First post: Advice on my first purchase please
02-10-2007, 03:30 PM
#16
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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Pull the trigger on a nice SC or Carrera and get on with it.
I chose an SC to go back to "old fashioned", rowdy, raw, seat of the pants, visceral kind of stuff. A 996, while much faster and quicker (and heavier) than an SC or Carrera, is too much more technologically sophisticated and comfortable to allow that kind of stuff to impinge on the driver.
02-11-2007, 07:15 PM
#21
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I agree read Petes book. I am still on the hunt for the "one."
Still not sure what I want but I know a 99 996 would be at the bottom of my list due to all of the engine failures I have read about for that year.
Still not sure what I want but I know a 99 996 would be at the bottom of my list due to all of the engine failures I have read about for that year.
02-12-2007, 12:54 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by PatriotHoo
I've been enjoying the Forums for a couple of years and been a member of rennlist for a few months, but this is my first post.
Been a Porsche fan for as long as I can remember- one of my earliest memories is being driven to pre-school in my dad's 356.
I've been passively monitoring the typical online and newspaper sales channels for a couple of years and was still thinking that I'm a couple of years out from my first purchase, but I came across the following last night:
'99 911 C2 with 42K miles for $30,500. Current owner is a long time PCA member and is selling due to a move overseas. Carfax is clean but indicates this is the 3rd owner and has only had the car for 8 months. It appears to have been used as a daily driver for that 8 months with about 9K miles in that time.
To me, the price seems low relative to others offered on the web but consistent with KBB private party, excellent condition ($30,750).
What do you think of the price? If the current PCA owner has a fully documented PPI from 8 months ago do I need another one? Does PCA membership translate into trustworthiness? Does anyone know of a good indy for a PPI near Manassas or Centreville, VA? What's a reasonable price for a thorough PPI?
Sorry for all the questions- Thanks in advance!!
Been a Porsche fan for as long as I can remember- one of my earliest memories is being driven to pre-school in my dad's 356.
I've been passively monitoring the typical online and newspaper sales channels for a couple of years and was still thinking that I'm a couple of years out from my first purchase, but I came across the following last night:
'99 911 C2 with 42K miles for $30,500. Current owner is a long time PCA member and is selling due to a move overseas. Carfax is clean but indicates this is the 3rd owner and has only had the car for 8 months. It appears to have been used as a daily driver for that 8 months with about 9K miles in that time.
To me, the price seems low relative to others offered on the web but consistent with KBB private party, excellent condition ($30,750).
What do you think of the price? If the current PCA owner has a fully documented PPI from 8 months ago do I need another one? Does PCA membership translate into trustworthiness? Does anyone know of a good indy for a PPI near Manassas or Centreville, VA? What's a reasonable price for a thorough PPI?
Sorry for all the questions- Thanks in advance!!
I absolutely love the 996, but upon further investigation, you need to be careful with the early 3.4 engines, because they carry a slightly higher risk to failure than the up-to-date 3.4 and 3.6 engines. I'm not bashing the early 996s, but there is a slight risk there.
The other reason why I choose a 20-year-old car was due to insurance and economics. I bought my 3.2 for $17,000 and pay about $250/yr for insurance. The 996 was $30,000 and $1,000/yr for insurance.
Speaking of risk, you can run into engine problems with many of these 80-90's 911s in the form of valve guide issues. Many 3.2, 964 and 993 engines have had to replace the valve guides. I decided to buy a high-mileage car that had the work done already. A good PPI inspection can actually check for valve guide wear - the mechanic just pops off the heads and wiggle the guides.
Regarding KBB - I was constantly told when searching for me car that KBB doesn't apply to Porsche cars. I just gave up comparing. I now only compare to other Porsches in the same model/mileage category.
But getting back to that old 356. You're not going to get that old school feeling from a 996, I can tell you that. In fact, if you follow that advice of "buy the newest Porsche you can afford," you'll realize that the newer the car, the faster it is and the easier it is to drive. The older the car, the more fun and engaging it can be. They are all great cars, it just depends on what kind of feel you're going for. My 3.2 can not keep up with a 996, but the 996 doesn't have the steering feel of the 3.2.
