Another £10k 996 thread...
Another £10k 996 thread...
Author
Discussion

Splendidmac

Original Poster:

34 posts

190 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Hi everyone!

I know this topic has been somewhat done to death, but please bear with me...

Having spent the last few years with a long motorway commute, I've been wafting around in a W126 Merc which has been ideal for the job. However, I've moved house and 110 motorway miles per day has become 30 twisty A- and B-road miles, so the trusty barge is slightly out of its comfort zone. I've always wanted a 911 and, using a lethal combination of man maths and happy self-delusion, have persuaded myself that Now Is The Time (Probably).

Hooray etc.

Now, Mrs McAwesome is not quite so sold on the idea and doesn't like the idea of losing loads of money in depreciation. She has also accurately pointed out that we have two children (a babe in arms and a feisty 2-year-old) who will need to fit in at least occasionally.

I am therefore thinking in terms of a manual 996 C2 3.4 with an entry price of about £10k. Manual because I fancy a change from auto; 996 because I suspect the air-cooled options in my price range would struggle to accommodate the kids; C2 because of the extra storage in the nose; 3.4 because 3.6s at my target price have stratospheric mileages (which wouldn't bother me but might make the car hard to sell in future); and £10k because anything cheaper currently advertised seems suspiciously light on detail and I suspect a decent "purist"-spec C2 probably won't sink much from there.

This is pretty much what I have in mind, although sadly I think it's come too soon:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111107956839?ssPageName=...

So, questions:

My understanding from general internet wisdom is that the RMS/crankshaft issues are not as big a deal as they are sometimes made out to be. I guess a small proportion of most types of car goes bang unexpectedly, but the majority are okay if treated and serviced properly. Is that broadly right?

Is 996 sports suspension suitable for UK road use in the real world?

Am I crazy to expect a good car at this price, and if so what can be compromised?

Why are there so many more cheap C4s than C2s? Is it because if you want 4WD, you probably want the C4S?

Am I totally deluded on the depreciation issue?

Anyone got a car they want to sell me?? smile

Any advice gratefully received!

Phunk

2,098 posts

200 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all

RiccardoG

1,754 posts

301 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all

That looks like a lovely 996 and where I to be in the market for one I'd seriously look at it.

In reply to some of your questions and considerations:

- air cooled not particularly less spacious inside than the 996, but considerably more expensive to buy (though probably no depreciation, potentially some appreciation even);

- RMS is just a leak, can be addressed when changing clutch, unless its very heavy;

- £10k should get you into a decent 996. Make sure that its had some of the main jobs done recently (tyres, brake pads + discs, radiators, clutch, suspension bits, alternator, starter motor...) to avoid big bills coming up

Enjoy the search!

jsmjsm

5,067 posts

175 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
If you change your mind on the 4wd part I have a 996 C4 Manual coming up for sale in a couple of weeks.

silver, Black leather, sports seats, Mo30, Sports exhaust bypass, sunroof, clear light upgrade, 73k miles. Car is a 99 V but comes with a Private plate C4 OUP.

pm if your interested.



Edited by jsmjsm on Thursday 25th July 15:34

VinceFox

20,566 posts

201 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
jsmjsm said:
If you change your mind on he 4wd part I have a 996 C4 Manual coming up for sale in a couple of weeks.

silver, Black leather, sports seats, Mo30, Sports exhaust bypass, sunroof, clear light upgrade, 73k miles. Car is a 99 V but comes with a Private plate C4 OUP.

pm if your interested.
Oh i wish i hadnt read this. Youre in the same town as me.

jsmjsm

5,067 posts

175 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
Am I? You in Poole then?

VinceFox

20,566 posts

201 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
jsmjsm said:
Am I? You in Poole then?
Yup. Had been loosely looking at 996es and had talked myself out of one. Tell me how bloody awful yours is!

mikeyr

3,395 posts

222 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
One of my threads that might be of interest...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I can safely say that suspension is not an issue on our less-than-smooth tarmac roads - it rides very well, isn't crashy and I've had no issues with grounding out.

Not sure about child seats but you can squeeze children in the back, or amputees. I have had four adults but wouldn't recommend it for too long!

As you'll see though I have an extensive set of bills that came with the car and it's scary reading. I would def recommend buying something with a warranty if possible, certainly something with a years MOT!

jsmjsm

5,067 posts

175 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
VinceFox said:
Yup. Had been loosely looking at 996es and had talked myself out of one. Tell me how bloody awful yours is!
You be the judge.





Ready for Le Mans a few weeks ago.



Edited by jsmjsm on Thursday 25th July 16:52

Luke.

11,996 posts

279 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
jsmjsm said:
VinceFox said:
Yup. Had been loosely looking at 996es and had talked myself out of one. Tell me how bloody awful yours is!
You be the judge.

Goiks. cool

chard

60 posts

174 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
Splendidmac said:
Hi everyone!

I know this topic has been somewhat done to death, but please bear with me...

Having spent the last few years with a long motorway commute, I've been wafting around in a W126 Merc which has been ideal for the job. However, I've moved house and 110 motorway miles per day has become 30 twisty A- and B-road miles, so the trusty barge is slightly out of its comfort zone. I've always wanted a 911 and, using a lethal combination of man maths and happy self-delusion, have persuaded myself that Now Is The Time (Probably).

Hooray etc.

Now, Mrs McAwesome is not quite so sold on the idea and doesn't like the idea of losing loads of money in depreciation. She has also accurately pointed out that we have two children (a babe in arms and a feisty 2-year-old) who will need to fit in at least occasionally.

I am therefore thinking in terms of a manual 996 C2 3.4 with an entry price of about £10k. Manual because I fancy a change from auto; 996 because I suspect the air-cooled options in my price range would struggle to accommodate the kids; C2 because of the extra storage in the nose; 3.4 because 3.6s at my target price have stratospheric mileages (which wouldn't bother me but might make the car hard to sell in future); and £10k because anything cheaper currently advertised seems suspiciously light on detail and I suspect a decent "purist"-spec C2 probably won't sink much from there.

This is pretty much what I have in mind, although sadly I think it's come too soon:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111107956839?ssPageName=...

So, questions:

My understanding from general internet wisdom is that the RMS/crankshaft issues are not as big a deal as they are sometimes made out to be. I guess a small proportion of most types of car goes bang unexpectedly, but the majority are okay if treated and serviced properly. Is that broadly right?

Is 996 sports suspension suitable for UK road use in the real world?

Am I crazy to expect a good car at this price, and if so what can be compromised?

Why are there so many more cheap C4s than C2s? Is it because if you want 4WD, you probably want the C4S?

Am I totally deluded on the depreciation issue?

Anyone got a car they want to sell me?? smile

Any advice gratefully received!
Indeed the car is mine and it's a good one. PM me if your seriously interested. Ta


Terminator X

20,599 posts

233 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
Imho 12 grand is a better target as you'll get lower miles, better example etc. Also imho you'll not lose much money as good examples have bottomed out. Take that you slimy poo pooers of the 996 mark tongue out

TX.

VinceFox

20,566 posts

201 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
jsmjsm said:
You be the judge.





Ready for Le Mans a few weeks ago.



Edited by jsmjsm on Thursday 25th July 16:52
Oh youre not helping.

Burba

1,870 posts

286 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
A bump for this as I may be in the market - looking at the potential to purchase a weekend toy for early morning blats and cross country jaunts, with the opportunity to develop a little.

Will be after something reliable, well looked after and clean.

P5Nij

675 posts

201 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Been looking at them myself these past few days, I keep coming back to this one...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

There's a lot to be said for the wide bodied cars but I do like the more subtlelines of these, a black one overtook me on the M1 last night and it looked superb in the flesh.

(Off to look at an Alfa Brera tomorrow but there's a sub £10k 996 for sale en route to it, might pop in and have a shuftie out of curiosity).



Edited by P5Nij on Tuesday 30th July 16:53

andy97

4,784 posts

251 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Alfa reliability Vs Porsche flair - tough one biglaugh

thegoose

8,077 posts

239 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
P5Nij said:
Been looking at them myself these past few days, I keep coming back to this one...

<link>

There's a lot to be said for the wide bodied cars but I do like the more subtlelines of these, a black one overtook me on the M1 last night and it looked superb in the flesh.

(Off to look at an Alfa Brera tomorrow but there's a sub £10k 996 for sale en route to it, might pop in and have a shuftie out of curiosity).
Do be careful posting links with your postcode in wink

Stokepotter

26 posts

166 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
My ears pricked up when you mentioned the Alfa Brera, I now drive a 996 C2 but my last car was an Alfa Brera S, lovely, lovely looking car and no issues with reliability. Just did not have the performance to match the looks, if you do go down the Brera route I would suggest a diesel which you can then get chipped, failing that go for the v6 although fuel consumption maybe an issue then.

Burba

1,870 posts

286 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
P5Nij said:
Been looking at them myself these past few days, I keep coming back to this one...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

There's a lot to be said for the wide bodied cars but I do like the more subtlelines of these, a black one overtook me on the M1 last night and it looked superb in the flesh.

(Off to look at an Alfa Brera tomorrow but there's a sub £10k 996 for sale en route to it, might pop in and have a shuftie out of curiosity).



Edited by P5Nij on Tuesday 30th July 16:53
That's a really nice example, leather could do with a feed and would come up nicely I think. i'm after a manual myself

P5Nij

675 posts

201 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
thegoose said:
Do be careful posting links with your postcode in wink
Oops.... ;-(

Ta for the heads up ;-)

Edited by P5Nij on Tuesday 30th July 20:07