Advice / Thoughts Sought, £20k budget goes where?

[Jrlarrs]

Hi,
Been a lurker through my on-off ownership of Porsches for ages, need some advice now though people.

Here's the deal, my wife wants a porsche, we are not in a position to buy from OPC (budget £20-£25k) - our 3 previous porsches have been bought from OPC's when we had a more generous budget, the car will be a daily drive, not many miles but must be reliable (late night train station car park, country road 10 mile drive etc)...so:

• What model? (I am staggered at the amount of choice at this price point - we are open to 996, cayman, boxster, 997 (?))
• Where should we be looking, who are the genuine good guys when it comes to dealers? (We live in East Anglia, will travel)

I am genuinely stumped, and staggered by choice at this budget - thoughts, comments, advice all welcomed

thanks

[Nano2nd]

for £20k, i would be looking at the best 2.9 Boxster/Cayman i could get... that would remove pretty much all of the current engine worries... or get a gen 1 car from an OPC with the 2 year warranty

tempting though a 996 is, make sure you do your research and go in with your eyes wide open - a C4S is a lovely motor for £20k

[IMI A]

996 turbo or 997 C2 at £25K. both excellent

[Jrlarrs]

see my dilema....a 2.9 cayman to a 996 turbo.....that's a huge difference in cars?

I don't think the 2.9 Gen II are available at that money? (I wouldnt be confident buying from a private seller)

996 Turbo....so appealing, so scared of my lack of knowledge about them....

997....we had an 05 Cab from an OPC a few years ago, worst car in terms of reliability.ever. 5 month of the 7 month ownership in the dealer....that puts me on edge when it comes to the Gen 1 997 choice, although aware of tarring a good car with one bad example.

[shoestring7]

Jrlarrs said:

see my dilema....a 2.9 cayman to a 996 turbo.....that's a huge difference in cars?

I don't think the 2.9 Gen II are available at that money? (I wouldnt be confident buying from a private seller)

996 Turbo....so appealing, so scared of my lack of knowledge about them....

997....we had an 05 Cab from an OPC a few years ago, worst car in terms of reliability.ever. 5 month of the 7 month ownership in the dealer....that puts me on edge when it comes to the Gen 1 997 choice, although aware of tarring a good car with one bad example.

In some ways buying from a private seller is more preferable. Like getting a puppy from a breeder you get to meet the bh.

Errr, well in any case you can see the owner, find out if they are an enthusiast, is the car garaged, is it kept well, do they have all the bills etc. Remember you're looking for a good car, one that is as almost like new. Once you're satisfied, do the HPI checks and arrange for an inspection at the local specialist. You now know as much about the car as any dealer selling it, and can make a judgement over the purchase.

BTW I agree with the Cayman 2.9 suggestions. A simply brilliant car that should avoid most of the r&m worries of an older 996/993 etc.

Good luck,

SS7

[metrofour]

m in a similar position and have decided to go for a 996 turbo.The engine is supposed to be more reliable so no RMS IMS worries that youll get with the C4S.Prices are not THAT far apart,which is amazing considering the performance difference.Also I'm looking for a tiptronic which a lot of turbos are,meaning its never been over revved and probably driven by a fat slowcoach like me up and down the motorway.The only thing to look out for AFAIK are the history,recent air con condensors,3 rads and if its getting towards 100K,if/when the turbos have been changed.I definitely would not buy a Boxster from an OPC just because of a very tiny risk of the engine developing a major problem in a turbo...

[Magic919]

As it's for the wife, I'd suggest this http://www.911virgin.com/porscheforsale/545/9872.9...

[Barry Ashcroft]

I have a stunning 996C4S cab gong up for sale, 2004 42k miles, full psh and porsche warrenty till nov 2013, massive spec a truly fantastic car. Over your budget but worth every penny.

[Porkupine]

Barry Ashcroft said:

I have a stunning 996C4S cab gong up for sale, 2004 42k miles, full psh and porsche warrenty till nov 2013, massive spec a truly fantastic car. Over your budget but worth every penny.

Over £25k for a c4s?

[Barry Ashcroft]

Yep

[IMI A]

Porkupine said:

Barry Ashcroft said:

I have a stunning 996C4S cab gong up for sale, 2004 42k miles, full psh and porsche warrenty till nov 2013, massive spec a truly fantastic car. Over your budget but worth every penny.

Over £25k for a c4s?

+1 ????

[Helicopter123]

£20k won't get you a 997 or a 996tt, at least not one you might want.

So it's 996 vs Cayman vs Boxster.

Cayman must be the pick?

[SPS]

Porkupine said:

Over £25k for a c4s?

+1
For £25k you are talking dealership prices!
For that money I would look at a 997 way before a 996.

[David911RSR]

metrofour said:

m in a similar position and have decided to go for a 996 turbo.The engine is supposed to be more reliable so no RMS IMS worries that youll get with the C4S.Prices are not THAT far apart,which is amazing considering the performance difference.Also I'm looking for a tiptronic which a lot of turbos are,meaning its never been over revved and probably driven by a fat slowcoach like me up and down the motorway.The only thing to look out for AFAIK are the history,recent air con condensors,3 rads and if its getting towards 100K,if/when the turbos have been changed.I definitely would not buy a Boxster from an OPC just because of a very tiny risk of the engine developing a major problem in a turbo...

Turbo's and GT3's still suffer from RMS failure.

[Barry Ashcroft]

Yawn

Same old pistonheads let's slag off somebody's car that you have no knowledge off

Sorry op some people can't help themselves good luck with your hunt

[Crimp a Length!]

Low miles C4S Cab late model will fetch 25k IMO.
Maybe not at this time of year but certainly in the Spring. They are quite rare the Cabs

[Klippie]

Have you had a look on Auto Trader...there are some nice 2.9 Cayman's for sale within your 20k - 25k budget.

I wouldn't be afraid buying private that's how I bought my car last year I insisted the seller put the car through an OPC 111 point check and if it passed I'd buy it, the seller even agreed to put two years OPC warranty on the car for me ( which I paid for ) so I could drive away with a fully warranted car.

Doing this I saved around 5k compared to the OPC prices at the time this buys a lot of tyres, servicing and warranty.


Good luck with your hunt and please post some pictures of your new car when you find one.

[marky911]

Jrlarrs said:

(late night train station car park, country road 10 mile drive etc)

C4S will be safest. That's what I'd be the happiest to have my girlfriend driving, especially down dark, wet country roads.

They still look lovely, sound gorgeous (buy a one with PSE whatever you do) and are such a bargain these days. I think you'd get a nice example from a decent specialist for low twenties no problem.

Of course it all depends on whether you're happy with the risks these engines bring. Any Boxster or Cayman before '09 will have the same risks though so...

[Helicopter123]

marky911 said:

Jrlarrs said:

(late night train station car park, country road 10 mile drive etc)

C4S will be safest. That's what I'd be the happiest to have my girlfriend driving, especially down dark, wet country roads.

They still look lovely, sound gorgeous (buy a one with PSE whatever you do) and are such a bargain these days. I think you'd get a nice example from a decent specialist for low twenties no problem.

Of course it all depends on whether you're happy with the risks these engines bring. Any Boxster or Cayman before '09 will have the same risks though so...

But playing devil's advocate the C4S will be 10 years (+) old - surely a newer Cayman would be less of a general reliability concern?

[delays]

Huge amount of choice at this budget.

I'd be looking at 996s, or decent Caymans/Boxsters.

Or, a suggestion from the left field, a 968CS - nice one with good history, take care of it, sit back and watch the value rise. Since it's not a daily driver, this is what I would do.