Early 997's looking good value

[truck71]

For the price of a load of options on your 4 cylinder Cayster you can get into an early 350bhp 911. Bore scoring aside what's the story? Or isn't there one...

[mollytherocker]

truck71 said:

For the price of a load of options on your 4 cylinder Cayster you can get into an early 350bhp 911. Bore scoring aside what's the story? Or isn't there one...

They have been at their current values for about 3 years or so. They are great value and a lovely drivers car.

As you have already hinted, its all about the engine. Do your research and go in with your eyes wide open and you should get a great car.

[Porsche911R]

Costs mount up on any 10 years old car, £15k refresh :-)

[mikees]

As per other thread. I've spent 4K this year on my 50k 54 997.1 carrera. I paid 19 a year ago and it's prob same price. Given I've just done the suspension and AC, clutch is ok. Should be alright hopefully. Have priced in a rebuild at some point but that wontvbevmuch more than the top, bottom and gearbox rebuild my SC had.

As many people say I think the 997 time will come. Last analogue 911 and looks like a proper one ( I like 996 but not the lights shape)

Get one. Spend ages looking, buy on condition and history. However the bills can still come.

I'd really dodge a gen 1 C2S as bore scoring seems more likely. My indie (RPM) have seen very few cooking Carreras with BS

Mike

[Evolved]

No such thing as a cheap Porsche.

[Evolved]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

^^^^^ to run ? I concur.


Pleased I got away with a £400 bit the other day on my 997 for Aircon work FFS.

I do think the prices for honest cars has flat lined at circa 30k though.

Yes to run.. The trouble is, these cheaper 997's will probably require a huge amount of work to bring it upto standard, outweighing any perceived price saving made on purchase.

Same with the boxster! They're cheap as chips to buy an early model but the worry and money they'll no doubt require just put me off and I end up looking at dearer, better spec'd cars, before long you're into serious money so I shut down the app and step away from a hasty decision haha.

[Cheib]

With a 10yr old car you're starting to get into having to replace things like suspension components, clutches, etc

I'd budget on £2k a year and one off bills of potentially double that! Couple of mates have 993's they bought for mid/low £20k's ten years ago. Cars are probably worth double that now though both reckon they've spent more on maintenance than the car has appreciated.

[ELROR]

Agree that if you buy a well looked after one, an average cost of £2k a year would cover the rolling maintenance programme to replace worn parts (suspension, clutch etc). Last year I spent £3k (Front dampers and other bits) this year £500. Awesome cars. Get a borescope and accept there is a risk (albeit very small) that you might need a rebuild at some point (no different from the air cooled cars in this regard).

[INWB]

The 997 C4S backside just doesn't do it for me but they are nice cars. If i was buying a 7.1 I would want to find an example that has either had some of the common big ticket items done or is cheap enough to cover that cost. Not sure if they have bottomed out yet but I guess 996 prices are now supporting them.

[AMG Merc]

Evolved said:

No such thing as a cheap Porsche.

Depends on your point of view. How about driving around a £5k Boxter until iit expires? Obviuosly a bit of luck is needed as to condition.

[AMG Merc]

mikees said:

As many people say I think the 997 time will come.

Mike

Agree, especially manuals and Turbos which have now bottomed out price wise.

[nwates]

Lovely late turbo at Cridfords fetching £70,000 prices on the move

[truck71]

So it's consumables other than the engine by the sounds of it (I'm including suspension etc in this).

Luckily the one that tempted me has sold so I can return to procrastination.

[YoungMD]

truck71 said:

So it's consumables other than the engine by the sounds of it (I'm including suspension etc in this).

Luckily the one that tempted me has sold so I can return to procrastination.

Okay so let me give a slightly different perspective. I bought a 997.1 C2S about 18 months or so ago for about £21k and this is what i would say.

Caveat: lets put engine bore scoring issues to one side to discuss later.......

I think some of the comments about a 10 year + old car costing you lots and expect to pay another £10k are a bit wild. 997.1 technology from what i have found is very very similar inside to a 996, which kind of means most parts and so on are pretty reasonable. i'm not sure of all the changes when they moved to 997.2 over and above engine but i think there were a few more. I have found parts pretty cheap, and if you can do the work yourself then its not bad really, but if not then pay attention to what has been done, inspect in detail, and buy wisely. These are the things i think need doing or to have been done, and once done car should be fine for a while (i will miss a few I'm sure)

1) Cooling definitely, i fitted a low temp sensor, changed coolant(and it takes blo*dy litres), radiators, water pump. I think a lot of issues can be prevented by ensure the water system is sorted.

2) Exhaust, unfortunately the bolts rust off, all need to be changed to stainless steel and maybe some of the exhaust changed (mine was 100% fine @ 2005 and 65k miles) but bolts were falling off.

3) Shocks and rubbers all around suspension worth a check, mine were fine but many will go at 10 years.

4) Spark plugs and coils, these last 4 years but if not been done are a bit of a pain and a fiddle.

What i have found is indy's etc tend to do a few things each visit, thus you end up with lots of £1k bills, better to get an inspection, talk price and get them all done and after that shouldn't really be that pricey to run.

So on to engine issues, this seems to be a minefield, for sure there have been cases of them going bang, and you can't avoid a lot of the very logical stuff from hartech etc, but it seems chasing the rainbow to mitigate the risk is pricey, OPC warranties, bore scoring inspections seem iffy unless an expert does them......all i can say is when they are going, the engines are just lovely....

[battered]

Evolved said:

No such thing as a cheap Porsche.

Don't tell my friend that. She bought one more or less on impulse having gone along with her pal who was buying and the salesman did the best deal of his life in offering her a drive "just to see what you think".

The thing was about 5 years old when she got it, she paid not much more than you would for a decent 2yo Golf. Sold it 4 or 5 years on, got back, erm, what she'd have got back for a decent Golf, and across 30k miles or so it cost her servicing.

She bought...a decent Golf. A TDi. Boxster was a bit thirsty. Yeah, I know.

[jsb]

i bought my 997.1 c2s back in 2008, it was the cheapest car in the OPC network at the time.

For 2 years i ran the Opc Warranty

Since I have self warrantied, it has done 65k, only really gets used for track days now.....

Big ticket items have been water pump (300), exhaust (stainless steel 2nd hand 150), tyres (3k i get from rears), servicing has been done by Opc (they match my local indie on price) all other work done by my indie (brookspeed).

I think i got a good one, it is used on track, but is warmed and cooled properly, engine will let go at some point....

Suspension will be changed soon for coilovers

It runs PCCB's......that will be replaced in the next 2 years (1500 for fronts from SICOM)

go in eyes open, look after it, do the work when it needs it, but find a good indie!

[v12v8]

I have to echo much of what YoungMD says. Bought my 997.1 C2S around 18 months ago and I did my research first. I've had no issues whatsoever and have done roughly 1000 miles a month.

Personally I think the whole bore scoring scaremongery is just that. You hear of the odd few but nothing from those with no issues, which is most. If you buy on condition and servicing, and from a reputable source, I can't see you having many problems. I know plenty of 996 owners who have no issues.

I run my car on Michelin Pilot Sports. I get c12k miles from fronts and 10k from rears. Average mpg seems to hover around 22mpg but I use Sport a fair bit.

I have my car serviced annually. Not necessary but I have a good indie who looks after my car. Never bothered with a warranty as I think they're a waste of money.

If you're in the market for a 997 you are delaying the purchase of one of the greatest cars I have driven. It's not the fastest, the prettiest or the best sounding, but it is one of the sweetest, purest driving experiences money can buy.

I bought my car from RSJ and have nothing but praise for them.

[Porsche911R]

I guess if people want to do the whole refresh thing they are good cars, but lets not pull any punches these cars are old and need a lot of work,

a £3k bill could see all the bushes redone, then new shocks etc etc and you still have the engine build looming over your head.

you can be £6k in or more and have a car worth £15k trade in.

people seem very happy driving 50k mile shocks etc but it's not for me.

[The Red Devil]

mollytherocker said:

They have been at their current values for about 3 years or so. They are great value and a lovely drivers car.

As you have already hinted, its all about the engine. Do your research and go in with your eyes wide open and you should get a great car.

---

The rocker hits it on the head. The engines can be soft, and no rhyme or reason to it either, i.e low miles means nothing,
many times a higher mileage car can be a safer bet when well serviced. A car that should only bought without a PPI by
suitably qualified individuals, I deal in a lot of Porsches and even I would get one checked out in absence of notorious
issues being documented as fixed. Otherwise a blank cheque may be required. Eyes wide open yes, magnifying glass too.

[Gmund]

Another very happy Gen 1 C2S owner here! Bought mine (2005 with 49K miles) from an indy 18 months ago. Sold a 987 3.4S to buy it. Had no major issues with the Boxster, and so far, no major issues with the 997. In line with this thread, I've had the following done:

Water pump, brake vacuum pump (it was pretty corroded, so didn't want to take risks with braking system!) exhaust bolts & clamps (exhaust/manifolds are still like new) and oil pressure sensor. All done for circa £2K with Porsche Centre Reading.

A truly incredible thing to own and drive. The drivetrain is a thing of wonder, especially in the upper reaches of the rev range. I still find myself popping out to get some wine for me and the wife, and returning 2 hours later, it's so brilliant to drive I never want to stop!

Edited by Gmund on Wednesday 15th June 11:31