911 purchase - Advice needed
Discussion
I always wanted a 911 but have always avoided the impulse because I found it difficult to justify the expense.
Anyway, midlife crisis beckons and I can resist no longer.
But what to buy.
I'm narrowed my thinking down to a 993 carrera 2, probably a targa. Is this a good choice?
Should I go for a manual or tiptronic? To be honest the tip will be useful for me as I have a damaged left are/hand following a bad motorcycle accident. But I do drive manual cars regularly, it's just that my 3rd to 2nd downchanges are very occasionally a bit dodgy!!
Is the Varioram engine an important upgrade?
My budget is £20k to £30k.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Anyway, midlife crisis beckons and I can resist no longer.
But what to buy.
I'm narrowed my thinking down to a 993 carrera 2, probably a targa. Is this a good choice?
Should I go for a manual or tiptronic? To be honest the tip will be useful for me as I have a damaged left are/hand following a bad motorcycle accident. But I do drive manual cars regularly, it's just that my 3rd to 2nd downchanges are very occasionally a bit dodgy!!
Is the Varioram engine an important upgrade?
My budget is £20k to £30k.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
You'll notice that a lot of 993 Targas are tiptronics and if you intend to keep the car a while i suggest you find a RHD 993 targa with tip and in a colour combo you really like, then get out there and enjoy life.
I recently received a sharp reminder that life can be shorter than we expect. No point in wasting it eh?
I recently received a sharp reminder that life can be shorter than we expect. No point in wasting it eh?
My mid-life crisis led to a 928 S4, which I thoroughly enjoyed for several years, but I've moved on to a 993 Targa Tip S in Polar silver. It does all I could wish for in terms of practical performance, is comfortable and handles well, the Tiptronic drive is excellent, gets an average of 25 mpg and uses virtually no oil. I use it as a second car for longer trips and outings, so it doesn't do any of the daily short runs that do a car like this no good.
I was surprised to find that, at both the Brands Hatch Porsche Festivals (04/05), it attracted a lot of attention in the 993 Register line up, where it was the only Targa in 04 and one of only two this year. Every time I went back to the car, it was surrounded by visitors and most of them wanted to know more about it. It's a very attractive car to look at, but I think people were particularly taken by the light interior and that big glass roof. Many went away convinced that they wanted a Targa!
IMHO, no car is likely to satisfy every dream and, despite my enjoyment of this car, I'd be sorely tempted if I could find a 993tt at a price I could afford. Until that happens, I'll stick with the Targa - it's a lovely compromise!
I was surprised to find that, at both the Brands Hatch Porsche Festivals (04/05), it attracted a lot of attention in the 993 Register line up, where it was the only Targa in 04 and one of only two this year. Every time I went back to the car, it was surrounded by visitors and most of them wanted to know more about it. It's a very attractive car to look at, but I think people were particularly taken by the light interior and that big glass roof. Many went away convinced that they wanted a Targa!
IMHO, no car is likely to satisfy every dream and, despite my enjoyment of this car, I'd be sorely tempted if I could find a 993tt at a price I could afford. Until that happens, I'll stick with the Targa - it's a lovely compromise!
Thanks guys, that's really helpful.
I had lined up a targa manual to look at, but as nobody seems to be saying anything bad about the tiptronic I think I will start looking for an auto instead. Given my circumstances a tip will certainly be easier for me to drive than a manual. I was just worried that the tip might be very unpopular or have problems.
I had lined up a targa manual to look at, but as nobody seems to be saying anything bad about the tiptronic I think I will start looking for an auto instead. Given my circumstances a tip will certainly be easier for me to drive than a manual. I was just worried that the tip might be very unpopular or have problems.
los Angeles said:
Kent, would you ever consider installing a supercharger, if funds permitted?
Yes, I would - just as a way of adding to the fun, even though I've been pretty happy with the standard performance so far. The only snag seems to be the probable increase in insurance, but I haven't investigated that.
The various reports I've read suggest that supercharging is a very good way of adding to the engine power - probably as good as turbocharging and without the problems of making changes that are not easily irreversible. I suppose it would therefore give me most of what I might get in a 993tt, but without the four-wheel drive?
993buyer said:
but as nobody seems to be saying anything bad about the tiptronic I think I will start looking for an auto instead. Given my circumstances a tip will certainly be easier for me to drive than a manual. I was just worried that the tip might be very unpopular or have problems.
In the intersts of balance I certainly would as I hate them (slow clunky and uninvolving IMHO) and would never buy a car with it unless I had a medical issue like you. Others seem happy with theirs so I would really recommend you try both.
Perhaps tip more popular on the targa/cabriolet as befitting their more cruising nature.
Do targas suffer from leak problems much? I had heard this could be an issue.
>> Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 1st November 14:13
Oh no, back to the drawing board then!!!
Perhaps it's a manual coupe I need after all.
Interestingly, I really wanted a 911, but I also really wanted some open top motoring. Yet I thought the 911 cab was one of the worst looking convertibles around (purely personal view).
Then I read an item about the targa which said something like - 'looks as good as a coupe but still gives the open-top feel of the cabriolet'
Maybe I should just get a coupe with a sunroof?
Decisions decisions!!!
and now I've just read about the door check straps I'm thinking about a coupe with the doors welded shut and the windows removed in true dukes of hazard style.
Perhaps it's a manual coupe I need after all.
Interestingly, I really wanted a 911, but I also really wanted some open top motoring. Yet I thought the 911 cab was one of the worst looking convertibles around (purely personal view).
Then I read an item about the targa which said something like - 'looks as good as a coupe but still gives the open-top feel of the cabriolet'
Maybe I should just get a coupe with a sunroof?
Decisions decisions!!!
and now I've just read about the door check straps I'm thinking about a coupe with the doors welded shut and the windows removed in true dukes of hazard style.
Drive a manual and drive a tip - personally i wouldn't buy a 993 tip but then i don't have the same issues to deal with as you do.
The tip's actually pretty good from what i understand, but it's a 4 speed tip versus a 6 speed manual so of course lots of people prefer the manual.
Nothing to worry about on the targa front, i agree with you. The first time an *open air* 911 kept that wonderful roofline.
And forget about check straps, they are a very minor concern. It's like saying you won't buy a car because it needs 2 new tyres (except the check strap doesn't need doing as often as the tyres!).
Get out there and drive a manual and a tip, then pick which one you prefer and go and find a targa. Be warned though, finding a manual targa is the devil's own work...
VS
The tip's actually pretty good from what i understand, but it's a 4 speed tip versus a 6 speed manual so of course lots of people prefer the manual.
Nothing to worry about on the targa front, i agree with you. The first time an *open air* 911 kept that wonderful roofline.
And forget about check straps, they are a very minor concern. It's like saying you won't buy a car because it needs 2 new tyres (except the check strap doesn't need doing as often as the tyres!).
Get out there and drive a manual and a tip, then pick which one you prefer and go and find a targa. Be warned though, finding a manual targa is the devil's own work...
VS
I was looking for a 993 manual targa, but after looking at a few i found the ones that i wanted (i.e had been looked after) carried a big price tag. I also found it difficut to get a manual (just didnt like the sound of having an automatic porker).
In the end i stopped looking and went for a manual C4 in black and have never looked back. With the sunroof open and the windows down I feel like i am in a cab anyway (well at 100 there is so much wind not sure where i am!!).
In the end whatever you pick you wont regret it, and it's great looking round until you get the one you want. When you see it you'll know. ;-)
In the end i stopped looking and went for a manual C4 in black and have never looked back. With the sunroof open and the windows down I feel like i am in a cab anyway (well at 100 there is so much wind not sure where i am!!).
In the end whatever you pick you wont regret it, and it's great looking round until you get the one you want. When you see it you'll know. ;-)
[quote=993buyer]Oh no, back to the drawing board then!!! [quote]
please don't take my or anyone's opinions as any more than that.
I think a slush box is the antithesis of 911 motoring but I don't have your health issue. As everyone has said there is no substitute for trying them yourself.
Also the leak comment was a question rather than a statement so probably just something that should be checked out when looking at examples. Or owners could comment whether this really is a weakness.
>> Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 2nd November 00:19
please don't take my or anyone's opinions as any more than that.
I think a slush box is the antithesis of 911 motoring but I don't have your health issue. As everyone has said there is no substitute for trying them yourself.
Also the leak comment was a question rather than a statement so probably just something that should be checked out when looking at examples. Or owners could comment whether this really is a weakness.
>> Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 2nd November 00:19
As Adam says, you shouldn't take any one person's comments as the basis for your decision - certainly not until you've driven both manual and Tiptronic cars. The so-called 'slush box' takes stick on this forum from all the 'boy racers' who enjoy stirring their gearboxes, but it's actually a very good automatic, changes gear faster than most manuals unless the driver's a pro racer, and has a very good set of ratios. If you're into dragstrip-style traffic light racing, you'll have all the performance you can handle from the Tiptronic box, and there are people who enjoy using that box on trackdays - though I can't comment on that since I don't do trackdays. It's also got an excellent reliability record and it's a lot better than manuals in terms of expensive clutch replacements! 
As for the roof, I can only speak for mine - absolutely no leaks.
As for the roof, I can only speak for mine - absolutely no leaks.
If you want to compare targa / cab / coupe / man / tip then pop along during the week one day & either Tom or I will happily spend some time with you without obligation. I would take people`s critisim of the Tip box with a huge pinch of salt. They are a very good box indeed, they mould their gearshift to the driver`s driving style, have the option of a sequential manual shift and have no clutch or dual mass flywheel to wear out. There is also no room for driver operational error as with manual gearboxes. Impossible to "buzz" the engine !
Henry
Henry
thanks Henry, I might take you up on the offer.
However the latest scare I have had is insurance!!!!
Having decided to actually buy a Porsche, even though it is likely to spend most of it's time languishing unused in my barn, I discover it's going to cost me £800 per year to insure even though I'm hardly using the thing.
This has really surprised me as it will be my third car and will not be me daily vehicle, I'm 42 years old, with only 3 fixed-penalty points.
Do any of you have any good insurance contacts? Or do I have to accept this as yet another cost of Porsche ownership?
However the latest scare I have had is insurance!!!!
Having decided to actually buy a Porsche, even though it is likely to spend most of it's time languishing unused in my barn, I discover it's going to cost me £800 per year to insure even though I'm hardly using the thing.
This has really surprised me as it will be my third car and will not be me daily vehicle, I'm 42 years old, with only 3 fixed-penalty points.
Do any of you have any good insurance contacts? Or do I have to accept this as yet another cost of Porsche ownership?
I have a 964C2 Targa(for sale), lovely in the spring/summer and Autumn. Intention was to upgrade to a manual 993 Targa, not many about.... and just to confuse matters my dream car came a long for the same money......but lhd
Did you know you can get a lhd 993tt for under £30k ......
I'm 45 no points and pay £660, protected, with Privilege, Targa should be cheaper.
ps hat was 40% cheaper than anyone else..
Did you know you can get a lhd 993tt for under £30k ......
I'm 45 no points and pay £660, protected, with Privilege, Targa should be cheaper.
ps hat was 40% cheaper than anyone else..
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