996/997 GT3 how obtainable are they.

[Geesus]

Hi guys,

Odd thread title I know as it's relative to a lot of factors (mainly disposable income).
I am currently on the hunt for a BMW E46 CSL or a 1M but a 996/997 GT3 has always been my goal/dream but is obviously another ~£20,000 plus more than both of the BMWs.

My question is, how many of you have financed the purchase of your GT3s? (or is it the case of, if you can't afford to buy it outright then you can't afford it?)

I'm not in a position of being able to buy something outright and won't be for the foreseeable future as I have a two year old and another on the way (and I'm not a corporate/company director sadly). Plus I have a very large mortgage on a house back in New Zealand (which takes care of itself)

Do I keep saving towards outright GT3 ownership or will I not be able to keep up with the price increases these will see in the coming months/years?

My gut says, if I don't finance then I'll never quite have one within reach, but on the same note, I've never had finance on a car before I've always purchased outright. Certainly not on the level of any of the cars I mention though, BMW E30 M3/ Ford Sierra Cosworth RS territory is as high as I've been in the past.

What ever I get won't be a daily driver, I'm certainly aiming to do at least a couple of trackdays per year in what ever I end up with, the upside of the Porsche over the BMW beside being more 'able' on track is the future values.

I'm looking at the very bottom end of what's on offer in terms of GT3s, is Pistonheads, Autotrader and eBay the only places I should be looking for cars

I hope my post makes vague sense

Am I just a dreamer and should come back to reality or could/should I push to make this work?

Cheers, Ollie.

[edit-typos]

Edited by Geesus on Saturday 27th December 17:24

[Geesus]

m33ufo said:

GT3's aren't depreciating though?

Hi guys, thanks a lot for the replies so far.
I'm going out on a limb here but surely it's almost a given that both the 996 and 997 GT3s have gone as low as they will depreciation wise?

In terms of financing, it wouldn't cross my mind to finance if I didn't think the car would be an appreciating asset.
Obviously running costs, tax etc might be a different story but in terms of purchase price vs future resale, surely it will sell for more than what I would have paid for it.

What are peoples thoughts on the long term investment in terms of 996 vs 997 GT3?

It's a dream to own either but I do prefer the look of the 997, but I would still grab at whichever one people feel may be the better long term investment.

There's a couple of pretty good cars for sale back in New Zealand, perhaps I should have bought one with me when I relocated back in May

2007 997 GT3 8,600 Mile $140,000 NZD £69,000 GBP
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/porsche/...

2000 996 GT3 60,000 Mile $65,000 NZD £32,500 GBP
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/porsche/...

Edited by Geesus on Saturday 27th December 22:45

[Geesus]

^
Interesting scan, what was the publication year of the magazine?
I was born in the '80s so haven't been on the car scene for all that long, how does the car market/bubble burst? Is it an overnight thing or do prices slowly start creeping down?

[Geesus]

Thanks a lot for the replies so far guys.
It seems it's slim pickings in the 996 GT3 camp by the looks of Pistonheads at the moment. Is that the best place to be looking or are there other places to look?

996 GT3 Mk 2 (2004) £54,995 (judging from their website a deposit has been placed on this car)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

996 GT3 (2005) £58,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

997 Wise there's only this

997 GT3 (2007) Porsche warranty March 2016 £64,950
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Or this Cat D 997 GT3 (2007) £51,000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Is there any advantage in a GT3 without a roll cage? It's not like I'd be gaining 2 extra seats for the kids in the back so why have one without a cage? Is a caged GT3 lighter than one without (does it not have sound deadening in the back etc?
I must admit I'm very much a novice when it comes to Porsche so if anyone has any links at hand to good articles I'd love to see them.

Edited by Geesus on Sunday 28th December 16:20

Edited by Geesus on Sunday 28th December 16:21

Edited by Geesus on Sunday 28th December 16:23

[Geesus]

boxsey said:

Demand is such that some 996GT3s get sold without being advertised these days. Sometimes an owner will casually mention in a thread that they're thinking of selling and next thing you know a buyer contacts them and a deal is done. There was a thread a few weeks ago from an owner thinking of selling his MK1 guards red clubsport. I'll bet that it got snapped up within a few hours of the topic being posted.

Thanks for the tip, what are the most frequented forums for UK GT3 owners then chaps?

[Geesus]

LaSource said:

OP, so have you made up your mind yet?

I thought I'd been forgotten with all this conjecture!

This thread has been very helpful, I 'think' the sensible in me says get an E46 CSL or a 1M (not sure which is better so feel free to add your thoughts guys).

Obviously there's no denying I feel the GT3 is the better option and the one I'd prefer to be in, but I'm worried the extra £15,000-£20,000 minimum over both the BMWs is pushing it a step to far sadly.

Porsche= More of a sense of occasion, manual box, faster stock (on like for like tyres), better appreciating/ value holding.

BMW = 4 seats (keeps the wife happy), cheaper than the Porsche, st I think that's all.

Any of you collector/ high roller types own/ have owned both the 1M and a CSL?

[Geesus]

Ok, back on track now please

[Geesus]

squirejo said:

Well there's a thing. I am surprised. Compactness?!

By the way OP, are GT3's unobtanium? No, and you have received the correct advice already aside getting on first name terms with all the usual specialist dealers for 2015's off grid transactions. Sold before advertised is commonplace.

Edited by squirejo on Tuesday 30th December 22:45

Who are these specialist dealers? Are people at this level (GT3s) too afraid to list privately for fear of being fleeced? I always (naively) associate dealers with much higher than private prices...

[Geesus]

isaldiri said:

Would have a csl (brakes as standard are a challenge i admit) or 6gt3 many many times over the cayman r. No contest at all imo.

A Cayman in any guise does absolutely nothing for me, nor does a Boxster. I can't get past their looks to even be interested in how good they might be in other areas.

I think the GT3 is sadly a stretch too far financially, so I now need to decide on the 1M vs CSL. I would look to replace the CSLs brakes with an AP or Alcon kit and no doubt look at suspension options too.
Not sure what the 1M would need out of the box.


Does anyone know what dealer fitted options are compared with factory, it's not a term I've heard before
Below is an ad for a 1M


The car also benefits from the following dealer fitted options:
• BMW Performance carbon fibre boot spoiler
• BMW Performance steering wheel, re-trimmed with matching Kyalami orange stitching
• BMW Performance gloss black kidney grilles
• BMW Performance pedals
• BMW Darkline taillights
• BMW N55 mid pipes (eliminates drone)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres (which vastly improves grip!)

[Geesus]

I'm not looking for a daily driver in any of the three options.

It would spend most of the winter in the garage.

Summer months I'd love to do a trip to Spa or the Nordschleife and maybe a track day or two near me in Southwest London SW14

I think I've sadly ruled the GT3 out as its a stretch too far financially. Maybe when I reach my 40s

I'm torn between the 1M and CSL,

I like the 1M as it's manual and is a lot newer in terms of maintenace, also how different the 1M looks from other 1 series cars

I like the CSL for its induction noise and carbon intake, its seats and steering wheel, not convinced on the SMG although have never tried it. There's not a lot visually separating the CSL from the E46 M3 from an uneducateds perspective.

Now I've never driven any of the mentioned cars, and I'm sure the above R eads like a 5 year old writing about his school trip to the race track.

[Geesus]

^
Thanks vallance5
So not a detractor at all then in terms of future valuesthen?
Seems strange the factory didn't offer these option considering they're genuine parts

[Geesus]

keep it lit said:

would you consider LHD?

Without question yes, do you have some leads?

[Geesus]

keep it lit said:

45k miles £36.5k ....


yummy !

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/porsche-996-g...

Ha! Just to throw a spanner in the works...
I wonder if one can get UK finance for a car purchased offshore?
Resale in the U.K for a LHD GT3 would be near impossible wouldn't it?

[Geesus]

^
Thanks Steve, great reply.
My arm is being twisted towards the CSL

[Geesus]

Cheburator mk2 said:

The one in the advert has been tuned - aftermarket headers and suspension. Original parts are still available. Has full service history and the owner is happy to provide test drives. Switzerland is another place where GT3s are very cheap. Add 10% to asking prices to account for import duty + VAT...

https://www.comparis.ch/carfinder/marktplatz/porsc...

£44k landed in the UK with a list of mods and recent maintainence that will make Mr Know-all-need-to-talk-st-demon spill his porridge.

That's very nice, colour is nice too, is it a factory colour (excuse my ignorance).
What's the procedure here roughly on importing something from Europe?
Can I buy said car, drive it back to the U.K and then start the process?. Or is it more involved like back in New Zealand

[Geesus]

SidewaysSi said:

How does a tweaked 993 or 964 compare? I assume they won't be as quick as a GT3 or CSL but would be as much fun, particularly on the road? I am thinking aspects such as feel, handling etc.

Hi Si, interesting idea. I do love the 964 and 993, visually more than the 996 and 997 but it would have to be a turbo and those are both well beyond my reach until I win the lottery.