£80k 991 4S Cab PDK or £50k 997 2S Gen 2 Cab PDK

[amer911]

Taking into account (mainly) residual value and also running costs, which is likely to lose less money: a £80k 991 4S or a £50k 997 2S

Basically I'd rather spend £50k (who wouldn't) but would be willing to spend £80k if I was pretty confident that overall I would lose less money in say 3 or 4 years. Also love the look of the 991 lights at the rear more than anything. But not £30k more of course.

Any thoughts?

Ps. yes if I could afford it (and didn't need 2+2) (and could drive like a racing driver) then I'd be looking at cars like the GT range re residuals but that's another conversation

PPs. however, am willing to consider the 997 Turbo as the inbetween to above.

[amer911]

Budweiser said:

Drive them all and follow your heart... All great cars in different ways. Residuals are a dark art and your guess is as good as mine.

Good luck and enjoy the test drives...

Ha! Yes, I wish more of us could live like your suggestion. It's easy to forget that all these purchases are largely emotional.

I suspect they will both drive sufficiently well for me. My heart says 991 because of the looks (most especially the rear lights and the much cleaner convertible roof line ... being an old AMG SL55 man, I like the convertible to have smooth lines ) but my wallet (and the tax man, accountant, mortgage provider, travel agent, etc etc and etc) are pulling me in the other direction. Now, if I could show them something to comfort them (i.e. residuals) then we may all be smiling.

Just a thought, is there a website that lets me quote on used cars in terms of financing with residual buy back values (similar to those schemes available on new cars)? Could run the options through that and whilst still of course a black art, at least would give some indication what the professionals who make money on these movements are currently willing to put money on.

[amer911]

gilliambot said:

My blind stab in the dark guess would be the 991 would lose more as the 997 has probably started to plateau in price whereas the 991 is still in free fall. But if I was in your position I would still choose the 991 it's an all round better car and cars will always depreciate just forget about that it's kind of pointless really, you may have saved yourself a chunk of change going 997 but everytime a 991 drives past you might be thinking S--t should have got the 991!

Ever thought of a career as a salesman?

I may or may not have thought your closing remark. But now I most definitely would :/

£30k spent in a sentence.

[amer911]

Fair point uktrailmonster although I do have to say a part of me thinks the 991 4S could be one of those special ones which becomes a classic (a bit like the 996 4S is becoming right now). It's all about the back end look which I personally feel maybe was lost slightly on the 997 range as they didn't integrate the strip as closely with the main rear light clusters (as they did on 996 and again on 991).

It's definitely not all about the maths. I'm pretty sure if I saw a white with red interior 991 4S Cab PDK in my price range I would snap it up and worry about the £30k difference another day!

[amer911]

hondansx said:

991 residuals may be OK if the Gen 2 is rubbish. However, if the Gen 2 is excellent in terms of retaining character despite the turbo configuration, then surely Gen 1 prices will be plummet.

Frankly, a 991 cab is NOT a 911. It is a status symbol and nothing more. It doesn't drive or feel like a proper Porsche in any way. That is not to say it's not a very good car. The 997 is the last of the breed...

I am not a Porsche expert by any means but have owned one several years ago and read various articles and user comments. One thing is for certain ... certain groups have been banging on about what is a true Porsche and what isn't for decades. This always amuses me in a similar manner to the pub tv screen football commentator. They are all true Porsches by definition and I would never fool myself that Porsche bring out some models altruistically whilst others are marketing ploys. All the models are designed to make money and have been for decades. It may have been different 50 years ago. All the arguments re cabs may well be true but as we know there are as many valid arguments for the much adored 'real' GT3 ... I would be willing to put money on a bet that the majority (or at least a huge chunk) of GT3 owners couldn't drive a C2 Cab anywhere near its limits well. I'm very much in that category of driver too, i.e. someone who spends most of my time working in an office making money enabling me to splurge on such toys rather than improving my driving skills on a track 6 days a week, so would never expect to match for example the expertise of those that do

[amer911]

Agreed - and actually even more than the lights its the roof that was the tipping point. We want a cab and saw one at Guildford Porsche yesterday (black 997 GTS 4S Cab) ... unfortunately it just looked old and used with the canvas top having faded in sun over 3 years and the not so clean shape compared to the 991 roof line. Having said that they have a white coupe version and that looked stunning, even parked next to a new 991 Turbo.

So now we just need to find one with red leather (wife's only condition ... oh, along with "it must be convertible"!) ... wasn't this searching supposed to be fun??