Used 997s - How low do they go and what's selling?
Discussion
I'm currently on the lookout for a 997 at the lower end of the market and I'm surprised at how little success I'm having getting any response from sellers, despite being a cash buyer. I will admit to looking at the very lowest end of the market, populated with base spec, high mileage 3.6 tiptronics, although I may save a bit longer for something 'better'.
Set aside today for firming up my choice and chose to ring up four sellers. None answered the phone and no one's rung back when I left my details.
I also sent five email/website contact form messages asking what I thought were sensible questions on basic information not included in ads, not even discussing price. I understand sellers often prefer a call, but a friendly email enquiry must surely be welcome?
I'm also happy to compromise on spec, but what's this end of the 911 market like at the moment? All the forums say don't touch this segment with a bargepole so you'd think sellers would be keen to engage with a genuine buyer!
Set aside today for firming up my choice and chose to ring up four sellers. None answered the phone and no one's rung back when I left my details.
I also sent five email/website contact form messages asking what I thought were sensible questions on basic information not included in ads, not even discussing price. I understand sellers often prefer a call, but a friendly email enquiry must surely be welcome?
I'm also happy to compromise on spec, but what's this end of the 911 market like at the moment? All the forums say don't touch this segment with a bargepole so you'd think sellers would be keen to engage with a genuine buyer!
g7jhp said:
They were probably watching the rugby.
Yep, some things are more important than cars!To be fair, just got a call from one of the salesmen at one of the dealers contacted. I put my preferred offer to him and he's going to speak to boss man on Monday. The car in question has done 147,000 miles so you'd hope they'd be keen to deal :-)
POORCARDEALER said:
Bottom priced cars will be that for a reason....usually high miles, patchy history, cosmetically poor, VCAR register.
Put some context into your question.....how much are you wanting to spend?
I'm looking at 997s around £20k and less, holding some funds back for proper servicing and the inevitable big bills once every now and then.Put some context into your question.....how much are you wanting to spend?
I have a car to p/ex but am happy doing a WBAC to give me some cash leverage and to include private sellers.
One car that was in the running has got now a deposit on it from another punter, but I wasn't going to rush in before getting details of the build spec and history. It turns out the dealer lied about the sports exhaust ("it's got flaps in it" turned out to be chrome tips only) and the "sheaf of paperwork" was just three invoices. There was no detail on the "minor blemishes" which turned out to be worrying rust and significant loss of lacquer.
A private seller wouldn't respond with details of a Cat C 997 - maybe they too have punters beating a path to their door?
Another dealer didn't respond to my request to disclose the VRM as the automated HPI check didn't link through unless I put in the VRM manually.
I'm in no rush and prices will only soften as the weather gets worse!
Thanks for the responses, all great insights.
I am happy to compromise, hence accepting I might be up against a load of 3.6 tiptronics with big miles and few options at this end of the market, but it's clear there are some manuals and a few 3.8s around at this level too.
What I find hard to rationalise is whether the manual box is the one thing I should hold out for. Are there any tiptronic drivers that enjoy spirited driving on twisty roads with the box in manual mode, that might like to comment?
The higher tax is a useful bargaining factor. Again, I'm happy to play the "nobody wants these" line in negotiations.
It will be a daily driver not a garage queen.
I am happy to compromise, hence accepting I might be up against a load of 3.6 tiptronics with big miles and few options at this end of the market, but it's clear there are some manuals and a few 3.8s around at this level too.
What I find hard to rationalise is whether the manual box is the one thing I should hold out for. Are there any tiptronic drivers that enjoy spirited driving on twisty roads with the box in manual mode, that might like to comment?
The higher tax is a useful bargaining factor. Again, I'm happy to play the "nobody wants these" line in negotiations.
It will be a daily driver not a garage queen.
Some good insights into the whole 'auto box in a driver's car' thing.
My only experience of a Porsche auto was in a 2.7 Boxster, which I hired car when my TVR was being serviced. I was looking forward to some spirited driving around the Borders and was disappointed when I discovered it was an auto. In that car it seem to blunt performance and force you to work hard to maintain a decent pace.
However, the famed Boxster steering feel was very much evident and made up for the lack of shove and the pleasures of a well-executed gear change. You learn to manage the 'flow' in a different way that's less engaging but still enjoyable.
I'll have a drive of both manual and tiptronic 997s at the weekend, but I'm definitely leaning towards a manual.
My only experience of a Porsche auto was in a 2.7 Boxster, which I hired car when my TVR was being serviced. I was looking forward to some spirited driving around the Borders and was disappointed when I discovered it was an auto. In that car it seem to blunt performance and force you to work hard to maintain a decent pace.
However, the famed Boxster steering feel was very much evident and made up for the lack of shove and the pleasures of a well-executed gear change. You learn to manage the 'flow' in a different way that's less engaging but still enjoyable.
I'll have a drive of both manual and tiptronic 997s at the weekend, but I'm definitely leaning towards a manual.
Bullet-Proof_Biscuit - that sounds just the sort of British Bulldog tale of derring do that I like!
It's that acceptance that if you want cheap you sometimes have to be prepared to do stuff yourself.
I've sold my old car now and have the funds! Going to look at one next weekend after having it inspected, which includes borescoping.
Will report back :-)
It's that acceptance that if you want cheap you sometimes have to be prepared to do stuff yourself.
I've sold my old car now and have the funds! Going to look at one next weekend after having it inspected, which includes borescoping.
Will report back :-)
The return journey in my first 911 is probably worthy of a thread on its own, with an epic 600 mile journey, a very near miss with a deer (near John O' Groats of all places!) black ice and mad gritter lorries (pity my paintwork now). And this after a full day at the NEC Bike Show!
The private sale was a very positive experience and the car has a very decent service history file. It even came with a full tank of fuel.
I'll no doubt be hanging around the forums a lot, to get 'the knowledge', but my first 911 drive was certainly memorable and a driving experience on another level altogether.
The private sale was a very positive experience and the car has a very decent service history file. It even came with a full tank of fuel.
I'll no doubt be hanging around the forums a lot, to get 'the knowledge', but my first 911 drive was certainly memorable and a driving experience on another level altogether.
Mariosbt said:
Glad to see you got your 911. What mileage has it done and is it manual?
Thanks. It's a manual with 85k miles. Looking through the service history, it's amazing just how many items have already been replaced. I have a contingency fund for big bills, but plan to do a lot of preventative work. The push to buy it came from realising I'd spent £4000 on repairs to my Renault Trafic van over the past two years, as well as having to replace the engine on a newish Hyundai - both are now sold. If I'm going to be spending that kind of money I might as well have something I really enjoy!
Mariosbt said:
I own a 2007 997.1 3.6 TiptronicS. I absolutely love driving the car and do not see what all the negative comments about tiptronic are about. I understand PDK is much better but don’t be put off by Tip.
I'd just sold an automatic car to free up funds for the 911 - a Jeep Renegade (aka Fiat 500X) with the recent 9-speed transmission. I found it unacceptably jerky for a modern 'box and that and the poor ride were some of the reasons for selling it. Typically, the run down to the place where I sold it, with lovely clear, twisty roads was an absolute blast and I really enjoyed my last drive in it!My 997 has a short shifter, and I do enjoy the physicality of changing gear and 'getting it right'.
golfer19 said:
I took the plunge and bought a 997 Gen 1 last week.
My first 911 and loving it so far including the 600 mile drive to bring it home.
67k with a Harlech rebuild at 54k.
Great service history with all invoices for all work done.
Great stuff! I had a mega drive to bring my 911 home and it really helped to reveal a 911's magic. Everything it does feels purposeful and tactile.My first 911 and loving it so far including the 600 mile drive to bring it home.
67k with a Harlech rebuild at 54k.
Great service history with all invoices for all work done.
The Hartech work will give real peace of mind and allow you to keep on top of the the other stuff that 911s need. My 911 spent some time in Spain and I have lots of invoices from OPCs that I managed to fathom using Google Translate's OCR feature - very handy.
I'm already planning a few short trips away, including a North Coast 500 over the coming week.
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