I’ve just bought the cheapest 911 in the UK!
Discussion
Hi All,
This is my first post so bear with me. ??
I decided to prove to a friend that I could buy the absolute cheapest 911 in the UK and run it for a year without breaking the bank. So I did a search on Autotrader (criteria was manual, C2, coupe with an MOT). Picked the first one and bought it without driving it and had it delivered to me. I even Amazon Primed a camera and filmed my first drive and just stuck it on YouTube (sorry, terrible video!).
So I am now the proud owner of a 1998 996 for the princely sum of, der der derrr...£6550!
So after a year I’ll either be saying don’t do it or...everyone go and buy a 911 now!!
Admittedly, I broke all the rules of car buying so I wouldn’t recommend that.
Anyway, enough of an introduction, I’ll be looking for lots of help I’m sure so I’m hoping I’ll be able to call upon your expertise and experience.
Wish me luck!
Also posted on 911uk forum.
Moderator edit: no YouTube links please.
This is my first post so bear with me. ??
I decided to prove to a friend that I could buy the absolute cheapest 911 in the UK and run it for a year without breaking the bank. So I did a search on Autotrader (criteria was manual, C2, coupe with an MOT). Picked the first one and bought it without driving it and had it delivered to me. I even Amazon Primed a camera and filmed my first drive and just stuck it on YouTube (sorry, terrible video!).
So I am now the proud owner of a 1998 996 for the princely sum of, der der derrr...£6550!
So after a year I’ll either be saying don’t do it or...everyone go and buy a 911 now!!
Admittedly, I broke all the rules of car buying so I wouldn’t recommend that.
Anyway, enough of an introduction, I’ll be looking for lots of help I’m sure so I’m hoping I’ll be able to call upon your expertise and experience.
Wish me luck!
Also posted on 911uk forum.
Moderator edit: no YouTube links please.
Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 23 May 12:55
selym said:
Yeah, fancy coming with me when I buy my next car?!
Ha! It had been advertised for a while and it was a 4 hour train journey away. I was very honest with the seller (who was lovely) and said I’m not sure (it also broke down 10 metres into my test drive but more on that in the next video). I made the offer but kept saying “it might be worth asking price to someone else”. It’s the only one I went to see so I had no idea reallyI made the offer a couple of days after seeing it and on the proviso that I’d drive it but then I couldn’t be bothered with the 4 hour train journey again 😳.
My first reaction when the offer was accepted was “this s
t just got real!”...in my best Martin Lawrence voice from Bad Boys 🤓
My first reaction when the offer was accepted was “this s
t just got real!”...in my best Martin Lawrence voice from Bad Boys 🤓
Cloudy147 said:
Good luck with the purchase!
I remember a few years ago a mate of mine had one and when he'd had enough he took it to WBAC and flogged it for £3k! It was fairly decent too.
Got any pictures to share of yours? Find a good specialist and I'm sure you'll be fine.
3k?? Was it a 996? I remember a few years ago a mate of mine had one and when he'd had enough he took it to WBAC and flogged it for £3k! It was fairly decent too.
Got any pictures to share of yours? Find a good specialist and I'm sure you'll be fine.
SnowStar said:
Is your intention to run it for a year for as little as possible?
If not, there are much nicer wheels!
Yep, absolute budget...like a proper consumer test, cheap second hand hatchback or cheap old Porsche. Seriously, I hold my breath when I start it up...but I should stop red lining it, if only it wasn’t so terrifyingly thrilling!!If not, there are much nicer wheels!
toastyhamster said:
6k :-o
Watching with interest, plus subscribed. I'm in the market, I might have to revise my options if this works out!
Good luck!
Thanks dude! Hoping it’s a success and I just keep it, it’s never going to be one of those “appreciating classics” but for everyday enjoyment it’s gotta be a no brainer...or that’ll be the famous last words!Watching with interest, plus subscribed. I'm in the market, I might have to revise my options if this works out!
Good luck!
Rewe said:
Sorry to hear that bud, I hope it all works itself out and you get back to your bubbly best soon. Apologies for adding to it.
Back on topic, the reason I really like this post because it reminds me of when I did similar with a V6 Alfa GTV. I couldn’t really afford any of the ruinously expensive jobs which could strike at any time, but felt it was a risk worth taking for a year. I still had the occasional dread fear in the wee small hours if I had spent too long on the forum that night!
I kept it for over eight years in the end and, amazingly, it was very reliable and turned out to be broadly cost neutral. Result!
That’s exactly what I’m hoping for, get the enjoyment of driving it for a year and try not to get hung up on every little job. Back on topic, the reason I really like this post because it reminds me of when I did similar with a V6 Alfa GTV. I couldn’t really afford any of the ruinously expensive jobs which could strike at any time, but felt it was a risk worth taking for a year. I still had the occasional dread fear in the wee small hours if I had spent too long on the forum that night!
I kept it for over eight years in the end and, amazingly, it was very reliable and turned out to be broadly cost neutral. Result!
Engelberger said:
Away from the cringe - back to the car.
Like the new video. Incredible that a belt and a crushed pipe was the problem on the AC. What sort of idiot had it before?
Just as a tip to transform it - replace the engine mounts. Cheap to do and makes a load of difference.
A cheap mic would do wonders on the videos. Think I paid about £15 for one.
Keep us updated.
Thanks dude. The camera I’m using is one of those cheap Chinese ones, can’t justify the spend on a GoPro just now. The mic connection is an odd one so need to research which ones work well. Like the new video. Incredible that a belt and a crushed pipe was the problem on the AC. What sort of idiot had it before?
Just as a tip to transform it - replace the engine mounts. Cheap to do and makes a load of difference.
A cheap mic would do wonders on the videos. Think I paid about £15 for one.
Keep us updated.
Engine mounts were mentioned by someone else as well so I might get it checked out by a specialist and see what’s what...makes me very nervous!
Mikebentley said:
Great idea OP, I admire your grit for having a go at this. It is a much pondered itch I need to scratch as we are all a long time dead. I’m now off to phone a friend who also has too many cars to see if he wants to carry out a “joint adoption” at say 50/50. This way we could mitigate some of the potentially ruinous shocks and would make it an easier sell to my other half.
I did something similar twenty years ago with a 16ft Fletcher speedboat with an inboard V8. My pal and I live in landlocked Worcestershire...where are you now “Foo Kin Kwik”.
The 50/50 split is a great idea but I’m glad it’s just mine as I’ve become addicted to “giving it the beans” and there’s every chance it might choose to kill itself I did something similar twenty years ago with a 16ft Fletcher speedboat with an inboard V8. My pal and I live in landlocked Worcestershire...where are you now “Foo Kin Kwik”.
Hi All,
Just uploaded a new video to YouTube. I think I’m getting worse at droning on because the videos are getting longer when I mean for them to be shorter.
I go into the cost breakdown to date about half way through. My editing is getting lazier so apologies for the lack of context on some parts and I still haven’t sorted out a better camera or mic.
Just posted same comment to 911uk forum too
Just uploaded a new video to YouTube. I think I’m getting worse at droning on because the videos are getting longer when I mean for them to be shorter.
I go into the cost breakdown to date about half way through. My editing is getting lazier so apologies for the lack of context on some parts and I still haven’t sorted out a better camera or mic.
Just posted same comment to 911uk forum too
This is just the kind of debate I was hoping for.
Of course things like servicing costs and practicality are a factor but driving enjoyment should be a major factor too and I don’t think it’s comes as an option on many cars...or any. Tick that box and suddenly your list of cars to choose from reduces dramatically
Of course things like servicing costs and practicality are a factor but driving enjoyment should be a major factor too and I don’t think it’s comes as an option on many cars...or any. Tick that box and suddenly your list of cars to choose from reduces dramatically
Fast Bug said:
The 996 really is a great car to drive, they can be hustled down a country lane at an alarming rate with ease.
You do need to sort out those exhaust tips though, it looks like you've got pea shooters out the back
Ha! I do need to sort those but the correct ones are expensive so I’m going to leave them for now. You do need to sort out those exhaust tips though, it looks like you've got pea shooters out the back
Much more devastating is the lack of light in the passenger side sun visor!!!
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