New buyer: 993 vs 997?
#46
I wrote:
---Quote (Originally by MJBird993)--- ]
I stand corrected. Absolutely flummoxed, and corrected.
That's just nutty. I'm sorry, but I think it's totally nutty to spend $35K on a car that old with that many miles. I'll also suggest that it was better maintained than the average 993. The last one I looked at needed paint, the SRS light was on, it needed a new clutch and at $28K I passed on it. Maybe I shouldn't have. I bought a 997 instead, and sold it after 5 months.
---Quote (Originally by MJBird993)--- ]
I stand corrected. Absolutely flummoxed, and corrected.
That's just nutty. I'm sorry, but I think it's totally nutty to spend $35K on a car that old with that many miles. I'll also suggest that it was better maintained than the average 993. The last one I looked at needed paint, the SRS light was on, it needed a new clutch and at $28K I passed on it. Maybe I shouldn't have. I bought a 997 instead, and sold it after 5 months.
Why'd you sell the 997?
#47
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Can you help me understand why the 993 needed $3.5k per year in maintenance? New tires and brakes every year? I have a 997.1 C4S cab, and the maintenance is very reasonable, but I only drive about 3500 miles per year in my 911. I have a truck for most work days (I own a construction company).
Understand, I didn't (and still don't) think that expenditure was unreasonable for the car. It's just what I spent. YMMV. So far, at least, my annual expenditures on the 997 haven't approached what I spent on the 993. Again, not saying good or bad, just my own experience. As the 997 ages I'm sure it will have its share of things that need addressing.
-Chris
#49
as someone who also spent years and years mulling it over between a 993 and 997 i finally decided upon a 997.1 because it was a newer car with better modern feel, but still had that true "Porsche styling" that i was looking for and its all dependent upon timing, i really wanted a clean stock speed yellow coupe manual with black leather and no frills and when the car finally was available i had to jump on it. do be afraid to make a wish list of your ideal car and when that car pops up be ready to strike.
#50
I imagine that, like MJBird993, Dean saw his 993 as an old, high mileage sports car, not necessarily something that would have any investment potential. It does fly in the face of conventional wisdom: most cars only depreciate. However, in some rare instances, certain models DO appreciate. It is difficult to predict, but there is undeniably something special about the 993. It got so many things right in addition to being the last of the evolutionary line that consisted of small, incremental tweaks to the original 60's chassis. The 996 was the first clean-slate redesign. This unbroken evolutionary quality is the most compelling to me, even more than the air-cooled mystique. All these little tweaks were improvements over a rigorously race-tested and proven design platform. The 993 is the final iteration of some very committed engineers over the course of four decades. No wonder it's special! Plus, the Mezger engine is a race platform that can be rebuilt countless times. The 993 was engineered to last forever. Newer 911s are not. They're not exactly disposable, but the engines are not meant or designed to be rebuilt. This shift in build philosophy makes me a little bit sad. Nevertheless, I do covet the 997 GT3. It is indeed one of these "special" cars.
Side note: KJR50, are you a wizard? I like your avatar. Fellow fantasy/SF nerd? If you live near SD, we should nerd out sometime.
#51
You're right. No one wants to pay $30K for a 16 year-old 993 with 180,000 miles on it.
But people are lining up to pay $40K for a 19 year old 993 with 180,000 miles on it. And it's not even a wide-body 993
https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-...3-rs-look.html
#52
Race Car
I do think my 993 was better maintained than the average. That being said, someone listed a bone-stock high-miler yesterday on pelican for $30k and it sold in a couple of hours...
I have a spreadsheet with every dollar that was spent on the 993 since new, other than gas. I also included all of the slippery slope stuff as much of it was done when replacing worn parts for upgraded ones. It averages out to right at $2k per year. I will be pleasantly surprised if the 997 costs less to properly maintain.
I loved my 993, and were I able, I would have both it and a 997. However, having about a month in on my 997, I'm loving it for how I need a car. I need a daily driver, and a weekend fun car, and an occasional DE car. The 993 is just so far behind in the daily driver category. I've not had the 997 on the track yet, but I've pushed it a little on some pretty good roads (tail of the dragon, Highlands, N.C. area) and I've not found any shortcomings.
I have a spreadsheet with every dollar that was spent on the 993 since new, other than gas. I also included all of the slippery slope stuff as much of it was done when replacing worn parts for upgraded ones. It averages out to right at $2k per year. I will be pleasantly surprised if the 997 costs less to properly maintain.
I loved my 993, and were I able, I would have both it and a 997. However, having about a month in on my 997, I'm loving it for how I need a car. I need a daily driver, and a weekend fun car, and an occasional DE car. The 993 is just so far behind in the daily driver category. I've not had the 997 on the track yet, but I've pushed it a little on some pretty good roads (tail of the dragon, Highlands, N.C. area) and I've not found any shortcomings.
#53
Race Car
I also was tracking all of the 993 6-speed coupes I could find for sale here in the US on a spreadsheet. Between June 1 and August 1 of this year, the average asking price increased 6%. That's 1% every 10 days. That fits with the last 2 years of 25% per year. Will it continue? Who knows. WW3 could start tomorrow, or another fiscal cliff could take the wind out of the market. But, barring something like that, I see the trend continuing.
#54
Ahhh....what a difference 18 months makes.
You're right. No one wants to pay $30K for a 16 year-old 993 with 180,000 miles on it.
But people are lining up to pay $40K for a 19 year old 993 with 180,000 miles on it. And it's not even a wide-body 993
https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-...3-rs-look.html
You're right. No one wants to pay $30K for a 16 year-old 993 with 180,000 miles on it.
But people are lining up to pay $40K for a 19 year old 993 with 180,000 miles on it. And it's not even a wide-body 993
https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-...3-rs-look.html
Okay, let's not give him too hard of a time. Not everyone can predict the future with svangali-like ease (puts on wizard hat and robe, gives stink-eye)
#55
I have a spreadsheet with every dollar that was spent on the 993 since new, other than gas. I also included all of the slippery slope stuff as much of it was done when replacing worn parts for upgraded ones. It averages out to right at $2k per year. I will be pleasantly surprised if the 997 costs less to properly maintain.
#56
Instructor
Join Date: May 2014
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I'm on my second 997 , I had a 08 and now I have a 2012 4S cab.
Neither of them ever cost 2000 dollars a year to maintain . Not even close.
Do you guys off road with your 911s ??????
Lol
Neither of them ever cost 2000 dollars a year to maintain . Not even close.
Do you guys off road with your 911s ??????
Lol
#57
Race Car
Well, that $2K figure is averaged. Some years, i spent only oil change money. One year, I did suspension ($4K) Clutch ($2K) and oil changes... I'd bet a good 100K refresh on a 997 is going to cost $10K when it needs to be done. Although, parts ar cheaper for the 997 from what I've seen so far. I just bought the center radiator kit for $211!!!! Thats less than 1 brake pad for the 993.
#58
Seriously, older cars need to be maintained. If you drive any Porsche with gusto on the reg you're looking at new tires and brakes and a couple oil changes every year or two. This stuff ain't free.
#59
Sure, a 20 year old 993 is going to have more parts that wear with age than a 997 does, but from my 10 year 993 ownership, it's not that much more
#60
Three Wheelin'
I've struggled with this issue numerous times over... 964, 993, and now 997. I don't regret my decisions, however, OMG I wished my finances could support keeping the lot. I missed them ALL!