C4S's - some questions

[david968s]

Having been Porsche-less for nigh-on two years, the itch is becoming beyond unbearable. It is time I got a 911, that much is clear. I've always liked the wide body cars so it looks like a C4S - but of what vintage? Over here in Houston a 993 or a 996 C4S can be had for pretty much the same price. I love the look of 993's but the 996 is that bit more modern and it will be a daily driver, albeit on a short commute. I also plan to bring the car back to the UK with me in a couple of years time - part of a half arsed plan to beat the ever more sickening exchange rate. So which one is going to hold its value best in the UK over the next 3-4 years? Mine will obviously be LHD - I am reckoning on a price difference of about 20% less than a RHD equivalent in the UK - is that about right?

I wandered into the local OPC this afternoon for a chat and although they currently had no 996C4S's in, he did offer me a 996 TT for just a few thousand dollars more (and a bit more than my budget, which is being laughably stretched anyway). I shied away because of the running costs - but it does make me wonder, are C4S running costs more like a standard C4 or a Turbo? The 996 version is clearly going to be a bit cheaper to run than the 993.

Any thoughts and views on these cars from owners would be welcome!

Cheers!

[LeoSayer]

Why would anyone buy a US spec 996 or 993 when there are so many in RHD and LHD already over here? It would have to be at a significant discount to make it attractive. If this was a money spinner then people would already be doing it.

Good luck anyway!

[Raven Flyer]

Sell it in the US when you come back. The cost of shipping and the hassle of importing a car won't be worth it and I think your discount of 20% is not enough.

Bringing it over and selling it on mainland Europe may be a proposition but as said above, there are plenty of RHD cars available in the UK and the price would need to be very special to make a LHD attractive.

I would not expect a huge difference in running costs between a TT and C4S.

[Crimp a Length]

Get a Euro spec 993 C4S, the money you save in depreciation outways running costs save by opting for a 996, hence them being around the same value now.

[david968s]

Shipping home would be free for me, and it really isn't much hassle importing a car. Fair point about US spec not being too popular. Of course it would be worth significantly less than a RHD or even Euro spec in the UK - I am quite aware of that. I reckoned 20% less, but that may be not be enough, you could be right. I did say it was a half arsed plan!

A bit disappointed that running costs may be close to a TT - thanks for your opinions guys - helping me to see sense!

[audi321]

Don't recon the running costs will be anything like a TT, afterall the C4S is a standard C4 engine, ok the brakes/etc are uprated to the same as a TT but the servicing/mpg/etc should be vitually the same as a normal C4 (IMO)