Buying my first Porsche
Discussion
Hello hello,
as the title says I am looking to purchase my first Porsche but I am very confused with all the different models variants and mainly the prices so I was hoping I could get some opnions to steer me in the right direction.
Car/budget details:
- 911
- 993 or 996??
- £23K budget
-what should I be looking for
-Extras to look out for
-Good specialist (maintenece) in Dorset/hampshire area.
- I do less than 5000 miles a year
With the above details what would you guys recommend I do with my money any help will be much appreciated as I have been searching the various for sale threads and autotrader and the cars on offer seem to vary greatly in spec, style, mods/extras all within my price bracket.
cheers in advance
Jim
as the title says I am looking to purchase my first Porsche but I am very confused with all the different models variants and mainly the prices so I was hoping I could get some opnions to steer me in the right direction.
Car/budget details:
- 911
- 993 or 996??
- £23K budget
-what should I be looking for
-Extras to look out for
-Good specialist (maintenece) in Dorset/hampshire area.
- I do less than 5000 miles a year
With the above details what would you guys recommend I do with my money any help will be much appreciated as I have been searching the various for sale threads and autotrader and the cars on offer seem to vary greatly in spec, style, mods/extras all within my price bracket.
cheers in advance
Jim
As said, you need a 993 for that money. THE best looking 911 and the last of the air-cooled. Build quality is super, way beyond the 996. (don't expect the AC to work of course, and the door check straps will fall off taking the front wing with them 
)
I'd try Henry at 991virgin.com (he often posts on here). He's a very strange man, as his adverts proclaim, but he does keep exceedingly good second hand Porsches.
Best of luck, find a good one (which are the majority) and you'll be in
) I'd try Henry at 991virgin.com (he often posts on here). He's a very strange man, as his adverts proclaim, but he does keep exceedingly good second hand Porsches.
Best of luck, find a good one (which are the majority) and you'll be in
Drive a 993 and you'll love it or hate it. If you love it (i'm biased) welcome to the club.
If you hate it, no big deal, skip the Boxster (unless you particularly want a cab) and go drive a 996.
If you don't like that either, then go drive the Boxster S (not vanilla 2.5/2.7).
It's a hard life sometimes eh?
If you hate it, no big deal, skip the Boxster (unless you particularly want a cab) and go drive a 996.
If you don't like that either, then go drive the Boxster S (not vanilla 2.5/2.7).
It's a hard life sometimes eh?
800 said:
the last of the air-cooled.
this is so worth paying for. make a note of that. hell, why not go for a horse instead? they're the last of the hair cooled. or possibly even a pterodactyl. Older technology is always better. its the law. to progress is bad. bad Porsche. bad.
But, seriously, do make sure you reject water cooled. after all, if it were effective as a cooling measure, in any way, everyone would be doing it.
Have a look at:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/49598.htm
Gives an idea of what you can get for the money (no affiliation etc, but spoke to and emailed the chap and he seems decent and genuine - someone else on here went to look at the car and thought it was sound).
The 993v996 debate will rage forever and the chances of anyone switching camp are pretty limited to put it mildly! FWIW and IMHO the 996 is an easier car to live with and more suited to MY needs, but everyone is different. All you can do is drive both, do whatever research you feel necessary into running costs etc etc (you'll soon come across the 996 RMS issue if you haven't already - but there's plenty of other threads on here about that without starting another) and buy whichever one you prefer - in either case, buy the best you can for your budget and pay more attention to condition and history than mileage / no. of owners etc.
...and good luck... let us know when you get something!
www.pistonheads.com/sales/49598.htm
Gives an idea of what you can get for the money (no affiliation etc, but spoke to and emailed the chap and he seems decent and genuine - someone else on here went to look at the car and thought it was sound).
The 993v996 debate will rage forever and the chances of anyone switching camp are pretty limited to put it mildly! FWIW and IMHO the 996 is an easier car to live with and more suited to MY needs, but everyone is different. All you can do is drive both, do whatever research you feel necessary into running costs etc etc (you'll soon come across the 996 RMS issue if you haven't already - but there's plenty of other threads on here about that without starting another) and buy whichever one you prefer - in either case, buy the best you can for your budget and pay more attention to condition and history than mileage / no. of owners etc.
...and good luck... let us know when you get something!
nervous said:
the last of the air-cooled.
this is so worth paying for. make a note of that. hell, why not go for a horse instead? they're the last of the hair cooled. or possibly even a pterodactyl. Older technology is always better. its the law. to progress is bad. bad Porsche. bad.
But, seriously, do make sure you reject water cooled. after all, if it were effective as a cooling measure, in any way, everyone would be doing it.
Don't listen too much to Nervous - he's been a very bitter man ever since he bought a pink water-cooled porker to match his handbag and discovered that he can't keep the right end facing forwards. We haven't had any sense out of him for a while now....
nervous said:
the last of the air-cooled.
this is so worth paying for. make a note of that. hell, why not go for a horse instead? they're the last of the hair cooled. or possibly even a pterodactyl. Older technology is always better. its the law. to progress is bad. bad Porsche. bad.
But, seriously, do make sure you reject water cooled. after all, if it were effective as a cooling measure, in any way, everyone would be doing it.
Equally, why bother with a 911 at all, after all, the engine is in the wrong place isn't it, Nervous?...
Make sure you drive an example of each of the cars you are thinking of buying to see what appeals to you - 993s are quite different to 996s.
Chimpy,
Sorry, I mean Sir Chimpalot - blimey you've come on a bit since you used to do those PG Tips ads.
I'm new to this Porsche Owners game myself but I bought a 993 a few weeks ago.
Despite seeing loads of 996's advertised, sometimes at lower prices than the 993's I was looking at, my decision to go 993 was based on some good advice from a good friend.
He has owned Porsches for quite a few years and has always bought them new. He had a 964 followed by a 993C2, then a 993 C4S, currently a 996 and about to upgrade to a 997 so I reckoned he was pretty well placed to advise me.
I told him I knew nothing about the marque, but wanted a 911 and had up to £30k to spend. He didn't hesitate to recomend a 993 despite him driving a 996 for the last few years and having a 997 on order.
But to an extent I guess it depends a bit on how you plan to use the car. My mate was well aware that my 911 would be my 3rd car for weekend fun rather than a daily work horse. Had I wanted it for a daily commute or a lot of long journeys then I guess he might not have recomended the 993.
Anyway I'm delighted with my 993 so far.
Sorry, I mean Sir Chimpalot - blimey you've come on a bit since you used to do those PG Tips ads.
I'm new to this Porsche Owners game myself but I bought a 993 a few weeks ago.
Despite seeing loads of 996's advertised, sometimes at lower prices than the 993's I was looking at, my decision to go 993 was based on some good advice from a good friend.
He has owned Porsches for quite a few years and has always bought them new. He had a 964 followed by a 993C2, then a 993 C4S, currently a 996 and about to upgrade to a 997 so I reckoned he was pretty well placed to advise me.
I told him I knew nothing about the marque, but wanted a 911 and had up to £30k to spend. He didn't hesitate to recomend a 993 despite him driving a 996 for the last few years and having a 997 on order.
But to an extent I guess it depends a bit on how you plan to use the car. My mate was well aware that my 911 would be my 3rd car for weekend fun rather than a daily work horse. Had I wanted it for a daily commute or a lot of long journeys then I guess he might not have recomended the 993.
Anyway I'm delighted with my 993 so far.
A good condition 993 C2 is a joy and great choice for your first Porker. As you are a West Country boy perhaps the C4 for the mucky roads you have down there ?
If you want a bit more fun try a 993 C4S (Turbo bits but no actual Turbo charger)
IMHO essentials are 17inch rims (18's OK too) Sunroof and Air con + leather.
Other items a distraction - except rear wiper and heated seats which I find curiously useful
Also don't go LHD as you will have more corners to navigate than us who sit in traffic in the South East
If you want a bit more fun try a 993 C4S (Turbo bits but no actual Turbo charger)
IMHO essentials are 17inch rims (18's OK too) Sunroof and Air con + leather.
Other items a distraction - except rear wiper and heated seats which I find curiously useful
Also don't go LHD as you will have more corners to navigate than us who sit in traffic in the South East
IMHO it all depends on what you want the car to do.
For sheer driving pleasure, original feel, classic looks and individuality get a 993. There is so much more scope with a 993, if you ever get a bit bored with it you can just spend a bit more money on it...
If you want it to impress the neighbours and for it to appear to be new, you will need a 996 because they look more modern.
But when it comes to 911 ownership, if you want to own a proper one it has to be air cooled, but then I`m biased anyway.
For sheer driving pleasure, original feel, classic looks and individuality get a 993. There is so much more scope with a 993, if you ever get a bit bored with it you can just spend a bit more money on it...
If you want it to impress the neighbours and for it to appear to be new, you will need a 996 because they look more modern.
But when it comes to 911 ownership, if you want to own a proper one it has to be air cooled, but then I`m biased anyway.
I too am looking into this market in the new year, can someone just clarify a quick point regarding the porsche warranty which seems essential on a 996 and desireable on a 993.
My question relates to how old a car can be to still get the warranty, is it 10yrs? in which case a lot of 993's are coming to the end of this period of comfort or are indeed already out of it. will this lead to a drp in price of around 10 yr old cars?
Sorry a few questions there and I dont want to hijack the thread but I feel they are questions a lot of potential new owners are looking into and need answers too.
Thanks
Simon
My question relates to how old a car can be to still get the warranty, is it 10yrs? in which case a lot of 993's are coming to the end of this period of comfort or are indeed already out of it. will this lead to a drp in price of around 10 yr old cars?
Sorry a few questions there and I dont want to hijack the thread but I feel they are questions a lot of potential new owners are looking into and need answers too.
Thanks
Simon
siwil1 said:
I too am looking into this market in the new year, can someone just clarify a quick point regarding the porsche warranty which seems essential on a 996 and desireable on a 993.
My question relates to how old a car can be to still get the warranty, is it 10yrs? in which case a lot of 993's are coming to the end of this period of comfort or are indeed already out of it. will this lead to a drp in price of around 10 yr old cars?
Sorry a few questions there and I dont want to hijack the thread but I feel they are questions a lot of potential new owners are looking into and need answers too.
I think they've reduced it to 9 years now, so most 993s are already outside warranty cover but this doesn't seem to have hit their prices particularly. I understand from previous discussions that the 993 model range is considered less likely to suffer catastrophic failures of expensive bits like engines or gearboxes, and as such the need for this insurance could be debated. I personally run my '98 993TT without a warranty.
The end of warranty cover issue might well be more significant price wise for the 996s, as most peoples' response to the mechanical issues associated with this model is "buy a warranty, drive it, enjoy it". When the first part of that formula is no longer possible, what then? Logically, discount the purchase price by a risk factor.
Just to put a spanner in the works, at £23k you're looking at the bottom end of the 993 cars available.
I'm not normally a big endorser of 964s, but at £20k plus you will get an absolutely cracking late 964 which MAY be superior to the £23k 993 that you're looking at.
In fact, there's a very promising red coupe on the PH classifieds for considerably less than that at the moment.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/57704.htm
I'm not normally a big endorser of 964s, but at £20k plus you will get an absolutely cracking late 964 which MAY be superior to the £23k 993 that you're looking at.
In fact, there's a very promising red coupe on the PH classifieds for considerably less than that at the moment.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/57704.htm
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