Guidance needed.............
Discussion
I just got back from living in the US for 4 years. I had a 964 for a couple of years in the UK but sold it when we left for the US. I am now back in the market for a 911 of some kind and having seen some of the posts in this forum I thought it would be interesting to get some views. Budget £50K maximum including insurance. It will be my second car and not get everyday use; weekends, special days and holidays is about the extent. I have no intention of track days but that might change over time. I always had a thing about the C4S mainly because of the looks and have been studying 996C4S prices for a while. The alternative would be an older 996TT or a GT3. I can't seem to find a good site that gives specs on say a MK1 996GT3 vs a MK2, any recommendations ? And lastly, the GT3 ground clearance worries me a little although most seem to have no problem, anyone ever taken one up the ramp on the channel tunnel train ?
In your circumstances I'd being trying to minimise depreciation and look for something special
like a 964RS or if that is too track focused Bristol OPC have a 964 speedster that was featured in GT Purely Porsche a few months back. Either would leave plenty of change from £50k and be a great second car.
like a 964RS or if that is too track focused Bristol OPC have a 964 speedster that was featured in GT Purely Porsche a few months back. Either would leave plenty of change from £50k and be a great second car.
Nice car and the low mileage is a big feature but not so sure about the silver - why are there so many silver 996 Porsche ? Seem to have eliminated the GT3 MK2 on price and the rear wing. I also seem to be moving further and further away from a C2 or C4. The exotica is so much more appealling ! Not hearing much from the 996TT boys....
Probably because (a) it suits the shape of the car, (b) it makes the car look 'High Tech'
like hi-fi products, and perhaps most important of all.....(c) it was the German racing colour of old.
Looks good on the 993 as well....( I would say that of course!!)
Why not add the 993TT to your list of cars...V.S. highly recommends it!
like hi-fi products, and perhaps most important of all.....(c) it was the German racing colour of old.
Looks good on the 993 as well....( I would say that of course!!)
Why not add the 993TT to your list of cars...V.S. highly recommends it!
NIIKME said:
If this is primarily for road use, you would think that you'd get more useable power from a 4WD 4S than the GT3. Having driven neither I could of course be making this up!
Comments invited, go on tear me apart.....
This is a very valid point, if your local back roads are anything like mine. I can think of several roads where I could blast along in my C4 that I now have to cross slower than a Marina towing a caravan, unless I want flying lessons or bone crunching grounding (ask me how I found out).
However, if you are considering the odd track days and your roads are okay...... grin....
alxce said:No problems, even with lowered GT3s. There are a coupld of exit ramps on the British side coming back from Frogworld that have a sharper angle than the rest, but if you take an angle of attack rather than going straight ahead even they are a breeze.
anyone ever taken one up the ramp on the channel tunnel train ?
You will want to board the train on the lower level; ususally the attendants direct low-clearance sportscars to the lower level as a matter of course.
The worst part of the tunnel is the wicked speed bumps as you approach the underbody cameras on the British side, but they are just uncomfortable -there is no unwanted contact.
If the Chunnel can deal with a CGT, and it definitely can, no worries with a GT3.
As for your local NIMBY speedbumps, however...
This has been a really interesting journey so far and maybe goes to show that time spent researching and ad-watching is a great part of the overall experience.
Events to date:
Lots of very tidy 996 C4S around and even bid on one in an auction, didn't win and think I have now spotted it in an Independent for about 9K more then I bid. Still very high on my list but searching for one with the right spec (PCM, PSE, low mileage, not Artic Silver) has become something of a chore. The added dimension of OPC vs Indie vs Private doesn't exactly enhance the experience.
I veered away from the 996 GT3 idea after the post about the Hampshire roads as I live in a tiny village where the county borders Surrey and I don't think either my butt or my spine is up for it. Also, the hedgerows are very well kept around here, I can almost picture the GT3-sized holes I would be making in them.
Searched long and hard for a 996TT but I seem to be on the cusp from a price perspective, most of the more attractive ones are just out of range. But isn't that always the case in life in general ?
Latest shift in thinking - as I watched the 964 disappear four years ago the only Porsche I ever wanted to replace it was a 993. Last and prettiest of the air-cooled and still very eye-catching despite the fact we have now gone through 996 to 997 in models. I have been spending some time recently studying the form and I am seeing some great looking machinery in the C2S and C4S category. Clearly the owners have in general loved and cherished them in a big way and I am looking at prices way below original budget for a 1997 vintage.
I was hoping to make this a little Christmas giftie to myself but not likely to happen now given the timeframe and what's the hurry anyway ? The money isn't going anywhere and it will be a while before I go through retail therapy of this intensity again.
Any opinions, comments, advice ?
Events to date:
Lots of very tidy 996 C4S around and even bid on one in an auction, didn't win and think I have now spotted it in an Independent for about 9K more then I bid. Still very high on my list but searching for one with the right spec (PCM, PSE, low mileage, not Artic Silver) has become something of a chore. The added dimension of OPC vs Indie vs Private doesn't exactly enhance the experience.
I veered away from the 996 GT3 idea after the post about the Hampshire roads as I live in a tiny village where the county borders Surrey and I don't think either my butt or my spine is up for it. Also, the hedgerows are very well kept around here, I can almost picture the GT3-sized holes I would be making in them.
Searched long and hard for a 996TT but I seem to be on the cusp from a price perspective, most of the more attractive ones are just out of range. But isn't that always the case in life in general ?
Latest shift in thinking - as I watched the 964 disappear four years ago the only Porsche I ever wanted to replace it was a 993. Last and prettiest of the air-cooled and still very eye-catching despite the fact we have now gone through 996 to 997 in models. I have been spending some time recently studying the form and I am seeing some great looking machinery in the C2S and C4S category. Clearly the owners have in general loved and cherished them in a big way and I am looking at prices way below original budget for a 1997 vintage.
I was hoping to make this a little Christmas giftie to myself but not likely to happen now given the timeframe and what's the hurry anyway ? The money isn't going anywhere and it will be a while before I go through retail therapy of this intensity again.
Any opinions, comments, advice ?
Looked at one, interestingly enough it was exactly the same as the very first Porsche I ever got taken out in, Arena red. The prices scare me to be honest, as did the raw power of that car at the time but that's a good thing. Seems to be a very high premium to pay and you are then into good 996 C4S or even older 996TT territory, although maybe not a good comparison.
I guess we all worry to some extent about depreciation and I think I would need to get comfortable with the idea of that premium being an insurance policy against some of the free-fall you see in other areas.
Does that make sense or do I need to adjust the thinking here ?
I guess we all worry to some extent about depreciation and I think I would need to get comfortable with the idea of that premium being an insurance policy against some of the free-fall you see in other areas.
Does that make sense or do I need to adjust the thinking here ?
The first part of the journey came to an end yesterday when I picked up my stunning 2003 C4S. It has all the right goodies including PSE which in my view should be a mandatory part of the package. If anyone saw a silver Merc and a silver C4S swapping places on the M25 yesterday it was me doing drive-bys so my son could hear the music that is a hard accelerating Porsche. The retail experience may be over but the fun has only just begun.
Now that's what I call Christmas, wooooohooooo
Now that's what I call Christmas, wooooohooooo
alxce said:
The first part of the journey came to an end yesterday when I picked up my stunning 2003 C4S. It has all the right goodies including PSE which in my view should be a mandatory part of the package. If anyone saw a silver Merc and a silver C4S swapping places on the M25 yesterday it was me doing drive-bys so my son could hear the music that is a hard accelerating Porsche. The retail experience may be over but the fun has only just begun.
Now that's what I call Christmas, wooooohooooo
I thought silver was a no no
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