RE: Porsche 911 V8 Cabrio (996) | The Brave Pill

[Notanotherturbo]

I've done the same thing with that engine in an Alpine GTA, just got to get it finished!!

[Plate spinner]

unclemark123 said:

It's my car guys.

To clarify a few points:

All the COG comments - believe me, it's been pushed to the limit on track - there is bu**er all difference before and after handling wise. This engine runs the AC compressor (heavy) and alternator (heavy) much lower than the flat 6. ~The crank remains in the same place as the flat 6, the majority of the weight.

Every bug/flaw has been ironed out - it really is turn key, ready to go.

All the comments that its worth 15k - PMSL, you may think it's worth 15k, but go build one or find another. Do you really think you can buy a 525hp 911 for 15k!!! This car cost 19.5k 2 years ago with the stock engine in it. It has low mileage and is in great condition.

It's quite entertaining just how 'marmite' my car is. There seems to be no middle ground. It does bug me how people seem to 'know' more about my own car than me.

Any questions, please fire away. I note there are quite a few inaccuracies in the PH article. And it's a stock bumper, with RS vents cut into it.
Mark.

I’m intrigued and always applaud people who can make engine swaps work.

Got any video of it?

[Olivera]

GTiWILL said:

That’s funny, if I’d have been asked how much it was before really knowing, it would have said £15,000.

It’s definitely a no from me. I’d rather buy a really nice example with good provenance that has had all the necessary checks for bore scoring, IMS etc and then enjoy it for what it is.

I would say it's fairly priced.

What I would say is unfair is the chocolate oem Porsche engine that packs in regularly and neccesitates a £10k rebuild.

[unclemark123]

Plate spinner said:

I’m intrigued and always applaud people who can make engine swaps work.

Got any video of it?

Search porsche 996 ls3 525 on you tube. There is a super short vid of me gunning it.

[anonymous-user]

I own a heavily-modded air cooled 911. The costs involved were suitably horrendous. Were I to sell it, I'd never recover but a fraction of what was spent on it. You can't just produce a costs sheet and expect to recover it on the open market. 911s were never about grunt anyway; agility, braking, odd handling and that F6 noise are what appeal to 911 fans. Which is why, in Porsche-land, the faster turbo GT2 models always ranked far behind the slower GT3 models in terms of credibility and desirability. So the fact that your car is faster than standard counts for little among 911 fans. The market for nodded 911s has improved, as the replica-snobbery abates and the understanding of high-quality reps from Singer et al improves. Your issue is that, outside of the US, there is no market for V8 911s; certainly not in the Porsche community. To 911 fans, your car is somewhere between a tragedy and an embarrassment - it's more divisive than Brexit; and I'd personally sooner walk than be caught in something like it. And to people who want a big banger V8,the 996 wrapper is largely irrelevant. Your engine and your car appeal to very different people. In that context, it's difficult to see where and how you can get a premium return on this, or even get it to wash its face. History and emotion matters in the enthusiast market. Otherwise, we'd all just buy a Golf R. I love a good ol V8, but in the right setting, preferably a classic Dodge Challenger (I'd take one over a 'Stang any day) or a 928. If you wanted a V8 DIY car, why didn't you start out with eg a Cobra rep? Or even put it in a restored SD1 or something. Now that would have been fun. You will only sell this to someone who wants a V8, not to anybody who wants a 911.

[samoht]

I see that V8 swaps are as warmly received in the Porsche community as they are among rotorheads :-) Actually, interesting comparison, an RX-7 with an LS1 fitted is also up for exactly the same money


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-LS2-V8-ROCKET...

similarly a niche within a niche in terms of appeal, but it only takes one person to buy it. I think the V8 swap is slightly more 'established' on RX-7s, I have a feeling they hang around a while but do eventually sell for more than a stock car.

[anonymous-user]

unclemark123 said:

It's my car guys.

To clarify a few points:

All the COG comments - believe me, it's been pushed to the limit on track - there is bu**er all difference before and after handling wise. This engine runs the AC compressor (heavy) and alternator (heavy) much lower than the flat 6. ~The crank remains in the same place as the flat 6, the majority of the weight.

Every bug/flaw has been ironed out - it really is turn key, ready to go.

All the comments that its worth 15k - PMSL, you may think it's worth 15k, but go build one or find another. Do you really think you can buy a 525hp 911 for 15k!!! This car cost 19.5k 2 years ago with the stock engine in it. It has low mileage and is in great condition.

It's quite entertaining just how 'marmite' my car is. There seems to be no middle ground. It does bug me how people seem to 'know' more about my own car than me.

Any questions, please fire away. I note there are quite a few inaccuracies in the PH article. And it's a stock bumper, with RS vents cut into it.
Mark.

Good luck with the sale!
Bet it sounds better than the crappy noise the standard six makes and eradicates the worries with the problematic engine found in these models.

[Arsecati]

tommy1973s said:

I own a heavily-modded air cooled 911. The costs involved were suitably horrendous. Were I to sell it, I'd never recover but a fraction of what was spent on it. You can't just produce a costs sheet and expect to recover it on the open market. 911s were never about grunt anyway; agility, braking, odd handling and that F6 noise are what appeal to 911 fans. Which is why, in Porsche-land, the faster turbo GT2 models always ranked far behind the slower GT3 models in terms of credibility and desirability. So the fact that your car is faster than standard counts for little among 911 fans. The market for nodded 911s has improved, as the replica-snobbery abates and the understanding of high-quality reps from Singer et al improves. Your issue is that, outside of the US, there is no market for V8 911s; certainly not in the Porsche community. To 911 fans, your car is somewhere between a tragedy and an embarrassment - it's more divisive than Brexit; and I'd personally sooner walk than be caught in something like it. And to people who want a big banger V8,the 996 wrapper is largely irrelevant. Your engine and your car appeal to very different people. In that context, it's difficult to see where and how you can get a premium return on this, or even get it to wash its face. History and emotion matters in the enthusiast market. Otherwise, we'd all just buy a Golf R. I love a good ol V8, but in the right setting, preferably a classic Dodge Challenger (I'd take one over a 'Stang any day) or a 928. If you wanted a V8 DIY car, why didn't you start out with eg a Cobra rep? Or even put it in a restored SD1 or something. Now that would have been fun. You will only sell this to someone who wants a V8, not to anybody who wants a 911.

Not every Porsche owner is a member of the 'Porsche Community'. I've owned Porsches for nearly 18 years, and would NEVER consider myself part of the 'community'. I personally think most owners are plonkers, more concerned with the image than the actual cars themselves. Funnily enough, I also have the exact same thoughts on Ducati owners. I own three (2 classics, 1 new), and purposely keep the new one filthy as it annoys the rest of the 'chequebook bikers'. I couldn't give a fug about the image - I just adore the bikes, and if it upsets the 'community'........ good!

[Arsecati]

lotuslover69 said:

Bound to have issues with something like this and most garages wont go near it when it does break down.

Always amuses me when I read a statement like this: 'most garages won't go near it', when from my experience - more things to go wrong in a car means more money to be made charging accordingly. Garages turning down work? Yeah, right!

[IforB]

I have always wanted to buy a 996 with a knackered lump and do this conversion, 1 to upset the rivet counting "purists" but mainly because it sounds like it would be a hoot to do and drive afterwards.

So well done to the owner for doing it!

I would personally question the price being asked and I wouldn't pay that myself for it, but as already said, you only need 1 buyer who is willing to pay it and that's it's value.

[richthebike]

unclemark123 said:

It's my car guys.

To clarify a few points:

All the COG comments - believe me, it's been pushed to the limit on track - there is bu**er all difference before and after handling wise. This engine runs the AC compressor (heavy) and alternator (heavy) much lower than the flat 6. ~The crank remains in the same place as the flat 6, the majority of the weight.

Every bug/flaw has been ironed out - it really is turn key, ready to go.

All the comments that its worth 15k - PMSL, you may think it's worth 15k, but go build one or find another. Do you really think you can buy a 525hp 911 for 15k!!! This car cost 19.5k 2 years ago with the stock engine in it. It has low mileage and is in great condition.

It's quite entertaining just how 'marmite' my car is. There seems to be no middle ground. It does bug me how people seem to 'know' more about my own car than me.

Any questions, please fire away. I note there are quite a few inaccuracies in the PH article. And it's a stock bumper, with RS vents cut into it.
Mark.

Thanks for this Mark, always good to hear from the seller.
This sort of thing is normally right up my street, and I'd be curious to experience what you've created. I'm running a thoroughly ruined 3.4 that's entirely excellent to my taste, but now worth naff all.
The market is definitely suppressed right now; unfortunately last years purchase price isn't much of a yardstick.

For a comparison, £18k gets a buyer into a Hartech 3.7 cab with the associated paperwork from a recent rebuild. OK, not 500 BHP but it's been for sale for months with no takers. I enquired and have seen the paperwork, which looks comprehensive. Was tempted to buy it for the engine and switch into the 3.4

Either way, fair play for building it, and hope you get what you're asking.

Why are you selling, out of interest?

[unclemark123]

tommy1973s said:

your car is somewhere between a tragedy and an embarrassment - it's more divisive than Brexit; and I'd personally sooner walk than be caught in something like it.

A perfect example of purist hate, look no further than your comments

[IforB]

unclemark123 said:

tommy1973s said:

your car is somewhere between a tragedy and an embarrassment - it's more divisive than Brexit; and I'd personally sooner walk than be caught in something like it.

A perfect example of purist hate, look no further than your comments

What is wrong with some people? Why spend the time and effort to slag off something someone else has done that has zero impact on your life.

This is why I love winding up the bobble hat wearing, rivet counting purists. They feel the need to tell others how to live their lives or deal with their own things as if they are the only arbiters of what is right.

They are in short, muppets.

[unclemark123]

richthebike said:

unclemark123 said:

It's my car guys.

To clarify a few points:

All the COG comments - believe me, it's been pushed to the limit on track - there is bu**er all difference before and after handling wise. This engine runs the AC compressor (heavy) and alternator (heavy) much lower than the flat 6. ~The crank remains in the same place as the flat 6, the majority of the weight.

Every bug/flaw has been ironed out - it really is turn key, ready to go.

All the comments that its worth 15k - PMSL, you may think it's worth 15k, but go build one or find another. Do you really think you can buy a 525hp 911 for 15k!!! This car cost 19.5k 2 years ago with the stock engine in it. It has low mileage and is in great condition.

It's quite entertaining just how 'marmite' my car is. There seems to be no middle ground. It does bug me how people seem to 'know' more about my own car than me.

Any questions, please fire away. I note there are quite a few inaccuracies in the PH article. And it's a stock bumper, with RS vents cut into it.
Mark.

Thanks for this Mark, always good to hear from the seller.
This sort of thing is normally right up my street, and I'd be curious to experience what you've created. I'm running a thoroughly ruined 3.4 that's entirely excellent to my taste, but now worth naff all.
The market is definitely suppressed right now; unfortunately last years purchase price isn't much of a yardstick.

For a comparison, £18k gets a buyer into a Hartech 3.7 cab with the associated paperwork from a recent rebuild. OK, not 500 BHP but it's been for sale for months with no takers. I enquired and have seen the paperwork, which looks comprehensive. Was tempted to buy it for the engine and switch into the 3.4

Either way, fair play for building it, and hope you get what you're asking.

Why are you selling, out of interest?

There lies the problem Rich, even a Hartech rebuilt 996 will not sell cheaply. The market is depressed. Time and time again I'm reading comments that owners cannot sell, even cheaply as the market is so poor, and there is so much uncertainty around Brexit.

That said, why does a Hartech rebuilt 3.7 deserve such a premium? Barely any more power? All you really get is reliability? A well maintained 996 will do this without a rebuild. It's only a very low % that fail.

I'm in no rush to sell. My car is very unique, does exactly what it says on the tin, is reliable, very well put together and offers blistering performance to boot. As said before they always cost a lot more to build than you get back - my car is no different. It owes me far in excess of the asking price.

I'm selling as I want to release some cash for other projects.

Have a look at this mix - I think the price is spot on:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-Motorcycles-Vehicl...

Edited by unclemark123 on Sunday 8th September 10:43

[unclemark123]

Here is how she sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7MPj1doL8

Car and Classic came to my place last week - they are going to feature my car. Keep a look out, you will get to see loads of pics & video.

[J4CKO]

There seems to e some sort of snobbery about American V8's in Porsches, like the Porsche engine is streets ahead but I get the impression, in reality, it isnt.

People say stuff like "Yank Pig Iron" and stuff like that, assume that because American V8 cars tended to be heavy in the past, that the engine must be, but for the power output, they arent actually heavy and are fairly compact. There is a feeling they are low tech, maybe they are relative to some engines but they really do the job and have been refined and improved for decades. I think over here we would have a lot more V8's if we hadnt been hammered for fuel prices and tax for so long, so it wouldnt seem so unusual doing this.

A 928 engine would be worse, apart from the Porsche connection its heavier and less powerful than an LS.

In that video it certainly looks like it shifts, more powerful than any other 996 and not engine issues to worry about really, no turbos and associated gubbins either, oil change every now and again and no sleepless nights about it.

Imagine if Porsche had built a limited run of V8 911's, they would be worth a fortune, I suppose the crux is down to selling it, most buyers of older 911's in that market (i.e. not GT stuff) are more money conscious than new buyers and will perhaps be a bit reticent if they feel they would struggle to get their money back, however much they love the car.

Good luck with the sale.

I do find it ironic that there are so many threads wailing about various models losing cylinders, especially Porsches, yet a 911 gains a couple and it just not right apparently :

[blade7]

J4CKO said:

I do find it ironic that there are so many threads wailing about various models losing cylinders, especially Porsches, yet a 911 gains a couple and it just not right apparently :

Assuming the original engine was mullered, it looks like a £10k conversion on a £5k car. I think the 996 cab is the ginger stepchild of 911's anyway. Mind you I passed on a 964 years ago because I thought it was ugly. Now if he'd stuck in a 993 engine, and some old bodywork, the 911 fanboys would have loved it.

[unclemark123]

blade7 said:

J4CKO said:

I do find it ironic that there are so many threads wailing about various models losing cylinders, especially Porsches, yet a 911 gains a couple and it just not right apparently :

Assuming the original engine was mullered, it looks like a £10k conversion on a £5k car. I think the 996 cab is the ginger stepchild of 911's anyway. Mind you I passed on a 964 years ago because I thought it was ugly. Now if he'd stuck in a 993 engine, and some old bodywork, the 911 fanboys would have loved it.

You are joking right?
A 5k car????

[blade7]

unclemark123 said:

You are joking right?
A 5k car????

OK, £10k.

[richthebike]

unclemark123 said:

Here is how she sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7MPj1doL8

Car and Classic came to my place last week - they are going to feature my car. Keep a look out, you will get to see loads of pics & video.

That's sounding good, and moving well.