hasn't sold.
Non-standard bumper would be easily changed back, or alternately get a GT2 rear wing to complement it and complete the look.

[Matt Seabrook]

Also cost of rebuild is going to be difficult to estimate until it's stripped. The crank in a 997 turbo retail is £7000 plus vat I cant see the 996 being any different. Lets hope it doesn't need one

[jimmy p]

Surely on a cat d car with a seized engine the only value is salvage value, the unknown cost to fix and then still being left with a cat d car really does not make this very attractive as a fixer-upper

[kleonard]

you have email