996 Turbo
Author
Discussion

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
OK, they're not cheap, but you can probably pick up a 996 Turbo with 10k miles for around 65k now.

At that price, it is not competing with Scoobies, Loti, or the like, so can anyone think of anything else which will do a similar job?

At about this point every year, the temptation gets strong. I'm playing off the two arguments "stupid sum of money" with "I love cars, and it's perhaps the best car I'll ever buy".

I'm assuming it'll cost a bit under 10k per year to own, over 2 years. That's obviously a lot of money, but not the sort you need to be a millionaire to afford.

rich1231

17,339 posts

287 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
65k? Import you mean?

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
Nope, secondhand. Advertised at a touch over 70, and if there are a few advertised at that price, you'll find people willing to let them go cheaper.

Vastly reduced city bonuses are leading to people having to sell things in a bit more of a hurry than they had planned.

I'm pretty certain that if you make an approach cash in hand, and are prepared to walk away from a few, that 65k is a realistic price to aim for.

If someone needs to sell to pay the mortgage, they can't afford to keep holding out forever.

rich1231

17,339 posts

287 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
I get a trade in price on my car almost every week and it was in mid to late 80's last time I asked. Whoever is willing to let theirs go for 65 is in line for work with Jim Henson.

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
Is it possible that the dealer is giving you an unrealistically high price, so that you go to him when you trade in, but plans to drop his price one you've come along? I obviously don't know the situation with your car, has it any particularly expensive options or modifications that would ramp the price up?

He might also be planning on making the money back on whatever he's selling you next. trade in price, after all, is not the same as a straight bid.

Of course, even if he's planning to pay you in the mid eighties, that doesn't change the fact that there's an X reg 996 turbo, in lapis blue, with 11k miles, offered at 73k, in Central London, right now. If it's offerd at 73, you can be nearly certain it'd go at 70 without hesitation.

If you are thinking of selling, 85k bid for yours looks stunning.

iguana

7,326 posts

287 months

Monday 16th December 2002
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993 Turb for roughly half that, ie high £30k's (Lhd) even some 500bhp examples ie RUF etc for high £30-low £40k area (again Lhd)

clubsport

7,408 posts

285 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
So £73k...will come at £70k...but will probably get it for £65k....Are you not getting this market a little confused with year end balance sheet effect on high yield credits????
Things are a little slow seasonally in the car market,but I would think OPC dealers may step in before £65k,give it a polish and stick it on the forecourt at £78k with a nice warranty.
Please prove me wrong I would love to see one trade there and you will have yourself a fantastic car,which you may well make a turn on by the summer.

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
I'd say that once you have cars advertised at the 73k mark, you will definitely get one for 70, and have a reasonable chance of getting one a few grand cheaper. That depends on finding the right seller, and so is somewhat down to chance.

I am hearing too many stories now of crashing rents, zero bonuses, and redundancies to think the medium price supercar (don't knw how GT40s and Mclarens are going to fare) market is going to stay strong.

Anyway, even at 65 (or 70)k, I would still need to think very very long, and very hard. It's a lot of cash. If I relocated up North, I could have 4 years (at least) on that sort of money, not working for so much as an hour.

All a question of balance I suppose.

JMGS4

8,904 posts

297 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all

OK, they're not cheap, but you can probably pick up a 996 Turbo with 10k miles for around 65k now.

At that price, it is not competing with Scoobies, Loti, or the like, so can anyone think of anything else which will do a similar job?

At about this point every year, the temptation gets strong. I'm playing off the two arguments "stupid sum of money" with "I love cars, and it's perhaps the best car I'll ever buy".

I'm assuming it'll cost a bit under 10k per year to own, over 2 years. That's obviously a lot of money, but not the sort you need to be a millionaire to afford.

Northernlad, you should be able to pick up a 966Turbo at 65K EUROs not pounds! Thats the going rate here anyway (Germany, Switzerland!)......Prices out of Sundays FAZ!
Any more than that and it's yet another case of RIP-OFF BRITAIN!!!

>> Edited by JMGS4 on Monday 16th December 14:20

clubsport

7,408 posts

285 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
You're only here once...Go for it!,,great for the City image when those around you are getting zero bonus or tinned...Plus there is little downside after the spring when the weather and hopefully M & A pick up.

granville

18,764 posts

288 months

Monday 16th December 2002
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This reminds me of the wildy optimistic Quentin Wilson claims that you can buy pukka Bentley Turbos and Porsche 928s for pin money.

I suppose if you have infinite time on your hands and nothing to do you may eventually unearth some unsuspecting retired Colnel near Budleigh Salterton who won one when last passing through Heathrow from the colonies and really doesn't know what it is and would therefore let it go for such a low figure.

Other than that, the figure seems impossibly low. Still, it could be a twin turbo in the sense of two cars welded together...

Captain Cynical will now get his coat.

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
In general, the thought is to just buy one, and worry about it later. Every day, we read stories of people who've died appearing to be poor, but actually having hoarded millions, which is certainly not how I plan to go.

Suppose I'd better get a test drive, which isn't going to be easy. I have no intention of paying a dealer 80k, and no private seller will lend me one for a day. Hmm, how to procede?

Anyway, nothing's going to happen to feb, so still plenty of time to bottle it.

dazren

22,612 posts

288 months

Monday 16th December 2002
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They are great cars. If you can afford it you won't regret it, but only you can decide if you wish to prioritise so much money into a car.

The one thing I would state is the obvious of getting any car checked over before you hand over your money.

Any OPC main dealer should be willing to do a "pre purchase" check over for about £200. Money well spent IMO.

I don't know where you'll get a test drive but I will say that not a single car nut has ever got out of the passenger seat of my car and not made comments along the line that it's insanely ballistic.

DAZ

PS - I don't know anything about used car values other than normally the longer you leave it the cheaper it becomes. But someone may have mentioned earlier lifes too short!!

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
I think most cars I've bought have been at levels that most would think very low. Pick the examples carefully, be completely willing to walk away and, conversely, be willing to fork over the money when you first see it, and you can do very well.

It's similar to what I do at work, and that probably has helped in the past when I've wanted to try and squeeze someone down. It's one reason that I won't travel far to see a car. There's a high probability that the person will stick to their guns, and I'll have to leave empty handed.

granville

18,764 posts

288 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
Nboy - whilst undoubtedly not the premiere choice, if you are in the market for a 911, is the 993 a little too passe for the wine bars these days?

You could get close to the uberdom of the 996 and still have change for a nice donation to the Tory Party!

Excellent!!! You know it makes sense...

clubsport

7,408 posts

285 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
I agree with the City type mentality of the next offer will be along etc...
However when you are dealing with this type of car at this level it is a totally differnet kind of market.You don't tend to get people picking over a grand so much.The type of car you may get hit with a low bid on,may be a car the trade has walked away from.
Price is always a factor but condition,service history is crucial at this level.If you are going to spend this sum of money then you want to be very happy with every aspect of the car and this means there is more chance the next owner will be.So you are not left long & wrong if the market is going down.
with cars of this value I keep them spot on,you can soon work out real buyers and the chancers.

northernboy

Original Poster:

12,642 posts

284 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
I nearly bought my first porsche this year, and the 996/993 question came up that time. The interior of the 993, unfortunately, really turned me away from the car. Just didn't like it. I want to feel very happy sitting inside whatever I've spent my money on, and that wasn't happening with the 993. I then at in a 996, and it was worlds apart. It just felt right.

I didn't want to spend that much money then though, so left empty handed.

I feel that if I really like cars (and I do), then I MUST have a 911 at some point. It therefore comes down to which one, and when. 80k is more than my dad took home in any five years, so I still am going to struggle to hand over something like that.

There is always the sensible head, as well, that dislikes spending on a depreciating asset.

It's not easy is it?

elanturbo

565 posts

289 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all
There are no pockets in shrouds.
The 996 is pretty much the ultimate car in my eyes. but since I've 2 kids and a sh*t salary, I'm never going to see the day when I get my sweaty mitts on one.

Do it!

polar_ben

1,413 posts

286 months

polar_ben

1,413 posts

286 months

Monday 16th December 2002
quotequote all

elanturbo said:since I've 2 kids and a sh*t salary, I'm never going to see the day when I get my sweaty mitts on one.

"Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."
John Updike