964 Speedster
Author
Discussion

LeMaven

Original Poster:

27 posts

132 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
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Firstly, thank you to everyone on this forum for the knowledge and debate that informs all of us who 'watch but don't participate'. I am looking for some advice on possibly purchasing a 964 Speedster. First, some quick background: I am a magazine editor and journalist and occasionally write about cars, but not a motoring journalist. I owned Porsches in my youth, then a couple of years ago bought a 996 Turbo and Turbo S to add to my weekend-use Ferraris. I have just sold both TTs, because I didn't use them for 'family reasons' as I had expected: family trips involved the C63 AMG, and fun trips the Ferraris.

I miss my 911s, and like many, have missed out on 'dream models' because of rising prices. I was looking at 997.2 GT3 RSs last year but uncertainty about price with 991.2 GT3 manual (ongoing) meant I didn't buy. I was sniffing around 964 RSs, but feel these are softening in price now. While I don't expect to make a mint on my cars, I like to not lose money on them.

In short, I love convertibles, and I love collectibles, and I remembered the Speedsters. I hadn't been tracking prices, so the current offer prices are eye-opening, but you could say that about a lot of 911s. But is £150-£200k a mad price for what is really a manipulated 964 C2? On the plus side, you can have fun at far lower speeds than in an RS. I would use it for weekend driving in the Chilterns/Cotswolds. What do people here think?

Sorry for the long post.

g7jhp

7,033 posts

266 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
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Buy a 981 or 987 Spyder which were built as convertibles, save a chunk of cash, get a better driving car which won't lose money!

LeMaven

Original Poster:

27 posts

132 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2017
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Yes, the Boxster would be the logical choice but these decisions have a different type of logic!

One type of logic says that with say £170k to spend on a Porsche that might be fun for weekend drives and maybe appreciate in value, you have 964 RSs, 996 GT3 RSs, 997.2 GT3 RSs, so a basic 964 C2 which has been prettified and has no roof would be an odd one. But odd is normal in classic cars....

I just wonder whether this would be buying at the top of the market.

g7jhp

7,033 posts

266 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2017
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Paddy_N_Murphy said:
But with the Boxster suggestion ^^^^ surely misses the entire point of the OP's post ?
I did see the "miss my 911's" but the "In short, I love convertibles, and I love collectibles, and I remembered the Speedsters." came across stronger.

The Spyder is a convertaible, it's limited in supply and has the Speedster appeal....it's got the humps!

If it must be a 911 Speedster this looks great!

GrahamPM

1,132 posts

259 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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The 964 Speedster is a rare car, especially in right hand drive form, hence the premium. I was searching for one around 10 years ago before the bubble went up, and ended up doing a ground up build with on a 993 to achieve a unique Speedster.
Mine gets used infrequently, but always enjoyable, especially at this time of the year.
Happy hunting!
Graham



Edited by GrahamPM on Friday 26th May 07:07

Essential

1,083 posts

238 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Had a 964 Speedster for a while and it was an unloved tiptronic version. Due to the nature of the car I absolutely loved it being auto.

But agree 987/981 spyder far easier to live with and I know it's objective but also possibly the better car

Solarized

442 posts

169 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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GrahamPM said:
The 964 Speedster is a rare car, especially in right hand drive form, hence the premium. I was searching for one around 10 years ago before the bubble went up, and ended up doing a ground up build with on a 993 to achieve a unique Speedster.
Mine gets used infrequently, but always enjoyable, especially at this time of the year.
Happy hunting!
Graham



Edited by GrahamPM on Friday 26th May 07:07
,

Love this ^

Cheib

25,326 posts

203 months

Friday 26th May 2017
quotequote all
LeMaven said:
Yes, the Boxster would be the logical choice but these decisions have a different type of logic!

One type of logic says that with say £170k to spend on a Porsche that might be fun for weekend drives and maybe appreciate in value, you have 964 RSs, 996 GT3 RSs, 997.2 GT3 RSs, so a basic 964 C2 which has been prettified and has no roof would be an odd one. But odd is normal in classic cars....

I just wonder whether this would be buying at the top of the market.
The last point is impossible to say as the direction of the broad market is impossible to call. Apart from the uber rare air cooled cars that saw some crazy auction prices six months or so ago cars in this price bracket don't seem to have moved/have even softened a bit. One of my mates has very good relationships with one of the most respected independent Porsche specialist dealers....he just sold them a couple of his cars. The one area of the market they're having trouble selling cars at the moment is this one....they're selling but taking a decent amount of time to sell rather than say 987 Spyder's, 997 Turbo S's or GT3's which continue to sell very quickly.

Speedsters are rare cars but they also seem to come up a lot at auction...at least in LHD form. The RHD is a proper unicorn car if I remember correctly. Also if you're buying a car like this to use (Hooray!!!) you'll be in the minority so you'll need to keep the miles off it if you're worried about holding its value.

As someone that lives in the Chilterns I hope you'd get one as I'd love to see a 964 Speedster on the road! Also well served with specialists in this part of the world.



DavidCBevan

356 posts

213 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Beautiful...
GrahamPM said:
The 964 Speedster is a rare car, especially in right hand drive form, hence the premium. I was searching for one around 10 years ago before the bubble went up, and ended up doing a ground up build with on a 993 to achieve a unique Speedster.
Mine gets used infrequently, but always enjoyable, especially at this time of the year.
Happy hunting!
Graham



Edited by GrahamPM on Friday 26th May 07:07