potential first Porsche classic buyer?

potential first Porsche classic buyer?

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200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Ok I've a thread running at present for a classic car search but theres a very good chance of me going for a nice 911 that would hold its value for a couple of yrs while i experienced ownership. Budget would be 25-30k and I'm looking for help and suggestions please as to which model to go for.
Aircooled would be fine but i dont want anything I'd need to deal with bodywork or rot issues. I'd also want to avoid modern engines with issues (is that the 996 model? )
Cheers and please be gentle lol

Essential

1,077 posts

209 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
I would look at:

Carrera 3.2
964
993

Manual



mollytherocker

14,365 posts

208 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Essential said:
I would look at:

Carrera 3.2
964
993

Manual
Certainly agree, but may need to compromise with a Targa at that budget. The OP wants rust free so its going to have to be a minter.

200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Am just starting to get my head around model designations etc. Prefer the classic headlight look but maybe the bubble on prices will burst? 35k might even be needed for something nice! Squeeky bum time!

mollytherocker

14,365 posts

208 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
200Plus Club said:
Am just starting to get my head around model designations etc. Prefer the classic headlight look but maybe the bubble on prices will burst? 35k might even be needed for something nice! Squeeky bum time!
If you want a 2 wheel drive manual Coupe, you will indeed need closer to 35 than 25k. Is this important to you?

In terms of the future market for these cars, thats anyones guess, but I cant fathom a set of circumstances that will bring them sharply down.

At the very least I see prices holding or gently increasing.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
993 C2 Manual. Higher mileage example with good history.

£30K will just about get you one (if one comes up). IMO its a better package than all before it, it will be cheaper to purchase, easier to live with, will not yet suffer from the rot (notice I say rot not rust) issues of the earlier cars, and it still has the old school build and feel but with the more modern suspension and all the benefits that includes.


200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
993 C2 Manual. Higher mileage example with good history.

£30K will just about get you one (if one comes up). IMO its a better package than all before it, it will be cheaper to purchase, easier to live with, will not yet suffer from the rot (notice I say rot not rust) issues of the earlier cars, and it still has the old school build and feel but with the more modern suspension and all the benefits that includes.
Just spent an hr browsing and there is a mad glut of 911s from 25to 35k many of which are the more modern watercooled cars within the scary age group for potential engine issues.
Also seen some nice aircooled with higher miles obviously right at the top end of the budget. 35k in theory could be done for the right car but would eat up my insurance and what if fund thats all.

mollytherocker

14,365 posts

208 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
If you prefer modern you can get a gen 2 997 for 35k. These have the DFI engines which are proving reliable.

stevewak

495 posts

129 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Get a 993. Manual, but for that price might be Targa, Cab or high miles. It won't 'rot' but might have a bit of rust in usual places and is not going to disappear in a cloud of red dust. Aircon a 'must', even if not working properly - can be fixed, at a price. Engines bulletproof. Keep £1500 back for issues such as lower cam covers or slave cylinder and immediate £500 cheap service at good indie. If you don't like it you should be able to sell it easily.

g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
If you want to retain value I'd suggest going for a manual coupe, ideally 2wd but a 4wd may be a compromise. Higher mileage is OK, buy on condition (and history of maintenance):

I'd suggest you look at:

- 3.2 Carrera (87-89 with G50 gearbox)
- 964 C2 or C4 (89-93)
- 993 C2 or C4 (94-97)
- 996 turbo (00-05, doesn't have the n/a engine issues)




200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
g7jhp said:
If you want to retain value I'd suggest going for a manual coupe, ideally 2wd but a 4wd may be a compromise. Higher mileage is OK, buy on condition (and history of maintenance):

I'd suggest you look at:

- 3.2 Carrera (87-89 with G50 gearbox)
- 964 C2 or C4 (89-93)
- 993 C2 or C4 (94-97)
- 996 turbo (00-05, doesn't have the n/a engine issues)
all replies very helpful thanks. There was a car i looked at today purely as its v close and the dealer is quite good at picking mint cars tbh.

http://www.thecarspecialists.com.mobi.starkwood.co...
comments anyone about this specific car at 32k?

g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
200Plus Club said:
There was a car i looked at today purely as its v close and the dealer is quite good at picking mint cars tbh.

http://www.thecarspecialists.com.mobi.starkwood.co...
comments anyone about this specific car at 32k?
Well it looks like a Gen 1 997 C4 with the 3.6 engine, so not the 3.8 S (and later water-cooled rather than air-cooled).

997.1 have know engine weaknesses. Some rave about the base 3.6, but the 3.8S offers better value with more power and a better spec and I'd suggest choosing the C2S to get a pure 2wd car.

In summary plenty of 997.1 available, better spec 3.8 C2S could be had for less money. If you want a 997 it's worth getting a Gen 2 car from 2009 onwards.

200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
g7jhp said:
200Plus Club said:
There was a car i looked at today purely as its v close and the dealer is quite good at picking mint cars tbh.

http://www.thecarspecialists.com.mobi.starkwood.co...
comments anyone about this specific car at 32k?
Well it looks like a Gen 1 997 C4 with the 3.6 engine, so not the 3.8 S (and later water-cooled rather than air-cooled).

997.1 have know engine weaknesses. Some rave about the base 3.6, but the 3.8S offers better value with more power and a better spec and I'd suggest choosing the C2S to get a pure 2wd car.

In summary plenty of 997.1 available, better spec 3.8 C2S could be had for less money. If you want a 997 it's worth getting a Gen 2 car from 2009 onwards.
Ok cheers. I'm only just getting my head around the various models and engines and which ones have ims issues or bore scoring potential

geresey

388 posts

122 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
I was at similar stage to you a year and a half ago. Looking at 964/963/997. After much internal debate and not being able to make my mind up, I found out that 996 turbo engine does not have same issues as other 996, and 997, so went for that!! Worth a look if you're spending that much, they're on the up so good time to get one

200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Quite eye catching! Comments anyone?

Blib

43,796 posts

196 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Yeah. It's above your stated budget. hehe

Mission creep?

mollytherocker

14,365 posts

208 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
200Plus Club said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Quite eye catching! Comments anyone?
Thats another gen 1 997, I thought you didnt want this era of cars?

Orangecurry

7,399 posts

205 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
stevewak said:
Get a 993. Manual, but for that price might be Targa, Cab or high miles. It won't 'rot' but might have a bit of rust in usual places and is not going to disappear in a cloud of red dust. Aircon a 'must', even if not working properly - can be fixed, at a price. Engines bulletproof. Keep £1500 back for issues such as lower cam covers or slave cylinder and immediate £500 cheap service at good indie. If you don't like it you should be able to sell it easily.
This.

From your cars and history, I'm thinking you are an analogue petrolhead, not digital, and the 993 delivers in spades, and without the scary 'hidden' rust issues of the earlier cars. (Yes there are two areas of potential rust on a 993, but neither of them are eye-watering to sort out). A 996 Turbo is an intensely brilliant car, but I think you would get more out of an earlier car.

At our Goodwood circuit day last year, one lucky man who owns a 964 and a 993 brought them both - after many laps of intense fun in the 964, he took the 993 out. 'It's better... '

And I test-drove a Lotus Sunbeam many many years ago - I nearly bought it, but the brakes were awful? Probably easy to sort out, you are going to tell me hehe

200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Orangecurry said:
stevewak said:
Get a 993. Manual, but for that price might be Targa, Cab or high miles. It won't 'rot' but might have a bit of rust in usual places and is not going to disappear in a cloud of red dust. Aircon a 'must', even if not working properly - can be fixed, at a price. Engines bulletproof. Keep £1500 back for issues such as lower cam covers or slave cylinder and immediate £500 cheap service at good indie. If you don't like it you should be able to sell it easily.
This.

From your cars and history, I'm thinking you are an analogue petrolhead, not digital, and the 993 delivers in spades, and without the scary 'hidden' rust issues of the earlier cars. (Yes there are two areas of potential rust on a 993, but neither of them are eye-watering to sort out). A 996 Turbo is an intensely brilliant car, but I think you would get more out of an earlier car.

At our Goodwood circuit day last year, one lucky man who owns a 964 and a 993 brought them both - after many laps of intense fun in the 964, he took the 993 out. 'It's better... '

And I test-drove a Lotus Sunbeam many many years ago - I nearly bought it, but the brakes were awful? Probably easy to sort out, you are going to tell me hehe
i took the easy option, and bought a car that had just undergone a 7 year bare metal restoration including uprating the brakes, which are now ok, so yes it was easy lol! :-)


200Plus Club

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

277 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Blib said:
Yeah. It's above your stated budget. hehe

Mission creep?
haha! my main failing is mission creep on budget !
no it just caught my eye to be honest. there are a million very similar 996/997 variants for sale, all within budget, but that immediately looked good, as for price yes it would be outside the budget, but its local so i might go see what the car is actually like in the flesh.