997 as a first 911
Discussion
There is a shed load of information available from ( http://911uk.com/viewforum.php?f=7 ) ,membership is free and a lot of questions you'll want to ask have already been asked & answered.
pitfalls- there are a few to say the least.
spend a while looking at the usual car selling websites, go kick some tyres and get a feel for what's out there. They've been around long enough for there to be a good choice, so don't rush into it.
there is also TiPEC forums (forums.tipec.net)
the 997 is a very capable piece of kit- I bought one. (not for sale tho')
pitfalls- there are a few to say the least.
spend a while looking at the usual car selling websites, go kick some tyres and get a feel for what's out there. They've been around long enough for there to be a good choice, so don't rush into it.
there is also TiPEC forums (forums.tipec.net)
the 997 is a very capable piece of kit- I bought one. (not for sale tho')
e30m3Mark said:
Am considering scratching a 911 itch next year (budget circa £25k) and was looking at 997 C2S. Just wondered if there are any pitfalls or problems I should watch out for? Ideally prefer manual or should I go PDK?
£25k for a 997C2S with PDK :-) that's the biggest pit fall... you are about £12k short from a very leggy one.my 997 was my first 911...................no regrets.
Big bills are easy to come by though - so do get an inspection.
Read up on the bore scoring thing too, but don't let it put you off too much.
I've said on here before - I got a main dealer warranty with my 2006 car..........and it's had about 16k (non cosmetic) work done to get it ready for sale and post me having it.
At the end of the day it's a Porsche, parts aren't cheap.
Big bills are easy to come by though - so do get an inspection.
Read up on the bore scoring thing too, but don't let it put you off too much.
I've said on here before - I got a main dealer warranty with my 2006 car..........and it's had about 16k (non cosmetic) work done to get it ready for sale and post me having it.
At the end of the day it's a Porsche, parts aren't cheap.
OP,
As mentioned you'll really struggle to find a 997 C2S with PDK for £25k. To have PDK it'll need to be a 997.2, and they're very desirable.
I'd advise doing lots of reading on 997.1 v 997.2, get to know the differences, and find some prices and typical prices.
I had a 997.2 C2 with PDK and would have little trouble recommending one to someone who is prepared for the possible expense of running it.
As mentioned you'll really struggle to find a 997 C2S with PDK for £25k. To have PDK it'll need to be a 997.2, and they're very desirable.
I'd advise doing lots of reading on 997.1 v 997.2, get to know the differences, and find some prices and typical prices.
I had a 997.2 C2 with PDK and would have little trouble recommending one to someone who is prepared for the possible expense of running it.
Had my 997 for a few weeks now. It's a great first 911 
If you're on a tight budget though, I'm less sure.
The Gen1 has its issues. Yes they can be addressed. But if budgets are tight anyway the last thing you want is a big bill.
Autotrader has 1x Gen2 in budget..and it' a CatD.
I'd wait and gather a bigger budget - 5k-10k would see you into Gen2 territory or give you a fighting fund.
If you're on a tight budget though, I'm less sure.
The Gen1 has its issues. Yes they can be addressed. But if budgets are tight anyway the last thing you want is a big bill.
Autotrader has 1x Gen2 in budget..and it' a CatD.
I'd wait and gather a bigger budget - 5k-10k would see you into Gen2 territory or give you a fighting fund.
e30m3Mark said:
Thanks chaps. It looks like I have some reading and saving to do.
What is the cheapest model / generation 911 out there nowadays? (Just wondering as opposed to a prospective purchase)
The 996 (1997-2004). You’d have the very best manual cars within budget, or a reasonable doer-upper plus a contingency fund big enough for the worst case scenario engine disaster. What is the cheapest model / generation 911 out there nowadays? (Just wondering as opposed to a prospective purchase)
Have a read here: http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=108257
Things aren’t as bad as they may seem!
I was in your shoes 2 years ago and here's how it's gone.
I decided I wanted a 911 and scraped together £25K. I am no expert but I followed all the advice you find on the interweb, and in the end bought a 2005, 997.1 C2s Tiptronic Cabriolet. If you do buy a tiptronic, don't get too upset that you won't have flappy paddles, the tip box works fine and is bullet proof.
I was more concerned with servicing, in particular, oil change frequency. The car I bought had 54k miles on the clock had a full service history, had only done 4k miles in the previous year and the air-con wasn't working (2 new condensers fitted and gassed, £250).
As it turns out, these cars don't like sitting around, the previous owner had spent the best part of a grand trying to stop rattles and squeaks. After a month of proper driving they all disappeared.
This car is my daily driver, and I do 400 miles a week commuting to work. The only problems I've had to date are a new water pump and new coil packs. That's it!
It is just coming up to 100K miles and drives as good as ever. I change the oil at about 6-8K miles, I think that is very important, and it has a full service once a year. I have my servicing done at an independent specialists (Zuffenhaus, Birmingham) and they are fantastic. It costs little more than most cars to service, although the parts are more expensive.
I intend to keep the Porsche as long as I can get in it, going to work has never been so much fun.
I hope this helps to allay any fears that you or anyone ells who is thinking of Porsche ownership may have had. Just do it!! Good luck
I decided I wanted a 911 and scraped together £25K. I am no expert but I followed all the advice you find on the interweb, and in the end bought a 2005, 997.1 C2s Tiptronic Cabriolet. If you do buy a tiptronic, don't get too upset that you won't have flappy paddles, the tip box works fine and is bullet proof.
I was more concerned with servicing, in particular, oil change frequency. The car I bought had 54k miles on the clock had a full service history, had only done 4k miles in the previous year and the air-con wasn't working (2 new condensers fitted and gassed, £250).
As it turns out, these cars don't like sitting around, the previous owner had spent the best part of a grand trying to stop rattles and squeaks. After a month of proper driving they all disappeared.
This car is my daily driver, and I do 400 miles a week commuting to work. The only problems I've had to date are a new water pump and new coil packs. That's it!
It is just coming up to 100K miles and drives as good as ever. I change the oil at about 6-8K miles, I think that is very important, and it has a full service once a year. I have my servicing done at an independent specialists (Zuffenhaus, Birmingham) and they are fantastic. It costs little more than most cars to service, although the parts are more expensive.
I intend to keep the Porsche as long as I can get in it, going to work has never been so much fun.
I hope this helps to allay any fears that you or anyone ells who is thinking of Porsche ownership may have had. Just do it!! Good luck
I bought a C4S 997.1 for 20k with 95k miles on it.
I then spent about 5k on a OPC 111 check, a couple of things, and a 2-yr OPC warrantee.
So I have a warranted car for 25k, but high mileage - but then I am going to put 8k miles a year on it, so there is no point pretending it’s a show car.
The warrantee has ‘saved’ me about £9-10k on bills - mainly the new gearbox because the synchromesh had gone.
Do you can do it, it was my entry point as well, but you need to be financially prepared.
Rich
I then spent about 5k on a OPC 111 check, a couple of things, and a 2-yr OPC warrantee.
So I have a warranted car for 25k, but high mileage - but then I am going to put 8k miles a year on it, so there is no point pretending it’s a show car.
The warrantee has ‘saved’ me about £9-10k on bills - mainly the new gearbox because the synchromesh had gone.
Do you can do it, it was my entry point as well, but you need to be financially prepared.
Rich
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