I'm currently looking to purchase a 911 cabriolet for fun weekend use, looking to spend 40k or so top of the budget. I live in a city and will take public transit to work so I don't need a daily driver but this will be my only car so I'd like it to be reasonably reliable. I had really only been searching for 996 cars.

I am seriously considering a beautiful 996.2 Carrera from Ryan Friedman with about 40k miles. The car is clean and beautiful but I know that there is a cost for that quality. For just a few thousand more, I found a 997.1 Carrera S with about 70k. This car appears clean in pictures but is also an auction flip with a significant accident 3 years ago.

I want a black car with a manual which limits supply quite a bit.

I don't have the experience to be my own mechanic. I know issues can crop up on cars of this age but I generally want to be able to drive and enjoy the car without hastle. What approach makes sense?

 

996.

2 things

We often do not keep these cars as long as we think. Why deal with a car that might be more difficult to sell later on with also lot of unknowns. Are 997's still depreciating?

Yes the S is faster but for real life driving, probably not needed unless you enjoy saying you have an S. I get that too. S'ssssssss.

I like your chances of happy ownership with the 996 much better.

Good luck.

 

Take your time....

There are plenty of nice 996s out there.
DO NOT buy anything without service history.
Think about what you are buying, a Porsche.
Someone at sometime bought that car new.
It had a Porsche Manual, additional manual for radio, service manual, etc.
After MY02, it came with three keys, two regular and one valet.
It had a window sticker.
If a car your looking at has any of these items missing, dig in. Do your due diligence.
IMO, with any car/truck I have purchased those are the first signs to me that the car was taken care of from day one.
If things that are relevant to car owner at purchase, you need find out how far along in the ownership of a car did things like that become irrelevant.
From that moment on, without service history, WALK

 

They will have the same issues. The question is which one...

1. Has service records that demonstrate all service that has been done, and that everything has been done when it was supposed to be done. Oil changes, 15, 30, 45, 60, etc. Recommended service. RMS, IMSB, AOS, Fuel Injectors, ignition coils, water pump, etc, replaced.
2. Has a solid PPI.

Then you will have info that you can use to make a call.

 

Neither.. wait for a better deal. Black cars are not hard to come by.

 

Agreed.

Is it the 2003 black cab on their website? If so, I'd like to think you could find a better price on a private sale if you watch for a while. Bore scoring is something to consider for both so a PPI that scopes could save your ***. Service documentation is pretty big as well, IMO.

 

‘For just a few more dollar…’ that’s $30k more, lol! Have you checked out a 996tt?

 

If it shows oil changes at only 15, 30, 45 and 60 etc. run don't walk away from the car. That is what Porsche said when these cars were made but is a potential disaster if that was all that was done. At least once a year regardless of mileage and every 3,000-5,000 based on mileage. Look at Flat Six or any other the other good shops and they will tell you 15,000 is way to long.

And black and silver cars are the most common, along with black interiors (or grey). I bought my car in 2000 and had to look a long time to find no black or silver and no black interior, I won't buy a car with a black interior, had one once and never again.

 

The real questions:
Is this the right time to buy a 996 or 997?
All cars are overpriced right now and they’ll eventually drop when supply meets demand.
But will the 996/997 continue to rise?

Will that 38K 996.2 be 48K or 28K next year?

 

My thoughts exactly when it comes to buying mountain bikes. While my current bike is not ideal, I can wait until next year and hope things are different by then. Unless of course this thing is more like Denver real estate, where demand continues to be strong.

 

Depends on how soon the Fed reverses course and how long it takes to enter the next bear market and recession. It's not a matter of if, but when. Regardless, they aren't making any new supply of 996s. Demand slowing is the wildcard.

 

IMO it’s hard to imagine prices falling… so I wouldn’t wait for that to happen. Inflation is stickier than the fed will admit

 

Prices will be as they are for a while... they may stall but no drastic increases or decreases to make it worthwhile not to take the leap if you find a car you like. Life is short. Drive both, see which you prefer.

also for what it's worth... RF does have nice inventory and they ask ALL the money for them.

 

Somebody please let me know where I can purchase a crystal ball.

 

$49.90. How much is my finders fee?