911 Purchase
Author
Discussion

Mossy65

Original Poster:

5 posts

63 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Hello all and happy Christmas, please can you give me some advice as I want to buy a 911 and have 2 options at the moment. Never had a 911 before.

1. 997 C2 2011 5 owners, 51k miles, 36k. Lovely condition and preped to a high level. New tyres, disc, pads, battery. Mot and full service on purchase . Problem is the dealer wont let me do a ppi check. He says hes preped it really high and dosent know why I dont trust him. Ppi garage us only 15 miles away from him. He does give 6 months warrenty.

2. 991.1 C 2012 4 owners, 68k miles, 40k. Again lovely condition. Mot till Nov 21 no advdorys on last, 2 new back tyres. Need small service in 21. It was 42k but he said I could have for 40k if he didnt have to get involved in sale much ie no ppi again. He would give 6 months warrenty.

This would just be a weekend cat for me. No track and c3.5k miles per year. Intend to keep for 10 years. So my low mileage would bring the higher option 2 mileage down. Also I am at attracted by the better interior of the 991 and lower running costs which would bridge the 4k gap between option 1 and 2 over 10 years.

Please can you advise what to do. I know many will say walk away if no ppi but I like these 2 cars and wouldn't the recent mot and warrenty give some peace of mind. Thank you.

Gary C

14,709 posts

202 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Mossy65 said:
He says hes preped it really high and dosent know why I dont trust him. Ppi garage us only 15 miles away from him. .
Red flag.

If he is playing the 'trust him' card and all you want is an inspection then sod him

Mark83

1,382 posts

224 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Same. PPI avoidance would be a red flag for me too.

Relying on an MOT, a £50 roadworthiness check? Wouldn't cut it for me. Not hard to have a Stevie Wonder special.

Only warranty that offers peace of mind is a Porsche one, not a six month one from a used car dealer.

g7jhp

7,026 posts

261 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Are they both base Carrera's? Not the Carrera S?

A Carrera S will offer more options than a basic Carrera for not much more.

Personally as a weekend car I'd take a 997 over a 991.

Neither of these sound great if you can't PPI them. No point taking a risk and having a bad experience buying a dud.

Keep looking, take your time, you won't regret it.


Mossy65

Original Poster:

5 posts

63 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Ok thanks for your advice.

Billy_Whizzzz

2,552 posts

166 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
I had same dilemma - went 997.2 C4S over base 991. Didn’t regret it

Boardingnath

40 posts

116 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
I had a 997.2 and traded it in for a 991.1, and it was the best decision I made. 991 is much more accomplished and nicer to live with.

Are they both from the same dealer? I wouldn’t be buying anything from someone who wouldn’t allow a ppi. That said I’ve bought both mine from 911 virgin without a ppi.

Fnumber1user

411 posts

75 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Alarm bells are ringing on both - if neither dealer is willing to allow a PPI then what exactly are they trying to hide/what are they scared of?

By law as they are dealers, they have to provide a 6 month warranty by law - however it is the extent of the warranty that can be argued, so tread carefully.

If the dealers don't want to do a tiny bit of leg work on a £40k sale, to me its time to walk. fk 'em!, plenty more out there...

g7jhp

7,026 posts

261 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Boardingnath said:
I had a 997.2 and traded it in for a 991.1, and it was the best decision I made. 991 is much more accomplished and nicer to live with.
I read the above as 'a nicer daily driver or day to day car'. Newer nd more luxurious.

The OP wanted a weekend car which is why I felt a 997 would be less refined and more fun (they're still very refined).

Every generation of 911 seems to get more refined.

No right answer just what you prefer for the job the car has to do, fun, daily or mixture.

David W.

1,948 posts

232 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
Don’t miss out on 997 ownership. Fab cars with more character (in a good way) than a 991.
I’d look for a .2S

Cpb1702

423 posts

138 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
On looks the 991 has aged really well. Both are holding their money really well it seems.

anonymous-user

77 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
have you driven either? which did you prefer?

Roaringopenfire

199 posts

124 months

Sunday 27th December 2020
quotequote all
I was a first time buyer this year for similar sort of use and length of ownership. We visited a range of dealers to really talk to experts and understand what would be right for us. In the end we did buy a new 992 but I found far and away the best 991/997 stock and service was Harbour Cars, Chicester. I have no connection with them but do encourage you to talk to them before you buy. If you are miles away well worth the trip when you can. I am sure they would let you try both so you can compare.

Edited by Roaringopenfire on Sunday 27th December 10:45

Mossy65

Original Poster:

5 posts

63 months

Sunday 27th December 2020
quotequote all
Thanks again all. I have only test driven a 997 c2

LPC6

91 posts

65 months

Sunday 27th December 2020
quotequote all
Both are good options as listed, but as others have mentioned no PPI is a red flag and not a risk I would be willing to take on a car I want to own for 10 years

vimto999

3 posts

63 months

Sunday 27th December 2020
quotequote all
I'd agree with the other comments. as a 997 owner I'm biased on which I'd choose though from the two but in my mind, if there are red flags at this stage, imagine what it would be like to resolve issues if/when they do occur with the dealer if that is their attitude at the 'easiest' stage!

tedblog

1,442 posts

103 months

Monday 28th December 2020
quotequote all
Fnumber1user said:
By law as they are dealers, they have to provide a 6 month warranty by law - however it is the extent of the warranty that can be argued, so tread carefully.
Thats incorrect. A dealer doesnt have to give a warranty which is normally the case on cheaper cars.
In most cases its usually 3 months.

Royal Jelly

3,918 posts

221 months

Monday 28th December 2020
quotequote all
I’d run away if I were you. There is no good reason for a dealer to disallow a PPI.

I looked at 3 981 Caymans. I had a PPI done at local reputable Indies for both a potential private deal and trade deal, no questions asked, and both sellers refreshingly gracious and accommodating and willing to flex when the reports came back with the odd comment. In the end they weren’t right for me, and the car I got had just had a 111 point check and warranty.

I wouldn’t be comfortable buying a Porsche without an inspection, and unless you’re trying to hide something, can’t understand why you wouldn’t allow it. Fair is fair. 997s have been great value over the last few years, so it’s not beyond my imagination to think that some will have fallen into the hands of those who bought a relative bargain and wanted to maintain it like one. Not a guarantee, of course, but a possibility.

Arctic pompey

74 posts

230 months

Tuesday 29th December 2020
quotequote all
Hi Mossy65,

I have a 997.2 which isnt currently advertised for sale but could be. It had a 111-point inspection on 2/12 which it passed with only 2 minor advisorys. It falls well within your budget. PM me if you`d like more details....Happy Xmas!

Mossy65

Original Poster:

5 posts

63 months

Tuesday 29th December 2020
quotequote all
Yes pls send me details , thanks