Which Porsche for £12k ?
Discussion
My brother in law was looking at 944's for around £4k, but has now landed a new job with a lot more money & wants to treat himself. He has upped his budget to £12k & wants a Porsche.
What should he be looking at ? He likes Boxsters but for £12k no way. Wants something that isn't going to cost a fortune to run etc etc....any suggestions ?
R.
What should he be looking at ? He likes Boxsters but for £12k no way. Wants something that isn't going to cost a fortune to run etc etc....any suggestions ?
R.
I saw this car while checking out a 911 at Gmund and thought it looked very very nice indeed:
www.gmundcars.com/cars/557/944s2coupe.html
Only caution, it would loose value very quickly if the miles piled on, but I'm sure a good 944 would be cheaper to run than a baggy 911. Probably best to find out if the car is going to be used as a daily driver or a Sunday treat.
www.gmundcars.com/cars/557/944s2coupe.html
Only caution, it would loose value very quickly if the miles piled on, but I'm sure a good 944 would be cheaper to run than a baggy 911. Probably best to find out if the car is going to be used as a daily driver or a Sunday treat.
Carrera 3.2 said:
Probably best to find out if the car is going to be used as a daily driver or a Sunday treat.
Agreed...and tell him to research parts and service costs - I briefly looked at a 968 and was horrified with some of the maintenance bills as compared to more modern similar-priced cars with similar performance.
The market for impact bumper 911s is definitely quiet at the moment and there are a few for sale. I know because I've been trying to sell mine but I am holding out for a sensible price as it's such a nice car. However it's almost certainly worth him looking at G50 3.2s up for £13-14k because someone will probably sell for around his money - a Targa is definitely within reach.
OK, he can look at 944s and he'll get a cracker - even a nice 968 for that money. But if he fancies a Porsche then I bet a 911's top of his list and pre 964 911s don't need to cost a fortune to keep.
Worst case for £12k is a very nice SC at the moment.
OK, he can look at 944s and he'll get a cracker - even a nice 968 for that money. But if he fancies a Porsche then I bet a 911's top of his list and pre 964 911s don't need to cost a fortune to keep.
Worst case for £12k is a very nice SC at the moment.
I agree with the above comments that the market has dipped significantly over the last 6 months or so....
for a buyer, I would argue that there is some good value to be had out there in the current market - just make sure no-one trys to convince your brother in law that there is such thing as a 'cheap porsche' - you either pay:
1) up front for a minter (and still risk the unforseen)
2) big bills on a middle ranker with lower purchase price
good luck!
p.s. the unintentional humour of the OP has just hit me:
sorry.
for a buyer, I would argue that there is some good value to be had out there in the current market - just make sure no-one trys to convince your brother in law that there is such thing as a 'cheap porsche' - you either pay:
1) up front for a minter (and still risk the unforseen)
2) big bills on a middle ranker with lower purchase price
good luck!
p.s. the unintentional humour of the OP has just hit me:
rumplestiltskin said:
My brother in law was looking at 944's for around £4k, but has now landed a new job with a lot more money & wants to treat himself. He has upped his budget to £12k & wants a Porsche.
sorry.
shoestring7 said:
Get him to try a 968 Sport. IMO one of the best performance/handling/style/practicality/cost deals on the market right now. Good ones are starting to become more difficult to find but will hold their value well if looked after.
SS7
SS7
Now that was the car I didn't get on with. Thought the interior and the driving position were very dated, and it drove more like a GT than a sports car - a very 'lazy' feel to the car given it's size and weight. Plus very wide tyres which tramlined and camber-hunted on anything other than smooth tarmac - not a car to hustle down a B-road. It still felt impeccably screwed together though, and the engine was very flexible.
I recently had the same dilemma. Had up to £14K to spend. Considered 944 cabs, Turbos, Carrera 911s, 964s and 968s. In the end I bought a RHD 2.5 Boxster, and for less than £12K.
I liked Boxsters previously but didn't lust after them like I did 911s.
I only started to onbsider one when it became apparent that they met my criteria more than the other models. Now I own one I can't imagine driving anything else - they really are that good.
As an everyday car the Boxster has it covered - everything works very well. No dodgy heaters/de-misters, good headlights & wipers. Very important when it's your workhorse.
Whichever Porsche he buys, get it checked out PROPERLY. A decent boxster needn't be any more costly to run than any other Porsche.
Bob.
I liked Boxsters previously but didn't lust after them like I did 911s.
I only started to onbsider one when it became apparent that they met my criteria more than the other models. Now I own one I can't imagine driving anything else - they really are that good.
As an everyday car the Boxster has it covered - everything works very well. No dodgy heaters/de-misters, good headlights & wipers. Very important when it's your workhorse.
Whichever Porsche he buys, get it checked out PROPERLY. A decent boxster needn't be any more costly to run than any other Porsche.
Bob.
havoc said:
shoestring7 said:
Get him to try a 968 Sport. IMO one of the best performance/handling/style/practicality/cost deals on the market right now. Good ones are starting to become more difficult to find but will hold their value well if looked after.
SS7
SS7
Now that was the car I didn't get on with. Thought the interior and the driving position were very dated, and it drove more like a GT than a sports car - a very 'lazy' feel to the car given it's size and weight. Plus very wide tyres which tramlined and camber-hunted on anything other than smooth tarmac - not a car to hustle down a B-road. It still felt impeccably screwed together though, and the engine was very flexible.
Performance Car magazine would beg to differ (as would I). They gave it 'Car of the Year' in 1993 and plenty of more recent magazine articles suggest a good 968 still keeps its end up. I'm not the only fan either, as suggested by the number you see at track days and the hardening prices of good CS's. With 'only' 240bhp and 1300 or so kg's its not going to be a ball of fire a la AMG Murk, but the pleasure is in the balance...
SS7
shoestring7 said:
havoc said:
shoestring7 said:
Get him to try a 968 Sport. IMO one of the best performance/handling/style/practicality/cost deals on the market right now. Good ones are starting to become more difficult to find but will hold their value well if looked after.
SS7
SS7
Now that was the car I didn't get on with. Thought the interior and the driving position were very dated, and it drove more like a GT than a sports car - a very 'lazy' feel to the car given it's size and weight. Plus very wide tyres which tramlined and camber-hunted on anything other than smooth tarmac - not a car to hustle down a B-road. It still felt impeccably screwed together though, and the engine was very flexible.
Performance Car magazine would beg to differ (as would I). They gave it 'Car of the Year' in 1993 and plenty of more recent magazine articles suggest a good 968 still keeps its end up. I'm not the only fan either, as suggested by the number you see at track days and the hardening prices of good CS's. With 'only' 240bhp and 1300 or so kg's its not going to be a ball of fire a la AMG Murk, but the pleasure is in the balance...
SS7
It was COTY 1993...so it's 13 years old. Times have moved on...
My 'yardstick' when I drove one was my 2000MY Integra (a 1996 design), which felt at least as quick, more responsive to both steering and throttle, better behaved on anything other than smooth tarmac (really felt keyed into any road surface), and despite having itself a mediocre interior, looked more modern all round. Both communicated well, and I can't compare the engines as they're completely different in character. Oh, and servicing and parts were a lot cheaper on the 'teg, and it wasn't THAT badly screwed together itself. Finally, the ITR is lighter, has more space inside and in the boot, and can be picked up for half the price.
I would agree that a 968CS (or even a Sport) would be very good on-track after a diet, and would make a good GT on the continent...both environments where you don't get a poor road surface. But for a UK all-round driver's tool, I think it's overrated, and importantly has reached the point where bills become the major cost consideration in ownership, therefore must be viewed with caution against other £10-15k machines (S2000, VX220, Elise 111S, RS Focus, Impreza, Evo VI, mint RX7, DC5 Integra, good Chimaera or Griff...hell, even an M-Coupe or an E36 M3GT). All of those are 4- or 5-star drivers cars for similar money with comparable or better performance for similar money, and that's just off the top of my head.
I'm not saying it's a bad car - it's not. It's just that, IMHO, there's a lot better out there for the money now, and if it wasn't for the badge they'd be down at £5-10k.
where do they put them all? thats 2 to each wheel, must have some clever gearboxes too... 
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