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Any PCA members that can view this, i guess this is what i mean by “save a few bucks”. Do you think it is just too risky? not interested in racking up maintenance bills..
I wouldn't steer away from a car with higher mileage (80k-90k) if it has been well maintained and passes a thorough PPI. I'd want a closer look at this one to ensure the mods were done well and suite your style.
I was originally looking for an '05-'08 C2S with under 60k miles. I ended up with an '07 C2S with just under 50k miles when I bought it for $43,500. I could have saved a little having gone with a car with more mileage, but the one I ended up with checked all the boxes for me so I pulled the trigger. I think your budget is sufficient for what you are looking for, but I suspect you'll likely be on the higher end of it for the right car.
If you can't find a very nice 70K-80K mile 997S example in the $35K-$37K range you are not looking.
Only 997 you will find sub-$32K is a base model w/no options.
Also remember in 2 months the market will be flooded with great cars after the summer. I always buy between February and May when owners start itching for a newer model or different manufacturer and when the market is full of nice used examples. It's worth the wait.
Your budget can definitely get you an S. If you get a Tiptronic make sure to get the Sport Chrono package. That will give you Sport Mode which transforms automatic cars. With a stick it’s kinda of less spectacular, but still cool. Full leather is really lovely and pretty common. I’d be willing to wait longer or pay more for full leather. Avoid higher mileage cars simply because of resale. If you buy a car with 90k miles you’ll have a tough time selling it when you’re done. Same goes for certain interior/exterior colors. Avoid 2005 cars generally and 2007/08 are preferred. If nothing else, simply because easier resale. Expect interior wear and expect some maintenance whether it’s tires or plugs - just depends on the service history but you’ll probably need to do some minor maintenance right away. And don’t be afraid to make offers on somewhat pricier cars. I saw cars that you were significantly overpriced sit there for months and months. Don’t get stuck on one car. There are LOTS of 997.1s out there and if you strike out - don’t worry. There’s always more!
Thanks for the replies everyone, greatly appreciated!
Yeah it doesnt look like ill be able to find anything great too close to 30k..running thru RL and PCA classifieds now. In terms of my budget from 30-40k, Is it worth trying to save a few bucks with a car closer to 80-90k in mileage, vs spending 5-10k more and getting one around 50-60k? Or at that point in mileage, should I just look for maintenance? Not too educated on longevity of newer 911 models. Thanks again everyone! I see some nice 997s on RL under 40k
With your budget I would scour all sources for a base 2009 997.2. A minimum of options....so be it. I doubt you'll find one in the 30's unless there are stories but I'd still buy a minimally optioned base 992.2 any day over a higher mile, higher optioned 997.1 or 997.1 S without hesitation given your budget. You can always add and mod later on if you're not happy with a plain base 997.2 but I think that's the best way to get into a 997 with your budget.
As previously mentioned, we spent quite a bit of time putting together a buyer's guide for prospective 997.1 owners. Pretty much everything you need or want to know is in there. - https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...ers-guide.html
Your budget puts you in 997.1 S or 4S territory, which are great. Don't go for the 996 if you already don't like the headlights. The interior isn't any better than the headlights and the body is much straighter sided without the curves. Those models are and will continue to depreciate for these reasons, plus the bigger IMS issue with the smaller bearings (both single row and dual row).
Have fun on the search and here's some 914 content for you
Totally doable. I bought my base 2006 C2 997.1 with 40k miles for $32k in Texas and shipped it to CA for $900. I had been looking at an 40k mile C2S for $44k in Ohio but this was too good a deal to pass up. As my first 911 and a daily driver, I wanted something I could drive without worrying about. 30k miles later its turned out to be an epic win.
The base C2 997s are screaming deals. You just need to find the ones optioned with the 19" wheels and put Eibachs on it and 15mm spacers to get the right stance. Base model with 18" wheels and stock ride height looks truly 4x4'ish. If you need to buy new rims and tires the delta between the C2S starts to shrink.
In terms of performance, only a pro on the track would know the difference. Its .1 second difference to 60mph. I think the 3.8 just has some more low end torque, but im never under 4k RPM anyway...
Check out the buyers guide sticky for the operating costs. If you can wrench its very reasonable.
If you plan on keeping the car "forever": Search for a 997.1 in the low $20k range. Send it off to Jake 18 months from now for a 4.0 rebuild. That will give you good, reliable, power for many years to come (at about the cost of a low mileage 997.2).
08-25-2019, 10:58 PM
