Realistic running costs, 996 or early 997

[TheLordJohn]

Hi there.

My dad went to go and look at a 911 yesterday, long story short - I have decided that I am having one before I am 30.
I am not alien to cars costing money to run having had various performance cars over the years.
Just looking for some advice from actual owners, not pub gossip, what they're like to run.
It won't be a main car, so probably sub 5k miles a year.
What i've gathered so far, bore score and IMS are the main things that anyone who's even heard of a Porsche will mention to be wary of.

Thanks in advance, Stuart.

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks for the replies, gents.
I am not averse to spending money on cars.
Whichever car i end up with it's invariably never up to my standard.
I am a truck mechanic so I'll be doing a lot of the work myself.
Major stuff and an annual service, i'd probably get an indi to do for the service history side of it.
But suspension parts, brake work etc, i'll tackle.

Had an epiphany this past few weeks, so i'll be buying a Porsche before I am 30 next year as a result!

[TheLordJohn]

James - thanks very much for taking the time to reply.
All that time on PH and I've got your 7th post...!

Yes, I don't mind spending money on cars, and don't mind having a fiddle.
Gets you learning about it and invested in it a bit, makes you more fond of it in my experience.
I can do anything, yeah. I wouldn't do the engine rebuild on a Porsche I don't think as I'd like a known Indi to have completed it for the service history.
Having said that, if it sts itself in a bad way (The liners can pick up, can't they?) and I have owned it a while/will own it a long time/don't intend on ever selling it then I'd probably do the work myself.

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks for the continued responses, gents.
In talks with a couple of semi-serious contenders.
Is it the end of the world if 'the one' is an early 996 (3.4) rather than a 3.6?
Or not a huge difference?
I'm edging towards buying on condition and history more so than anything else.
Is there a firm feeling towards appreciation on these?

Thanks, Stuart.

Edited by TheLordJohn on Monday 6th March 22:24

Edited by TheLordJohn on Monday 6th March 22:27

[TheLordJohn]

LordHaveMurci said:

Early 3.4 is arguably the best buy.

Ooooh, expand a little please?

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks for that.
I've found, almost, the perfect one for me, but it's a 4.
Is that the end of the world....?
I'd prefer a RWD but this is a good one.

[TheLordJohn]

I actually put 'nice' cars at the back of my mind for another 15 years or so, but as the Government seems to be doing its level best to make buying a second home, especially in the south, as hideously expensive as possible, i thought i'd go for a 911 instead...!
Probably the wrong move, but sod it.

[TheLordJohn]

Fast Bug said:

Maybe I've not been trying hard enough!

Yes, indeed. You'd do well to really give it the beans!
I won't accept any less than an upload and entry into the 'show us your crash pics' thread with it wrapped around a tree.

[TheLordJohn]

Well, gents, thanks for the continued responses.
Trying to move some money around here and there, but had an offer accepted on a lovely silver (compromise) C4 (compromise) 3.4 with 82k miles and ridiculous service history.
Ticks every other box so to have only 2 compromises on a near on 20 year old Porsche seems a win to me!
Black leather, so far from worst choice. No sunroof,either. Sensible number of owners.
Quality tyres, properly rated, just had discs and pads all round recently, loads and loads of service history so I think it's one of the better ones.
Other 'negatives' are rear wiper (was it an option?) and tinted rear three windows but having spoke to the owner he comes across alright.

Edited by TheLordJohn on Saturday 11th March 11:51

Edited by TheLordJohn on Saturday 11th March 11:56

[TheLordJohn]

Mario149 said:

See my comment above, AWD compromise is easily sorted Especially if you're a mechanic!

I did spot that, thanks for the info. It's something i'll consider but if people think there's no real difference with a C4 than a 2, then it might just stay as it is.

[TheLordJohn]

Mario149 said:

Tbh, I'd do it more for the weight thing, you could take about 40kg+ out by removing AWD bits from memory.

I've owned plenty of 'performance' cars before, but i'm not sure i'll see a great deal of benefit from losing 40 kilos from a Porsche.
Especially if that's all I'm going to do. As i'd be leaving all the standard interior in place etc
I have been there before, it's a slippery slope once you start with a car...!

[TheLordJohn]

Something to consider, I suppose.
'Mine' (which I don't own yet, but have had an offer accepted) hasn't got a sunroof, and I think it looks a lot better for it.
However, it has a rear wiper, which i think ruins the back view a bit so that might go.
I'll have to be careful not to lose originality as i can see the nice ones appreciating a bit in a few years.

[TheLordJohn]

Go on then, what have you had to cough for there...?

[TheLordJohn]

Ha, there's fat chance of me needing to remove the centre console then, i'm a midget.
I'll be doing a lot of the 'tinkering' stuff myself. An annual service and any major repairs will be done by a specialist, and any small improvements here and there i'll do.

[TheLordJohn]

Went to go and see this one -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152473029078?_trksid=p20...

Before he put it on eBay. I rang about it when the asking price was £13/14k but then it got pulled a day later.
He said it was showing signs of the beginning of bore-score (which it is) so he then listed it with that declared for £8k.
He got no bids, and i'm fairly sure he'd have accepted my £7k offer if I hadn't already had another offer accepted between him listing the car and it ending with no bids.
It looked honest enough, half decent service history and Continental tyres all round.

[TheLordJohn]

He's not had it checked but when he ran it up for me there was a faint ticking and excess exhaust out the N/S pipe for a good 20 seconds or so.

Edited by TheLordJohn on Saturday 18th March 10:38

[TheLordJohn]

griffter said:

I'm confused - the one in the eBay ad linked is a 3.4! It has 996.1 headlamps and they're all 3.4.

No, I was confused... Lol.
Sorry, my mistake. Yes. A 3.4.

Edited by TheLordJohn on Saturday 18th March 10:41

[TheLordJohn]

I need to get into Risk Strategy and Consulting; you're garage is immense!

[TheLordJohn]

Today is the day, gents.
Thanks for all the advice given and I'll stick some photos up when I get chance.

[TheLordJohn]

Photos tomorrow, with any luck.
Just got home...!

• Edit*

Not a fan of the window tints, and the seller seemed eminently far too sensible to have had them done.
They'll probably come off at some point, along with the rear wiper.
I'll get some better photos once it's properly mine; IE, after a wash, polish and hoover!

Edited by TheLordJohn on Monday 20th March 07:57

Edited by TheLordJohn on Monday 20th March 09:30