Best time to buy ?
Discussion
996s are a daily driver, a 993 is now more of a classic "for the weekend".
Having had both the 993 is far truer to the Porsche Marque- a simple,well built and useable sports car that will survive a nuclear holocust.
The 996 is more about today's products-absolutely fantastic whilst they work but disposable when they dont (ie they drive better but the components are disposable when they no longer work). However, I cannot think of a single motor manufacturer who hasnt gone down this route (eg Mercedes etc.). The problem is whilst this works for the Japanese who started their road to manufacturing on this basis, it hasnt worked as well with the Eurpean brands as its new to them (ie its a new philosphy that started in the early to mid 90s). They will figure it out as time goes on by using six sigma and all that stuff but the 996 was the transition car and hence the issue with some engines etc
Having had both the 993 is far truer to the Porsche Marque- a simple,well built and useable sports car that will survive a nuclear holocust.
The 996 is more about today's products-absolutely fantastic whilst they work but disposable when they dont (ie they drive better but the components are disposable when they no longer work). However, I cannot think of a single motor manufacturer who hasnt gone down this route (eg Mercedes etc.). The problem is whilst this works for the Japanese who started their road to manufacturing on this basis, it hasnt worked as well with the Eurpean brands as its new to them (ie its a new philosphy that started in the early to mid 90s). They will figure it out as time goes on by using six sigma and all that stuff but the 996 was the transition car and hence the issue with some engines etc
loach said:
It's like walking through the airport and being hounded by various cults, isn't it? That's cults btw... not c**ts. SC and 915 owners are hare-krishnas - folks out of their time, and probably out of their heads - certainly out of touch with the rest of us. I'd say 964 guys are like the born-again Christians, with the 964 RS guys as their militant wing. 993 guys are the soft-shoed and sensible, but insistent and irritating nonetheless - I'm thinking mormons. The 996 guys are no less fervent, but don't stand on tradition and are a bit more flash - so Scientologists for sure. 996 GT3 guys? Not sure - muslim fundamentalists?
I drive a 944. Is there a convenient cult for me to be part of as well? I'm thinking something small, with a few very devoted followers, knowing that they are correct and you don't need flash cash to have a great waggon, but who are sadly so often ignored by the masses because they just don't drive The Real Thing. Suggestions?
Oli.
P.S. To the OP - have you considered a 944?
zcacogp said:
loach said:
It's like walking through the airport and being hounded by various cults, isn't it? That's cults btw... not c**ts. SC and 915 owners are hare-krishnas - folks out of their time, and probably out of their heads - certainly out of touch with the rest of us. I'd say 964 guys are like the born-again Christians, with the 964 RS guys as their militant wing. 993 guys are the soft-shoed and sensible, but insistent and irritating nonetheless - I'm thinking mormons. The 996 guys are no less fervent, but don't stand on tradition and are a bit more flash - so Scientologists for sure. 996 GT3 guys? Not sure - muslim fundamentalists?
I drive a 944. Is there a convenient cult for me to be part of as well? I'm thinking something small, with a few very devoted followers, knowing that they are correct and you don't need flash cash to have a great waggon, but who are sadly so often ignored by the masses because they just don't drive The Real Thing. Suggestions?
Oli.
Yup. Hippies.
zcacogp said:
loach said:
Yup. Hippies.
Fantastic! Thanks! You've made my day! Oli.
Get lost, Hippie.
Forgot to mention Cayenne drivers. These guys have no room in their lives for doubt at all - they know God doesn't exist, and delight in thumbing their collective nose at the rest of us by deliberately driving around in something that looks like Beelzebub's arse. If one of these guys was to stop you at an airport, it would be to punch you in the solar plexus and take your money.
Edited by loach on Monday 29th January 11:48
zcacogp said:
loach said:
Yup. Hippies.
Fantastic! Thanks! You've made my day! Oli.
Good, now go out and get a job!
And 928 owners? Bear in mind this was originally intended to kill the 911.
Seeing as the 928 has a certain American flavour to it-I know, the 928 are the Porsche religion folks who emigrated to America and are now the happy clappers over there!
Marquis_Rex said:
zcacogp said:
loach said:
Yup. Hippies.
Fantastic! Thanks! You've made my day! Oli.
Good, now go out and get a job!
And 928 owners? Bear in mind this was originally intended to kill the 911.
Seeing as the 928 has a certain American flavour to it-I know, the 928 are the Porsche religion folks who emigrated to America and are now the happy clappers over there!
928 owners are Televangelists. Like you say, it was all very new-wave, and the super 70s heralded moon landings and a love affair with technology. Porsche put its pious little 911 on vestry duty, and introduced the brash and slightly bloated Jim Bakkerish 928 to the congregation. Loud expensive, its for the devout that couldn't be bothered with the hassle of all the duties associated with subscribing to the 911. But it's tough on the wallet if you're a true believer.
I think I'd better compose a 'What religion are you?' thing - this is all getting complicated and I don't want any ecumenical bickering. Have I forgotten anyone? If you'd like to be pigeon-holed tomorrow evening when I get back from a trip, post here and I'll ascribe you a faith/cult.
Thank yow.
Thank yow.
loach said:
I think I'd better compose a 'What religion are you?' thing - this is all getting complicated and I don't want any ecumenical bickering. Have I forgotten anyone? If you'd like to be pigeon-holed tomorrow evening when I get back from a trip, post here and I'll ascribe you a faith/cult.
To be honest, I wouldn't bother. Just chill out, dude. It's not worth it.
Hippie.
P.S. Anyone else for another cold beer?
Having just picked up my 996 on Saturday, I can thoroughly recommend them. For your price range you should get a nice 99 to 01 model (mine is a 2000). Make sure you have some money left over for an inspection / porsche warrantee. There are a lot out there although it took me 8 months to find mine (I was fussy about being a C2, manual, particular colours and service history etc).
I think I got a good deal from the dealer as its a quiet time of the year, but I don't think the new registration in March will have any knock on effect on a 6 to 8 year old car.
I think I got a good deal from the dealer as its a quiet time of the year, but I don't think the new registration in March will have any knock on effect on a 6 to 8 year old car.
Hi Diesel (funny name for a Porsche owner 
),
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for yours and what type of warranty did it come with ?
Also, what would your recommended spec be i.e. what should the car have in terms of gadgets and history ?
Your advice will help me immensely as at the moment I am totally confused with all the options and different vehicles for sale in terms of mileage and owners !!
), If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for yours and what type of warranty did it come with ?
Also, what would your recommended spec be i.e. what should the car have in terms of gadgets and history ?
Your advice will help me immensely as at the moment I am totally confused with all the options and different vehicles for sale in terms of mileage and owners !!
DucatiGary said:
Hi spyros
my C2 Coupe will be up for sale in the coming days (you can buy it now if you want I just aint done the advert yet!)
dark blue, dark grey leather, sport chassis, sport suspension, LSD, hifi upgrade, phone kit etc etc etc, email me if you want some more info
my C2 Coupe will be up for sale in the coming days (you can buy it now if you want I just aint done the advert yet!)
dark blue, dark grey leather, sport chassis, sport suspension, LSD, hifi upgrade, phone kit etc etc etc, email me if you want some more info
Spyros-if you live/work in London and will use the car there then DONT buy one with Sports suspension-unless you want bent wheels and a bad back (absolutely amazing on a track or a good quality road)
paracetamol said:
Spyros-if you live/work in London and will use the car there then DONT buy one with Sports suspension-unless you want bent wheels and a bad back (absolutely amazing on a track or a good quality road)
try one, dont listen to the un educated
paracetemol likes to stir things up around here, youll learn that as you stay I tried a few and found the sport suspension to be un-noticable on bumpy B roads and dual carriageways.
then again, we all know red ken hates motorists, mabe you have REALLY bad roads in london since I went last (16 december 2006)
Thanks DucatiGary.
Unfortunately I do not want the sport suspension.
A few cars I have owned have had sport suspension e.g. Focus RS and BMW 330i Sport.
Although great for handling, my has complained about the ride in both cars so I have learnt my lesson - if you want the wife to like your car, don't get one with a hard suspension !
Good luck with selling it though, it sounds great !
Unfortunately I do not want the sport suspension.
A few cars I have owned have had sport suspension e.g. Focus RS and BMW 330i Sport.
Although great for handling, my has complained about the ride in both cars so I have learnt my lesson - if you want the wife to like your car, don't get one with a hard suspension !
Good luck with selling it though, it sounds great !
spyros said:
Hi Diesel (funny name for a Porsche owner ),
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for yours and what type of warranty did it come with ?
Also, what would your recommended spec be i.e. what should the car have in terms of gadgets and history ?
Your advice will help me immensely as at the moment I am totally confused with all the options and different vehicles for sale in terms of mileage and owners !!
), If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for yours and what type of warranty did it come with ?
Also, what would your recommended spec be i.e. what should the car have in terms of gadgets and history ?
Your advice will help me immensely as at the moment I am totally confused with all the options and different vehicles for sale in terms of mileage and owners !!
diesel130 as in 'my other car is a VW Golf' (130 bhp turbo diesel) ... also have a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo plus I'm trying to sell .. but anyway.
I spent yonks trying to find the right one (about 18 months in total) and over 100 postings on here and PCGB formus, as well as buying peter morgans guide books [i bought both the 993 and 996 guides]. Found that I wanted a 996 for a bit of comfort (the Fiat and scooby previously were so hard suspension) and longer journeys, although my annual mileage is very low. I also wanted a manual, a C2 (more pure driving experience and more storage space in front) and a black interior. I didn't like the savannah (yellowy beige) or light greys (bit 1980's) - but they are personal things of course. And I wanted either Silver or Lapis blue exterior.
I didn't want a sports exhaust either - had a celica GT4 with a drainpipe and that got wearing on long journeys (and short ones for that matter).
I quickly figured out - from magasines and forum postings and adverts - 996's (especially early 97 to 99 ones) had a reputation - albeit a slim chance - of suffering a major engine failure. Now there are plenty of views on this on here and elsewhere whether it is a big problem or not. My own view is that, even if the probablility of failure is slim, I wouldn't want to risk paying out £10K+ bills for a replacment. The good news is that via an OPC, you can pay for an inspection (they call it a 111 point inspection ... btw it costs 110+VAT) and then it can be warranteed by porsche themselves for an annual £895. However, that only applies to cars up to their 9th birthday (i.e. warrantee runs to 10 years old) or 120,000 miles. Hence, if you buy a 1998 car, then its starting its last warranteeable year now.
So, (sorry for ramblings), I wanted as new a car as I could afford. But, there is a big price jump when you go to the 2002 facelift model, which I didn't want to afford - and the more you pay, the more it will depreciate! Finally (as far as my decisions went), I didn't see the point of buying a Y-reg 2001 model as the Co2 emissions category came in 1st March 2001, so if you got an earlier car, you pay the standard tax, rather than the higher emissions based tax and - in the next few years to come, heaven knows what else the government or Ken will add to the price (OK I'm a tight ar$3)
Number of owners - I like to have a low number - just a personal thing that I believe those who keep a car longer are more likely to look after it. But more importantly, I wanted a low-ish mileage and a full service history.
Looked at one at a popular Porsche specialist that was advertised as full service history, only to find it had gone once for 18 months between services and was again overdue by 8 months.
As for gadgets - I wasn't too bothered. Didn't see the PCM / SatNav was worth having in the age band I was looking at because it is out of date and no up-to-date maps available. I would have liked cruise control (for motorway speed sections etc), but not many have it. I would have like Xenon headlights, but not many of that year have it and you can retro fit at low cost.
So, my 'perfect' spec (although a lot of this is personal choice) was ...
- 2000 or 2001 on W or X plate
- C2
- Manual
- Arctic silver or lapis blue with black interior
- No GT3 aerokit (don't like the big wing)
- Carrera or turbo alloys (GT3 wheels looked like too much hard work to keep clean, living in the country)
- No lowered or sports suspension
- 17" wheels (more compliant than 18" and cheaper tyres)
And that's pretty much what I ended up with. This age of car you're unlikely to find at an OPC. So its either a porsche specialist, a non-porsche dealer or a private sale. From past experience - and horror stories on here - 3rd party warrantees are not worth wiping your derrier on. They will try and wiggle out of everything and are likely to have a claim limit much less than the cost of a replacement engine or won't pay porsche's hourly rates.
I got mine from a non-porsche main dealer, which was good as I had main dealer quality staff to deal with, but lower prices than a porsche independent. I negotiated a better price because I specifically declined their warrantee - they accepted a deposit, refundable if it didn't pass the porsche check, and drove it the 50 or so mile round trip to Colchester to have the inspection done the following week. Also, the front tyres will need replacing in about 2 to 3,000 miles.
Price wise, I paid just under £26K which, for a 2000 W, C2, 47,000 mile, 3 owner car with full service history (5 main dealer and one independent), think I did OK. The porsche mechanic complimented it on the smoothness of its engine and tautness of steering / suspension etc. and said that it was better than many others he drove (maybe he says that to everyone!!). On top of that I paid for the inspection 110+VAT and the warrantee 895.
My advice would therefore be ...
- you need to decide whether you want coupe or cab, manual or auto.
- read loads / ask loads of questions
- there are some links on here with downloads of reviews / articles on 996 engines etc.
- buy peter morgans guide book - contains lots of useful info
- setup some bookmarks for sales on here and on autotrader (i setup a bookmark to '996' and '2000') and another for 996's 2001 within 20K to 30K range etc) - then you can click on them a few times a day :-) to see what comes up.
- when the one comes up that you like, spend plenty of time going over it with peters book in hand.
- check all its documentation (preferably with service receipts, not just stamps in book)
- if it looks OK, get an OPC inspection proceed.
Hope that helps, hope you haven't fallen asleep.
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