LHD 996TT - why shouldn't I

[GreigM]

Hi all,

looking for my new set of wheels now and there are a few LHD 996TT coming into my pricerange. Apart from the practicalities of car parks etc, what are the real problems with owning a LHD porsche? Do the OPCs treat you the same? Can I extend the warranty through an OPC etc?

Thanks...

[cyrus1971]

I have a LHD 996TT and it is the best decision I ever made and I saved £17K on the equivalent UK car at the time.

If you park close enough to the parking ticket dispencer you can undo seat belt and reach across to get ticket, so no need to get out or slide across seats (I am 5ft 9inch tall)

Irritating on dead straight roads trying to overtake. Just have to pull back a bit. On any road with curves (99% of rods in other words) the LHD problem is cancelled out by the advantage on the opposite curve.

I got a LHD 2002 996TT for RHD 2001 996C2 money.

visit recent thread :

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=45&h=&t=117346

>> Edited by cyrus1971 on Friday 8th October 15:37

[clorenzen]

I have owned both LHD and RHD cars - even at the same time. Here are the issues: Where do you do most of the driving In-outside the UK, Motorway or B-roads, do you plan to sell the car again - possibly. I much prefer a LHD as I am quite tall and the seating position is much better for tall persons in a LHD as you can rest your clutch foot on the wheelarch instead of under the clutch - however there are serious drawbacks if you are driving on B-roads. If you are stuck behind a bus/lorry it is very difficult to and dangerous to overtake. Selling a LHD in this country is difficult and abroad even more so. Check prices on www.mobile.de and do not forget the exchange rate exposure. I would advice against a LHD in the UK. What you save now you will loose selling it and if the £ falls you are in trouble as people will import alternatives from mainland Europe.

[johnny senna]

I've had 2 LHD cars, both E30 M3s. One was primarily a track car, the other was my daily driver.
Ticket machines aren't too bad. You wouldn't have much of a problem here. You need to unclip your seatbelt and lean across.
Overtaking is a bit harder that in a RHD car, but it isn't that bad. In a 996 Turbo it would be easy anyway.
Parallel parking is easier!! And you get out right onto the footpath.
My main concern would be resale. Your market will be miles smaller than the RHD market. You need to buy very cheaply to make it worthwhile. Also, insurance companies can be difficult. I don't think the OPCs would mind and you can buy a warranty for anything.
What is the price difference? Have you got any examples of prices of cars for sale?

[silver993tt]

The large European market is just a few hours away. You could sell it there via a number of internet sites or even go to a dealer.

[GreigM]

Thanks all,

At this stage I would intend to keep the car a long time, and the savings look to bring the price down by about £15K.

Resale - I believe there are a number of lhd specialists in the UK now, so would probably get a sale there, but I made the mistake with the boxster of worrying what the next owner might want - this time I buy for myself.