993 prices...

[greaseApe]

i've started the hunt for my next car, after many years of tinkering with the original saab turbos it's time for a 911 ...though sadly a normally aspirated one to start with!

Initially my budget was upto 15k for a 964 but the more I look around the more I’m thinking a should increase the budget and get a higher mileage 993 as these seem to be available privately for around 18k. For example this one on ebay that failed to meet its reserve finishing around the 17k mark i.e http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

What do the experts think – am I better off with one of these cheaper 993s or a lower mileage 964 for 15ish?

I really appreciate your thoughts – it’s a tricky car to buy as it’s hard to be objective when you really want one!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Edited by greaseApe on Monday 15th January 18:00

[rlw]

Don't get fixated on a particular model - I think everyone will say that you must buy on condition. Decide on your price and look for the best car at that level whether its a 964 or a 993, or even a 3.2. £15K is cheap for a 993 and towards the top end of the 964 range. At that kind of price you ought to be able to pick up a very nice 964 and maybe even keep some cash in hand as a contingency for essential work. Spend your time looking around and when you have got a feel for the market and the cars, spend a few quid on a PPI.

[Diesel130]

Having spent a while searching for 993 and/or 996, I'd be surprised if you can get a decent 993 for 15K unless its LHD. High mileage ones seem to be advertised for around 19 - 20K. May obviously sell for a bit less than that of course.

[softinthehead]

one of the nice things about the 964 is that prices have at least stabilised...sort of. in other words there is probably more of a consensus on what constitutes a fair price.

993 are going through a silly phase, unfortunately. hence the 993 advertised on the OPC network - a nice silver targa for.........£36,995.

[verysideways]

rlw said:

Don't get fixated on a particular model - I think everyone will say that you must buy on condition. Decide on your price and look for the best car at that level whether its a 964 or a 993, or even a 3.2.

Agreed.

As for sily prices, this is only really true at the top end of the market. There are still top notch '93 model 964's in the low 20's as well as an abundance of 993 2S and 4S models in the mid 30's, but you can get an honest RHD 993 C2 for the high teens without too much trouble.

[greaseApe]

That’s just what I wanted to hear – I was worried that I’d only be buying trouble getting one of the ‘cheap’ 993s – mostly put off them by the amazing spread of silly prices…I couldn’t see what I was missing, but then you never know what they actually sell for! My budget has been extended and my search broadened – thanks for the advice!

[david hype]

greaseApe said:

That’s just what I wanted to hear – I was worried that I’d only be buying trouble getting one of the ‘cheap’ 993s – mostly put off them by the amazing spread of silly prices…I couldn’t see what I was missing, but then you never know what they actually sell for! My budget has been extended and my search broadened – thanks for the advice!

With both Henry and Paragon asking for 993`s through websites and the Porsche press. I can only assume that those honest 993`s priced in the high teens are the really honest ones!

I guess that many of the better examples are in the low twenties, so be careful, as buying on condition is a vague instruction for you...

A 993 should have quality paintwork from the factory, so they should all polish up well. Assuming no dings and allowing for the fact they dont usually rust...This is the visual condition and its a seductive danger as most 993`s look great!

The mechanical condition is a whole different area. If you dont know exactly what you are looking at and for, get some serious professional help.

To keep the cost down do your research, do the reading, get familiar with all of the variants and options. Having decided what you want, hunt down the very best example for the money available. then get an inspection.

Happy hunting...

[greaseApe]

david hype said:

...This is the visual condition and its a seductive danger as most 993`s look great!

The mechanical condition is a whole different area. If you dont know exactly what you are looking at and for...

This is what's delaying me ...they all 'look' great! I've downloaded multiple buyers guides - but i have't found much written from a technical perspective - it's mostly model history and details of the various derivatives ...i'll keep browsing through the archives of this forum!

Cheers

[AJAX50]

You've really got to drive some. It may annoy some dealers/sellers when you don't buy, but you will start to recognise how a good car drives. Identifying what is wrong with bad ones is more difficult so don't take a risk and walk away.

[david hype]

greaseApe said:

david hype said:

...This is the visual condition and its a seductive danger as most 993`s look great!

The mechanical condition is a whole different area. If you dont know exactly what you are looking at and for...

This is what's delaying me ...they all 'look' great! I've downloaded multiple buyers guides - but i have't found much written from a technical perspective - it's mostly model history and details of the various derivatives ...i'll keep browsing through the archives of this forum!

Cheers

Spend some time deciding what you are looking for.

I think you will find that all wide bodied cars, Targas and Cabriolets are well over your budget. So your choice will probably come back to a decision between 2 and 4 wheel drive, in RHD or LHD form.

There was a basic buyers guide in 911 & PW November 2006 issue and IIRC a slightly more detailled one in the January 2004 issue. You can probably get copies via thier website.

www.chpltd.com

When you know exactly what you want, then its time to hunt a good one down and try one. Otherwise, you will waste sellers/dealers time being too vague.

Hope this helps...

[Lurking Lawyer]

david hype said:

There was a basic buyers guide in 911 & PW November 2006 issue

I've got a copy if all else fails. No problem to scan it and e-mail it to you or post you a hard copy. It doesn't really say anything you can't find in a trawl of 993 threads on here and Peter Morgan's book though.

(I bought my copy of it on the way to collect my own recent acquisiton, a '97 993 Targa, back in November )

I'd echo David's comments certainly in relation to Targa prices - they seem to be in the £24-27K bracket for a decent one with 60-80K miles, more if they're lower miles. I got mine just within my £25K budget, which I thought wasn't a bad price but certainly no bargain. Mind you, I wanted a manual and non-Tip Targas seem to be rarer than hens' teeth!

I tracked Coupe and Targa prices for 6 months or so before I bought and they didn't seem to move much in that time. The cheapest straight Coupes, typically with high 90K miles or into six figures, seemed to be up at £18-20K on private sales. How much you can haggle that down by depends on how desperate the seller is to move it in a slow market, I guess!

Good luck with the hunt