What Porsche should I buy? - advise plz.

[urraco]

Time to trade in my CL500. Great car. I had been minded to get a CL55 AMG, but now that the time has come, I just fancy a change of style.

I diddled with the idea of a 550, but I've ruled it out on practicality grounds, and manual doesn't work for me as a daily driver.

The DB7 is too small and too Jaguar, the V8 Coupe is too old, and I won't stretch to a DB9.

The Maser is just plain silly, Bentley too expensive, BMW too boring.

I'd never thought of buying a Porsche until recently, but I hired a Boxster for a week in Germany last month and was super impressed - a tremendous little sports car and a fabulous package at the price.

I wouldn't buy a Boxster though (I'm too old, too fat and too fussy about interiors) - I'm thinking 911. Trouble is, I know nothing about them at all, so some advise would be very much appreciated.

The 997 seems to carry a fairly hefty price premium over the 996 - first question is whether the extra cost is justified?

Next issue is whether to go for a Carrera 2 or a 4? And should I buy an 'S' or a standard car?

This is to be a daily driver mind, so practicality, space, storage, running costs and depreciation are much bigger issues for me than out-and-out performance (I've got Lambos for the weekend).

Budget is 40k, a touch more if it really gets me into a better model.

All advice very gratefully received

Thanks

David S

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:34

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:35

[jonny996]

FOR £40K IT HAS TO BE A FACELIFT 996 C2 ( more space than C4). if it is a daily driver and you do have toys for the weekend then I would go for the tip box as well.

So all you have to decide is it a coupe, targa ( very big glass sunroof) or cab to go for, all about the same price. Stay away from OPC or you will lose £10k in a day.

[steve.B]

C4S by far the best looking porsche for that sort of money IMO

[urraco]

thanx jonny

2 questions:

1) what is OPC?
2) when did the facelift 996 come in, and what are the benefits?

many thx


ds

[urraco]

jonny

just worked out what OPC is - Official Porsche Centre, I guess (not Ordinary Portland Cement !)

ds

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 20:46

[flattotheboards]

if you can get a 997 then go for the S which has 350bhp compared to the 321bhp of the carrera it also has other options that arent on the carrera such as pasm. if your going for a 997 then go the c2s. if you cant stretch to a 997 then the 996 c4s is the model to go for if you cant afford a turbo as it has the turbo bodykit (which looks better than the standard 996) and the brakes.

[mikeo996]

urraco said:

thanx jonny

2 questions:

1) what is OPC?
2) when did the facelift 996 come in, and what are the benefits?

many thx


ds

Some more horsepower and torque (3.6, rather than 3.4 litre, but mainly offset by extra weight) stability management, computer, better build quality, and different headlights (universally thought to be better looking, not least because they differentiate the 911 front view from the boxster). Generally the facelift is seen as a better buy as the early 996s are dogged (unfairly) by a reputation for unreliablility in the engine dept, that was largely fixed by the facelift.

Came in sometime in 2001. If you're in any doubt whether it's a facelift when looking at adverts the headlights will tell you immediately

Edited by mikeo996 on Friday 8th June 22:28

Edited by mikeo996 on Friday 8th June 22:29

[F.C.]

I wouldn't buy a Boxster though (I'm too old, too fat and too fussy about interiors) - I'm thinking 911. Trouble is, I know nothing about them at all, so some advise would be very much appreciated.


All advice very gratefully received

Thanks

David S

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:34

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:35

[/quote]

Interior of boxster versus 911?? almost identical.
Get a two wheel drive S model if poss.
I owned a 996 Turbo from new and it was a lovely car but completely un-involving to drive.....I'd almost rather watch paint dry.
F.C.

[jonny996]

F.C. said:

I wouldn't buy a Boxster though (I'm too old, too fat and too fussy about interiors) - I'm thinking 911. Trouble is, I know nothing about them at all, so some advise would be very much appreciated.


All advice very gratefully received

Thanks

David S

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:34

Edited by urraco on Friday 8th June 18:35

Interior of boxster versus 911?? almost identical.
Get a two wheel drive S model if poss.
I owned a 996 Turbo from new and it was a lovely car but completely un-involving to drive.....I'd almost rather watch paint dry.
F.C.

google hartech and read there buyers guide, very very worth while.