GlengarryGR

A few of you may know me as the guy who once wrote relentlessly about continued 993 appreciation. I recently sold my ’95 Carrera 4 (Polar Silver 6-Speed Coupe black interior 18” TT new Michelins) with 150k miles and new paint for $33k. The reason I used eBay on a 10-day sale with a reserve of $32k was to foster a fast sale to fund the acquisition of a 997.2. I had a hunch I could get $36k for the 993 C4 if I just set a “buy it now” price of $36k and waited about a year until someone really wanted it. After all, many Porsche guys are not afraid of higher mile 993s…self included. But I was hot for the 997.2. I wanted a 997.2 like California wants rain. THE PUNCHLINE: I called the buyer 30 days after the sale and asked how the car was running for him. He said he loved it - was a great buy - and he had it sold for $40k. And I believe him. He was a straight arrow. Just wanted to share the story as evidence of the continued value the market is placing on the 993. I should add too that my original sale ad documented impressive leak-down test results...the car was mechanically sound & pretty despite the 150k miles.


Seems my lust for a 997.2 resulted in leaving $7k on the table. I’m glad I had two 993s. "Sometimes you see something and you just have to have it. Even if it’s a car you’ve never seen in person before, was never available in the country you live in, you don’t know anyone who has one and the one you find is thousands of miles away. Your lust for it rationalizes everything irrational about the process - Teej

UPDATE MAY 27 2015
Spoke with buyer (really great guy; encouraged him to join this forum) and he said he decided to turn down the $40k offer because he loved the car and after an extensive search he could not replace what he had for $40k....a mechanically sound 993 with renewed leather seats, new tires, 18" TTs, and new polar silver paint in 6-speed. I really think the car I sold for $33,300 w/ 150k miles was worth $35k...but we all know any asset is worth whatever someone is willing to pay..but on average...$35k was the appropriate number. Bottom line? That car will be worth at least that in 5 and 10 years from now. Talk about low cost of vehicle ownership!

pirahna

I thought you were saving them for your kids?

simpsoap

How about a picture of those garage doors, those look awesome!

-Andy

ilko

I think you just underpriced your car to begin with. You won't find a 993 for sale in the low 30s these days unless there's something seriously wrong with the car.

Pags993

^ agreed, new owner saw an opp to make some fast cash and did so. I have always sold my previous used sports cars with a firm price. Did it limit the pool of buyers? Yup but I was never in a hurry and I always got my price.

Dr. Ferdinand

+2, more of a case of underpricing than monthly appreciation, sounds like it was a great deal given the description and recent paintwork. Glad you have another 993 to enjoy.

NYC993

Every car traded-in at a dealer appreciates in a month by this logic.

NoRush993/951

So now that you have the 997.2 - do you like it more, less, or the same as a 993? Since you are a 993 guy, your view holds merit. Please share when you're ready. Thanks.

GlengarryGR

The 30 day appreciation was a joke guys. Clearly, I screwed up and underpriced it. Let's do the autopsy so others might not make the same missteps I did:

Why'd I sell w/$32k reserve? Searching thru prices paid here put the car at around $30k with that many miles. I saw no samples with that many miles fetching high $37-$40k. I had 24 bids and almost 3,000 views and I felt it got a good look. eBay completed/sold listings showed a similar sample with 136k mi sold for $35k. Anyway: Mistakes: I should have listed it on Autotrader too, as well as this site. I posted this response so others can learn from my mistake. But I ain't mad. I purchased it for $22,400. I did put a lot into it - so in the end I had a 993 for two years and made a few grand. But I'm still a dumb-***.

Simpsoap
I made those garage doors myself out of Western Red Cedar. I'll post a pic.

NoRush
The 997.2 must be pdk (so wife can drive too) w/PCCB Adaptive Sport Seats and black. I had one in the crosshairs but it was sold as I was making plans to go see it. I'm still hunting for what I want.

Pirahna
Excellent memory! I had designs on giving one each to my two sons, but in reality, it will be 17 years before they get their license and who knows what they might want later.

Pags993
Yep - the faster one goes with anything the more mistakes one makes. In future: Patience!

A bit of sellers remorse here. it was an asset. Thanks for reading my post.

uberlawyer

In Europe, a similar car sells for EUR 40,000-50,000, which translates to approximately USD 45,000-55,000.

I paid for my C4S EUR 70,000 in January 2015 and now it would be worth at least EUR 90,000 (approximately USD 100,000) - without the upgrades that I've made to it.

Just check mobile.de (you can choose English as language).

LE: I just recalled that another car that I was interested in (which has not been sold and is still available on mobile.de) has had a price increase of EUR 14,500 (approximately USD 16,000) in the same period.

MJBird993

A couple of years ago, I looked at a local 993 coupe for sale here. It had around 100K miles, the paint was average with expected dings and such, worn seat, airbag light and a lightweight flywheel that I really didn't care for. The seller was asking 27, which I thought was fair, but I figured that I'd be spending a grand or two fixing the airbag, another two K having the flywheel replaced and the seat recovered, so I offered him 23, which he didn't take. And so I bought a 997.2 (manual) which turned out to be a mistake.

Hindsight, I could have bought the 993 and fixed it and sold it today for more money, apparently. Also in hindsight, I should not have bought the 997.2 and instead bought APPL so that I could buy a TT today.

What was the signature that someone had? "I want to live in theory. Everything always works in theory." We can't live our lives regretting our mistakes.

Anyway, thanks to the OP for the cautionary tale, and I want to see those garage doors too!

Oh, FWIW, I just traded in my 991. The dealer now has it priced $13,500 more than what they gave me for it. They didn't need to do anything to it other than slap a CPO on it. But hey, that's how they stay in business...

Paolo1

Another +1 for the garage doors. Do they open in the middle or up and over? Great game of thrones aesthetic without being garish.

CHJ

Nice job on the doors.

You might consider a 991, it's nice and probably the last of the NA cars. PDK is smoother also.

Chuck

eeterp

Are you in MD or GA?

GlengarryGR

Are you saying the mistake was due to the fact that a 997.2 purchased a few years ago lost about $15k in market value? That's the car I want.