30k budget - which 911...?
Discussion
After years of telling him to buy the car he wants, my old man has finally relented and decided to buy himself a 911. 
However… I'm a TVR bod, and although between us we know the shapes of the cars, that's about where it ends. He fancies a 993 car… and although it'll probably be a second car, I can see him using it in most weathers.
So, what do you get for 25-30k…? Is there anything worth avoiding specifically, or anything that he really should hunt out..? He's been driving Audi's for the last 6 years or so (S3 and now an A3 3.2 V6) so think the four wheel drive option appeals.
Any thoughts, pointers of general advice (or where to get it!) would be appreciated… he wants to do his homework with a view to looking seriously in the Spring.
TIA
However… I'm a TVR bod, and although between us we know the shapes of the cars, that's about where it ends. He fancies a 993 car… and although it'll probably be a second car, I can see him using it in most weathers.
So, what do you get for 25-30k…? Is there anything worth avoiding specifically, or anything that he really should hunt out..? He's been driving Audi's for the last 6 years or so (S3 and now an A3 3.2 V6) so think the four wheel drive option appeals.
Any thoughts, pointers of general advice (or where to get it!) would be appreciated… he wants to do his homework with a view to looking seriously in the Spring.
TIA
sounds like "you" need a 993 carrera 4...better 4wd than 964 version,,,came out in '95 very few early ones have 272bhp...most have the varioram 285bhp engine up until '98.
£30k should get you a reasonable car, say under 60k miles,,look for decent complete service history, no crashes etc... a clutch is nearly £1000 fitted, so having had one at some point may be helpful.....the 4wd gets through tyres slightly quicker than a C2...rears are £400 a pair...maybe a bargaining tool on the sale?
Also consider the 993 C4S, basically a 993 TT, body, brakes, suspension but no Turbo...these can just about be had for £30k. but better examples are nearer £35k with low miles.
£30k should get you a reasonable car, say under 60k miles,,look for decent complete service history, no crashes etc... a clutch is nearly £1000 fitted, so having had one at some point may be helpful.....the 4wd gets through tyres slightly quicker than a C2...rears are £400 a pair...maybe a bargaining tool on the sale?
Also consider the 993 C4S, basically a 993 TT, body, brakes, suspension but no Turbo...these can just about be had for £30k. but better examples are nearer £35k with low miles.
Sorry to disappoint, but I am not straying from the TVR fold… 
… this is the old man that wants a Porsche. He's set on the 993 shape (probably as the neighbour has an earlier car 
)… and he seems to like his 4WD cars. Having driven a few he'd prefer a manual, but would settle for a tiptronic IF the rest of the car was right.
As per all car purchases, budgets tend to be "flexible"…
Thanks for the suggestions of where to look… should give us something to look at over Christmas.
Keep the info coming… much appreciated. Is it worth joining the club to gain any extra info…?
… this is the old man that wants a Porsche. He's set on the 993 shape (probably as the neighbour has an earlier car )… and he seems to like his 4WD cars. Having driven a few he'd prefer a manual, but would settle for a tiptronic IF the rest of the car was right. As per all car purchases, budgets tend to be "flexible"…
Thanks for the suggestions of where to look… should give us something to look at over Christmas.
Keep the info coming… much appreciated. Is it worth joining the club to gain any extra info…?
If he likes his 4wd then go for a 993 C4 or C4S.
The steering will feel hyper-sensitive, even in a 4 cogger, compared to what he's used to. I've had the C4S and now have a C2, and prefer the steering feel of the 2 (it's alive!).
My C2 is more than half way through a pair of rears after 6k miles, i expect it'll need new rears by 10k. My C4S went through rears in 6k and fronts in 12k. Ouch.
My 911's get used every day, at about 20k miles per year, and they are a bit like TVR's in that way, in that they don't like to be left for weeks at a time. These things need regular "exercise".
And yes, i still miss my Chim sometimes.
VS
The steering will feel hyper-sensitive, even in a 4 cogger, compared to what he's used to. I've had the C4S and now have a C2, and prefer the steering feel of the 2 (it's alive!).
My C2 is more than half way through a pair of rears after 6k miles, i expect it'll need new rears by 10k. My C4S went through rears in 6k and fronts in 12k. Ouch.
My 911's get used every day, at about 20k miles per year, and they are a bit like TVR's in that way, in that they don't like to be left for weeks at a time. These things need regular "exercise".
And yes, i still miss my Chim sometimes.
VS
Hi All,
I am in pretty much the same boat as I am looking to change from a Tuscan to a 911 and am in a real dilema as to which to go for. I am tempted to go for a balloon on the finance and go for a 996 Turbo (W) with 30k on the clock but at £57k is this a good price ?!
The reason I am posting this is I see that people are talking about Autobahn and wanted to post my experience of them. I drove over to Autobahn a few weeks ago, but was VERY dissapointed at their service. Seemed fine whilst I was in the showroom, but when I asked to take one out for a drive to see how it went, they said that this could only be done once I had decided on which car I wanted, sold mine, then I could phone up and possibly book a drive.
With so many variantions on the 911, the 2, the 4, the turbo etc how the hell can you decide on one if you have never driven any of them.
I could have understood this if I had turned up in a metro or similar, but they didn't exactly push or even help a sale .... needless to say I was not impressed at all and thought that if they are like this when potentially selling a car, what would they be like if you had any problems afterwards.
I may have got the wrong impression, but the other independant in Meriden seemed completely different. Very helpful and couldn't do enough for you.
I am in pretty much the same boat as I am looking to change from a Tuscan to a 911 and am in a real dilema as to which to go for. I am tempted to go for a balloon on the finance and go for a 996 Turbo (W) with 30k on the clock but at £57k is this a good price ?!
The reason I am posting this is I see that people are talking about Autobahn and wanted to post my experience of them. I drove over to Autobahn a few weeks ago, but was VERY dissapointed at their service. Seemed fine whilst I was in the showroom, but when I asked to take one out for a drive to see how it went, they said that this could only be done once I had decided on which car I wanted, sold mine, then I could phone up and possibly book a drive.
With so many variantions on the 911, the 2, the 4, the turbo etc how the hell can you decide on one if you have never driven any of them.
I could have understood this if I had turned up in a metro or similar, but they didn't exactly push or even help a sale .... needless to say I was not impressed at all and thought that if they are like this when potentially selling a car, what would they be like if you had any problems afterwards.
I may have got the wrong impression, but the other independant in Meriden seemed completely different. Very helpful and couldn't do enough for you.
silvertuscan said:
Hi All,
I am in pretty much the same boat as I am looking to change from a Tuscan to a 911 and am in a real dilema as to which to go for. I am tempted to go for a balloon on the finance and go for a 996 Turbo (W) with 30k on the clock but at £57k is this a good price ?!
The reason I am posting this is I see that people are talking about Autobahn and wanted to post my experience of them. I drove over to Autobahn a few weeks ago, but was VERY dissapointed at their service. Seemed fine whilst I was in the showroom, but when I asked to take one out for a drive to see how it went, they said that this could only be done once I had decided on which car I wanted, sold mine, then I could phone up and possibly book a drive.
With so many variantions on the 911, the 2, the 4, the turbo etc how the hell can you decide on one if you have never driven any of them.
I could have understood this if I had turned up in a metro or similar, but they didn't exactly push or even help a sale .... needless to say I was not impressed at all and thought that if they are like this when potentially selling a car, what would they be like if you had any problems afterwards.
I may have got the wrong impression, but the other independant in Meriden seemed completely different. Very helpful and couldn't do enough for you.
Mmm Autobahn,
I bought a car from there this year. A mixed experience overall. I had no problem with test drives, I did phone before hand and enquire about particular vehicles and fix a time with them. The salesman had no problem with a couple of hour long test drives (on different days) other than looking at his watch and squirming a bit when we got to 40 minutes. The buying experience was spoilt by the salesman developing a "bad attitude". I almost walked away from the sale becasue of this but I wanted the car and I put it down to him having a bad day.
Ultimately, I'm a bit indifferent towards them. Would I buy another car from them? Well, I wouldn't put them top of my list and I would certainly go via Meriden.
pp
Fair play to your old man.
I tried doing my best to persuade my father to buy something 'sporty' when he retired.
He ended up buying a top of the range brand new Laguna for about 20k (Thereabouts) I could literally have throttled him.
Glad your old fella has his head screwed on right.
I tried doing my best to persuade my father to buy something 'sporty' when he retired.
He ended up buying a top of the range brand new Laguna for about 20k (Thereabouts) I could literally have throttled him.
Glad your old fella has his head screwed on right.
You could always try Charles Ivey in Fulham. I've not bought from them, but got a classic 911 some years ago from Classic Cars in Wandsworth and got Charles Ivey to do a full check on it, they a brilliant job and got Classic Cars to do lots of bits and pieces to it before I picked it up - they seemed very thorough.
Podie said:
Sorry to disappoint, but I am not straying from the TVR fold…
As per all car purchases, budgets tend to be "flexible"…
Thanks for the suggestions of where to look… should give us something to look at over Christmas.
if its a 4WD you after then i think you may struggle a bit finding a tiptronic version of the 993 (or earlier) not a bad thing really
but don't discount the (better?) 2WD cars.
lots of people believe that 4WD is better, but Porsche do thing the other way around to Audi, & they are always predominantly RWD.
Having had a C2 and currently have a C4, the 4WD system only kicks in when needed, so that the car drives the same when needed. There is more oversteer in corners but both are great fun.
A lot of people bemoan the C4 but have not driven one, the same goes for the 993 tip, if you drive in traffic get one and you will not regret it.
A lot of people bemoan the C4 but have not driven one, the same goes for the 993 tip, if you drive in traffic get one and you will not regret it.
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