Women! Mine wants a Porsche!

[mattyn1]

Hi All

For starters, apologies for a question that has probably been asked many times over the years, but I really need answers either way!
Mrs Mattyn has been looking for a new motor for a while - she is recovering from a broken arm & shoulder so I mean a while! Anyway, she has seen cars like this:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3466183.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3664867.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3602115.htm

I would say they seem to be amazing value for the calibre of motor car. However, are they? Is she deluded? Would I just be signing up to a money pit?

I have never considered a Porsche before and really don't know about them - but these would suit her. Why a 911? She will need the back seat for the little one!

Thanks in advance.

[petop]

Out of interest, what car do you drive?

[Durzel]

Usual obvious gentle warning applies: They may be cheap now, but they weren't cheap once, and servicing & parts will be of a commensurate cost to what they were new, even at indie garages.

edit: Would presume it would be a royal pain in the ass to get a small child in and out of most three doors.

[mattyn1]

petop said:

Out of interest, what car do you drive?

Me - Audi A6 - Her - Golf GTi.

Durzel said:

edit: Would presume it would be a royal pain in the ass to get a small child in and out of most three doors.

Well yeah it was when she were a baby, but at 5 she can climb in, do up and undo seat belts.

[Durzel]

Fair dos, when you said little one I assumed younger.

[supersport]

Durzel said:

edit: Would presume it would be a royal pain in the ass to get a small child in and out of most three doors.

No not really, my 911 arrived when my lad was 9 months and used 944 as family car for two years. Now have 3 door GTi as family car, but then lad is no longer a baby.

Just read the bit about being 5, so what I had sad doesn't count, will be fine climbing in and out with the advantage of being small enough to clean the rear window whilst in there.

You need to be careful at this price point, as others have said it was once a very expensive car, you need to go in eyes wide open, have it checked out i.e. inspected and do your research.

Get a good indie to do the servicing and they can be quite affordable, but there is a list of things these can suffer from. You should be used to that with the GTi though.

[anonymous-user]

supersport said:

do your research.

Have a look on Hartech's site. There's some very lengthy and quite technical stuff about the engine issues that is nonetheless worth a read. Or google RMS 996 and IMS 996 for the potted version.

[mattyn1]

supersport said:

You should be used to that with the GTi though.

It has been ok - the central locking is an issue but other than a new battery it has been pretty solid.
She is keen on other cars - Brera, Audi TT, Mini Cooper JCW, but she feels the Porsche is that much more. Like I said, prior to now I have never been a Porsche fan - but she is winning me round with her, erm how can i say, methods!!

[Durzel]

mattyn1 said:

It has been ok - the central locking is an issue but other than a new battery it has been pretty solid.
She is keen on other cars - Brera, Audi TT, Mini Cooper JCW, but she feels the Porsche is that much more. Like I said, prior to now I have never been a Porsche fan - but she is winning me round with her, erm how can i say, methods!!

Sounds like you should draw out the buying process for as long as possible.

[stargazer30]

Op, Is she an experienced driver? Out of the possibles you mention the porker is the only mid engined RWD out the lot and this drive layout is not very forgiving. Does she need to drive it in the winter?

[petop]

My other half loves Porsche but as a 2nd car for her to shop run, kids to School etc i would go for one of your other choices, Audi TT. Seats in back not far off space of a 911 and dare i say it, will stand up to more "wife/mother" abuse than a Porsche. Servicing will be a little cheaper, especially with indys. And if she likes the performance, then a nice 225bhp TT will do her fine. Get a good one for 10k

[mattyn1]

stargazer30 said:

Op, Is she an experienced driver? Out of the possibles you mention the porker is the only mid engined RWD out the lot and this drive layout is not very forgiving. Does she need to drive it in the winter?

She is quite good actually - if she weren't I would not be entertaining this! Her previous was a Merc CLK, which she found just a little too big. As for the winter thing - she would yes, but she is sensible.

[MrFreight]

Hi

Firstly I'm a massive Porsche fan/owner so I should be biased towards the 996's being mentioned however FWIW Don't bother!!

I'd consider the TT or other options (or dare I sugggest this!) Keep the Golf - it is just not worth the grief mate - thinking about the use the vehicle is likely to be put you don't want/need an older 996.

Sorry to put a written wet blanket on her idea!

MF

[supersport]

mattyn1 said:

... - but she is winning me round with her, erm how can i say, methods!!

Sounds like a win win situation to me and you might get a Porsche out of it

[rog007]

Do it! I'm sure no one on their death bed says 'glad I never bought that 911'!

[Magic919]

Got to laugh at the Audi TT suggestions as it's what my elderly Mum drives. My wife likes Porsches and she drives a 911.

Provided you have a few grand in reserve then buy one and enjoy. In the last year or so I've spent almost nothing on one 911 and £5k on the other. I'm sure that'll even out over next couple of years.

[All2Chewy]

I run a 3.4 2000 reg 996 as a daily driver, it has 150k miles on it and still drives lovely. Don't be put off by too much scare mongering, there are still good examples out there and yes, you will need to budget at least 2-3k a year for tyres, servicing and the odd repair now and again such as Oil Seperator, Coil packs, the odd suspension arm etc. However you are driving a £60k+ Sportscar with decent power and not an Audi IT, so it's worth it for the Smiles per mile factor. In Summary - DO IT!

[mattyn1]

petop said:

My other half loves Porsche but as a 2nd car for her to shop run, kids to School etc i would go for one of your other choices, Audi TT. Seats in back not far off space of a 911 and dare i say it, will stand up to more "wife/mother" abuse than a Porsche. Servicing will be a little cheaper, especially with indys. And if she likes the performance, then a nice 225bhp TT will do her fine. Get a good one for 10k

For starters she will need to look at a Porsche, as she can be quite picky about her cars. well anything actually. But it is what she is interested in so will go with it. Thanks for the advice though - I do see your point, although she will use it as a daily car which involves 10 miles to work.

Best of luck on your tour - when do you go? Had two myself and quite happy never to return!

[petop]

Cheers, i go in 2 weeks time....well looking at the calendar actually 10 days. It will be my 3rd time out there and last tour before i get out of Army next year after 26 years!

[mybrainhurts]

Porsche...?

Women...?

With their reputation...?