Could my next car be my ‘forever’ car?

[Porsche911R]

gwsinc said:

I test drove both an SC and 993 today. It was a great experience, and cemented my decision to go down the classic route.

After a little deliberating I’m going to go for a 993, the cars I drove were built only 13 years apart and although fairly similar inside, the 993 seems like a better balance between fun and practical usability.

I’m not sure if I’ll go for the one I drove or how soon I’ll get one, but I will be getting one.

I would love a 993, but every time I do the maths the costs build and build to circa £100k
And then it has to be a forever car which don’t sit easy with me.

[browngt3]

Porsche911R said:

I would love a 993, but every time I do the maths the costs build and build to circa £100k
And then it has to be a forever car which don’t sit easy with me.

How do you arrive at £100k unless it's a turbo? I haven't even spent £10k in 5 years on my C4S and that's with an OPC. Maybe I've just been lucky

[Porsche911R]

browngt3 said:

How do you arrive at £100k unless it's a turbo? I haven't even spent £10k in 5 years on my C4S and that's with an OPC. Maybe I've just been lucky

to build a car I would want it to be, a base car is what £65k for a mint C2, then I would change quite a lot and keep a pot for an engine rebuild as most cars have done >60k miles or 100k miles

Let's not even get into a repaint which would be £25k min for a proper job.

A base car for me would not feel nice and tight the way I like cars,

I don't run cars over 30k miles, so to get a car to feel young costs money ! they it has to really be a keep as no one will buy it off you for £100k.

I keep thinking to do a 997.2 GTS project but my costs came to £105k, but it would be mega.

[browngt3]

Porsche911R said:

browngt3 said:

How do you arrive at £100k unless it's a turbo? I haven't even spent £10k in 5 years on my C4S and that's with an OPC. Maybe I've just been lucky

to build a car I would want it to be, a base car is what £65k for a mint C2, then I would change quite a lot and keep a pot for an engine rebuild as most cars have done >60k miles or 100k miles

Let's not even get into a repaint which would be £25k min for a proper job.

A base car for me would not feel nice and tight the way I like cars,

I don't run cars over 30k miles, so to get a car to feel young costs money ! they it has to really be a keep as no one will buy it off you for £100k.

I keep thinking to do a 997.2 GTS project but my costs came to £105k, but it would be mega.

If you're chasing perfection then maybe you're right but you'd never get there!

Collected mine last weekend after an oil service, brake fluid and replacement gear linkage seal. Total cost £740. Thing is the car felt very taut, almost new. Somehow it felt much more than the few things they had done. Even the Pirellis felt good which I think you don't like? I haven't driven enough of them to compare but am told mine is a very good example. I think for 65k for a C2 you'd get an absolute minter so would hardly need a respray. You could then spend say 10 to 15k on upgrades such as exhaust, remap, suspension, set up etc and you'd have one of the best drivers 993s out there. What are you waiting for

[Porsche911R]

browngt3 said:

If you're chasing perfection then maybe you're right but you'd never get there!

Collected mine last weekend after an oil service, brake fluid and replacement gear linkage seal. Total cost £740. Thing is the car felt very taut, almost new. Somehow it felt much more than the few things they had done. Even the Pirellis felt good which I think you don't like? I haven't driven enough of them to compare but am told mine is a very good example. I think for 65k for a C2 you'd get an absolute minter so would hardly need a respray. You could then spend say 10 to 15k on upgrades such as exhaust, remap, suspension, set up etc and you'd have one of the best drivers 993s out there. What are you waiting for

the right car as a 964 also seems more real feel to me over 993's I keep looking at the 911V one with 68k miles.

I am not into old cars and really do think my 987.2 Spyder is a sweet driving machine all told.

I don't think £15k would cover what I would want to do to one, I would not buy one which needed a respray either as I know the costs to do it right ruins the price of the car.

I just don't think finding nice cars is easy even at £70k we have seem some stters I would not give £40k for.

[Gio G]

gwsinc said:

I test drove both an SC and 993 today. It was a great experience, and cemented my decision to go down the classic route.

After a little deliberating I’m going to go for a 993, the cars I drove were built only 13 years apart and although fairly similar inside, the 993 seems like a better balance between fun and practical usability.

I’m not sure if I’ll go for the one I drove or how soon I’ll get one, but I will be getting one.

Did the SC feel a bit too classic? 993 is much more modern and I think look great! 993 would be where I put my money after our 3.2.

G

[GTRene]

a nice 993 C2S (manuel) but most are expensive, so hard to find a good example for around 50k

personally I like some backdating cars from the aircooled period, that made lighter/sportier/faster.

or a 964 WTL original, lovely wide body, also a bit rare, but you can still find them sometimes for good prices.

Edited by GTRene on Monday 10th June 23:15

[gwsinc]

Gio G said:

Did the SC feel a bit too classic? 993 is much more modern and I think look great! 993 would be where I put my money after our 3.2.

G

It did, it was fun to drive and made a lovely noise, but it was hard work and proportionally it didn’t work for me, the pedal placement wasn’t great and my head rubbed on the roof lining. Both minor things which of course can be remedied or got used to. What drew me to the 993 the most was that the cabin felt that bit more sophisticated and its 6th gear giving it an ability to cruise at 70(ish...)mph without any drama, yet still fun in the twisties.

[GTRene]

here some WTL Porsches, that 1985 martini look car good be a good start? looks like a great 'basis' 54k euro



or that 1991 - 993 WTL, but sadly high mileage, thats why that price I guess, but it still looks great me thinks., 62k euro



https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?cat...

[Paynewright]

I’ve been over this dilemma a lot recently. Currently I have started a journey with a reasonable 996.2 C2.

Whilst I can afford a purchase of an air cooled at a similar budget, its the repair pot that I’m not comfortable with. Worse case with the current car is an engine rebuild with Hartech which is probably 12k. An older SC / Carrera could throw up several of these big bills.

I’ve decided to stick with the 996, get it the best it can be (within reason / budget) and stop lusting after other 911s. I’ll always have an admiring look at air cooled cars but unless I come into a significant amount of money I dont think I’ll be having one!

The car I have is special to drive and makes me smile every time I use it!

[gwsinc]

Paynewright said:

I’ve been over this dilemma a lot recently. Currently I have started a journey with a reasonable 996.2 C2.

Whilst I can afford a purchase of an air cooled at a similar budget, its the repair pot that I’m not comfortable with. Worse case with the current car is an engine rebuild with Hartech which is probably 12k. An older SC / Carrera could throw up several of these big bills.

I’ve decided to stick with the 996, get it the best it can be (within reason / budget) and stop lusting after other 911s. I’ll always have an admiring look at air cooled cars but unless I come into a significant amount of money I dont think I’ll be having one!

The car I have is special to drive and makes me smile every time I use it!

Glad you’re enjoying your 996, I’m very conscious of the potential money pot this may become. But on the flip side, given their relative simplicity much more is DIYable than more modern 911s, or indeed Caymans etc, certainly more DIY that I’m comfortable with!

One of my reasons for choosing a 993 is that it was built in a period where build quality was at its peak in the Porsche factory, and if maintained these engines can go for for up to 200,000 miles without a rebuild. The key thing here is maintenance of course.

I’m looking forward to a number of things from my future 993, the air cooled noise, the mechanical simplicity of driving, not requiring a PIWIS after the simplest of tasks and losing the restrictions of the Extended Warranty.

[GG33]

My first choice would have been a 993 - the best of the air cooled variants. followed by a 3.2 Carrera.
Here's my old one....wish I still had it :-)



GG33

[browngt3]

GTRene said:

here some WTL Porsches, that 1985 martini look car good be a good start? looks like a great 'basis' 54k euro



or that 1991 - 993 WTL, but sadly high mileage, thats why that price I guess, but it still looks great me thinks., 62k euro



https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?cat...

Martini stripes somehow look so much better on air cooled

[Longman66]

gwsinc said:

It did, it was fun to drive and made a lovely noise, but it was hard work and proportionally it didn’t work for me, the pedal placement wasn’t great and my head rubbed on the roof lining. Both minor things which of course can be remedied or got used to. What drew me to the 993 the most was that the cabin felt that bit more sophisticated and its 6th gear giving it an ability to cruise at 70(ish...)mph without any drama, yet still fun in the twisties.

SC seat rails are quite high hence your head in the rooflining , IIRC from 87 model yr (G50) 3.2 seatrails are much lower , I've removed my drivers side rails and gone even lower so I could wear a helmet on trackdays comfortably , i'm 6ft 4..
SC's and early 3.2's also have the cable operated 915 box which if not in good fettle or badly adjusted can make driving spiritedly a chore , the G50 box from 87 model yr on is pretty bullet proof .
The interior of the 3.2 is also a smidge more modern , the dash vents are much bigger for a start .. have a go of a late 3.2 as well.. good luck

[Gio G]

Longman66 said:

SC seat rails are quite high hence your head in the rooflining , IIRC from 87 model yr (G50) 3.2 seatrails are much lower , I've removed my drivers side rails and gone even lower so I could wear a helmet on trackdays comfortably , i'm 6ft 4..
SC's and early 3.2's also have the cable operated 915 box which if not in good fettle or badly adjusted can make driving spiritedly a chore , the G50 box from 87 model yr on is pretty bullet proof .
The interior of the 3.2 is also a smidge more modern , the dash vents are much bigger for a start .. have a go of a late 3.2 as well.. good luck

I think that is the charm of driving something more classic. Our 3.2 has the early 915 box which was re-furbished some years ago and no power steering.It will probably feel very alien to driving something more modern, however that is what I like about it. You need to engage your brain before driving The wife has no issues with it in her high heels!

Maybe give a later 3.2 a go or even one that has the 915 box sorted..

G

[browngt3]

I would echo these comments. A good 915 box is a joy and very tactile. Lighter too. Indeed an earlier car with less on it is quite a light car by modern standards. They are a revelation after driving anything modern but you do need to make a mental adjustment and realise you have to concentrate on driving the thing. I have both a 3.2 and a 993 C4S and honestly couldn't choose between them if I had to!

[gwsinc]

I've driven a few 993s now and my mind is made up, 993 C2 coupe it is!

My Cayman S has been up for sale for a week or so, lots of interest but it hasn't gone yet. To that end if anyone is looking for an exceptionally specced and maintained 987.2 Cayman S let me know!

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[gwsinc]

So, it's done. They Cayman is no longer in the garage, and in its place is a lovely Iris Blue 993 911. I'm amazed it worked out so quickly, but everything lined up perfectly!

Big smiles all round

[MrVert]

Congratulations

Pictures obligatory you know

[GTRene]

great a 993 C2 is it a S version?

and how different does such 993 C2 drives compared with a 964 C2?

I owned such 962 C2 coupe with a 3.8 engine from a RS version, in C2 RS looks.

also owned and drove a 1976 3.0 Carrera coupe, but forgot how those drove, only thing I still know is with a full tank it was more stable at high speeds then with a almost empty tank :-)