Opinions sought by a newbie

[bigsi]

Hoping for some advice from the experts....

I have had my current 996 C2 CAB for almost 3 years, until recently used as my daily commute, now based in London so I commute on 2 wheels...
Car is adored by my 3 year old daughter, but it is impractical for the wife, daughter and I to use together, as leg room in the front is terrible when the (porsche) child seat is in..and as I am over 6'5" nothing can sit behind me!
Rather than see my lovely car sit, almost unused, I am thinking of changing. I love open top motoring but from reading info here I understand coupes have better rear seating..and that is what I need. Also having owned many cars I can't think of anything better than a 911.
I would love to get a GT2 but no rear seats (and cost) seem to have put a stop to that I keep seeing Turbos around the 50K mark, and that feels like the way to go..or should I go for a 997S (for a few more quid).
My dream is to have something unusual..you know a RUF, or a modified car with stylish bodykit and power to pull your cheeks back, but how do you find affordable cars like this, is there some magic website listing modified 911's..?

So, what do people think? and any clues on where to get a bit of porsche exotica?

many thanks

[tertius]

I think the big challenge for "exotica" is your requirement for 4 seats. Most of the more unusual Porsche models have the rear seats deleted - GT2, GT3, etc..

I also think you'll struggle to get a recent RUF modified car for a budget of 50K, in any case their 996-based cars seem to have mainly used the GT2 as the starting point, so no rear seats again. Happy to be corrected on this point though.

If you are willing to go for an older car, you might find a 964 or 993 based RUF for that money, but they are rare as hen's teeth.

Of your two suggestions I would take the 996 turbo over the 997S - the 996 turbo is going to be a future classic (along with the GT2, GT3 and RS imo).

Or as a slightly off the wall suggestion, you could buy a really good NA 993 for say 25-30 and then get RUF to do a BTR2 conversion to your spec - I think they charge 30K Euros for this. That would get you something pretty exotic for about 50K.

[bigsi]

Thanks for that tertius..
I checked out the RUF site.
Having had a 993 I would rather have either a 996 or 997, as I prefer the interior..nice idea though. I wonder what the cost of an upgrade to a 996 is? I use GTOne for my servicing and they are ex-RUF perhaps they will know...
Anybody else want to throw in any other ideas or info..suggestions other than RUF??

[Wetwipe]

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/115333.htm

well you cant say it isnt unusual and exotic.

has hung around the classifieds like a bad smell for a month or two though

[magic torch]

Wetwipe said:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/115333.htm

well you cant say it isnt unusual and exotic.

has hung around the classifieds like a bad smell for a month or two though

Great, thanks Darren.

I need that now.

[Wetwipe]

magic torch said:

Wetwipe said:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/115333.htm

well you cant say it isnt unusual and exotic.

has hung around the classifieds like a bad smell for a month or two though

Great, thanks Darren.

I need that now.

its the least i can do after all the "help" you have kindly given in leading me into bankrupcy within the next few weeks

[magic torch]

Wetwipe said:

its the least i can do after all the "help" you have kindly given in leading me into bankrupcy within the next few weeks

Hmmm, give up on a nearly completed deal I've been working on for eight months, or buy that car...

[ballcock]

magic torch said:

Wetwipe said:

its the least i can do after all the "help" you have kindly given in leading me into bankrupcy within the next few weeks

Hmmm, give up on a nearly completed deal I've been working on for eight months, or buy that car...

As your pal I must advise against ...



















doitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoit

[Thorny]

Hi bigsi, I don't think you'll find much more room in the back of a coupe than a cab I'm afraid. I've owned both 997 versions and although the coupe is more comfy because the rear seats slope slightly back, I think the rear legroom is the same.

[ballcock]

Wetwipe said:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/115333.htm

Actually , this reminds me of someone else ...

kleonard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You about?

[bigsi]

Thorny, thanks...not good news though. Guess I will have to take my child seat in and see what the difference is like..

If not much perhaps I will hang on, though for me 3 years is a long time with one car..got to be time for a change.
Anybody have any other reccomendations for where to get a 'unique' car from..

thanks

[nervous]

magic torch said:

Wetwipe said:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/115333.htm

well you cant say it isnt unusual and exotic.

has hung around the classifieds like a bad smell for a month or two though

Great, thanks Darren.

I need that now.

really? looks dull.

[HarryW]

Cerbera or Monaro/HSV, get over the badge's and try the cars.

[nervous]

HarryW said:

Cerbera

mine was fab.

apart from the swimming pool in the boot. i really miss those swans.

[bigsi]

Harryw, do love the cerbera...regrettably I don't fit...I owned a chimaera a few years ago and loved it. Had thought about tuscan recently as well (i know...lack of seats) but then it would rarely be used..I did look at the big Vauxhall, but to be honest it didn't fell 'special' enough..
thanks

[nervous]

bigsi said:

Harryw, do love the cerbera...regrettably I don't fit...

strange, i fitted in mine with a ton of room to spare. and when it was designed part of the design brief was alleged to be that it could accomodate peter wheler whose 6ft 7.

of course, that might be hogwash. i couldnt afford the hogwash option on mine. just those swans. break your arm they will you know. viscous creatures. mate for life yknow. thats probably why there so mean. of course, it used to be all swans round here when i were young.

[bigsi]

nervous...what an interesting response...
Perhaps I am all upper body and peter was all legs, or vice versa. However as it was some years ago that I tries the cerbera I will have another look...then all I have to worry about is it breaking down evry 1000 miles or so and crunching maintenance costs..

[HarryW]

Got to admit surprised you don't fit in a Cebera, they have massive front leg room imho. Anyway glad you had a Chim for while, every one should run a Tiv at least once in their motoring life, character forming .
Not sure where Nervy gets swans from, perhaps the glue vapours got to his brain .

[nervous]

bigsi said:

nervous...what an interesting response...
Perhaps I am all upper body and peter was all legs, or vice versa. However as it was some years ago that I tries the cerbera I will have another look...then all I have to worry about is it breaking down evry 1000 miles or so and crunching maintenance costs..

i used mine every day, did 15000 miles in sixth months and it never went wrong once.

good value for money at the mo too, in fact theres a thread running on the tvr forum (which i just happened to be in for no reason whatsoever) about ph'er ukbob selling his and i know thats an ace one. have a look.

[nervous]

HarryW said:

Got to admit surprised you don't fit in a Cebera, they have massive front leg room imho. Anyway glad you had a Chim for while, every one should run a Tiv at least once in their motoring life, character forming .
Not sure where Nervy gets swans from, perhaps the glue vapours got to his brain .

hey, thats a half truth.