Jason Sewell

My 991 is being built today. Ok, perhaps not exactly today, but approximately now.

You see, I have become absolutely smitten by the 991 to the point where I'm having trouble sleeping. So I have committed to an aggressive plan to save money to purchase one. I figure that if I put aside about $1,750 a month for three years, there will likely be a beautiful 2012 Carerra coming off a lease that I can acquire for what I've saved. If not, I'll continue saving until I find one. Wish me luck. And if you happen to start a lease on a red 991 any time in the next 90 days, please treat it with care.

Ed Hughes

More people should use your logic, instead of financing cars they can't afford. Good luck.

Ninetynine996

Or you could save you $1750/ mo for 12 months and buy a hand built 911 that you will love to drive and appreciates in value.

Jason Sewell

Not a bad idea, Ninetynine996, but isn't the consensus that you should buy the newest one you can? I'm not looking at this as so much an investment as a life-long love affair. I'd like to keep this car forever.

But I do wonder about the viability of long-term ownership of a modern Porsche. The technological complexity has me a bit apprehensive (My VW Touareg was a mess).

Ed Hughes

What he is somewhat saying, is this is the air-cooled 911 board. You probably want the 991 section.

But, his suggestion is not without merit. You ought to try different eras and determine which one delivers what you are looking for. The air-cooled versions seem to be on the uptick in value, the others (996 and up) are still depreciating.

They are different driving experiences from era to era.

Jason Sewell

Ha! I hadn't noticed that there were different forum sections for air vs. water cooled 911s. Newbie mistake! Thanks! But I will drive a water cooled 911 if I get a chance.

911tracker85

I have owned my '85 911 for a LONG time, and intend to be buried in it.

I have been doing my own work for years, as many on this forum do.

once you have the $$ to buy a newer Porsche, make sure you keep stuffing $$ into the account for when the repairs start coming. or get a certified used one and sell before the extended warranty expires.

did you see the video showing a Porsche tech having to remove the entire rear bumper assembly and a bunch of other stuff on the engine to replace the air clearners?

good luck with whatever you do.

Jason Sewell

Yeah, that's the part that makes me apprehensive. Reminds me of the instructions for replacing the starter motor on my Touareg:

1) Place transmission in neutral
2) Remove engine and transmission
...

No joke.

vracer

You see the trouble that Porsche created when they decided to call all sorts of cars "911s"?

bobaines

While the newer cars do perform very well, I do not believe that they will have the longevity that the air cooled have enjoyed. The reliance on electronics throughout will become the limiting factor.

This will come down to maintaining 20 year old electronics and code.

groovzilla

haven't seen a 991 section of rennlist??

Ed Hughes

I think I read that some of the guys running a 956 or 962 in its truest form, as well as other 80's/90's prototypes, are spending a small fortune running/maintaining the old support computers, that I think ran Intel 286 chips.

Ed Hughes

It's there, with 900+ threads.

911Dave

Absolutely not! That is an opinion that was uttered by Bruce Anderson many years ago, and keeps getting repeated by unwise hoopleheads. Most people who have been around the Porsche world for a while are of the opinion (me included) that you should by the best example you can afford of the 911 era in which you are interested. I've owned a 2007 Carrera S, an '86 Carrera (now backdated and 2350 lbs), and a '97 Carrera 4S. Of the three, the '86 Carrera is hands down the most satisfying one. The 07 was, hands down, the least satisfying. The only watercooled 911 that I have any interest in is the GT3 RS, and it's going to have to lose half its value before I would consider it worth it. A 991 is second only to the 996 as the most unappealing 911 ever, IMO. YMMV.

Jay H

I do wish you luck.

I've been there, done that, got the shirt...

...then lost my shirt...

I used to be smitten by the new(er) 911's. Comfy, fast, look good.

Keep in mind the depreciation curve is still steep even on a 3 year old car and the repair bills once out of warranty can be extensive on these relatively complex cars.

Maybe hold out for a '13 or '14 as Porsche works out the kinks on the new for '12 991.

Shop long and hard for a good one owner, well maintained, full records car. I got bit by a shady 997 and the lesson was an expensive one.

Or, save for 4 years, order out a new one with moderate options (does one really need an "S" model or those $2500 options?) and have a new car that you keep forever. Then, you don't inherit someone else's used car that could potentially be a bucket of problems.