911 on a budget

[ali4390]

Having recently done a 'what car' thread I have convinced myself (with the help of PH) that a new Focus isn't the car for me, a 911 is instead. However budget will be about £13,000 so was wondering if a 911 in good condition,is available for that?

I've spent all afternoon looking at the £10K 911 thread, and whilst there is lots of opinions etc there is not so much on running costs etc. From what I can gather costs on a ~2000 911 would be about £2000/year assuming no major disasters, is this about right?

At that price would I be better going for a Boxster? Considering I am going from a Fiesta (but with a fair bit of experience of faster cars, both on and off track), either car will feel a world apart.

Major things to look out for when buying either car? I've heard a lot about RMS and IMS problems but not too sure on what they are?

Am I mental even considering getting either at this price? It's just right now I'm thinking, fk it I'm young so may as well make the most of it ! All help appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

get a decent 996 and you're happy.... as with all performance cars buying it is the easy bit keep a contingency fund of at least 10% of the purchase price for each year and add to it usual sunk costs and you should be ok...

[boxsey]

ali4390 said:

Am I mental even considering getting either at this price? It's just right now I'm thinking, fk it I'm young so may as well make the most of it ! All help appreciated.

£2,000 a year running costs for servicing/repairs/consumables is indeed what I've averaged on a boxster for 6 years. I'd a expect a 996 to be a bit more. However, since you say you are 'young' it might be worth checking the insurance cost for a 911/boxster as that could be a major decision factor for you.

[Durzel]

Key thing to remember is that it was once a much more expensive car. The cars go down in price over time but the constituent parts and servicing costs seldom do.

Pretty much the only thing you're going to get for sub-£100 in a Porsche dealer is the coffee and conversation. Consumables - including brake discs, pads, tyres, etc will be eye-watering compared to a Fiesta and probably won't last half as long.

Definitely consider a slush fund for worst case scenarios. It will be better if it isn't your sole means of transportation.

On the flip side, it's a lot of car for the money

[anonymous-user]

With a £13K budget a Boxster is the better buy if you don't need the rear seats. I would for sure. £2K per year maintenance fund sounds reasonable too.

[davek_964]

I only scanned your "what car" thread, and in that you said you're 21 and will be buying on finance.

If that's the case, you may struggle. I'm not sure there are many insurers who will even consider insuring you on a 911 at 21, even a £13k one, and even if a Boxster is easier to insure I doubt it's cheap at that age.

You also do need a slush fund, even if you're budgeting £2k a year maintenance (which is reasonable, but doesn't really include the "unexpected" expenses which will happen occasionally). While I would expect my running costs to be more than yours (996 turbo) I have put £3k a year away for the last couple of years as my car maintenance fund - and I'm kidding myself if that's all I think I spend.

You only live once - but I think if I was in your position, I'd be looking at something with lower running costs that I could enjoy. You really don't want a 911 parked on your drive because it needs a £1-2k repair, which isn't all that unusual.

[ali4390]

Thanks for all the replies. You have pretty much confirmed what I was thinking, and given the fact i don't require practicality and realistically I would never get close to the limits of the car on the roads, the Boxster would be the more sensible option. Such a shame they don't excit me a little bit more...

[Durzel]

You'd be surprised at the sense of occasion you feel driving a convertible, especially if you've never owned one before. Don't write it off as "not a 911", that's the mistake people too often make.

[khushy]

I got my first convertible in 1997 - hooked ever since!

[HoHoHo]

ali4390 said:

Such a shame they don't excit me a little bit more...

They're a bloody good drive

[ali4390]

I purely meant they don't excite me in looks, sorry I should have been more clear! I have no doubt they are fantastic cars to drive.

[kbf1981]

davek_964 said:

I only scanned your "what car" thread, and in that you said you're 21 and will be buying on finance.

If that's the case, you may struggle. I'm not sure there are many insurers who will even consider insuring you on a 911 at 21, even a £13k one, and even if a Boxster is easier to insure I doubt it's cheap at that age.

You also do need a slush fund, even if you're budgeting £2k a year maintenance (which is reasonable, but doesn't really include the "unexpected" expenses which will happen occasionally). While I would expect my running costs to be more than yours (996 turbo) I have put £3k a year away for the last couple of years as my car maintenance fund - and I'm kidding myself if that's all I think I spend.

You only live once - but I think if I was in your position, I'd be looking at something with lower running costs that I could enjoy. You really don't want a 911 parked on your drive because it needs a £1-2k repair, which isn't all that unusual.

I couldn't get insured on a GTI when I was 21.....there's no chance you'll get insured on a 911 for less than £5k.

[PGN 500sl]

ali4390 said:

I purely meant they don't excite me in looks, sorry I should have been more clear! I have no doubt they are fantastic cars to drive.

Boxsters are great to drive but they are not a 911....

My old 996 cost me a little under 2k annually but as other have said, the insurance will be very tricky at your age. Maybe get an older Carrera 3.2 and see if you can get classic insurance?! I might be completely wrong though and you may only qualify from age 25 - others will know more.

[Sunnysidebb]

ali4390 said:

I purely meant they don't excite me in looks, sorry I should have been more clear! I have no doubt they are fantastic cars to drive.

I'm sure if its your only car a 911 will be an expensive car to run but not as bad as you think. you can get 7-10k on a set of rear tyres and I have had 24k on my fronts and I have a TT.
At 13k dont even think of using an OPC to service you car, find a good indy and you will find prices comparable to running a newish modern car. Don't get hung up on engine troubles, for eg Vauxhall Vectras suffer from a bad inlet manifold and go wrong more frequently than they like to own up too. To repair it is over £2k. drive a 911 996 sensibly and it could last many many thousands of miles.
some good plans are Mike , Sports and Classic IIRC and Ken at Nine Excellence has something in place I think. As you say, you only live once and I wish I had been in a position to own a Porsche when I was a lot younger.
Good luck with what ever you choose.
Frank

[johnycarrera]

Another thought may be to get a classic 911, it won't be perfect for 13K but at least you'd be able to insure it?

[Dalto123]

You'd get a good 911 for that mOney. However, I would go for a Boxster. You'd get a lower mileage/ newer model fir that sort of money. I would suggest getting a car from Paragon Porsche. I've seen the work they do on their stock from work experience and it's pretty awesome.

http://www.paragongb.com/cars/Porsche+Boxster+S+ED...

(hope the link works from iPod!)

[Sunnysidebb]

Dalto123 said:

You'd get a good 911 for that mOney. However, I would go for a Boxster. You'd get a lower mileage/ newer model fir that sort of money. I would suggest getting a car from Paragon Porsche. I've seen the work they do on their stock from work experience and it's pretty awesome.

http://www.paragongb.com/cars/Porsche+Boxster+S+ED...

(hope the link works from iPod!)

Not only that, my mate took me out in his Boxster, flippin hell they dont half handle well. Surprise the $hit out of me considering he paid just under £6k for it.

[thegoose]

Dalto123 said:

You'd get a good 911 for that mOney. However, I would go for a Boxster. You'd get a lower mileage/ newer model fir that sort of money. I would suggest getting a car from Paragon Porsche. I've seen the work they do on their stock from work experience and it's pretty awesome.

http://www.paragongb.com/cars/Porsche+Boxster+S+ED...

(hope the link works from iPod!)

I'm sure it's a great car but I can't imagine a keen 21 year old driver being all that taken with an automatic?

[ali4390]

I got a quote earlier for £2000 fully comp, which I didn't think was too bad. And for all work I'd use my current mechanic who would have no problem with the car, he's rebuilt Porsches, Ferraris, used to be a TVR mechanic and doesn't charge me much for labour.

I'm looking at Boxsters and they are very tempting, and some of them don't look half bad actually. Hmmm decisions decisions (as I'm also considering an M3 E46 and a Z4).

[johnycarrera]

2Grand fully comp for a 21 yr old is pretty amazing, who's that with so we can pass it on to other young folk?