Mackenzie

2002 996 are now going for $50k which is nearly 60% of the cost of a 997 with the same engine - right?

i can get a 2002 for around 50k - 54 w/ taxes (friend selling)
and i assume a 997 will be 75 + taxes .

yet the engines are identical so you get 90% of the 997 for 60% of the cost. am i thinking of this right.

makes this a tougher call. considering i can also get extend warrenty for $2k on teh 2002 and have similar warrenty.

Moogle

there are many changes, the 997 is over 80%completely new parts.

not to mention, the engines are different.

CLL ACAB

That's exactly why I like to pick up my cars 1-2 years old. My 2 year old C4 Cab was 62% of the sticker price. In 2-3 years I plan on selling this car and picking up an '02-'04 TT and I expect to save about the same amount.

Moogle

well CLL, thats one school of thougt that certainly has its benifits, however you will miss out on 'having the newest thing' which is not important to some people, only the long term/short term quality.

also it will be used, and some people, including myself, could never accept that, its psychological. but as with the above, some people could care less.

to each his own

fahren affair

not sure what you're trying to say. you're comparing two totally different model cars and one's an '02 and the other an '05. with discounts on a 997, you're really closer to 66-70% of a new 997. add to that, $2k for extended warranty and depending on cond. of tires, brakes, clutch another 1-4K. and your 50k 996 looks more like 56k. nothing wrong w/ an '02 996, but it's still a 996. i could say the '00 996 that i'm selling in the mid-30s is nearly identical to your '02 996 for $15k less, that's nearly identical to a '05 997...catch my drift?

if you do buy the '02, get the x74 and ssk installed posthaste.

TurboMark

If you personallu have the big $$$s, I would get the new one over the 2002 for sure. If you 'can buy' the 2005, but it will be somewhat painful on the budget, you with get almost the same cache out of the 02 or a 99 for that matter. To all but a very, very select few, there isn't much difference.

A friend of mine just bought a 99 w/ 50K on it for about $31K. Everyone, including people you think should know the differenve, think he bought a new car. 99, 00, 01, 02, Turbo, C4S, C2, C4, etc , its all the same stuff to 99.9% of the people. Its all about who you are and what you want,

PS: If you are single, most women will take a 99 Cab over an 04 TT or an 05 997 every time!

Just my .02

Fast40th

I agree with Mark 100%. Your regular "Joe" will not know the difference between a 996 and a 997. I keep explaining to people that my car is a "911". Hey either way it's still a PORSCHE.

Get a thorough PPI done on the car. If it's all good, then get the '02 C2... and with the extra money (vs. getting the 997) get all the mods you can/want, go to the Porsche Driving Experience (basic & masters course), and track the hell out of your car. And in two years (or whenever you're ready) jump into the 997 territory.

And about the extended warranty check a previous thread going-on on this forum. You might be better off setting some repair money aside and pay as you go, instead of paying someone else a big chunk of money up-front for something you might not use completely in the end.

Mackenzie

Fast40th
thx for the advice on warrently i think your right. also i am leaning toward a 2002. looks like prices are dropping toward to low 50 range . not bad for a car w/ 2 yrs left of warrenty.

Moogle

one peice of advice, make sure its certified and get the extended warannty.

42empress

I just picked up MY FIRST P-CAR, from a dealer on Long Island, an 02 coupe, silver/black, 18 carrera wheels, 6 speed, side skirts, 14K miles, certified to 9/08 or 100,000 miles for 52,900. By the way, the thing is awesome. I researched and read every post on this list for the last few years in prep for this day. I originally wanted to spend approx $45,000, on an 00/01, but when i took into consideration the higher miles( generally 25-35K), less warranty, or the need to buy an extended one, it was an easy decision. I like the look of all the cars, and from the drivers seat, could not really tell the difference (on test drives with salespeople). The condition and mileage was much more noticeable in the feel of the car. My car is absolutely clean, inside and out. The car was originally delivered to the same dealership i purchased from, according to PCNA. They had no recalls listed in their computers. The original sticker was $75,050. My car is essentially the same as the leftover 04's sitting on the lot, for 22 thousand dollars less, and it comes with more warranty than the new ones. I also bought this car to drive daily. I am going to love every minute of it (barring any major mechanical issues...which should be covered if they occur) and not look back. I will worry about it's value in 5 years. The moral of my story is, if financially possible, do not compromise your wishes. For me this was the fulfillment of a dream since i was a small child. I was dressed as a porsche for halloween when i was four years old. I came home from the hospital in a 69 911. If i bought the 00-01, i would have loved driving it, but i would be thinking of trading up sooner, and still would have thought about the 02. Visually, to me the 00/01's look dated a bit. In the long run, although it feels like it now, it will not be as signicant financially. Sorry to ramble, but my excitement is overflowing at the moment.

Just buy a good one. Or if you're not sure, go to a porsche dealer. Their prices might seem higher initially, but if you know what you are looking for, and know what is a fair price, you will find one. There seems to be a lot of good cars out there.

Best of luck,

Jeff

GBG

My experience has been that if you're choosing between two affordable cars (key word being affordable), one perhaps slightly more than your budget but also more desireable, ALWAYS get the more expensive one.

If you buy the less desitreable one, albeit less expensive, the mere existence of the "better" car that you passed up will, over time, eat away at you, and you will soon be sorry. On the other hand, if you buy the more expensive one, over time you will love the car more and more (as opposed to dreaming of the "better" car that you passsed up) and your attitude will soon be "it's only money." So, go for it, absorb some intial pain in the wallet up front (all of us P owners do), and then drive happily (not longingly) for years to come.

Warning: this attitude can lead to some very expensive results if not kept in check.

Mackenzie

thx you for all the feedback - i think i will pass on teh 2000 and think about teh 2002 vs new 997 (at least i eliminated one) but now it gets tougher.

kolya

42empress...im in ny too and have been debatting the 997/996 too. can u tell me what dealer u bought yours from...as it seems like u received a great deal!

42empress

Silver Star Motors, Roslyn. Talk to Ray Kitt. 516.625.5544 Tell him Jeff from CT referred you.

I do have to add an addendumto my last post. While reviewing the paper work last night after my last post, i noticed that they checked off no leaks, repaired on the certification check list. We went over this paper work pretty quickly, and my head was not the clearest at the time. I thinking about my drive home. I had specifically asked Ray about the RMS when i test drove the car. He said it was clean. I checked under the car on the lot as he moved it out the spot it was parked in. It appeared clean. I called the service manager today, and she said that the seal was weeping, not dripping, so they replaced it. While they were there they put in a new clutch as well. On my test drive, i didn't appreciate anything wrong with the original. So i guess i joined the club, but it doesn't really bother me. I still have 4 years and 85,000 miles to go. I was buying this car anyway, but from a dealer for this reason specifially.

By the way, did i mention that this car is awesome!!!

I did also contact a guy outside of Philly, PA, who has some good cars. He emailed me that he has a 01 silver black, porsche certified for 47,500. this was his message to me. He can get good cars from porsche also, and was seriously thinking of buying a C4 from him before i found this 02.

Good luck

Jeff

P.S. this is his email to me......

Hello,
Would you know anyone who might have interest in a 2001 Silver/Black C2 Coupe with 12K. The car has an extended 2 year Porsche Approved Warranty. The car is ABSOLUTELY out of the Wrapper Perfect. I have a gentelman who wants to trade me the car. I would need $47,500 for it. Let me know. REGARDS,

Larry Williams
President
www.hilinewholesaler.com
484-433-6239

kolya

thanks vm 42empress, will be checking out silver star this weekend.....quite a coincidence actually, when they were located in queens (many many years ago, where silver star mercedes is still located today) i had a summer job there while i was in high school. they fired me on my last day there when i took a brand new 928s4 for a joyride when no one was at the shop (early saturday morning)....hey i was 17 yrs old and a car nut (still am)
i do remember ray kitt as well as the owners ray rivardo and john colgate....all good guys...but i didnt think so when i had to go to the owners office that day!!!!! how ironic would it be if i buy a car from there and this time drive it off LEGALLY!!!!

and thanks for the heads up on the '01...not a big fan of the 01's though...ive literally mistaken 2 of them this past week for boxsters...i swear u cant tell the difference between the two when u seem them coming at u head-on.