Buying my first Porsche

[JamesV]

I have always wanted to own a Porsche 911 and I am considering purchasing a second-hand 996 in about a years' time. I will have a budget of about 35K and my intention is to keep this car for a long time. It would mainly be used at weekends as a GT - I live in London so would not be driving it around the city in the week.
However, having read a number of the postings, it seems that the 996 is not as reliable (e.g RMS problems) as I would have hoped for and that maybe it is not the ideal car to keep long term.

Any advice, tips, thoughts etc much appreciated - perhaps it is just out of my budget??

[Glenn McMenamin]

James,

I should think you will shortly be bombarded by Porscheofiles convincing you that your £35k would be best spent on there model of choice.

You have quite a few options available to you for that money. But by the time next year comes, £35k should get you a tidy MKI 996 bearing in mind the effect the new 997 will make on residuals.


I have 2x 996's and have had no RMS problem, i think this issue is just a pot luck.

But bear in mind, older Porsches may come with their own problems too.

If it was me, I would probably look for a clean 993 C4S, which is a great alrounder, has great presence, and will have concrete residuals for the forseeable furure IMHO.

G.

[cyrus1971]

second hand LHD 996 MkII for 35K in - possibly even a 996C4S for about that money in ayear. Try www.Mobile.de and get behind the wheel of £15K more motor for your money.

http://tinyurl.com/52efs

>> Edited by domster on Thursday 22 July 16:17

[domster]

Cyrus - try www.tinyurl.com for those pesky long urls!!! I will edit yours for you.

[iguana]

Aye currumba, a reply from Dom on a 'what 911 to buy' thread & hes not mentioned a 964RS!

Either hes feeling quite ill, or the real Dom has been kidnapped & this one is an imposter


A concerned lizard

[domster]

I can't mention a 964RS these days, or you and Clubsport will take the p1ss out of me, The non-existent Baron, or the badgerhood. So I don't

Besides, everyone knows that 35k gets you a lovely 964RS Clubbie with cage and anti-badger bars yada yada yada... if they have to ask the question etc.

>> Edited by domster on Thursday 22 July 17:15

[clubsport]

Don't take it too badly Dom...all credibility will no doubt be restored come the glorious day when the car appears on the road or track?

I thought TVR were the only ones who's cars were mythical beasts

[uktrucks]

Having and owning a 964RS can be compared with your best crockery you only get it out for special occasions.
Every day use will certainly end up in it getting damaged.
If I may use another analogy,
Some of use are married/partnered with beauiful and highly desireable women but it never stops us casting admiring glances at women other than our partners and wondering. A 964RS is like that to those that do not own one but covet one, once seen forever smitten.

I missed my vocation

Allan

[poorcardealer]

Very eloquently put Allan

[david hype]

Ah James!

Me and the rest of the air-cooled posse are gonna say...

993, 993, 993 - 993, 993, 993 - 993, 993 993 - etc., .....!

[williamp]

david hype said:

Ah James! Me and the rest of the air-cooled posse are gonna say... 993, 993, 993 - 993, 993, 993 - 993, 993 993 - etc., .....!

Nah. Buy yourself seven 944's. One for every day of the week.

Seriously there is plenty of advice on here about 996- do a search under 996 and yuo'll see

Will
944 Turbo. One used every day of the week.

[iguana]

williamp said:

Nah. Buy yourself seven 944's. One for every day of the week.

Only 7! go bargain basement 944s & get 35!

[diver944]

uktrucks said:

owning a 964RS can be compared with your best crockery....... Some of use are married/partnered with beauiful and highly desireable women...... Allan

Is it just me, or is Allan starting to turn into Swiss Toni

'having custom painted magnesium cups is like making love to a beautiful woman'

[uktrucks]

Paul " You take a da pi$$ or wot" ?

Allan

[rubystone]

diver944 said:

'having custom painted magnesium cups is like making love to a beautiful woman'

I wondered how long that would take to surface on this forum

[FLAT 6]

James,

I've just come back from the Le Mans Classic where there must have been every possible incarnation of the 911 ever to roll on tarmac. I was very impressed when the silver 911 on the front of this month's 911 & Porsche World pulled up beside me on the campsite!

There were some absolutely amazing 911's there, casual smatterings of genuine 2.7RS, 2.8 and 3.0 RSRs and so many modern models that anything without a GT or RS badge on the back seemed bland.

The point I'm making is, for weekend use only, I'd go for a good RHD early '70s car - an 'S' if you can find one. So much more style and uniqueness for your money - and you'd have so much change left from your £35k that you could afford to look after it properly.

Just a thought...

[rubystone]

Nice suggestion Flat 6. Early cars are sublime and seem to be uber cool at the moment. I restored a 2.4E back in the late '80s when very little was remanufactured and original parts were hens teeth rare. Bear in mind that 15 years ago my restoration costs totalled £9k in parts and labour, with me doing everything except welding and painting. A bad car costs a fortune to put right.

Nice, original early cars can be hard to find and I'd go as far to suggest that unless you really know what you are looking for, you buy thru someone like Mark Waring who really knows his cars - expensive but you'll get a good one.

An early car is surprisingly practical and on modern rubber isn't that intimdating to drive. I'd stick with a 2.4 E or S for desirability power and torque, but a 2.4T bought at the right price would be OK.