Land of confusion

[PaulZR]

Just thought I'd share current dilemma with you.

964 has passed 100k (+ a bit). Job swap at work means commuting to Manchester most days and then driving around the area, I reckon about 18k miles a year from now on. Modern cars too depressing for words so I thought, why not can the company car + 964 idea, sell the 964 to avoid spending the next two years running the poor thing into the ground and buy a newer 911.

Budget is £30k and I am now in a total tailspin of indecision. That's not quite enough for a 3.6l 996 so it would have to be a 3.4l. Pub chat says 5% of them explode in a shower of bits so obviously I would end up with one of the 5%. Therefore, need to get some decent backup - either something like Hartech's maintenance plan or an OPC warranty. If I want the latter, I need a car that's not more than 7 years old so I have some prospect of shifting it in 12 months time to a like-minded pessimist who wants the possibility of at least 12 months under the OPC warranty umbrella.

Or do I really try to stretch to a newer 3.6? I love shape of 993s but I'm not sure I could spend 18k miles a year in a cabin like the one on my current car, much as I love it.

Or... do I just go and hide somewhere dark and quiet and hope the problem goes away? Any thoughts?

[BERGS2]

hey paul -

just been through a similar dilemma here - (and I've come from a 964 too - surely a well trodden path!)

I ended up getting a '02 Targa for slightly over your budget
29k miles.

Facelift cars just looked better IMHO

got a 111 point check - slapped on the OPC warranty and now an going to drive with no fear of the 'pub chat' being true.....

I'll let you know how i get on....

Oh and I pick it up tomorrow morning

cant wait!!!

BERGS

[PaulZR]

Cheers - hope you enjoy it, look forward to the update.

Had actually gone to bed but got up again to check how much I could get a decent BMW M3 for... think I am delirious.

[jt71]

I've just bought a 3.4 with 38K on it for £27.5K - had the similar dilemma of spending an extra £5K and getting a 3.6, but decided that a 3.6 with 60K on it after another 20K might lose a lot in depreciation if mileage starts to approach 80K. Going to spend the extra on a sports exhaust... (plus it looks awesome in black with GT3 rear spolier and 18" turbo alloys). Also, worth checking if you're going to buy a 3.4 whether it's had a replacement engine - mine has, and apparently they replaced them with the newer 2001 3.4, so fingers crossed no problems.

[PaulZR]

That sounds like a good solution.

Also have to negotiate the tricky problem of being able to extract the maximum value from mine - probably through private sale - and then securing temporary transport while I'm a) commuting from Leeds to Manc and b) looking for a new one. People have had worse problems I suppose.

[mikep1]

Whats the problem with a 993 ? I do 400+ miles every week in mine and find it a great everyday car (one you get used to the dash maybe), and sticking the mileage on a 993 will cost a lot less in depreciation ?

[james s]

If you love the 964 keep it and buy a big old saloon to share the miles. Get something with a big engine thats fur to drive but costs very little. Something like a jag, BM 5/ 7 series, A8 or similar. Budget of 8k gets you something great - 5k something good.

I love my 911, but the Jag is more enjoyable for the big runs or horrible traffic

[PaulZR]

mikep1 said:

Whats the problem with a 993 ?

Perhaps I am going soft but I'm not sure I could stick the RHD pedal setup and lack of room for 20k miles a year. Need to give one a try I suppose.

jamess said:

If you love the 964 keep it and buy a big old saloon to share the miles

Have thought about something like another XJ or an LS400 but all the insurers seem to want upwards of £2k for these because all my NCB is on the 964 and I had a slight crashing incident in an MX5 a few years ago. Prefer the simplicity of running one car I think.

[mikep1]

I guess ive just got used to the pedal off-set, (although only had it 2 months) and certainly dont find the cabin to small for me (and I'm 6'4" !)..and even with motorsound pack on mine I dont find motorway driving too noisy ...

[PaulZR]

Yep, agree that the cabin space is ok - previous post wasn't clear, was talking about the lack of space in the footwell.

I know that the 964 has a bit of a rep for tyre noise and I certainly notice it on most surfaces, probably should compare it to a 993 (think I am going soft).

[james s]

Different strokes for different folks I guess. In general I find it more striaghtforward running two as I always have a spare. As for insurance you might need a club or classic policy. I'm with NU and by Jag costs about 400 and by having it the 993 comes down to 700 so probably a net saving overall.

[PaulZR]

That's true. Probably need to take a day off to sort throught the options!

[SNDa]

I'm currently thinking through whether to get a mile muncher as most weekends this summer wil be 300+ miles (weddings!) and i don't fancy the hit on the 996. most insurance companies are starting to offer the club approach (I should have already gone the club route as I have 2 other cars - being lazy).

if you're still enjoying the 964, it's probably worth the effort to get the 2nd car and then in time get the next porsche of your choice and not being limited in choice because of the person who'll end up buying it after you!

james s said:

Something like a jag, BM 5/ 7 series, A8 or similar. Budget of 8k gets you something great - 5k something good.

out of interest james, assuming you've bought said motor for c£8k, what sort of problems have you had? I'm put off by intergalactic mileage, so I'm intrigued.

[Fidgits]

its a shame, Wetwipe recently let his (rather nice) 3.6 996 go to a indy for your budget...

If i was you, i wouldnt worry about the hype, get a good car with warranty and dont worry about it

[PaulZR]

SNDa said:

most insurance companies are starting to offer the club approach (I should have already gone the club route as I have 2 other cars - being lazy).

I could be tempted into something super comfy and reliable like an old LS400 for £3k ish for 9 months until next bonus time (fingers crossed) if I could get the combined insurance cost on the right side of ridiculous. RAC wanted an additional £1,500 for an LS400 last time I checked.

[james s]

I bought my jag at 3.5 yrs old for 11k. Cost no more than standard service tyres etc for the first 4 year /70k miles. The last year has cost about £2,000 however, but then its done 165k now. I could have dumpred it a year ago and saved the money,but I prefer to stick with it

Edited by james s on Tuesday 22 May 12:10

[Pickled Piper]

Keep the 964 for a couple of trips per week and weekends and get a German barge for the rest of the time. E39 beemer is highly recommended.

I love my 993 but would find it tiring on long trips.

pp

[c2look]

PaulZR said:

Have thought about something like another XJ or an LS400 but all the insurers seem to want upwards of £2k for these because all my NCB is on the 964

Why not put the 964 on a classic policy and transfer your NCB to the other 'every day' car? Just my 2p worth.

Edited fro speeling

Edited by c2look on Tuesday 22 May 12:08

[thegoose]

Pickled Piper said:

E39 beemer is highly recommended.
pp

They are perhaps not as and big and comfy as the Lexus, but far nicer to drive, particularly the Sport versions. I buy and sell loads of these - let me know if you need any advice on them, or if you want to buy one of mine (although I only have 2 at the moment - people keep buying them!!). They do go on forever if cared for - on Friday I took an old 1993 525tds (E34) in part exchange with 283,000 miles on it still running perfectly - the owner had had it since 60,000 miles/ 3 years old and has only ever had one set of replacement front discs!

[tracer.smart]

jt71 said:

apparently they replaced them with the newer 2001 3.4

Aey, what? Thought the 3.6 came in 2001 and the 3.4 from '98 - '00 didn't change - or am I mistaken?