I think its time I scratched the itch but what 911 to buy?

[turbobungle]

OK, so I've been thinking about a 911 for some time and having been driving around in a Dodge Ram for the past couple of years to preserve my license (following having an R35 GTR) I've decided it's time to scratch the itch!

One worry that I have is that I really like going sideways and would always rather fight the back end rather than be dealing with understeer (which is why I love my E46 M3) so am I going to be disappointed with all the rear engined traction?

The other dilemma is which 911? I've never driven one but there are a few on my list for consideration as below. I would be using it as my every (most) day car although I don't do big mileages.

997.1 Carrera 2S manual - Safe option, relatively new, loads to choose from, really good prices, though not many with Option 220 LSD (will I need this to get sideways easily?)


996.2 GT3 - Its a GT3! But I'd need to fit seat belts in the back for the kids seats and is it a bit hardcore for every day?

964/5 Turbo - Love the look, prices on the up (maybe too far already), difficult to find, probably a bit old to use as a daily?


996 GT2 - Fast, no nasty traction/stability control , maybe too fast to enjoy and keep my license? Rear seat belt thing again.


993 Turbo - Always loved the look of these, prices seem to be steady or on the up. Are these a viable every day car (most days only about 10 miles!), what is the driving experience like? I assume I'd have to give up on any sideways ambitions in this one?


Any help/recommendations/advice gratefully received!

Cheers

[Shurv]

The sideways thing keeps popping up.Not easy on dry roads in any 911. Keep your Ram and get a GT86/BRZ, sideways everywhere!!!.

[turbobungle]

The Ram is good and if the mrs would have it, I would keep it for her, but I decided a couple of weeks ago that there are too many cars I want to own and not enough time to achieve it so I need to start on my quest to own as many as possible

I suppose I always have the M3 for sideways, maybe I'd find other pleasures with a 911! They can't keep winning group tests for no reason!

[freemax]

turbobungle said:

996.2 GT3 - Its a GT3! But I'd need to fit seat belts in the back for the kids seats and is it a bit hardcore for every day?


996 GT2 - Fast, no nasty traction/stability control , maybe too fast to enjoy and keep my license? Rear seat belt thing again.


Any help/recommendations/advice gratefully received!

Cheers

Not exactly sure how this is handled in the UK from a legal perspective, but on the Continent it is a major administrative hassle to get a car from two seats to four seats, which you would have to do to make the GT3 a family friendly car. I am talking about the 'official permission' and the associated paperwork, not the technical bits. This is needed to make the car road legal and insurable.

I know of one single GT3 in Switzerland that was equipped with rear seats from new - it took 15,000 Swiss Francs (10,000 pound) to get there, and several months of exchanging documents with the authorities.

I have a GT3 and use it to take EITHER my wife, OR the baby - which gives my wife some free time...

[MrC986]

FWIW I would avoid the C2S 997 unless it has had the engine reworked by the likes of Hartech/Autofarm etc, had a boroscope examination or is under OPC warranty still. My brother in law's first (an 05 Carrera S) had a replacement engine before he had it (from Porsche) and the second one (an 06 C4S) needed a major rebuild at 30k miles and he was very mechanically sympathetic too - he decided sadly not to continue his 997 experience for purely financial reasons.

[pilchardthecat]

997.1S "safe option" - t'internet says otherwise, exaggerated or not there's enough of a risk to put me off

The 997.2 non-S is a similar price now, and performance is about the same, in fact with pdk it's faster. Personally i'm ping-ponging between one of these and an early 997.1 turbo (although the warranty/seized engine thread is causing me to lean towards the newer car). It's also a better proposition as a daily (15k miles/year)

The 996 doesn't get a look it, i'm a fried egg hater

[turbobungle]

MrC986, thats worrying! Is this a common thing with the 997?

[Spy]

I am surprised you have not included a 996 Turbo in there given you already have the 996 GT2 and GT3.

The Turbo variant would probably be the best suited as a daily driver but will be difficult to get sideways, even with the PSM switched off.

Also, when considering the likes of the GT2, GT3 and 964 Turbo, bear in mind that the retained value of these is highly dependent on mileage. Depending on how many miles you do as a daily driver, you may find that the depreciation would be similar/close to a 997 C2S etc

[turbobungle]

freemax said:

Not exactly sure how this is handled in the UK from a legal perspective, but on the Continent it is a major administrative hassle to get a car from two seats to four seats, which you would have to do to make the GT3 a family friendly car. I am talking about the 'official permission' and the associated paperwork, not the technical bits. This is needed to make the car road legal and insurable.

I know of one single GT3 in Switzerland that was equipped with rear seats from new - it took 15,000 Swiss Francs (10,000 pound) to get there, and several months of exchanging documents with the authorities.

I have a GT3 and use it to take EITHER my wife, OR the baby - which gives my wife some free time...

Trouble is I have two small kids and fights would happen! There is a company in London that can fit seat belts to 996 & 997.1 GT3/GT2 (but not 997.2) for around £350.00 using all the same mounting points etc. as on other models. Then you just fit the kids seats in. It would seem there are quite a few on the forums that have done this and been ok with insurance etc. not sure about any warranty though, I imagine that would be void.

[turbobungle]

Spy said:

I am surprised you have not included a 996 Turbo in there given you already have the 996 GT2 and GT3.

The Turbo variant would probably be the best suited as a daily driver but will be difficult to get sideways, even with the PSM switched off.

Also, when considering the likes of the GT2, GT3 and 964 Turbo, bear in mind that the retained value of these is highly dependent on mileage. Depending on how many miles you do as a daily driver, you may find that the depreciation would be similar/close to a 997 C2S etc

Don't know why, I've never been a big fan of the 996TT, but I've always liked the 996 C4S!! Think its the 4wd that puts me off, although I'd still like a 993TT. I think.

[dapearson]

turbobungle said:

Don't know why, I've never been a big fan of the 996TT, but I've always liked the 996 C4S!! Think its the 4wd that puts me off, although I'd still like a 993TT. I think.

Confused. 996TT and 996 C4S are both 4wd.

[Henry Fiddleton]

To go sideways in 996/997/991 on the roads you will have to be a dangerous speeds, and hoesntly not worth it.

The track is different.

If its a dab off oppo you want on the roads, at safe ish speeds as mentioned a GT86/200sx/mx5 is what you need.

I dont think I have even intentionally got my 996 to step out, even under full throttle get aways - 305 section rears, and the engine over the rear means grip...and more grip.

[turbobungle]

dapearson said:

Confused. 996TT and 996 C4S are both 4wd.

Yes I know, makes no sense!

[Offspeccer]

If sideways is important then I fear the itch lies somewhere else......

[edo]

OP.

Budget?

[turbobungle]

edo said:

OP.

Budget?

Somewhere between £25k & £50k depending on the right car and if I fancy adding some finance or not

[turbobungle]

Offspeccer said:

If sideways is important then I fear the itch lies somewhere else......

Even with the GT3?

[Slobberchops]

pilchardthecat said:

The 996 doesn't get a look it, i'm a fried egg hater

So get a facelift with the same lights as the GT car you pictured...

[freemax]

turbobungle said:

freemax said:

Not exactly sure how this is handled in the UK from a legal perspective, but on the Continent it is a major administrative hassle to get a car from two seats to four seats, which you would have to do to make the GT3 a family friendly car. I am talking about the 'official permission' and the associated paperwork, not the technical bits. This is needed to make the car road legal and insurable.

I know of one single GT3 in Switzerland that was equipped with rear seats from new - it took 15,000 Swiss Francs (10,000 pound) to get there, and several months of exchanging documents with the authorities.

I have a GT3 and use it to take EITHER my wife, OR the baby - which gives my wife some free time...

Trouble is I have two small kids and fights would happen! There is a company in London that can fit seat belts to 996 & 997.1 GT3/GT2 (but not 997.2) for around £350.00 using all the same mounting points etc. as on other models. Then you just fit the kids seats in. It would seem there are quite a few on the forums that have done this and been ok with insurance etc. not sure about any warranty though, I imagine that would be void.

One possibility to try is the following: get a friend who also likes sports cars, ideally something different, like Ferrari/Lambo/Audi R8. And he must have no kids, at least none that are interested in cars. Then split your two kids between the two of you and do a "kiddie race" on a road where you can go faster (NOTE: by kiddie race I mean going at super safe speeds (!!), but still making noises that a five year old would consider race car-like).

I did this last weekend on a German motorway with a friend who has two boys, 6 and 8 yrs old - he was in an R8 V10 convertible, me in the 997.1 GT3 RS - overtaking each other "racing" at 150km/h in third gear on a three lane empty motorway.....I swear you, the boys had more fun than on a rollercoaster!

[mollytherocker]

For epic sideways action, there is one Porsche, the 968.