Lotus & Range Rover on way out to join the world of Porsche

[gazza_newman]

Looks like I will be moving permanently to Amsterdam in the next couple of months so I am reviewing the car situation.

Parking is really hard in Amsterdam and the houses I am looking at only have space for one car.

Currently I have a 10 year old Range Rover 4.0 SE and a Lotus Type 25 (number 44 of 50)

I am thinking that neither of these are very practical for having in the centre of Amsterdam (lots of crap cobble streets and bridges) so I am considering copping in both (hoping to get about £20k) and adding a few quid and spending about £25k on a 996.

Thoughts and advice greatly appreciated….I am getting no work done as I keep thinking about this dilemma

Is a 996 a good car, or am I better of spending £25k on an older 993

[domster]

In the nuttiest of nutshells, a 993 has more character and old school Porsche build quality. But it is older in feel and features, and may have more age-related ailments. It's horses for courses... classic class or modern magnificence? They are very different in character. You need to try both.

[gazza_newman]

Thanks domster,

Natrual inclanation is towards the 996.

There are 5 or so for sale on here at around the £25K mark, and I likely to get a plum for that or are there good examples around in the range.

it would also be really aprecated if someone colud give me a list of things to look out for.

Thanks

[domster]

Search this forum for '996 problems'... it will reveal niggly things but also the fabled 'RMS' oil leak problem. Generally, 996s (except GT3s etc., with engines based on older Porsches) have slightly more fragile demeanours, but that is not to blow it out of all proportion. Many will have been fixed and the bill isn't huge, just not particularly palatable if totally out of the blue. You can get warranties from Porsche, but why bother when 996 engines are fairly plentiful (maybe allow 3.5k for a replacement) and gearboxes are second hand for a couple of k. Remember there are lots in dismantlers as it was a high volume car.

It's a lot of car for the money these days.

[fittster]

gazz newman said:

Currently I have a 10 year old Range Rover 4.0 SE and a Lotus Type 25 (number 44 of 50)

When you say Lotus Type 25 are you referring to the Elise limited edition or the old F1 car ?

[khushy]

If I was you - I would buy one that has been well maintained from GERMANY - they are nuts about their cars - www.mobile.de always have 100's to choose from!

Khushy