Can somebody please talk me out of buying a...
Can somebody please talk me out of buying a...
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p4cks

Original Poster:

7,332 posts

222 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
996 911.

I've currently got a Z4C and to be fair it's not a bad car although in comparison to the VXT it replaced it is a little boring to drive, and 'safe', so to speak.

Now why am I considering a Porsche 911 that is over 10 years old? I've even spoke to my insurer who said I would get a £15 refund if I changed to a Carrera 2. I've also read pages and pages about them and I'm not put off by the IMS scaremongering stories either. With a Hartech 'warranty', for c.£60 a month what other risk is there?

I've been here and read this(http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1037724&r=20122244&hm=96210&mid=96210#20122244) 3 times and I still want one. I've asked my friends to talk me out of it but they can't.

Can someone please talk me out of chopping in a perfectly good, reliable, good looking, cheap to run BMW for a 1999/00 Porsche 996!?

Jasandjules

71,909 posts

252 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Go for it. You only live once.






I may not have quite got the hang of your thread....... But this is better....

paintman

7,847 posts

213 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
^^^^^What he said.
If you want it, go for it.

Zwolf

25,867 posts

229 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
I think you *may* just be on the wrong forum for ANY sort of vehicular purchase desuasion, but you already knew that.

Get it done. Have fun tracking down and procuring your new toy. biggrin

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

227 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Come on for that kind of money you could get nice golf diesel

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

250 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Can a mod change the thread title to "I've had a cracking idea..."?

Ta

DrTre

12,957 posts

255 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Genuine q... is the 996 not more akin to z4c than vxt?! Swapping like for like a little?

DrTre

12,957 posts

255 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
and I don't mean layout of car, but the whole "thing"

davepoth

29,395 posts

222 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
I don't think I can either - the 996 Carrera 2 is the cheapest to run of all the 996s, and I would guess is going to be the best for day to day use (cheapest tyres etc.). It also has vaguely practical rear seats. So in many respects it'll actually be a more practical proposition than your current motor. DO IT.

benzito

1,060 posts

182 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
an early 996 carrera, hmmm are you really getting a much better car than your current runner? If you were considering a 996 turbo then I would say definitely

why not an Bmw M model instead if you could stretch to this, it will be much quicker than the 996, and in my opinion early 996's don't look great unless in turbo/GT styling form..

soda

1,131 posts

184 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
p4cks said:
Can someone please talk me out of chopping in a perfectly good, reliable, good looking, cheap to run BMW for a 1999/00 Porsche 996!?
I wanted a 911, and I mean really wanted. It had always been one of my dream cars and I was in a position to buy earlier this year. Arranged to view a nice example and had temporary insurance all sorted.

And I didn't really like it as a package. Nothing specific, just a combination of things and mainly the limits of the car being too high. I would have found it impossible to enjoy on a public road.

But try it, and if you like it get it bought. Life is too short smile

Zed 44

1,290 posts

179 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Can you fit two adults in the back seats? hehe

Zwolf

25,867 posts

229 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Zed 44 said:
Can you fit two adults in the back seats? hehe
More easily so than:

p4cks said:
I've currently got a Z4C

Herbs

4,996 posts

252 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
I've done similar. Elise-Z4-Elise-Z4M-911 C4S.

Go drive one they are very capable and won't deliver the same thrill as a vxt as they are arguably too capable for the speed limits. Handle very well and you can feel what they are doing so get a test drive booked in and report back thumbup

BRMMA

1,900 posts

195 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
The best thing you can do is go and try one, if you drive it and love it then there's no point trying to be talked out of it, just buy it. However you might drive it and be a little underwhelmed and then need no persuading not to buy it

I personally was fully set on swapping my 986 S for a 996 C2, found a nice one with aerokit, MO30, Sports Exhaust etc, drove it and was very disapointed, didn't feel any quicker than the Boxster, wasn't as nimble and generally felt less fun. I wanted to want it but I just didn't

I'll wait until I can afford a GT2/3 or a Turbo, drove a GT3 RS once and that was simply stunning, possibly the best car i've driven

bozmandb9

673 posts

203 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Have you driven it? When I originally read your post, I thought, no way, I'm going to say just go for it. But then I remembered I took one of a test drive many years back, and whilst it was immensely competent, possibly too much so, I felt underwhelmed.

So like many of the other respondents to your thread, I want to want one, and I'm sure I'll scratch the 911 itch at some stage, but the only important thing is if you've taken one for a good hoon, and decided that it's a car you really want. If this is the case then it doesn't matter what anybody says. If it leaves you cold, then clearly stick with the BM, or find another option!

Good luck either way, and keep us posted!

LongLiveTazio

2,714 posts

220 months

Monday 26th December 2011
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Buy a Maserati instead, it'll make your trouser snake tingle just looking at it and it certainly isn't boring.

Andy T

468 posts

251 months

Monday 26th December 2011
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Don't do it! I know not the same car but I traded in my elise for a 03 Boxster s and regretted it. It broke, very expensively so that kind of clouds my recollection but I thought it was, well dull. Also, have you read all the posts about the 996 and it's engine problems/ oil leaks?

limpsfield

6,567 posts

276 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
LongLiveTazio said:
Buy a Maserati instead, it'll make your trouser snake tingle just looking at it and it certainly isn't boring.
Great idea. Z4 and 996 are also great cars, but everyone loves a Maser.

Especially mechanics.

limpsfield

6,567 posts

276 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
Just to clarify my above comment, I do have one and it has on occasion paid for a few foreign holidays for mechanics, but I am in no hurry to change it.

So you should get one, like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3457345.htm