Help and advice for a potential new owner PLEASE !
Discussion
Thinking about changing from a TVR Tuscan to a 911, but know not very much about them.
Went to have a look at a 996 C2 & C4, both of which were very nice clean examples, but they also had a 996 Turbo.
By having a balloon at the end, monthly cost os very similar between all ... so am swaying towards the Turbo for obvious reasons.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Any advice?
This will be my only car, used for approx 15000 miles per year. Changing from the TVR due to the annoying little things that go wrong too frequently.
Are 911's as reliable as I have heard, and are they any good as an only car used daily ?!
Any thoughts on an immaculate 996 Turbo, W reg, 30k on the clock at £57k ?? This one is at Shirleys in Meriden.
Went to have a look at a 996 C2 & C4, both of which were very nice clean examples, but they also had a 996 Turbo.
By having a balloon at the end, monthly cost os very similar between all ... so am swaying towards the Turbo for obvious reasons.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Any advice?
This will be my only car, used for approx 15000 miles per year. Changing from the TVR due to the annoying little things that go wrong too frequently.
Are 911's as reliable as I have heard, and are they any good as an only car used daily ?!
Any thoughts on an immaculate 996 Turbo, W reg, 30k on the clock at £57k ?? This one is at Shirleys in Meriden.
slightly more on topic (no offence) but turbo Vs normally asperated...
ask your self this question, do you need the extra performance & all the extra cost's it entails?
the way i look at it is that the Turbo's offer supercar performance & you should expect to pay supercar money, the same as you would if you had a Ferrari.
to me the whole point of owning a 'normal' Porsche is to have a true sports car that is not only reliable, but has running costs akin to japcrap (i can't believe i just wrote that)
i have driven loads of 'exotic' cars & would much prefer to own a 'normal' Porsche than most of them.
but ultimately we can all but dream of having a garage full of exotica for the exact needs of that day/drive.
take a longer view & get the car that suits your main criteria.
ask your self this question, do you need the extra performance & all the extra cost's it entails?
the way i look at it is that the Turbo's offer supercar performance & you should expect to pay supercar money, the same as you would if you had a Ferrari.
to me the whole point of owning a 'normal' Porsche is to have a true sports car that is not only reliable, but has running costs akin to japcrap (i can't believe i just wrote that)
i have driven loads of 'exotic' cars & would much prefer to own a 'normal' Porsche than most of them.
but ultimately we can all but dream of having a garage full of exotica for the exact needs of that day/drive.
take a longer view & get the car that suits your main criteria.
Hi guys,
Don't get me wrong, the Tuscan is absolutely fabulous to drive, but in the last 6 months I have spent on average around 600-800 every month just in sorting little bits out (excluding normal servicing, insurance, fuel, tax etc etc).
I fully appreciate that owning a car with this kind performance does cost, but it's more about the annoyance of having to take it in every few weeks to stop the windows coming open when you are driving along in the rain (duff sensors think the door is open) etc etc. Discs, pads, dampers etc are a different thing entirely. I am not complaining about the car in any way, as I was fully aware TVR do suffer from niggly problems, and the smiles it has given me can never be lost. It's just that after a while (and a fair amount of cash), and silly things still keep going wrong .... a change was in order, and having heard that Porsche's are so relaible, (and after driving one), it had to be the way to go.
I did take a good few cars out (all 996's as I prefer the shape/interior/features etc) but the thing which swayed me towards the turbo over NA was that I was concerned that after a month or two I would be dissappointed with the power of a normal C2/4 and wished I had gone for the turbo for the extra power.
As for 'do I need the power' .... yeah of course I do. If none of us were bothered about performance and the prestige of owning a car such as these we'd all be quite happy in 206's. No I don't NEED it, but it certainly is nice to have.
I am fully aware that the running and servicing (and parts) costs are higher for the turbo, but I hope that they are fewer and far between that having the car in the garage/dealer every few weeks.
Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated.
By the way, the order on the Turbo has been placed and I am counting down the days to pick the car up !!!
Don't get me wrong, the Tuscan is absolutely fabulous to drive, but in the last 6 months I have spent on average around 600-800 every month just in sorting little bits out (excluding normal servicing, insurance, fuel, tax etc etc).
I fully appreciate that owning a car with this kind performance does cost, but it's more about the annoyance of having to take it in every few weeks to stop the windows coming open when you are driving along in the rain (duff sensors think the door is open) etc etc. Discs, pads, dampers etc are a different thing entirely. I am not complaining about the car in any way, as I was fully aware TVR do suffer from niggly problems, and the smiles it has given me can never be lost. It's just that after a while (and a fair amount of cash), and silly things still keep going wrong .... a change was in order, and having heard that Porsche's are so relaible, (and after driving one), it had to be the way to go.
I did take a good few cars out (all 996's as I prefer the shape/interior/features etc) but the thing which swayed me towards the turbo over NA was that I was concerned that after a month or two I would be dissappointed with the power of a normal C2/4 and wished I had gone for the turbo for the extra power.
As for 'do I need the power' .... yeah of course I do. If none of us were bothered about performance and the prestige of owning a car such as these we'd all be quite happy in 206's. No I don't NEED it, but it certainly is nice to have.
I am fully aware that the running and servicing (and parts) costs are higher for the turbo, but I hope that they are fewer and far between that having the car in the garage/dealer every few weeks.
Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated.
By the way, the order on the Turbo has been placed and I am counting down the days to pick the car up !!!
aceparts_com said:
Well done. The additional cost of maintaining a turbo over a NA will be minimal and compared to the tvr will feel like a porky bank!
My 993turbo feels like running a fiesta compared to my old 964 (shouldn't have said that, something's bound to drop off now)
the speed you drive (on track) Alan, im surprised it hasnt already.
Hi Silvertuscan,I'm on my 3rd 911 2nd turbo my current car is a '96 993tt and previous I had a '91 3.3 turbo.Both cars have over 75.000 miles on the clock and get very spirited drives whenever I take the car out.I've had various other high performance cars in the past but the Porsches are in a different class of quality.If you buy a good 911 to start with it will very rarely need unsceduled maintainance,you seem to be able to drive these cars very very hard and all they need is fuel and cleaning and sceduled servicing.I test drove a tuscan also a Cerbera I think you'll be happier with the a turbo 911 I dont feel a n/a 911 will be quick enough considering your coming out of a Tuscan.You'll love a 911 turbo loads of fun and no mechanical probs except oils,filters,plugs,brakes etc You also have the option of taking the car to 500plus hp and it would still need sceduled servicing only.Totally different class of car to TVR when it comes to Durabilty.Your going from one of the least reliable sports cars to probably the most reliable I promise you won't be dissapionted!
aceparts_com said:Aceparts, let's make that two of us touching every bit of wood we can find today...
Well done. The additional cost of maintaining a turbo over a NA will be minimal and compared to the tvr will feel like a porky bank!
My 993turbo feels like running a fiesta compared to my old 964 (shouldn't have said that, something's bound to drop off now)
Even a humble Turbo 2, a 965 generation car with significant mods, can give relatively painless ownership. In the last 3 years it's cost me servicing and one repair to the (aftermarket) exhaust system. Early on there were some more significant costs but that was budgeted for in getting the car sorted immediately after purchase.
Don't fret silvertuscan. Your monthly costs just to keep the tiv on level ground - did I read that right
- is a decent mortgage, so with 996tt pork on the drive why not go buy a house...MOD500 said:
After the raw speed of the Tuscan, only a turbo would give you the 'fix' you need IMHO.
Thanks
MOD.
>> Edited by MOD500 on Friday 31st December 16:22
After previously owning a M3 CSL, TVR Tamora, Noble M12 GTO3R and such other cars I don't miss the "extra" performance now that I own a C4S Cab. In the real world the extra performance isn't really exploitable to its' fullest. I'd still keep the C2/4 in mind if it were me.
Hi
I've recently gone from a TVR Tamora to a 996 C2 and love it.
TVR's are great cars for the straight line performance, but I found TVR's to be a bit of a one trick pony really. On paper and in a straight line the TVR is quicker than the standard 996 C2 and very closely matched to the turbo.
The first time I drove the 996 C2, I was very much under whelmed, less noise, didn't feel as quick and I didn't rate the brakes either, but I've always wanted a 911 and figured I get the car and if it didn't grow on me I'd sell it quickly. Since then I haven't looked back.
The first time I gave the Porsche some stick(about 30mins after I'd bought it) in the rain, I was very impressed, so much feed back in the steering, your confidence builds really quickly and I'd never drove so fast in the bad conditions in a new car before.
The Turbo's are crushing fast in a straight line or round any corner in any conditions. There’s much less drama of course with the Porsche and while the interior is better screwed together than any TVR, it is a bit bland in comparison. The drives much more refined than your Tuscan, too refined for some people
Have your thought of a GT3 instead of the Turbo or 996 C2, its RWD 350BHP(ish) racer on the road, closer to TVR's style than any other Poker. The Turbo 4WD and not the lightest car and crosses over into GT section of motoring as oppose to pure sports car, while the GT3 is a striped out racer and not as refined, it's a Porsche I'd choose for the thrills and speed without the worries or problems of TVR ownership
>> Edited by bumcrack on Saturday 1st January 13:45
I've recently gone from a TVR Tamora to a 996 C2 and love it.
TVR's are great cars for the straight line performance, but I found TVR's to be a bit of a one trick pony really. On paper and in a straight line the TVR is quicker than the standard 996 C2 and very closely matched to the turbo.
The first time I drove the 996 C2, I was very much under whelmed, less noise, didn't feel as quick and I didn't rate the brakes either, but I've always wanted a 911 and figured I get the car and if it didn't grow on me I'd sell it quickly. Since then I haven't looked back.
The first time I gave the Porsche some stick(about 30mins after I'd bought it) in the rain, I was very impressed, so much feed back in the steering, your confidence builds really quickly and I'd never drove so fast in the bad conditions in a new car before.
The Turbo's are crushing fast in a straight line or round any corner in any conditions. There’s much less drama of course with the Porsche and while the interior is better screwed together than any TVR, it is a bit bland in comparison. The drives much more refined than your Tuscan, too refined for some people
Have your thought of a GT3 instead of the Turbo or 996 C2, its RWD 350BHP(ish) racer on the road, closer to TVR's style than any other Poker. The Turbo 4WD and not the lightest car and crosses over into GT section of motoring as oppose to pure sports car, while the GT3 is a striped out racer and not as refined, it's a Porsche I'd choose for the thrills and speed without the worries or problems of TVR ownership
>> Edited by bumcrack on Saturday 1st January 13:45
I agree with topboss here, NA Porsche are , in my view , a more balanced and easier option as a daily driver. I changed the GT3 to Cab4s in Sept `04 after testing an `03 Turbo, I was frankly disapointed in the TT.
Silvertuscan, try everything out there before taking the plunge.
I`ll get my coat..............
>> Edited by mikial on Saturday 1st January 16:27
Silvertuscan, try everything out there before taking the plunge.
I`ll get my coat..............
>> Edited by mikial on Saturday 1st January 16:27
mikial said:The way to go. And get specialist input if you don't know the cars. In the recent past I've test driven several TTs and the salesbots either didn't know about problems with these cars or more likely were being backwards in coming forwards ... about matters as varied as power loss - not easy to spot if you're not used to driving the genuine article with every horse present and correct - also exhaust manifold problems that had one car sounding a bit like a beetle, and oil seal problems. Take time and advice
Silvertuscan, try everything out there before taking the plunge.

Thankyou all for your replies and posts.
I did consider a GT3, but actually want a more refined, comfortable drive as this is going to be my only car. I am really excited about getting the car which will hopefully be next week.
All the posts have only added to the feeling that I have done the right thing in moving across to a 911.
Thanks all, Paul
I did consider a GT3, but actually want a more refined, comfortable drive as this is going to be my only car. I am really excited about getting the car which will hopefully be next week.
All the posts have only added to the feeling that I have done the right thing in moving across to a 911.
Thanks all, Paul
Just an after thought and no of particular value to the thread but there seems to be a fair amount of people with who would choose a TVR if only the manufacturers could negate the expensive and niggling faults that seem to occur on a regular basis. I persevered with my Griffith ( still got it but hardly used)) for five years before I returned to Porsche.
Loved it but in the end it cried wolf once too often and I no longer could trust it.
I also believe silvertuscan correct in seeking a 996 rather than aircooled
Anyone concur .?
Happy New Year .
Loved it but in the end it cried wolf once too often and I no longer could trust it.
I also believe silvertuscan correct in seeking a 996 rather than aircooled
Anyone concur .?
Happy New Year .
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