It'sGoTime

All,
I've aspired to buy a 911 a couple of times before, but hope to be able to make it happen within the next year. Over the past couple of years, I've decided my ideal 911 would be a 997GTS with PDK. Unfortunately, these have been creeping up in price during this time, although I did find a high mileage one in TX for under 60K (my maximum price range). If you were buying your first 911 (as a weekend fun car, not a daily driver) would you go all out on the nicest one you could afford, or would you start out affordable and "trade up" over time? I'm not a huge fan of the looks of the 996, but it provides a lot of fun for around 20K. Similarly, a 997.1 4S gives a great 997 experience for at least 15K less than the GTS. What direction would you go for your first 911?

Fined

When it was time for my first 911.. the only two I seriously considered were GT3 and GTS. 2.5 years later and I am happy that I purchased the GTS and relieved I didn't try to save money going with a 997.2 Carrera S. I too saw prices rising on GTS and moved to get the car ASAP as I didn't want to be priced out.

Different folks have different amounts of risk they will accept. Seldom is buying a more inexpensive (aka cheaper) 911 saving money. It's more a matter of long term costs, resale value, upkeep/maintenance, and probability of catastrophic failure (and even at that, you can pick your poison.. PDK gearboxes have failed, 997.1 and 996 engines have their fair share of failures (just google it man)) so its a matter of deciding what costs you're comfortable with as well as your performance and usage expectations. You might pick any one of these and have no problems, of course the likelihood for that is highest.

Is a $40k 997.1 that ends up with bore scoring and needs a $20k engine rebuild cheaper than a $60k 997.2? Obviously not. But if you have a $12k PDK failure is that cheaper than a $40k 997.1 that ends up continuing to lose value? Hard to say. Buy the car you're most comfortable with! There is the consideration of resale value too. Certain 911 hold more value than others. Sometimes buying a GT3 will cost you less over time than buying a Carrera/S/GTS.. due to depreciation. If I'd bought a 991 Carrera at the time for the same money as I paid for my 997 GTS I'd have lost decent chunk in depreciation. I could sell my car now for at least what I've paid for it.. that simply wouldn't be the case with a Carrera or Carrera S of the same model year or even a 991.1. 991.1 Carrera/S haven't done well as far as depreciation.

I wouldn't compare a 997.1 4S to a GTS at all, older car, different engine, AWD. Try to drive as many as you can early on so you can eliminate some guesswork.

Skwerl

Go all out. Like Fined says, what you pay up front will probably return dividends on resale and upkeep, and plus you may get more pride in ownership. Trading up is a hassle, too - losing money on taxes, depreciation, maintenance, and then having to deal with picky Porsche guys when you try to sell it. I got a decent deal on my Turbo due to the mileage and I like the car but often wish I had just held out and paid $10-15k more and gotten one with fewer miles and special options so I could truly love it.

jaykkub

Balr14

If you don't buy the most car you can afford you will always have second thoughts.

doclouie

Petza914

Sounds like you've identified the car you want. Buying anything different will always have you saying I wish this or I wish that... Find the one you lust after for no regrets.

It'sGoTime

petza914, yes, I'd love the 997GTS......I just have a hard time justifying it rationally when I could get a somewhat similar 997S for a good bit cheaper. As others on 997GTS threads have said, I just love those centerlock wheels, unique accents, and widebody with rear wheel drive of the GTS...

Mike Murphy

Petza914

If you do your own work on your cars, the CL wheels are a PITA, which is why track guys that are changing wheels or brake pads frequently convert back to 5-lug. There are also PM parts in that setup like the nubs that the wheels lock onto and you need special long torque wrenches to install or remove the nut. In the 997 generation, even the NB cars are plenty curvy and wide in the rear, like my .1 C2S



The GTS will hold its value better than other models, as a previous poster mentioned.

GT3_ISH

I was in a similar boat at first, but it changed over time. I thought that the only 911 for me was a 997 GT3-RS, regular GT3 at worst. I was completely obsessed with those two cars. I had to discover exactly what it was I was obsessed with in those cars. For me, it turned out to be the aesthetics, as I had never driven either at that point.

This discovery opened up several doors for me. GT3-RS and GT3 prices soared with the rumors of the 991 versions not being offered in a manual trans. I realized that I could just purchase the aero kit for a Carrera and satisfy my vision of what I think it should look like, and that should be enough for me in my first 911. I really only had 3 requirements, 06+ car, no cabs, and 6spd. I found one, I knew it was the one, and I bought it. it's been amazing.

Everyone is different, and the GTS is a great car, with great NA power. You don't have to get super technical, but try to examine what it is you love about 911s, and get the one that suits your likes and wants.

Bruce In Philly

Honestly, how much are you driven by emotions..... what other people have that you don;t have.... what you want to say to others with your purchase?

All Porsche sports cars are really wonderful. Porsche is making consumer product and while there are folks who think that Porsche engineers only care about ultimate design.... well that is phooey. Porsche like Nike and Victoria's Secret know how to make you want just a bit more. Just remember a very sobering fact about Porsche: Their sports cars are more profitable car for car than any other manufacturer in the world. In other words, a Porsche car is simply "not worth it". They are taking all of us.

So, as you lust for more, are you being taken in by Porsche's manipulation or your own weakness?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

Austin997.2

My first 911 was a 996.2 about 7 years ago which I had for 3 years, they were such a steal at the time. Then I really wanted to move up to the 997.2 mainly for the cosmetic changes, ie the headlights so got one about 4 years ago. Performance wise the 996.2 is very capable and plenty of car. It really all depends on the amount of money you want to spend. If you have any apprehensions about the physical appearance of the 996 go to the 997+.

sailorlite

Buy once; cry once. Go all out.

Ben Z

When I was shopping for mine I was looking at 996's for price reasons, figured I'd get my feet wet and eventually trade up. I would check the dealer inventories daily, and one morning I noticed a 997 I really liked had just been knocked down 10 grand overnight. Even though it was still more than I wanted to spend I jumped on it. That was 9 years ago, I've still got the car, no plans to sell. I put a new engine in it rather than trade for a .2 or 991 because I've driven them and like mine better. I think had I got a 996 to start with I would have spent much more horsetrading by now. As for the kind to get, I don't track the car so my goal was to get what I wanted in terms of color and equipment for the least cost, therefore I was only looking at base cars.