New car and first Porsche on the way
04-06-2016, 03:29 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Pemberton, BC
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New car and first Porsche on the way
I’ve finally reached the (very positive) end of what has to be the most frustrating car search I’ve ever experienced. Let me start by saying thanks to the mmebers on this forum, anything I’m into, I seek out the user forums, they’re without fail a gold mine of useful information. This forum has been no exception.
TLDR version: I was looking for a Porsche 996, changed my mind from mk1 to mk2, couldn’t find a car in Vancouver, bought one on the other side of the country.
Long Version:
It all started with reading about the unloved and now bargain basement priced Porsche 996, being Scottish in heritage and pragmatic by nature, spending a lot of money on toys is anathema to me. For these reasons a Porsche 996 sounded like it might fit the bill quite nicely to replace the NA Miata as a new fun car. So the search began in November 2015, initially I was thinking of the bargain basement cheapest option car. The only non-negotiables were that it be a manual coupe, tip/cabs just don’t float my boat. There was 1 car that was on Vancouver CL and looked OK (black/tan/BBS wheels w. IMS/RMS done, reasonable km, and asking $20,800) but it was early in the search and I wasn’t fully committed yet. It sold but no problem hey, another car will come along…..so I waited..and looked…and waited ….and looked…nothing. Expand search a bit, a few cars out there but they’re in Ontario or Quebec. In 4 months precisely 1 other Pcar hit Vancouver CL in the low end bracket (a ’99 stripper base model that needed about $5K in work immediately). Expand the search some more, look in the US but the exchange rate right now makes it pretty much a non-starter to pull a car out of the US, too bad, there’s way more selection down there (I was kinda eye-balling the C4S in Medford that Groovezilla bought).
In the ensuing period, I spent a lot of time lurking on here and reading and researching. That led me to the conclusion that I wanted to get something a little better, I can’t stand cheap interiors and a base ’99 is going to bring that (if interior quality wasn’t an issue, I might be posting up in the Corvette forums right now about my new $27,000 C6). I decided to look at a C4S, I like the AWD option (I live in snow country and may just DD this thing). Inquired into a C4S at a dealer in Quebec at a reasonable price but on the advice of members on the RL Canada sub-forum, turned around and ran from it as fast as I could. Pinged owners all over the country but could never get close enough in price/condition to take the plunge. Looked at another C4S that has been on Vancouver CL for ages, not bad price, had the right work done to it (but no receipts?!?) got it PPI’ed, needed $4K in work right away. At the same time I was looking at one at a Porsche dealer in Toronto. It was spendy but had a bunch of pretty rare options and all of the mods that I would have ended up spending money on to get done on any car I bought. It had a brand new motor and transmission within 70K, all work done at dealer, brand new Michelin rubber on all 4 corners, nothing mechanical needing attention. It’s Speed Yellow, I would have preferred something a little more stealthy in its Porsche-ness (an Arctic Silver or Seal Grey) but this car is the right car in every other way. The fun side of me prevailed over the pragmatic side, and I've made the plunge.
Sooooo…my new car goes on a truck this Saturday on it’s way out here. Will take some "in the flesh" pics when it arrives next week.
TLDR version: I was looking for a Porsche 996, changed my mind from mk1 to mk2, couldn’t find a car in Vancouver, bought one on the other side of the country.
Long Version:
It all started with reading about the unloved and now bargain basement priced Porsche 996, being Scottish in heritage and pragmatic by nature, spending a lot of money on toys is anathema to me. For these reasons a Porsche 996 sounded like it might fit the bill quite nicely to replace the NA Miata as a new fun car. So the search began in November 2015, initially I was thinking of the bargain basement cheapest option car. The only non-negotiables were that it be a manual coupe, tip/cabs just don’t float my boat. There was 1 car that was on Vancouver CL and looked OK (black/tan/BBS wheels w. IMS/RMS done, reasonable km, and asking $20,800) but it was early in the search and I wasn’t fully committed yet. It sold but no problem hey, another car will come along…..so I waited..and looked…and waited ….and looked…nothing. Expand search a bit, a few cars out there but they’re in Ontario or Quebec. In 4 months precisely 1 other Pcar hit Vancouver CL in the low end bracket (a ’99 stripper base model that needed about $5K in work immediately). Expand the search some more, look in the US but the exchange rate right now makes it pretty much a non-starter to pull a car out of the US, too bad, there’s way more selection down there (I was kinda eye-balling the C4S in Medford that Groovezilla bought).
In the ensuing period, I spent a lot of time lurking on here and reading and researching. That led me to the conclusion that I wanted to get something a little better, I can’t stand cheap interiors and a base ’99 is going to bring that (if interior quality wasn’t an issue, I might be posting up in the Corvette forums right now about my new $27,000 C6). I decided to look at a C4S, I like the AWD option (I live in snow country and may just DD this thing). Inquired into a C4S at a dealer in Quebec at a reasonable price but on the advice of members on the RL Canada sub-forum, turned around and ran from it as fast as I could. Pinged owners all over the country but could never get close enough in price/condition to take the plunge. Looked at another C4S that has been on Vancouver CL for ages, not bad price, had the right work done to it (but no receipts?!?) got it PPI’ed, needed $4K in work right away. At the same time I was looking at one at a Porsche dealer in Toronto. It was spendy but had a bunch of pretty rare options and all of the mods that I would have ended up spending money on to get done on any car I bought. It had a brand new motor and transmission within 70K, all work done at dealer, brand new Michelin rubber on all 4 corners, nothing mechanical needing attention. It’s Speed Yellow, I would have preferred something a little more stealthy in its Porsche-ness (an Arctic Silver or Seal Grey) but this car is the right car in every other way. The fun side of me prevailed over the pragmatic side, and I've made the plunge.
Sooooo…my new car goes on a truck this Saturday on it’s way out here. Will take some "in the flesh" pics when it arrives next week.
04-06-2016, 03:36 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Looks like nice example!! Welcome to the C4S club!!
While I'm not a fan of yellow, that C4S looks awesome!!
While I'm not a fan of yellow, that C4S looks awesome!!
04-06-2016, 04:40 PM
#5
Shameful Thread Killer
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
In the long run, you will be glad you didn't get black/silver/gray. The speed yellow is striking, and rare, and of course - it goes faster than the others.
Good choice, although I don't agree with your assessment of the mk1 interiors. They can be quite nice if optioned right. Or - they can be pedestrian. I don't think there's anything offered on the C4S that can't be had on the C2 cars, but if there is, it's going to be minor. However, it's quite possible that mk1 C2 buyers don't buy into the cosmetic option list like the turbo or C4S cars generally get loaded down with.
Good choice, although I don't agree with your assessment of the mk1 interiors. They can be quite nice if optioned right. Or - they can be pedestrian. I don't think there's anything offered on the C4S that can't be had on the C2 cars, but if there is, it's going to be minor. However, it's quite possible that mk1 C2 buyers don't buy into the cosmetic option list like the turbo or C4S cars generally get loaded down with.
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04-06-2016, 05:05 PM
#9
This has to be the single best looking 996 I've seen. Favourite colour, favourite body shape, and that wing (!)
I remember when it came up for sale, it was a bit too much hassle for me (transit, importing from Canada, passing emissions in CA) but goddamn I loved it.
I remember when it came up for sale, it was a bit too much hassle for me (transit, importing from Canada, passing emissions in CA) but goddamn I loved it.
04-06-2016, 06:02 PM
#12
Race Director
