Can a decent and reliable 911 be had for c.£25k?

[celica88]

Would be manual and maybe current thinking cabriolet
Been researching Boxster and Cayman, for this money I think a safe place would be a 987.2

However, those being 2 seater, limits to able 1 family member, so I will need to leave either wife/ kids lol

Still not discounted them as the number of times I will have more than one passenger might be slim, but would be nice to have the two kids in during their holidays, making memories.

I like the look of 996c4s in coupe, wouldn’t discount cabriolet if I was told they are okay, but I read 997 being better.

However then I read 997.1 can be troublesome; so does this in reality mean I leave this thought just as a thought and look at other viable options; as wanting something reliable too.

[VerySideways]

It is possible to get a Hartech rebuilt car for this sort of money, but there's also a lot to be said for simply buying something which has been well used and well maintained and just enjoying it.

A 996 C4S cab with a manual 'box is unlikely to ever lose money i reckon...

[Regbuser]

I'd go for a 996 targa, cos I like em, something like this, manual, appears to have a fair maintenance history

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325172664342

[snotrag]

You can still get a really nice 996 in that price range, but probably not a 4S.



Targa - I love them too (many dont) however the Targa is a Cabrio underneath (look at the lines of the bodywork under the rear window) - this means that they have the smaller, more upright Cabrio rear seats - plus limited headroom when the roof glass is back.

So if couple seats are for small people, cab/targa seats are for even smaller people!

[celica88]

Regbuser said:

I'd go for a 996 targa, cos I like em, something like this, manual, appears to have a fair maintenance history

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325172664342

That’s lovely too
Even better for way less too.
Wander how much a Targa mechanism to fix is

[celica88]

snotrag said:

You can still get a really nice 996 in that price range, but probably not a 4S.



Targa - I love them too (many dont) however the Targa is a Cabrio underneath (look at the lines of the bodywork under the rear window) - this means that they have the smaller, more upright Cabrio rear seats - plus limited headroom when the roof glass is back.

So if couple seats are for small people, cab/targa seats are for even smaller people!

Thanks
Anyone know what height passenger could fit int the back for a short journey with roof up?

[Regbuser]

celica88 said:

That’s lovely too
Even better for way less too.
Wander how much a Targa mechanism to fix is

Less than the 10k saving against your budget!
Don't know where you are, but Precision Porsche do targa repairs https://www.precisionporsche.co.uk/targa-roof-repa...
Or you could have a go at DIY, good thread here > http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?p=1448344&s...

[anonymous-user]

celica88 said:

snotrag said:

You can still get a really nice 996 in that price range, but probably not a 4S.



Targa - I love them too (many dont) however the Targa is a Cabrio underneath (look at the lines of the bodywork under the rear window) - this means that they have the smaller, more upright Cabrio rear seats - plus limited headroom when the roof glass is back.

So if couple seats are for small people, cab/targa seats are for even smaller people!

Thanks
Anyone know what height passenger could fit int the back for a short journey with roof up?

Don't know about a cab, but I get a 5'5" chubby teenage girl in the back of my 996 coupe for school runs. Headroom/width isn't the issue, but legroom is.

[Regbuser]

celica88 said:

Thanks
Anyone know what height passenger could fit int the back for a short journey with roof up?

A flexible 2m tall person could fold themselves into the back for a very short hop down to the local Spar, etc. But they may not be able to do the seat belt up, so wouldn't be legal. In practical terms we're talking people/children under 1.5m tall, and even then the legroom is very cramped.

[deckster]

The safest way to buy a 911 for £25k is to buy one for £15k and spend £10k fixing the bits which are broken, although you are going to have to accept that at this end of the market you are always waiting for the next big unexpected bill. Which I guess makes it a big expected bill, except you never know what it's going to be for which does make things more exciting.

I'm closing in on £50k total expenditure on my 996 (including purchase price, excluding tax/insurance/fuel) over 7 years and 45,000 miles. Having spent the money the car (touch wood) is wonderfully reliable and drives like a dream, although given that the last 4-figure bill was 18 months ago I'm pretty certain that it's about time for something else expensive to go pop.

[steve1968]

The short answer is “yes”

Maintenance and running costs can be a little higher than most cars but depreciation will certainly be less .

Have the experience you want and if you find it not working for you someone will soon take it off you, if you have bought the right one cost of ownership could be very little.

Speaking from experience of owning the cars and not just a laptop .

Be warned though,, they do get under your skin and after a while nothing else will do !!

[Gixer968CS]

I think you could find a nice car for that money. You really need to be aware of running costs though. For that money you're getting in to quite an old car and things are wearing out. If you want to maintain them to a high standard it can be costly. I've owned a 2006 Carrera S for six years, lovely thing but its cost me c£8k+ in running repairs in that time (that's excluding service costs). Probably not depreciated at all though and maybe worth a little more than I paid for it. For comparison, my girlfriend runs a 2009 BMW Z4 35is and that hasn't cost a penny in repairs in the 5 years she's had it and by it's 13th birthday my Porsche was experiencing some hefty bills. I'm on my 3rd Porsche and much as I love them I actually don't think they're particularly robust!!!

Edit: actually just added it up, it's nearer £11k. Gulp!!

Edited by Gixer968CS on Friday 6th May 16:37

[nunpuncher]

To own a 996 or 997.1 you've got to go in accepting the fact that there could be a £10k bill at some point. If that's a financially catastrophic prospect or you'll not sleep at night worrying about it then don't bother.

[steve1968]

nunpuncher said:

To own a 996 or 997.1 you've got to go in accepting the fact that there could be a £10k bill at some point. If that's a financially catastrophic prospect or you'll not sleep at night worrying about it then don't bother.

Totally agree with this comment, emphasis on the “could” .

You “could” also be hit by a bus crossing the road , please look both ways everyone.

Hopefully it will never happen.