To sell or not to sell and if sell when? Arghh!

[Supermatt]

I finally bought my first Porsche almost 5 years ago, a 996 Tiptronic(sorry) S I paid around 17k for it and its been awesome, and other than a couple of back-boxes (dodgy airflow mod rotted away) and coil packs, Its caused me zero pain. Its got a really good history and knocking on door of 90k miles. First job was get it to the lovely chaps at Hartech in Bolton for full service and endoscope'ing bit nervy till it came back as all in tip top fettle.

Due to short work distance and nursery pickups, I ended up buying a cheap passat estate, to handle the tip runs and the centre parcs trips!

With having 3 cars (including wife's Civic) The 996 is barely doing 1k per year, it only goes out when I can do a decent few miles, which is a shame(Baby no. 2 is on way so that 1k is only going to dwindle more)

I'm just trying to work out what the hell to do!

A. Sell it: Is the consensus we've reached peak price? It seems that the going rate is £15k upwards which would show a depreciation of about £200 per year! (I cant see any hope of finding something in that price bracket that only shows that) And how would you avoid all the pitfall of private selling with that kind of money?

B. PX that and Passat for something mundane (maybe even Cayenne, but that doesn't help my short distance/breaking cars prob)

C. Do nothing, Keep it, pay the road tax and insurance and tryt to use it more, Wedge car seats in with crowbars

First post.. please go easy sorry if infringed any ToC.. apparently not allowed to post "thinking of selling" threads but then that kind of spoils the idea of getting advice?

I wax/wane between all of them, opinions ideas are all welcome !

[Supermatt]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I guess I have to include a "use it more" clause in the keep it option, its MOT is due in March, so that might impact, i don't know how the 996 hole in life as above is one of my thoughts... Maybe I should join an owners club or something, something taht would encourage me to egt it out..

if it was garaged I'd be keeping it but it lives outside all year round

[Supermatt]

LordHaveMurci said:

I'd dare to suggest that you get shot now as it's almost certainly going to start throwing some bills sooner than later, aircon condensors, rads, coffin arms etc.

Had mine 8.5yrs & it's cost me a lot more than yours each year unless you haven't told us everything?

Nope, Just a good car in first place, within 48 hours of buying I had it up to Hartech to do full gold major on it. Insurance, tax and normal stuff aside:

6 coil packs, two new back boxes, new battery (damn forgot alternator exchange) and it'll prob need some need front discs and pads to avoid an advisory on MOT, (fingers crossed that's all it needs!) That's in it 5 years! Its been bloody brilliant. Outdoor living has took its toll on the headlights though so they need cleaning up and re-coating. that all told makes me think I'm due a decent bill soon

[Supermatt]

2010spy said:

Ha, I didn’t realise it was kept outside. That’s tantamount to negligence, and hence it should find a better home

Negligence?

[Supermatt]

MrC986 said:

Paynewright said:

Chap on the lotus seven club forum selling a 40k mile mint RS4 - I think that would cover all bases!

Ian

I'm not an advocate on the selling option, given I've had 2 996s previously and missed the enjoyment of owning one, which led me to buy another late last year. I'd recommend holding on to it if you can, though the suggestion of an RS4 is a good option if you do sell. A friends former red RS4 V8 saloon was at Phantom in Wigan until very recently (90k miles and FSH with £3k spent on suspension etc. just before he sold it) & that was on at about £15k - it would've covered the occasional family wagon duties, plus being fun to drive on your own without "losing your shirt" value wise. It's a tough decision but once you've sold the 911, unless you fill that gap quickly with another decent toy, the £s will disappear like grains of sand in your hands with another baby on the way

That's what I worry about: how much will I miss it and how fast will the cash or PX drain the money, Cayenne will lose it like it's drunk in vegas
I'm in the fortunate position not the HAVE to sell it but it feels wasteful paying 2x tax, servicing etc.. If it wasn't having to pick 5 year old up from School and soon baby from nursery, I could survive without a car at all(2 mile walk/cycle to work) in which case I'd lose the passat, invest in Mrs's Car more and then the 996 would become weekend/evening/long lunch toy

Sod it I'm off to see if can fit both Maxi Cosi Tobi and Rodi fix in back while still being able to drive

[Supermatt]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Awesome advice Cheers Tinrobot, never thought of working like that, as an office drone the days salary to cover the cost are slightly higher, but the formulas remain!

[Supermatt]

Adam B,

Yes they are real, not original fit tho'

[Supermatt]

Scho said:

In same boat, Selling.

Absolutely no point having something you don't use.

I just worry that I'll have sellers remorse. Unless I can sell at top market, I've always envisioned a 997 in my life at some point, SO if somehow I could engineer selling mine at a really good price, stash the income somewhere and then look at a 997 in 5/6 years time

I Liked TinRobots view that it can make you feel just a bit better when things are crap tho'

and it is so very very cool to look at just some pics... I'm getting the feeling i need to keep it I'm obsessed

[Supermatt]

ooid said:

Forgive my assumption, but if you really love this car, you would have used it all the time imho ? It has 4 seats and most practicality there. So I guess you are checking if the values would go up, which is fine, but I do not think so. They are at this very dangerous age now (996,986 and early 997), one does not know what kind of expensive bill come up soon? And the reality, most parts are extremely expensive on these cars + servicing, and they are not the most reliable cars out here, that's for sure.

If you don't love it, no point to keep it I guess.

To the point I made at the start, I work 2 miles from Home, little ones nursery-School is 1 mile from work, I can't get him to and form school on Foot, so have to use car, start 2 miles stop, start 1 mile stop start 2 miles stop every day will destroy the best of cars (hence the cheap passat). So that leaves me the weekend, generally that's full of washing, ironing etc, Its rare I have the disposable time to "go for a blast" its not for lack of wanting to!

[Supermatt]

LordHaveMurci said:

Mines closer to £2k

I'm really lucky then stick the consumables to one side (fuel, tyres etc)

996
Insurance: £350
Tax: £245
Servicing: Avg/2 yrs £400

Passat
Insurance: £360 (yeah I know WTF? )
Tax £150
Servicing: Avg/2 yrs £200

So the think is is ANY car not the best part of a grand to "own" so being fortunate thus far with no major bills (coils on 996 offset against drop links and CV boot on passat etc)

its a £200 difference, which definitely puts it in the worthwhile category, its just if I can justify having both

[Supermatt]

richthebike said:

Same here, I allow a 2k base. Plus I find they respond so nicely to tweaking that it's easy to double this figure.
Ohlins next, possibly a duck tail and a short shift. And braided lines. And roll bars. Probably finish off the bushes too. Needed? No. Fun, yes. Investment, hell no!

Keep it, enjoy it when you can. If you have to stick a bit of cash in it then accept that you're paying for the fun you've had, and setting up the next five years.

Thanks All, I think I shall have to keep it, the wolf isn't at the door, just yet anyway so I can only see regret, sod it if it blows its engine up or its wishbones rot away its gotta still be worth a few quid...

only think is... I think I'm going to have to get missus a newish CRV though instead of civic, kinda already half promised we could trade my 996 in for her to get one... ooops

[Supermatt]

So I'm Back...

One MOT later, and looking well for the old Porsche, new front brakes, new coolant hose and a new fuse all in for £500. one advisory that rear brakes are getting due.

I've now reached serious nervousness, I'm due a big bill, simply based on the balance of how good this car has been and that luck can't continue! Also I have to get me a car with 7 seats, or at least 3 separate seats in the back... flamin' kids!

On the balance of things I think I've decided its time to go, we want any car £13k, Best PX so far I've been offered against a 20k car was £13.5k So these aren't really palatable. How much would you lovely people suggest I should market it at? I'm struggling to find comparable on trader many convertibles, not so many C2 coupes, and the variance on price in baffling.

any help or guidance appreciated!

[Supermatt]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Ermmm... I don't know what those things are (no change clutch, its a tip so expect that would be eye watering)
'03 Tiptronic S 87k Major Service in May '17, Just had full MOT no issues.
Full service history although last one was about 6 months over as only did about 800 miles
New Coil Packs and new alternator a couple years ago.
Genuine techno sport alloys, 4 brand new Bridgestone S02a tyres

[Supermatt]

It can wait... I'm trawling the trader now to try to find a 7 seat car (thats time constrained to 4 weeks (Road trip hols))

I've got 2 options:
Cheapish 7 seat, c£7k and PX Passatt (£1,200) then sell 996 for halfway decent money later in year
or
Expensive swanky dad mobile ( £16-19k) and Chop Porsche (for depressing value) and Passat in

[Supermatt]

Thanks TinRobot, its a horrible decision. I think you are right on the cheaper people bus, just need it to be reliable.

Its just kinda sad seeing my Porsche sat on drive doing less thank 1k per year, getting its headlights ruined by the sun

I've had in 5 years I just can't help thinking it deserves a better owner, who might even stick it in a garage, or not have to charge the dead battery every time decides to go out in it!

SO think I'll hang on for sunnier climes stick a big price ticket on it and then if someone wants it we can both be happy

[Supermatt]

I'm resurfacing an old post here as two years later and a few thousand miles of fun, it's time for the 996 to find a new home, it's currently having its MOT, if anyone knows anyone who wants one then please let me know, I've got someone coming to look at it next week if I don't sell before

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/14425935...