Porsche 996 - Why so cheap?
Discussion
Bit of PH classifieds dreaming has me looking at 996's wondering why so cheap.
Now i'm aware of the air cooled v water cooled arguement and the purists derision, but are they unreliable, average to drive or something else?
I also figure that even though you can pick one up for 15k they will still have 70k running costs, so what would you put aside to run one for a year?
Now i'm aware of the air cooled v water cooled arguement and the purists derision, but are they unreliable, average to drive or something else?
I also figure that even though you can pick one up for 15k they will still have 70k running costs, so what would you put aside to run one for a year?
Great Pretender said:
You've answered your own question.
The purists want the air cooled cars and mormal punters are scared off due to over-inflated reliability concerns with the main bearing oil seal.
Forgive me if this is heresy but because of a perceived notion of what would make it a 'true' Porsche has meant that it is seen as a worse car? hmmm.... Best not buy one and join the POCGB then.The purists want the air cooled cars and mormal punters are scared off due to over-inflated reliability concerns with the main bearing oil seal.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1532402.htm Nicked from another thread,spent half an hour at a ford main dealer today looking at foci priced at list minus 'generous discounts' The price of the 996 in that ad would have got me 1/2 a focus RS or a full 1.6 petrol Zetec.
The 996 may not be the greatest 911 ever but at 1/2 the price of a focus RS I doubt you will feel like you only get 1/2 the car.
Edited to make more sense.
The 996 may not be the greatest 911 ever but at 1/2 the price of a focus RS I doubt you will feel like you only get 1/2 the car.
Edited to make more sense.
Edited by Chris_w666 on Wednesday 10th March 02:25
t Porsche over a Focus RS so I can see where he's coming from!
Hmm the Autocar review seems like a very strange response...before the 997 came out, the 996 was still praised as the yard stick against which all other sports coupes are judged. I never owned a 911 996, but I had a C2 for a few days on loan while my Boxster was in for service...seemed like a brilliant car to me. If they're good value, then all the better.
mister.t said:
Autocar have a buying guide of the 996 this week ( okay technically last week now) but they don't seem to praise it at all!
Still doesn't stop them from being very good value IMO, especially if you can find a well looked after one.
In saying that I'd still have a 993!
I'm in oz so havent and wont be able to see the Autocar article. Why are they not impressed?Still doesn't stop them from being very good value IMO, especially if you can find a well looked after one.
In saying that I'd still have a 993!
Didnt Steve whatshisface for Autocar buy a yellow 993 Turbo a few years ago and bankruptcy almost arose?
I think its a combimnation of various factors. The 996 was the first of the "mass produced" porsches with its various teething problems, imo it's not that pretty to look at, has some reliability issues, and there were so many produced. It's also more refined and comfortable than the 993, but imo loses some of its character.
You have to start looking at C4S for appearance, or 997 for build quality/appearance or GT3 to have that raw-like character of the 993's, but you start looking at $$$
All my opinion of course, hence I still drive a 993, but would wait till 997's depreciation levels out before I swap over.
You have to start looking at C4S for appearance, or 997 for build quality/appearance or GT3 to have that raw-like character of the 993's, but you start looking at $$$
All my opinion of course, hence I still drive a 993, but would wait till 997's depreciation levels out before I swap over.
I have a 996 Targa, Great car.
Some Porsche purists deride it as it is the first water cooled and it has the "fried egg" headlights. None of which deterred me from buying. I did have problems on a few things. An oil seal in the clutch housing went early on and it was replaced foc. The car did drink oil (1l per 1000km) from the start (it was a demonstrator) and after 60000km and 6 years I told my Porsche centre I didn't it was right. They checked and found that a ring had scored a bore and thus was burning too much oil. After some humming and hawing I got a replacement motor whereby I only had to pay 50% (which I must say after that mileage and years I found generous)
Apart from that, it's a car I drive daily for everything, whether puttering down to the shops or going for a 1600km blast in a day visiting customers, in all weathers including snow and ice without problems.
Would I change it? Yes later, but NOT for the 997 Targa as the 4WD is a waste of time, costs fuel and weight etc probably for a Carrera 2S....
AND YES after 7 years it STILL has the all important GRIN FACTOR!
Some Porsche purists deride it as it is the first water cooled and it has the "fried egg" headlights. None of which deterred me from buying. I did have problems on a few things. An oil seal in the clutch housing went early on and it was replaced foc. The car did drink oil (1l per 1000km) from the start (it was a demonstrator) and after 60000km and 6 years I told my Porsche centre I didn't it was right. They checked and found that a ring had scored a bore and thus was burning too much oil. After some humming and hawing I got a replacement motor whereby I only had to pay 50% (which I must say after that mileage and years I found generous)
Apart from that, it's a car I drive daily for everything, whether puttering down to the shops or going for a 1600km blast in a day visiting customers, in all weathers including snow and ice without problems.
Would I change it? Yes later, but NOT for the 997 Targa as the 4WD is a waste of time, costs fuel and weight etc probably for a Carrera 2S....
AND YES after 7 years it STILL has the all important GRIN FACTOR!
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