996 Turbo - Market Expertise Required

[steve singh]

Hi Guys,

I've decided I cannot part with my M3 - so am buying a second car to run alongside it for a year to help me make my mind up (long-term I want to be a one car person!).

I've got my eyes on a TVR T350c at the moment for c£20-£25k - these come with an engine warranty and I assume won't depreciate much over the next 12 mths (if anything may even be the same price).

However I keep looking at the turbo and the fact it is useable very day and has 4 WD (my preference as I don't like to visit fields).

If I bought a well sorted 996 Turbo for say £25k privately (a 2002/03 around around 70k miles) - what's the thoughts on what that could be worth this time next year in the same state but with 7k more miles on the clock?

If I could sell privately around £23k in 2014 then I'll just go down the turbo route.

(I understand the maintenance cost on both cars could mess myself up!)

[monthefish]

I think that 996 turbos are at, or very near, the bottom of their depreciation curve, and if you bought now sensibly, you are likely to lose very little.

[davek_964]

Agreed - I wouldn't expect it to drop very much more - especially just for an extra 7k miles.

[steve singh]

What would you guys do?

Buy a TVR T350c or a 996 Turbo?

I love straightline speed and I want something slightly more rawer than my current M3 (which I love).

I also wanted to get something with more than 300bhp/ton - I think the 996 turbo could get there with the right mapping and upgrades?

I do like being able to go quick in the knowledge that the car won't just fly of the road due to a mis-shift or accelerating mid corner or something !!!

[davek_964]

I already own a mapped 996 turbo. It's ridiculously fast, with decent build quality and very stable in most weathers. I wouldn't even consider buying a TVR in preference to that.

But different people like different things. If you want "raw" then I imagine the TVR gives you more of that than a 996 turbo would. It's not a word I'd use to describe 996 turbos, no matter how fast they are. In fact - although it's faster - I wonder if a 996 turbo is really more raw than an M3, especially if you're swapping RWD for 4WD.

[big_treacle]

steve singh said:

What would you guys do?

Buy a TVR T350c or a 996 Turbo?

I love straightline speed and I want something slightly more rawer than my current M3 (which I love).

I also wanted to get something with more than 300bhp/ton - I think the 996 turbo could get there with the right mapping and upgrades?

I do like being able to go quick in the knowledge that the car won't just fly of the road due to a mis-shift or accelerating mid corner or something !!!

Not a 350, but I changed from a Cerbera to a 996 Turbo about 9 months ago. They are like chalk and cheese & I imagine it would be much the same difference between a T350. You should drive them both and see what floats your boat.

My observations:
- Porsche build quality far surpasses TVR. I do miss the fantastical interior of my Cerb but not the fact that the headlining was falling off as the glue wasn't suitable for the job.
- Turbo acceleration is fabulous and the power delivery makes the car feel faster than my old one even if it isn't. Doesn't rev as high but it has an extra gear.
- Tons of grip makes 996 feel safe and dependable and it is wonderful to accelerate out of bends. My TVR felt noticably lighter and easier to spin the rears up - I miss that to an extent.
- Porsche is more comfortable, feels much more spacious and has better visibility. TVR seating position is low slung next to the high transmission tunnel and feels like you're piloting a WW2 fighter plane.
- TVR gave more sense of occasion. Partly the soundtrack which was epic, partly the attention you get, partly the intensity of the driving experience to get it all working together and not spinning into a tree - it was a tiring drive with the amount of concentration required along with the frantic engine. Porsche is amazingly usable in comparison whilst being very rewarding to take on a proper drive.

Basically, I think that despite the similar price and on paper figures, you will find them completely different propositions. Have fun choosing!

[monthefish]

big_treacle said:

Basically, I think that despite the similar price and on paper figures, you will find them completely different propositions. Have fun choosing!

^^
This.

The TVR may well be more similar to the M3, i.e. straight 6, N/A, RWD.

In terms of what I'd do, I did buy a 996 turbo.

The only time I've ever really been attracted to a TVR is when I've heard them on full chat. I like the looks of a lot of them, and I love the unconventional nature of them, but they've never really 'grabbed' me.

Why not sell the M3 and buy both? ( )

[EvoSlayer]

steve singh said:

I also wanted to get something with more than 300bhp/ton - I think the 996 turbo could get there with the right mapping and upgrades?

steve singh said:

If I could sell privately around £23k in 2014 then I'll just go down the turbo route.

Just remember that a modified car has much less appeal to most buyers come sale time (sad but true), a car that has covered 70-80k, is over 10 years old and has been buggered about with can be a daunting proposition to most people no matter how respected the tuner.
Mine's probably worth 10 bob and a goldfish - a completely mint '04...but significantly fuct about with

[davek_964]

EvoSlayer said:

Mine's probably worth 10 bob and a goldfish - a completely mint '04...but significantly fuct about with

I'd throw in the goldfish bowl too - I could do with one for spares.

[EvoSlayer]

davek_964 said:

EvoSlayer said:

Mine's probably worth 10 bob and a goldfish - a completely mint '04...but significantly fuct about with

I'd throw in the goldfish bowl too - I could do with one for spares.

You're too generous Dave, I'd have to knock you something off for that...like a door mirror

[petop]

EvoSlayer said:

Just remember that a modified car has much less appeal to most buyers come sale time (sad but true), a car that has covered 70-80k, is over 10 years old and has been buggered about with can be a daunting proposition to most people no matter how respected the tuner.
Mine's probably worth 10 bob and a goldfish - a completely mint '04...but significantly fuct about with

Exactly why all the cars i have had ive never fucted about with. Ok ive changed the stereo in the Impreza (ste OEM) and doctored the relay on the C4S PSE but thats it. I always found if i got bored with the speed etc, i just went out and bought better.

[steve singh]

big_treacle said:

steve singh said:

What would you guys do?

Buy a TVR T350c or a 996 Turbo?

I love straightline speed and I want something slightly more rawer than my current M3 (which I love).

I also wanted to get something with more than 300bhp/ton - I think the 996 turbo could get there with the right mapping and upgrades?

I do like being able to go quick in the knowledge that the car won't just fly of the road due to a mis-shift or accelerating mid corner or something !!!

Not a 350, but I changed from a Cerbera to a 996 Turbo about 9 months ago. They are like chalk and cheese & I imagine it would be much the same difference between a T350. You should drive them both and see what floats your boat.

My observations:
- Porsche build quality far surpasses TVR. I do miss the fantastical interior of my Cerb but not the fact that the headlining was falling off as the glue wasn't suitable for the job.
- Turbo acceleration is fabulous and the power delivery makes the car feel faster than my old one even if it isn't. Doesn't rev as high but it has an extra gear.
- Tons of grip makes 996 feel safe and dependable and it is wonderful to accelerate out of bends. My TVR felt noticably lighter and easier to spin the rears up - I miss that to an extent.
- Porsche is more comfortable, feels much more spacious and has better visibility. TVR seating position is low slung next to the high transmission tunnel and feels like you're piloting a WW2 fighter plane.
- TVR gave more sense of occasion. Partly the soundtrack which was epic, partly the attention you get, partly the intensity of the driving experience to get it all working together and not spinning into a tree - it was a tiring drive with the amount of concentration required along with the frantic engine. Porsche is amazingly usable in comparison whilst being very rewarding to take on a proper drive.

Basically, I think that despite the similar price and on paper figures, you will find them completely different propositions. Have fun choosing!

Thanks for all the responses guys.

This one in particular (thank you!) has given much food for thought - I need to go into a dark room and think.

99% of the problem with buying cars is actually getting a test drive - I can sit in a car for 5 mins and tell you there and then whether I'll get on with it or not.

If I drove my M3, TVR and 996 Turbo back-to-back I could tell you in a heart beat which one I would buy

[zeb]

I've owned a TVR T350 and 2 996 turbos in my time

as other people have said, you pays yer money yer takes yer pick but for me the 996 is a far better proposition, it handles better, is quicker and is hewn from solid rock

For me the TVR was a victory of style over substance and I genuinely wouldn't have one given.

Best of luck in your search whichever way you choose

[Homer J]

EvoSlayer said:

Mine's probably worth 10 bob and a goldfish - a completely mint '04...but significantly fuct about with

Can I give you 10 bob and 2 x goldfish for the Europipe please.

I'll even pick up the delivery costs

[EvoSlayer]

Homer J said:

Can I give you 10 bob and 2 x goldfish for the Europipe please.

I'll even pick up the delivery costs

Daft as it seems mate, it'd probably be worth more if I got spanners out and took it to bits.
Btw europipe's got to be worth at least 3 and a bag of chips

[LordHaveMurci]

Funny isn't it, ask about a 996TT & everybody raves about the looks & quality. Ask about a boggo 996 & everybody loathes the lights & the interior & build quality are a joke!

Two very different cars OP, only by driving both will you know I suspect.

[davek_964]

LordHaveMurci said:

Funny isn't it, ask about a 996TT & everybody raves about the looks & quality. Ask about a boggo 996 & everybody loathes the lights & the interior & build quality are a joke!

Two very different cars OP, only by driving both will you know I suspect.

I like the look of 996s and 996 turbos, but I still think the lights were designed by Stevie Wonder.

Build quality is relative - a lot of people knock the interior quality compared to 997s (although I'm happy with mine), but I think most people would agree that Porsche build quality is in a different league from TVR build quality!