Best strategy for me to get a Porsche?
Best strategy for me to get a Porsche?
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Discussion

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

188 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
This year is probably going to be the last opportunity for the foreseeable future that I'm going to be able to buy a 'decent' car. I'm still looking at a number of marques / models that might fit the bill of which Porsche, a marque I have never owned yet, might be an option.

I think I have 2 ways of doing this:

1 - Save my pennies over the year and chop in my car (which whould give my budget to £13k) and have a 'good' Porsche as a daily driver. This means it's got to be (fairly) reliable so options are 996C2 (noting all the advice / points about bores and RMS) or early Cayman (assuming by end of this year prices are down to £13k). 987 Boxster or 986 Boxster S, possibly but I'd prefer a tin-top and I've driven 2 986s and the seats are too uncomfortable.

2 - Raise £6-7k and buy a 944 (2.7 Lux, S2 or turbo) or miley 968 and run it as a second car over the summer(s) with the change from £6K sat ready for the repairs it will require. As nice as they are, a 928 is probably not a smart buy.

What are your thoughts? Is there another middle way, for example, is a £10K 996 as a second car sensible?

Edited by Seeker UK on Monday 27th February 12:58

green944

138 posts

176 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
Buy a 944, can highly recommend it as a daily driver. Mine is the Ventiler and gives me no problems. You can get one easily for £2000 and are not expensive to repair. I am prejudiced though lol. The 928 is a lovely car and if you want to know more about them log onto www.porsche924.info and chat to some owners of the 928.

Wozy68

5,436 posts

200 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
green944 said:
Buy a 944, can highly recommend it as a daily driver. Mine is the Ventiler and gives me no problems. You can get one easily for £2000 and are not expensive to repair. I am prejudiced though lol. The 928 is a lovely car and if you want to know more about them log onto www.porsche924.info and chat to some owners of the 928.
Yep as above (944 Turbo). Leaves plenty wonger for 'upgrades/repairs' and it wont devalue.

Dr S

5,157 posts

256 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
1. walk into showroom
2. point to Porsche model you fancy
3. sign contract and pay
4. drive out of show room and enjoy

Simple as this wink

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

188 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
Dr S said:
1. walk into showroom
2. point to Porsche model you fancy
3. sign contract and pay
4. drive out of show room and enjoy

Simple as this wink
Fantastic.

Gis' 30 grand. wink

911Thrasher

2,573 posts

229 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Waow - thought you were driving a 80's italian diva here for a moment!

Seriously, did it break down though? Scared of the engine going "pop"? Amazed by your comments, really!

bullettneil

324 posts

179 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
the above comments worry me about 996 ownership as i cant afford a turbo.but i want a 911. and i really want a c4s. if it breaks it will have to stay in the garage till i can fix it.even if thats years. will be like my escort cosworth,only i will like the 911 lol

lastexile69

513 posts

201 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I'd go about 75% of the way in terms of your budget and bank the rest. Buy from a reputable indy (a little searching on here will quickly reveal the half dozen or so worth considering) and then think about an inspection as well. Haggle. Indy's are far more interested in the cars as well as the propsective buyers than OPC's - most of them actually want the car to go to a good home, rather than just want it shifted. It's good business as they trade on reputation.

Bank a bit every month separate to the budget balance (if you can) and just get out any enjoy it, whatever model it is.

Just my 2p

Porkupine

1,722 posts

195 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Similar experience with me for my 996 C4S. Had to sell after few months. Had couple problems in my ownsership. Just couldn't enjoy it as the fear was always that the problems could at any time be terminal. Sad really.

Now have the turbo and mind is more at ease.

Paul O

3,169 posts

213 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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If you can, out of that little lot I'd hugely recommend a Cayman. Amazing cars, and a very modern looking car.

smile

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

188 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
Paul O said:
If you can, out of that little lot I'd hugely recommend a Cayman. Amazing cars, and a very modern looking car.

smile
Doing a bit of crystal ball gazing, what price might an early non-"s" be reaching at the end of this year, early next?

Lox

641 posts

311 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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So, in summary...

You sold your car because you were scared it might break.

But it didn't.

Fat Albert

1,462 posts

211 months

Friday 2nd March 2012
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My 944 Turbo has 228,000 miles on its original engine and I still drive it like I stole it every day......

dazco

4,281 posts

219 months

Friday 2nd March 2012
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I can understand the posters who lost confidence, if you lose confidence you lose confidence, what can you do about it?

I was the same with a Jag I had, could not enjoy it because I was waiting for the pulley tensioner (or summat like that) to break.

J-P

4,422 posts

236 months

Saturday 3rd March 2012
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DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Which has sharper teeth, still bites, hurts more when it scratches you and won't listen to a damn thing you say!

Sorry bud - you've let the horror stories go to your head. In your shoes I'd never have bought the Cayman S in the first place (it would have failed at research stage if I had your fears) but having decided to take the plunge, I'd have enjoyed every minute.

I decided not to buy an RS4 a few years ago because of DRC (Dynamic Ride Control) issues. Not so much that I was worried that it might go pop at any point but more that the M3 was actually slightly better (handling wise but less so ride wise) but without any reported risk of suspension failure. Car had 5 years worth of warranty covering any breakdown anyway but I felt that if it did go, it would be a ballache to get it fixed at the dealership (I'm sure it's not going to be a 1 day job, so E92 M3 it was). If the dealership had been willing to talk turkey though, I may well have taken a small risk with the RS4 - it was a lovely car and very sure-footed. If I had, I'd have just enjoyed it for what it was! Still world would be a boring place if we were all the same!

ScienceTeacher

408 posts

215 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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Gents, there's a lot on here about 'bomb proof' turbos and GT3s. Given, they don't score and they odont suffer the kind of IMS problems M96 and M97 regular engines seem to; but they're far from bomb proof and over the course of ownership a driver is likely to spend a lot more running a turbo especially than a C2. Woe betide you if you buy a well tracked GT3. Ask Grant at Hartech. I've been in there and seen the turbo engines they've had that are buggered. They're just cars like any other. And when they do go they cost almost three times as much.
Get a regular 996 and put it on the Hartech scheme. Simple. Cost effective and insured against the rare event of catastrophic failure. A reliable modern Porsche: fuel efficient, safe, fast and comfortable.
I'd love a turbo and I guess I could sensibly buy one but I'm worried about how much it will cost to run vs my regular C2. I can't justify it. The Hartech price is almost twice the instalment I pay for the C2 and the bits are 50% more...