993 as an everyday car
Discussion
I'm thinking about changing my day to day car (which is currently a Honda s2k), I thought an e46 M3 would make the ideal daily car, so I drove one, but it didnt float my boat, it wasnt very interesting.
There are no other new cars that I like the look of, which brings me to the Porsche 993 ( I dont like the 996), they're priced within my budget, they look great, people tell me they're a drivers car (I've not driven one yet).
My questions are these:-
Can a car that is probably going to 8-10 years old be used reliably without major expense as an everyday car, it would do probably 10k miles per year?
Would I take a bath on resale when I came to sell it after two years of 10k per year?
Where is best to buy one from (I'm in manchester, but dont mind travelling)?
I have no garage , would this be a problem (aside from theft issues)?
My neighbour has a 993 C2S tiptronic, and he assures me that it would be fine for a daily driver ,however he drives a knackered old toyota during winter.
I used to have a cerbera, which I used everyday for a year (I did around 20k in it), and this was a major pain in the arse, things kept going wrong and servicing cost was horrendous.
Any tips/pointers would be much appreciated.
There are no other new cars that I like the look of, which brings me to the Porsche 993 ( I dont like the 996), they're priced within my budget, they look great, people tell me they're a drivers car (I've not driven one yet).
My questions are these:-
Can a car that is probably going to 8-10 years old be used reliably without major expense as an everyday car, it would do probably 10k miles per year?
Would I take a bath on resale when I came to sell it after two years of 10k per year?
Where is best to buy one from (I'm in manchester, but dont mind travelling)?
I have no garage , would this be a problem (aside from theft issues)?
My neighbour has a 993 C2S tiptronic, and he assures me that it would be fine for a daily driver ,however he drives a knackered old toyota during winter.
I used to have a cerbera, which I used everyday for a year (I did around 20k in it), and this was a major pain in the arse, things kept going wrong and servicing cost was horrendous.
Any tips/pointers would be much appreciated.
The 993 should be much more reliable than the TVR.
Given your intended mileage, I should think you will be hit least by mileage depreciation if you get a car which already has highish miles.
10,000 miles a year should cost around £700 in servicing plus you may need at least rear tyres one a year and maybe wheel tracking on top. Budget for say around £1,500 per annum.
Make sure it has full service history and, if '96 or earlier has the wiring loom replaced or passed as OK.
You will see independent pre-purchase inspections offered in the back of 911 & Porsche World magazine which would be a good idea to utilize.
Given your intended mileage, I should think you will be hit least by mileage depreciation if you get a car which already has highish miles.
10,000 miles a year should cost around £700 in servicing plus you may need at least rear tyres one a year and maybe wheel tracking on top. Budget for say around £1,500 per annum.
Make sure it has full service history and, if '96 or earlier has the wiring loom replaced or passed as OK.
You will see independent pre-purchase inspections offered in the back of 911 & Porsche World magazine which would be a good idea to utilize.
I've used my 993 as an everyday car for 4yrs now, and I don't have a garage for it either(used the garage for junk!)
No major expenses other than the consumables and servicing. I did 10k/yr on average. The only thing that needed fixing was the ABS hydrolic valve or something like that, and I was told that they rarely go wrong, unlucky I guess.
Their prices have been fairly stable with little depreciation for the pass few yrs, but I promise you won't want to part with it when you've driven it for a couple of yr!
No major expenses other than the consumables and servicing. I did 10k/yr on average. The only thing that needed fixing was the ABS hydrolic valve or something like that, and I was told that they rarely go wrong, unlucky I guess.
Their prices have been fairly stable with little depreciation for the pass few yrs, but I promise you won't want to part with it when you've driven it for a couple of yr!
I bought my 993 C2 Coupe as an everyday car. I used it as an everyday car and I always kept it pretty clean condition from when I bought it as a one owner car back in 2000.
In the first two years I noticed almost zero depreciation in its value and then, and probably as a direct result, I started to cherish it. That`s probably where I have gone wrong. The car is so good now that I am using it less and less!
Great cars though and because they have stopped making them I`m going to keep it!
My advice...Buy an everyday diving 933 or a keeper, not one to do both tasks!
>> Edited by david hype on Sunday 14th March 17:50
In the first two years I noticed almost zero depreciation in its value and then, and probably as a direct result, I started to cherish it. That`s probably where I have gone wrong. The car is so good now that I am using it less and less!
Great cars though and because they have stopped making them I`m going to keep it!
My advice...Buy an everyday diving 933 or a keeper, not one to do both tasks!
>> Edited by david hype on Sunday 14th March 17:50
I think you have enough supporting evidence, but heres my 2pworth
ran a late 1993 (early 993)C2 for 2 years ,put 36000 miles on it ( making it a 55k miler ), always ungaraged , needed fortnightly wash to remove bird droppings, used 3 sets tyres 2 sets pads 1 set discs , 12k / annual services were about £600 at main dealer,dropped 20k in value as bought from dealer and traded in at dealer for a 996 in aug 99. since then used 996 prices have slumped and used 993 prices have stabilised or even risen for good late cars eg 97 vintage. If u bought now then you should not drop more than 10k over a 2 year period for the mileage you envisage, but you need to buy / sell private for best chance of low depreciation....and its a lot harder to sell than to buy.
I'd agree with getting a high miler to start with as this has less impact on resale , and porsches are always better for being used , garage queens best avoided, the cars soak up high miles and reward spirited driving, dont be afraid to use up tyres brakes fuel etc. personally I like tip as do plenty of urban driving + M6 stop-go, dont have to even think about clutch wear, and cos most people dont want tip they are cheaper ! ( six speed manual box is a good one, but in everyday driving you only use performance in overtaking and manual 'tipping' plenty fast enough)
ran a late 1993 (early 993)C2 for 2 years ,put 36000 miles on it ( making it a 55k miler ), always ungaraged , needed fortnightly wash to remove bird droppings, used 3 sets tyres 2 sets pads 1 set discs , 12k / annual services were about £600 at main dealer,dropped 20k in value as bought from dealer and traded in at dealer for a 996 in aug 99. since then used 996 prices have slumped and used 993 prices have stabilised or even risen for good late cars eg 97 vintage. If u bought now then you should not drop more than 10k over a 2 year period for the mileage you envisage, but you need to buy / sell private for best chance of low depreciation....and its a lot harder to sell than to buy.
I'd agree with getting a high miler to start with as this has less impact on resale , and porsches are always better for being used , garage queens best avoided, the cars soak up high miles and reward spirited driving, dont be afraid to use up tyres brakes fuel etc. personally I like tip as do plenty of urban driving + M6 stop-go, dont have to even think about clutch wear, and cos most people dont want tip they are cheaper ! ( six speed manual box is a good one, but in everyday driving you only use performance in overtaking and manual 'tipping' plenty fast enough)
I agree with Oldtimer.
You should be able to pick-up a `94-`95 coupe for mid to high £20K`s. I would imagine that the car would have between 50-65K miles on it. Keep it a couple of years putting another 20K miles on it and provided that the history is good (and you maintain it well) and you dont hit any major problems, you will still have a very saleable product on you hands in a couple of years.
Today, cars with 70-85K miles on them are commanding prices in the low to mid £20K bracket, depending where you buy.
So if all remains equal you could do worse than a 993!
You should be able to pick-up a `94-`95 coupe for mid to high £20K`s. I would imagine that the car would have between 50-65K miles on it. Keep it a couple of years putting another 20K miles on it and provided that the history is good (and you maintain it well) and you dont hit any major problems, you will still have a very saleable product on you hands in a couple of years.
Today, cars with 70-85K miles on them are commanding prices in the low to mid £20K bracket, depending where you buy.
So if all remains equal you could do worse than a 993!
Thanks for the comments, When you say go for a higher mileage car, at what sort of mileage do major things start needing rebuilds/replacement, I guess I'm talking engine,gearbox, suspension here.
I am probably looking for a C2S, manual, I've got a budget up to £35k. I had imagined that I would be better off with as newer and low mileage car as I could find for the money, in order to minimise the amount of things that could go wrong. However from what people are saying I guess this isnt necesarily the case if I'm going to be using it everyday.
As for why I want rid of the Honda, I really like it, its probably the best overall sportscar I've owned (I've owned MGF(sports car??),Elise,cerbera, and I've still got a caterham). Its an exceptionally easy car to live with day to day, and the engine is cracking, however I get bored easily, and everyone says you must own a 911 at least once in your life. I'm still not 100% sure I want to change it, I'll be keeping it for the summer I think then swap it for something else after that.
>> Edited by julians on Monday 15th March 13:46
I am probably looking for a C2S, manual, I've got a budget up to £35k. I had imagined that I would be better off with as newer and low mileage car as I could find for the money, in order to minimise the amount of things that could go wrong. However from what people are saying I guess this isnt necesarily the case if I'm going to be using it everyday.
As for why I want rid of the Honda, I really like it, its probably the best overall sportscar I've owned (I've owned MGF(sports car??),Elise,cerbera, and I've still got a caterham). Its an exceptionally easy car to live with day to day, and the engine is cracking, however I get bored easily, and everyone says you must own a 911 at least once in your life. I'm still not 100% sure I want to change it, I'll be keeping it for the summer I think then swap it for something else after that.
>> Edited by julians on Monday 15th March 13:46
The original shocks may be knackered by now on a '97, so you may need to budget for these (many options, from £700 ish to £1800 (for PSS9 adjustable bilsteins and new springs) and more. £35k should get you a C2S with about 45,000 ish miles. Valve guides (i.e.wear)may cause a bit of smoke at around 120,000 miles, this will cost around £4000 for top-end rebuild. Clutch, depends on the driver, some are worn at 20,000 miles, others go to 50,000 plus - this will be around £800.
Hi , further advice, dont spend all that 35k budget on the car purchase, keep back say 3k , also budget for independent specialist inspection ?300.
The (turbo look)C2S is in demand , so you will pay more compared to the 'standard model ', - engine & gearbox pretty bombproof for 100k+ miles , clutch life depends on driver , expect to replace pads disks tyres at regular intervals if you use the performance...good hunting !
The (turbo look)C2S is in demand , so you will pay more compared to the 'standard model ', - engine & gearbox pretty bombproof for 100k+ miles , clutch life depends on driver , expect to replace pads disks tyres at regular intervals if you use the performance...good hunting !
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