Cheap 997 GTS in the classifieds?

[Rowley Birkin]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

[Rowley Birkin]

Andrew911 said:

uktrailmonster said:

The 997 GTS had to be great value as it was clearly a run-out model. Looking at used prices now, it was a great buy indeed from new! But quite an expensive used option now. If you want the wide body that much you might as well buy a stock C4S and save yourself £10-15K. You can't really tell it's not just RWD until it rains and even then it's hard to notice. Even the power kit is meh. It doesn't feel any faster in the real world, but the sports exhaust sounds a bit faster.

I decided in the end to go one step further & save a lot more & bought a 997 Gen 2 C2S a late 2009 car for less than £40K. A very well respected person in the Porsche world said to me the GTS still looks expensive. I thought so too tbh. As lovely/desirable the GTS is I think they have a way to fall.

That well-respected person wasn't the one selling you the car perchance?

The 997.2 Carrera is the sweet spot of 911s in the opinion of many people. The GTS, being the last and most sports orientated of them (outside of GT cars) is, as a consequence, a hot ticket. Which is reflected in their resale values. The 2-wheel drive models have been at £60k for a long time now and seem to show no sign of dropping.

[Rowley Birkin]

jackwood said:

Quite happy I got mine for £52.5 then!

It was leggy though. And I'm not helping that situation

Great car though.

Leggy is fine.

Mine is leggy and, like you, I am making it worse quickly. But in my mind that is preferable to having paid top money for a low miles car that I felt reluctant to drive.

Unless you've trashed it I cannot see your car being worth less than you paid for it.

[Rowley Birkin]

Shiverman said:

Gulp. Thinking I overpaid at £60k a few months ago as all you guys seemed to be buying in mid50's. Though tbh the mileage and spec on my one was very attractive to me at the time and I haven't seen another since that would tempt me to open my wallet.

I think the OP's advert is a great car with a good spec, but for me it is missing some of the things that make a GTS that little more special. Sports seats, alcantara, sport design steering wheel to name a few. Also as its 4wd so it really could be a carrera S with a power kit with that spec. 2wd in wide body makes it that bit different.

I know someone has already mentioned this, but these cars do tend to be mileage sensitive with regards to price (he says trying hard to justify his buying price and lack of bartering skills!).

I don't think you'll find many people buying low miles GTSs from OPCs for mid 50s right now. Most of the guys above bought a while ago, privately or higher miles in order to get the lower prices. OPCs don't need to sell the best cars cheaply.

As you say, miles do depress value. Though I suspect there is a floor below which prices won't drop if it's being retailed by an OPC.

[Rowley Birkin]

mdianuk said:

Starting to wonder if a 991 GTS at ~£95k is a good move now, or whether I should be considering a 997? What would the opinion of you guys be, having followed the pricing trend of the 997 GTS, do they drop a ton of money early on then settle? I'd be considering a 'manual' 991.

What are you looking for?

Financially best deal? Car for the weekend? Daily driver? The two cars are very different propositions imho.

[Rowley Birkin]

mdianuk said:

Rowley Birkin said:

What are you looking for?

Ashamed to say, but the financial risk is priority to me at that kind of price. If it is likely to be dropping £5k a year, then no worries, but if it is £10k per year, then it won't work out for me, but I do like the very newest and best I can get, but would never pay over list (hence why I've not jumped in a GT car). It would be a fun day car, though could be used daily once my nipper is in a forward facing seat.

Interested in your view on why they are two completely different propositions?

The 997 GTS feels a lot like all the 911s that went before it. It's analogue, small and fairly utilitarian.

The 991 feels like a different model of car that nods to its 911 predecessors. It's digital, big and plush.

I have had both the 997 and the 991 and have gone back to the 997. By the time I had done the miles in the 991 that I have done in my newest 997 I was bored stupid with the 991.

As I have said above, my personal view is that the 997.2 is the sweet spot of all 911 iterations so far. Many others agree with me it seems. The GTS was the last and arguably best of them and they are making no more. I think prices will remain firm for that reason.

The 991 GTS is still readily available and there will be a 991.2 GTS as well. For that reason I think prices will fall more quickly than those of the 997.

For these reasons, based upon your stated requirement, I would seek out a 997 GTS.

[Rowley Birkin]

chrisABP said:

Thanks for the positive feedback guys - the car is now my perfect 911. As much as I would love a 997.2 GT3 with two young boys who both love cars the 2 seat compromise is far too great. The GTS is now perfect!

It has to be said that for the gent with children there is no better car.

[Rowley Birkin]

chrisABP said:

Here are some pictures of my GTS now it's fitted with its new wheels!

Mods so far include the following:
Sharkwerks exhaust bypass
Genuine front Aero kit splitter painted satin black to match side skirts etc
H&R lowering springs
Zunsport grill kit (not fitted in photo) to protect rads etc
997 GT3 front and 997 GT3 RS rear wheels
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres

Wheels look great and fill the arches (especially the rear) like they should! Most of my mods have been to make the car as it should have been (in my opinion) with the Sharkwerks making it sound proper, the springs making it look the right height and the wheels to fill the arches! The grills to protect the rads etc (like OE on the 997.2 GT3, RS 4.0 and 991 GT3) and the front splitter - well selfishly I like the Aero kit front one but dislike the rear!

Those wheels look bigger in the arches (diameter-wise) than the standard ones. Are they?

[Rowley Birkin]

Shiverman said:

kilarney said:

Interesting to see the GTS comments as I only just bought my GTS last week from OPC. I went to see the advert car above and its in great condition and good value I think. I previously drove a c4gts which my local opc sold for 65k ish and it had pdk which I liked but i decided I would stick with manual. I would have bought the advertised car but it just didnt drive how I wanted not sure why but it felt heavy to drive so maybe all the options was part of the problem I dont know but I walked away plus standing there since april is maybe part of the problems and roads where its located are really rough .
I was going to forget it but then drove a GTS c2 manual at an OPC up at 60k with 17k miles. What a revelation it had what I was looking for in feel from gearchange to steering feel it just felt lighter and more responsive a real less is more but I come from lotus ownership. Anyway they wouldnt budge on price other than a few hundred but i figured when will the next manual come along. So I paid over the odds I know but it shows some buyers roll over !
With regard to manual i was concerned about resale so i tested with 911v who said manuals are good news and they put them a whisker ahead of pdk these days, imo the manual will move ahead with time as the pdk continues to develop. We will see.

Congrats on your purchase and remember the obligatory pics please and your spec.
I love my GTS and dont think you overpaid - 2wd manual is THE car. I think you know the right car when you see it and everything else just has to be done. You also have 2 yrs OPC warranty which is worth a couple of grand on its own. Which OPC did you buy from as I haven't seen any manuals for sale when I've been trawling. Enjoy your car and get plenty of driving in over the bank holiday.

People seem to beat themselves up about not securing a discount on a GTS. The GTS is one of the most sought-after second hand Porsches out there, so big discounts will be rare at the moment and the price seems quite well established.

Which is good news really, because buyers can just get on and enjoy their purchases, rather than fretting about whether they paid too much.