£32k 996-what will i get and where

[a4ash]

i have £32k to spend on a used 996, it will be a weekend and occasional track day car ie maybe 2-3 a year (track days that is not weekends)dont know what to buy ie c2 or c4, aero kit etc or which options are preferable/essential. it must be manual, i was looking at lotus elise and tvr tuscan but have decided against both so its definately a 996, the 993 seems a bit to old fashioned inside for me(no offence to anyone who has one) any help or tips or if you know of a good one for sale i would appreciate it
thanks.
Ash....

[ultra violent]

Mate, for the use that you describe, the 993 would be a much better car. Get over the styling of the interior, it is a million times better put together than the 996, which you'll appreciate after a few track days.

[Harris_I]

For that money, have you thought about a Boxster S? You would get a much better example than a 996 at that price, and it would have the modern feel you're looking for.

I reckon the S is the best value Porsche in the whole range. A decent driver behind the wheel can snap at the heels of 911s all day long on track.

[david hype]

a4ash said:

it will be a weekend and occasional track day car ie maybe 2-3 a year

Ash...

With that little amount of use, I would question the type of driving that you wish to do at weekends?

If its just pootling about in the summer months, the odd Porsche meet and general nice weather stuff a 993 or 996 will do. The 996 might be a bit more civilised if you want to do this all year round.

If you want 2-3K worth of fast, fun, engaging driving and a challenge on the track, you would probably get more reward from a 993 C2 coupe. The mods that you can make according to your requirement are reasonable and you may benefit from cheaper classic insurance.

Your budget would net you a very good 993 with lots of interior options if you want comfort, plus a fair bit of change to develop the car externally and mechanically if you so wish.

I think that you may be in the lower bracket of 996 cars at that price, so your search needs to be more careful.

Happy shopping!

[SIKO]

Hello mate,

I've recently bought a very early 996 and it really is the dogs testes!! 32k isn't going to get the best example of a 996, i was looking for one for ages and slowly increased my budget from 30-35k to get a goodie!

Really disappointed by many of the 'cheap' 996's out there for circa 30k....very high mileages (not that that is a major problem with a porker), tatty interiors (993 seems to hold up much better) and crap options. 35k got me an immaculate very low mileage specc'd up early 996 from a dealer. Not sure its the greatest track day car out there but nothing to stop you.

Really is an awesome motor and i can not reccommend it highly enough...just seems to get better and better. Ignore the air-cooled nazis and get the best 911 yet!

[bennno]

Model: 911 - 996 Carrera 2 coupe 6 speed manual (1998/R)



Description:
RHD, black with classic grey leather electric memory heated seats, 57,000 miles with full service history, CDR21 CD with sound pack, climate control, sun roof, cruise control, remote central locking, traction control, park assist.

Price:
£31,495

Northway Porsche, Reading

[john m]

We have a few at Autobahn to chose from. If you're doing track work, your best off with a 996 C2 Coupe Manual. As lovely as the 993 is, things have moved on and the 996 is IMHO, one of the world's finest.

[clubsport]

john m said:

We have a few at Autobahn to chose from. If you're doing track work, your best off with a 996 C2 Coupe Manual. As lovely as the 993 is, things have moved on and the 996 is IMHO, one of the world's finest.

As you say, you have a few 996 to shift

[clapham993]

As my profile suggests, I have a 993. I am not however an anorak - I have driven many hundreds of miles in 996s - they are simply superb cars and I seriously considered changing the 993 for one a year or so back.

The fact was that, as my Porsche is not my only car & is predominently for fun, I decided that, actually the 993 is more a more exciting and engaging drive. Sure, the 996 would be MUCH easier to live with on a daily basis (the heating and de-misting would work on your terms, not their own; you could see the instruments; you could take your partner AND your luggage on holiday, as opposed to one or the other in a 993) and is certainly easier and more relaxing to drive - but that's just it; you may as well have and M5, an XJ-R or an RS6.

Coupled to this, your budget will get you a mediocre 996 or a fantastic 993 C2 and, as a bonus, it looks as if the 993 will hold its value better too.

[a4ash]

thanks for all the replies,
i have been offered a 98s 996 c2 manual in zenith blue with black sports leather, 50k miles with 18"turbo wheels, traction control, dsp radio/cd, sunroof, clear lenses, 3 spoke steering wheel for 34k from christopher jackson in manchester, the car was 36k but has been reduced to 35k, is it a good buy? it seems to drive ok has 2 owners 1st was a barrister till 45k miles and the car seems very tight and has no rattles or squeaks.

[DanH]

996s with the orange inserts on the lights look awful

[clapham993]

a4ash said:

thanks for all the replies, i have been offered a 98s 996 c2 manual in zenith blue with black sports leather, 50k miles with 18"turbo wheels, traction control, dsp radio/cd, sunroof, clear lenses, 3 spoke steering wheel for 34k from christopher jackson in manchester, the car was 36k but has been reduced to 35k, is it a good buy? it seems to drive ok has 2 owners 1st was a barrister till 45k miles and the car seems very tight and has no rattles or squeaks.

I would want to know why someone is selling it having only done 5k miles. May be perfectly genuine - may not; check it out

[POORCARDEALER]

Barrister owner.......is that a plus or not???

[john m]

Clubsport - thank you, but we also have some beautiful 993s to sell. In nominating my personal opinion and tag of 'one of the world's best' to the 996, I'm using 22 years of Porsche sales and over 30 years Porsche racing experience. You?
Indeed, I think in the past, we handled more 3.2 Clubsports than anyone else in the UK. Another lovely car.
So I would still encourage our enquiree to go the 996 route, and the one's he's looked at sounds good. If the normal checks pan out OK, he should be in for a nice car.

>> Edited by john m on Monday 19th April 08:18

[clubsport]

john m said:

Clubsport - thank you, but we also have some beautiful 993s to sell. In nominating my personal opinion and tag of 'one of the world's best' to the 996, I'm using 22 years of Porsche sales and over 30 years Porsche racing experience. You? Indeed, I think in the past, we handled more 3.2 Clubsports than anyone else in the UK. Another lovely car. So I would still encourage our enquiree to go the 996 route, and the one's he's looked at sounds good. If the normal checks pan out OK, he should be in for a nice car. >> Edited by john m on Monday 19th April 08:18

me? nothing quite as grand...but i do spend my own money on the cars and am enjoying my porsches....

I would have hoped with such vast experience of Porsche you would be able to tell if a TT was 100bhp down on power before selling on to a customer

Nothing wrong with the 996 at all,having driven many and owned one from new giving 14 months of trouble free enjoyable motoring.

I would say it is fair to say that the 996 has moved on ...to become a GT car where as the 993 is in my view more of a sportscar.
Until the customer tries both I do not see how it can be stated that one is superior to the other, it all comes down to specific needs and requirements of the particular porsche model.

[rubystone]

I'm with Clubsport here - the 996 is a GT, the 993 and its predecessors a sportscar. I don't need 22 years of flogging Porsches to know that....and I have no beef with Autobahn either...

I'd own a 993 over a 996 any day if I was after the true 911 experience (actually for my £32k I'd buy a rhd 911 2.4S and bank the change, but that's another story!)

But if you want an everyday car that is easy to live with, buy the 996. As it happens, Ray Northway's 996 looks to be good value...

[bennno]

Chris Harris from Autocar said the 993RS is a superb track car. But the popular opinion is that a 996 C2 was so much more capable, powerful, quicker,lighter and better handling it runs rings around a 993.

The 993 is lovely in terms of both looks and engine sound, but it is a very dated car and I dont think any better residually now. The market for low end 996's is going to be much wider than those for high end 993's (RS excluded) as people switch on to the ability to buy a modern porsche at the price of a TT.

Bennno

[kamal996]

POORCARDEALER said:

Barrister owner.......is that a plus or not???

If its the car I am thinking about, I used to park next to it in Manchester when he first got it (contract parking space)-If its the same one then you will see then address on the log book is Alderly Edge and he lived in the same building as David Beckham.

Zenith is not the best colour for a 996 and I would expect that car to have a 5k margin.

[a4ash]

kamal
yes that is the car, the previous owner was from alderley edge, do youi know much about it?

[kamal996]

Did you decide between buying a TVR or a Porsche?

I saw a TVR with a bloke trying to pose whilst driving it in daft shades (he was the rugby shirt collar worn up type)...What spoilt the image was that he had forgotten to turn off his hazards...

I guess he had broken down earlier on or he was being a boy scout and preparing for an ineviatble breadown.

996...if its the same one then the guy who ownerd it is a nice chap. I would be surprised if he had kept it this long, however, as he was thoroughly loaded!