911 Turbo - Buying Advice Please

[timroe]

I hope you can help me. I have up to £20k to spend on a weekend toy. I've had a 928 & a 968, as well as a few other interesting cars, but I'm finally "ready" for a 911. I've lusted after 911 Turbos since 1977 when one of my friend's fathers at school bought one - so that is my preference.

I've been looking at late 930s and early LHD 964s T2 3.3. I've not yet driven either but I suspect that I'd prefer the more modern feeling of a 964 T2. I'm happy with a modified car as long as it is still reliable.

I am reckoning on running costs of £2k per year (exc. insurance). Is that realistic?

Any thoughts on pros and cons of each - especially residuals?

Cheers,

Tim.

[timroe]

Thanks to you all for the feedback.

I think I'm pretty much decided on a turbo - I just don't think an ordinary 964 or even a 993 will quite do it for me.

I realise that I have to buy a really good car in order to give me the greatest chance of keeping running cost as low as possible. Within my £20k budget, then that means either a RHD 930 or a LHD 965. I will also get a PPI. I made the mistake of buying my first Porsche (a 928) without one and regretted it for 4 years - although I still loved the car!

I've outlined my assumptions for annual running costs below (incl. insurance, petrol MOT etc.) Bearing in mind I'll probably only do around 3k miles per year, I'd hope that these were on the high side - especially tyres and brakes - but I'd welcome any feedback.

£300 for (mainly rear 17" tyres
£500 for discs and pads (front or rear not both)
£500 for servicing (independent)
£700 for miscellaneous items
£700 for insurance
£900 for petrol (3k miles @ 15mpg, petrol @ approx. £4.50 per gallon)
£165 for road tax
£40 for MOT
Total is £3,805 per annum

Mach - was yours the Wymondham car by any chance? That looked really nice.

Craig - at what mileage did you get the top end rebuilt and approximately how much was it?

Cheers,

Tim.

[timroe]

I realise that with any car, big problems cost big bucks. An engine re-build on any car is expensive as is a clutch. I'm therefore going to do whatever I can to buy a car that doesn't need either. Obviously there are no guarantees...

Cheers,
Tim.

[timroe]

I've already looked into the insurance. The best quote (so far) was £700 for 5k miles for a modified LHD turbo 2 - as just about all of them appear to have been modified. Otherwise it's about £480 for a non-modified car for 5k miles or £400 for 3k miles.

[timroe]

Thanks turbobloke - that's a nice business you've got there!

Having talked to quite a few people now - I think that I'll need to budget at least £2k per year, which for me , is a lot of money so I'm going to have to choose a car very carefully...

Ultraviolent - I'm assuming that you are divorced then!