993/996 prices - eh?

[burnt]

Okay, looking to sell my summer car and day to day car in favour of a 911. To me this is the only 'sensible' option as it has 2 (kind of) seats for the little ones, and that pleases the wife. All good so far.

And the 993/996 dilemma rages on. Should they even be compared as cars?

As a regular visitor to 911 virgin I always like tocheck out their stock I was a tad confused today:

A 993C2 96N £33495, or
A 996C2 99S £34995

Now is it me or is that not alot more for alot more?

Long term will 993 hold their value better than the 996, judging by this yes. Just wanted some other opinions.

Or I could go after that 993TT which is up somewhere for £45K,

[Glenn McMenamin]

Although 993 prices are rock solid at the mo, I don't believe that 996 prices can go much lower either, as they are now more obtainable than ever to the average motorist.

993 will be the purer drive, but 996 should still be faster in the real world, and if you are considering family use, then there would be no contest IMHO

G

[toppstuff]

993 and 996 are Soooo different.

if you are used to "modern" german cars then the 996 will feel good. In contrast, the 993 will seem old fashioned and a bit agricultural.

On the other hand, if you are really into machines that feel like machines, and get off on all things metal and mechanical, then a 993 is heaven.

I had a 993 C2. Changed it for a 996 C4, which was nice to start with but quickly became "ordinary" to me.

I am now going back to a 993.

[kamal996]

toppstuff said:

993 and 996 are Soooo different. if you are used to "modern" german cars then the 996 will feel good. In contrast, the 993 will seem old fashioned and a bit agricultural. On the other hand, if you are really into machines that feel like machines, and get off on all things metal and mechanical, then a 993 is heaven. I had a 993 C2. Changed it for a 996 C4, which was nice to start with but quickly became "ordinary" to me. I am now going back to a 993.

Ditto. Went from 993 to Boxster to 996 C4. and was disapointed with 996. The Boxster was a better drive (no use to you of course). The 993 you mention sounds very overpriced however. I saw M reg cars in immaculate condition and with mid 50k miles retailing for aound £28,000. and before Henry starts moaning-YES they were in wonderful condition

>> Edited by kamal996 on Tuesday 3rd August 13:54

[poorcardealer]

Glenn McMenamin said:

Although 993 prices are rock solid at the mo, I don't believe that 996 prices can go much lower either, as they are now more obtainable than ever to the average motorist. 993 will be the purer drive, but 996 should still be faster in the real world, and if you are considering family use, then there would be no contest IMHO G

996s have miles left to fall price wise..........Ive seen high mile early cars in the trade at around 23K....the 20K 996 isnt too far away.

[burnt]

poorcardealer said:

Glenn McMenamin said: Although 993 prices are rock solid at the mo, I don't believe that 996 prices can go much lower either, as they are now more obtainable than ever to the average motorist. 993 will be the purer drive, but 996 should still be faster in the real world, and if you are considering family use, then there would be no contest IMHO G 996s have miles left to fall price wise..........Ive seen high mile early cars in the trade at around 23K....the 20K 996 isnt too far away.

A 20K 996 and 23K in the trade, does that mean the 996 isn't a good buy at the moment?

I presume by the earlier comments, with a young family the 996 is a better bet.

I do love the look of the 993 though...especially the wide body versions.

[bennno]

I think a cheaper 996 with sensible mileage, in the right spec and with reasonable mileage will hold its money as well as anything. Like all cars they are a bit mileage sensitive but not in a TVR fashion of 50k+ and they are peanuts.

For sure an early 996 in light blue with 17" wheels a patchy history and 100k on the clock might well be £23k's worth in the trade. Likewise a 993 in arena red with the wrong colour interior, no air con (common), patchy history and a few age related defects would probably struggle to be worth £17k in the trade.

For me 996 is bigger, lighter, faster and more modern.

Bennno

Bennno

[456mgt]

bennno said:

I think a cheaper 996 with sensible mileage, in the right spec and with reasonable mileage will hold its money as well as anything

If by that you mean depreciation in line with other prestige German cars, no better, no worse, I agree with you. Don't think there's any doubt that 993s are on a different gradient altogether, and better reflect the hype over 'bullet proof mechanicals' and 'rock solid residuals'.

You know, the 993 versus 996 conundrum is reminiscent of the Ferrari 355 versus 360; both have their pros and cons and are on different price tracks. They have their own an base too, and it's not unknown for people to go 355-> 360-> 355

[bennno]

Yes, as well as anything. meaning a well purchased M3 for example.

I think the 993 depreciation is a myth, a 30k 996 or 993 is going to be worth almost the same in a further 3 or 5 years.

I dont see a situation where a 'comparable spec, condition and mileage 996' (which is likely to be 3-5 years newer) will ever be worth less than a 993.

Bennno

>> Edited by bennno on Wednesday 4th August 12:37

[clubsport]

I think the 996 is going to be a real liability as it gets older, the lesser build quality will end up costing the owner more in maintenance bills than the equivalent 993. It will end up being the 964 to the 997's 993 status.

[james_j]

clubsport said:

I think the 996 is going to be a real liability as it gets older, the lesser build quality will end up costing the owner more in maintenance bills than the equivalent 993. It will end up being the 964 to the 997's 993 status.

The 996 has been having some engine problems. See www.911uk.com/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=12&TopicID=2280&PagePosition=1

Also, there are many instances of similar condition, specification and mileage 993s offered at higher prices than 2 or more years younger 996s.

This has been going on for 2 or more years from my observations of dealer ads in various Porsche publications.

[dazren]

Prior to an editing mistake.

Clubsport said:

The reliability / maintenace issues i considered were, there are no 996 gearbox parts available....you buy a new gearbox. RMS issues aside i have seen a 996 with a sheared crank...never seen that in a 993. These fears will make a difference as the cars get older. I really would not consider an old 996 myself, not that it isn't a great car now.

[grant3]

When you take the rose tinted glasses off it comes down to personal choice. Some love 993, some hate them, ditto 996. The moral of the story is go & test drive several examples of both & decide for yourself. The 993 will probably hold it's value better only because Porsche (relatively speaking) sold very few of them & it's the last of the "aircooled" legend. But the lower prices of the 996 have nothing to do with it's reliabilty or that it is inferior to drive, it's simply that it has been so successful that oversupply has affected second hand prices. Over 14,000 996's have been sold, that's one hell of a big success, infact it is the best selling 911 of all time, that must be for a reason. The 993 is a FANTASTIC car, but it isn't better than a 996 simply different, you pay your money & take your choice!
If it was my dosh I'd wait until the end of the year when prices are softer & the 997 has taken a few more pounds out of the price & get myself a nice new-ish 996.

[bennno]

I got a new 996 in March and have just been offered a stonking trade in against a 997.

Cant decide whether to do it, theres only 2.5k in it between mine and a new one for November.

Any thoughts....

Bennno

[clubsport]

no brainer....of course you do it.

if you hate the 997...unlikely,,, then sell it,you will be in a better position to buy another 996...the spread differential is likely to be wider IMHO etc...

[peterpeter]

toppstuff said:

993 and 996 are Soooo different. if you are used to "modern" german cars then the 996 will feel good. In contrast, the 993 will seem old fashioned and a bit agricultural. On the other hand, if you are really into machines that feel like machines, and get off on all things metal and mechanical, then a 993 is heaven. I had a 993 C2. Changed it for a 996 C4, which was nice to start with but quickly became "ordinary" to me. I am now going back to a 993.

I felt like that for a bit too until I had the car dropped 30mm on Techart springs .Plus witha sports exhaust, the car becomes transformed.

The car should have been sold 30mm lower anyway.

On track days, the 996 was far quicker, and I found it more fun then the 993.

While I did love my 993, looking back now and taking all the 993 hype into consideration, I have to say that I think it is being slightly overrated now.


Topstuff, have you considered a GT3??

Thats what I have now, and for me, its the best Porsche available.

[clapham993]

I love my 993 (and, when the time comes, whoever has it off me had better have a gun in his hand) but if I had to have a 911 as my only car, I'd be looking at a 996

[toppstuff]

peterpeter said:

Topstuff, have you considered a GT3??

I am thinking about one all too much..

I am rather taken with the idea of a Zanzibar coloured Mk1...

[poorcardealer]

bennno said:

I think a cheaper 996 with sensible mileage, in the right spec and with reasonable mileage will hold its money as well as anything. Like all cars they are a bit mileage sensitive but not in a TVR fashion of 50k+ and they are peanuts. For sure an early 996 in light blue with 17" wheels a patchy history and 100k on the clock might well be £23k's worth in the trade. Likewise a 993 in arena red with the wrong colour interior, no air con (common), patchy history and a few age related defects would probably struggle to be worth £17k in the trade. The 23K car I saw was a 98S 1 owner in Silver with Black hide 108K miles with FPSH.........was via a national leasing company and was a very nice car. Bennno Bennno

[gazzab]

I'll give you 25K for it !!