wall

Here is my dilemma ... in autumn I'm looking at changing my current car (Mini CooperS purchased new in 2004) and as I have always had new cars I was thinking of trading in for the soon to be released BMW 130i with the M pack, which goes for about 38,000 Euros with a few extras.
However somebody just pointed out to me that for the same $$$ I could also get a dealer-guaranteed 911 996 around 1999 age and 50,000 miles.
Now, as I do about 20000 miles per year, how reliable would a 911 996 be once it reaches 90,000-100,000?
Having never owned a second hand car, how "new" is a dealer 6y.o. 50,000 miles 911 going to feel (wear and tear, rattles, problems, etc)?
Finally, what sort of depreciation could I expect if I sell the 911 after 2-3 years with about 100,000 miles?
Thanks for the help!!

Wall

PS 38,000 Euros = approx 26,000 GBPs

Andy M3

BMW's will sell easier wil 100k on the clock.

Both cars are very different - but on road performance will be similar in about every respect. I am would find it hard to choose between the 2 myself - but i think BMW would win the day !

Fuchsrohre

If you've never owned a 2nd hand car, don't start the whole process with a 6 year old porker for god's sake!

Type R

What a strange thread

wall

You think it would be a bad experience?
The person that made the original 911 suggestion to me thinks that a 5-6y.o. and 40-50,000 miles 911 is almost going to feel new given the build quality (assuming it was well looked after by the 1st owner).

wall

?

Petem95

Thats a bit of a tough one really, if you said you were only doing 10k miles per year, then I'd say Porker no contest, but 20k.. hmm

The BM is probably slightly more comfortable for long trips, and almost certainly does more MPG. One the other hand the 1-series are ugly little buggers, and everytime you see a 911 flash past you'll think "damn it!"

I reckon the 911 actually, the cars a legend!

DavidChief

I've got a 130i on order due in October.

If I had a straight choice between the two, clearly the Porker is the better car. But the running costs are going to be much higher, insurance ditto and if you're doing big mileage then the fuel economy advantage would probably be on the side of the BMW too.

So basically, if you're loaded go for the 911, but if not the 130i is not a bad second choice.

Rokerlad

The BMW 1 Series looks crap imho. The pics I've seen of the 130i don't make it look much different from the poverty spec models.

DavidChief

If you want it to look flash they're offering a new M Sport kit. Personally I'd prefer it to look understated.

The styling certainly polarises opinion - but I love it!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Forget the 130...get a M-coupe ....or a 996

Mad Gypsy

I'm staggered that you think there is a choice!! The 996 every time.

However, you will not find a 996 from a dealer for 25K, you'll find only the crappiest, high mile, low spec 996's at this price range.

Since when will a 231bhp (if using the standard BM 3ltr lump) 1 series hope to keep up with a 300-325bhp 911?

Even the E46 M3 is not in the same league as a 996 in terms of being a drivers car, so I'd be very surprised if a 130 could offer the same driving experience provided by a 996.

Have to agree, what a strange thread. A bit like asking; "shall I go for a suzuki swift or wrx?".

Fuchsrohre

I think the key line is nothing to do with "911 Porsche"

More to do with "I've never owned a 2nd hand car before"

A 6 year old porsche won't give you that new car feeling at all! I don't think the 996 series is faultless in build quality either not to mention the dull interior!

The Chief

Piece of p*ss this get two car's!!!! i'm not kidding, save a litle more if possible and buy a passat TDi for all your communting work fir about 3k (besides it will save you a bomb in fuel) and go out and buy that 996 you've always wanted!!!

Bobby Peru

Get an Alpina, best of both worlds

DavidChief

The 130i uses the new inline 6. It's a fantastic engine.

Figures are up to 265bhp and 315Nm. 7k red line now too.

wall

Actually it's not so strange ... ... with the same 25-30k GBPs I can get a nice new car (as I have always done in the past, and in this case my choice would be the 130i) but I've just realized I could get also a dream second hand car (a lowish mileage 996) ... so I think it's a fair dilemma.
Then throw in it depreciation (probably a lot more on the new 130i than on a 6y.o. 911), potential problems (the other way around, more likely and costly on the 911), and running costs ... and you can see how I'd be confused.
Plus I've never had a used car before, even my first car 13 years ago I saved like mad and bought a new Civic

Wall

PS in Italy (where I currently live) 28,000GBPs buy (today Porsche site ads) a 48,000km (30,000 miles) 911 996 C2, 1999 registered with one owner and various extras.

Dieseldog

Got to agree. Get the TDi sh!tter for work (parking it up has never been such a relaxing experience) and get a 993 for pulling out the garage on Saturday's. You'll keep the mileage down on the Porsche and still squeal with excitement every time you open the garage door.

I did exactly this (well maybe not the squealing), and you may find the insurance on the 911 is surprisingly cheap when you go 'limited mileage'.

ADP

Sod the zimmer buy the 996 - if its a dealer car it will feel mint, they do much more than bring em in and hoover them out at Porsche.