Buying my first Porsche.
Discussion
First I would just like to say hi to everyone on here as this is my first post.
I have wanted to buy a Porsche Turbo for many years now, but could never get my head round buying one new and watching it depriciate 40%+ in 3-4years, so I thought I'd wait until the prices levelled off. Plus I dont keep my cars very long either to justify buying a new one.
Anyway now the time has come to buy one and I wondered if any Turbo owners on here care share some wisdom/experiences with 996 Turbos.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50?
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warrenty/customer service anygood and if not where should I go?
3. If the car I buy does not have warrenty should I purchase a warrenty from porsche or a company like RAC?
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age,mileage,spec?
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Hope I haven't asked to much here lol.
Many thanks,
Nick.
>> Edited by s3nck on Wednesday 8th February 10:35
I have wanted to buy a Porsche Turbo for many years now, but could never get my head round buying one new and watching it depriciate 40%+ in 3-4years, so I thought I'd wait until the prices levelled off. Plus I dont keep my cars very long either to justify buying a new one.
Anyway now the time has come to buy one and I wondered if any Turbo owners on here care share some wisdom/experiences with 996 Turbos.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50?
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warrenty/customer service anygood and if not where should I go?
3. If the car I buy does not have warrenty should I purchase a warrenty from porsche or a company like RAC?
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age,mileage,spec?
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Hope I haven't asked to much here lol.
Many thanks,
Nick.
>> Edited by s3nck on Wednesday 8th February 10:35
s3nck said:
First I would just like to say hi to everyone on here as this is my first post.
I have wanted to buy a Porsche Turbo for many years now, but could never get my head round buying one new and watching it depriciate 40%+ in 3-4years, so I thought I'd wait until the prices levelled off. Plus I dont keep my cars very long either to justify buying a new one.
Anyway now the time has come to buy one and I wondered if any Turbo owners on here care share some wisdom/experiences with 996 Turbos.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50?
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warrenty/customer service anygood and if not where should I go?
3. If the car I buy does not have warrenty should I a warrenty from porsche or a company like RAC?
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age,mileage,spec?
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Hope I haven't asked to much here lol.
Many thanks,
Nick.
1. Those with the X50 would claim so but those of us without would claim not. Not sure there are that many around especiallly in your budget (see 4)
2/3. This may be controversial... I would buy from outside the OPC network but then get a warranty from Porsche. Again given your budget i think you will get better choice and value for money at say Paragon or RSJ then a main dealer. The reason i would get a Porsche warranty is that those supplied bu non-opc tend to be a a bit restrictive - if anything goes wrong with a TT it will cost. My car also had 3 years of Porsche service history and i have elected to keep it going for at least 3 more years. An inspection for the warranty cost ~£150 and as long as nothing is wrong then it will cost 725 for the warranty which is very comprehensive.
4. You should be looking at lower than average mileage 2003 model (or maybe a 2004) for nearly 60 I reckon my 2002 with 38k miles and full PSH would retail near 50k. prices are falling right now and will do so a bit more when the diehard TT fan trades up to the 997 later this year.
5. Yes they are reliable but things i have known to go (both personally and talking to other owners) are wheel bearings and sometimes the front rads get a bit of a beating. They are quite thirsty on oil and need checking more regular than the non turbo. They do not have the same issue with RMS as the 996 as they are a different block.
6.prices are going south, they are colour and trim sensitive in terms of price (blue doesnt suit imo and speed yellow doesnt either), they are very quick (even in tippytronic form like i have !)
If you need more info / chat then drop me an email
>> Edited by colinc2 on Tuesday 7th February 22:53
s3nck said:
First I would just like to say hi to everyone on here as this is my first post.
I have wanted to buy a Porsche Turbo for many years now, but could never get my head round buying one new and watching it depriciate 40%+ in 3-4years, so I thought I'd wait until the prices levelled off. Plus I dont keep my cars very long either to justify buying a new one.
Anyway now the time has come to buy one and I wondered if any Turbo owners on here care share some wisdom/experiences with 996 Turbos.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50?
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warrenty/customer service anygood and if not where should I go?
Buy a GT2 996 for same money.........50% more car for same money.....
3. If the car I buy does not have warrenty should I a warrenty from porsche or a company like RAC?
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age,mileage,spec?
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Hope I haven't asked to much here lol.
Many thanks,
Nick.
Nick
Welcome! Whichever Porsche you buy you'll be delighted with it. Just try not to get dragged into any Turbo vs. GT3 arguments with the other PHers here
OPC for your service stamps, any serious work from an indie. That's the approach I'm taking so far.
Most people here with warranties have, I think, an OPC one. Mine was £725 for a 6-year old 996 C2. Plus £180 or so for the pre-purchase inspection. A pre-purchase inspection is very, very important, whether you go for an OPC one or get an independent to do it.
Welcome! Whichever Porsche you buy you'll be delighted with it. Just try not to get dragged into any Turbo vs. GT3 arguments with the other PHers here
s3nck said:
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warrenty/customer service anygood and if not where should I go?
OPC for your service stamps, any serious work from an indie. That's the approach I'm taking so far.
s3nck said:
3. If the car I buy does not have warrenty should I a warrenty from porsche or a company like RAC?
Most people here with warranties have, I think, an OPC one. Mine was £725 for a 6-year old 996 C2. Plus £180 or so for the pre-purchase inspection. A pre-purchase inspection is very, very important, whether you go for an OPC one or get an independent to do it.
Welcome on board.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50 ?
Yes there is a small noticeable difference. The main advantage is in the “tuneability” of the car, the X50 enables higher BHP levels from the larger turbo’s fitted as standard, I think that’s it.
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warranty/customer service any good and if not where should I go?
Agree with the advice above. Porsche will sell you cars for 5K more than elsewhere and it just does not make financial sense to do so. Buy from a strong independent, make it a condition of sale that they achieve a OPC warrantee for you and say you’ll pay them, then leave it up to them.
3. If the car I buy does not have warranty should I a warranty from Porsche or a company like RAC?
Do your homework on the web, compare like for like and make your call. Personally I feel the OPC warrantee is the best option and well priced. Does not cover some electricals, e.g. Sat Nav and Stereo though and PCM 1 is a known weak spot.
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age, mileage, spec?
Auto trader answers that but beware of dealers bigging them up, values have fallen A LOT recently and this is the time of year to buy.
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
If properly serviced the Engine and drive train are rock solid and still over engineered in typical Porsche fashion. Mine has nearly 60K Miles on it and it is stronger now than ever before. In the last year the engine has really loosened up. The ancillary parts new to the 996 series cars are the weak spots IMHO. I have issues with the noise / minor squeaks in the cabin (they all do this a bit) quality of some of the trim in 996’s is a bit suspect. Wheel bearings are grinding a bit on mine now too. Front drop links are wear and tear items every 20 / 30K.
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Overall buy well and you have an astonishingly good car. Just unbeatable. I even get 28 mpg from mine at a steady 75 / 80 mph. Personally I would go for a late 2001 car (Glove box, + some additional standard bits). BOSE and Sat Nav are must have's in my opinion. Do not be concerned by mileage – really the savings you get from nervous people shying away from high mileage cars is something to take advantage of. It is the well worn point but buy on condition and from the person selling. I've a Sweedish mate living in Germany with a GT3 RS and only 5K on the clock, it's just that all 5K of it is around the 'ring and the car is in the same condition as mine with 60K on it.
1. Do you know if there is much difference on road performance between a base model and x-50 ?
Yes there is a small noticeable difference. The main advantage is in the “tuneability” of the car, the X50 enables higher BHP levels from the larger turbo’s fitted as standard, I think that’s it.
2. Is OPC the best place to go for servicing/parts and is their warranty/customer service any good and if not where should I go?
Agree with the advice above. Porsche will sell you cars for 5K more than elsewhere and it just does not make financial sense to do so. Buy from a strong independent, make it a condition of sale that they achieve a OPC warrantee for you and say you’ll pay them, then leave it up to them.
3. If the car I buy does not have warranty should I a warranty from Porsche or a company like RAC?
Do your homework on the web, compare like for like and make your call. Personally I feel the OPC warrantee is the best option and well priced. Does not cover some electricals, e.g. Sat Nav and Stereo though and PCM 1 is a known weak spot.
4. What do think I can get for 50-60k i.e. age, mileage, spec?
Auto trader answers that but beware of dealers bigging them up, values have fallen A LOT recently and this is the time of year to buy.
5. Are they reliable and what should I look out for when buying?
If properly serviced the Engine and drive train are rock solid and still over engineered in typical Porsche fashion. Mine has nearly 60K Miles on it and it is stronger now than ever before. In the last year the engine has really loosened up. The ancillary parts new to the 996 series cars are the weak spots IMHO. I have issues with the noise / minor squeaks in the cabin (they all do this a bit) quality of some of the trim in 996’s is a bit suspect. Wheel bearings are grinding a bit on mine now too. Front drop links are wear and tear items every 20 / 30K.
6. If I have missed anything important out please comment!
Overall buy well and you have an astonishingly good car. Just unbeatable. I even get 28 mpg from mine at a steady 75 / 80 mph. Personally I would go for a late 2001 car (Glove box, + some additional standard bits). BOSE and Sat Nav are must have's in my opinion. Do not be concerned by mileage – really the savings you get from nervous people shying away from high mileage cars is something to take advantage of. It is the well worn point but buy on condition and from the person selling. I've a Sweedish mate living in Germany with a GT3 RS and only 5K on the clock, it's just that all 5K of it is around the 'ring and the car is in the same condition as mine with 60K on it.
Sutters on stuttgart9's [url]www.stuttgart9.co.uk[/url] is selling his DMS tuned car ...
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