Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Something that I've been considering for a while is selling my Impreza Spec C and possibly purchasing a classic Porsche 911 or 928.

I've loved both models since I've been a boy and ideally I would like a 911 but I'd also consider a 928, but what are the pitfalls of purchasing either car other than knackered engines, gearboxes and rust?

I'm not keen on the 924, 944 or 968 but I would consider a Boxster S as they are a cracking drive albeit not into the classic band yet.

Whichever car I choose would be a spring and summer weekend toy and be garaged the rest of the time.

500

I'd go for the 911, but if it was to be a 928, it would have to be a manual Gts version!

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Both can be money pits - much more likely with the 928 though. Also finding a good one will be difficult.

911 the much better prospect, light, sublime steering, a classic!!!

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

The 911 would be my first choice without a doubt, I doubt that any car could be a bigger moneypit than an Impreza though.

Something like this would fit the bill.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

After some research I'm slowly ruling out the 928 but it's still a possibility.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Your car philosophy seems to be (a) buy a really nice example (b) spend a fortune making it better (c) sell it on before you've had the chance to enjoy it

Good choice with a 911 though.

TX.

Scooby Hoo?

iTrader: (3)

Go for the 911 993 cost between 20-30k These are the last of the air cooled engine and prices as starting to rise.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3289418.htm

This one is worth a look. Don't be put off by the triptronic gearbox or the targa roof as it's a super bit of kit. These will return a profit in 3/4 years time especial low mile well serviced examples.

And this is a must if funds allow.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3167155.htm

Keep it in this condition and you will be putting money in the bank.

Only go for FULL PORSCHE SERVICE HISTORY cars and you wont be sorry. Porsche service centres offer a health check service which you can arrange prior to purchase.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Don't agree with the latter point.

There are some excellent independents - go to PH for advice.

Any Porsche main dealer will do a health check for a couple of hundred notes - same as their own health check.

FPSH is desirable but not necessarily better - my dealer knows less about my car than I do!

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Thanks I think, I just get bored easily and I've had the Spec C for 18 months which is longer than I kept the S202 and Hawkeye WRX combined.

Whichever car I get next will be more or less standard.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Thanks but ideally I'd be looking for a 70's to mid 80's 911 or 928, but there are plenty of good independent Porsche specialists, there is one around 20 miles away from me.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

I'd definitely be getting a full inspection done by a specialist or dealer prior to the £ notes being exchanged, thanks for the top advice.

Scooby Hoo?

iTrader: (3)

Had a 1973 911 2.4 S in the 80's Same format as used in the famous 1973 Carrera.
Brought it for £5k sold it 3 years later for £7.5k Very few were make rhd and dueing the 90s most of the remain examples were turned into replic Carreras.
The last 1970's 911 S that came up for sale went for £90k.
Good luck finding a car, give Porsche Club GB a try.

Hear what you are saying Trout and it makes sense to use Independent dealers for services Parragon, Autofarm, Paul Stevens etc but the market prefers FPSH on top notch cars. Anything will do for a cheap runner. But what ever you go for Porsches eat money.

My friend has just had the carbon brakes replaced on his 2008 997 Carrera RS at £6500 and that was cheaper than Porsches normal cost.

ScoobyDoo555

Gotta admit that I'm hankering after a 996 Carrera 2....... as a weekend car until I can do the Ferrari thing....

Dave Thornton

I agree 100%, though prefer a manual personally.

If you're successful you'll spend more on fuel than depreciation and other costs. Which means you bought a depreciation-friendly car and you used enjoyed using it.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

For a 997 I would agree about FPSH. Once you get to between 6-8 years old you are likely to get cars going out if network (plenty of discussions on here).

I also don't agree they eat money. Replacement carbon brakes smells of abuse - normal wear is 100k miles.

My GT3 was no more expensive to run than my 996 GT3.

Yes things can go wrong but you can buy monthly premium maintenance and warrantly that are not extortionate.

A well bought Porsche will pay you back in spades of enjoyment, lack of depreciation if bought well and generally pretty reliable apart from a couple of well documented issues (996 RMS oil leak being an example).

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Oh - and never, ever, ever, get a tiptronic - I have never driven such an awful car as a 993/6 with Tiptronic.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

If you go for an early aircooled 911 my advice would be go for a testdrive first. Perhaps I was expecting too much and fogetting it was a Classic 911 and it was an old car. But a few years ago I ended up gettign a 964 C4 and regretted it. Loved the looks of it, and dare I say it the badge. But the drive is just agricultural compared to a scoob and not very quick. Heavy clutch, steering. Clunky gearbox, and didn't even feel that well screwed together...

This was about 8 years ago though, and the daft thing is despite all of this I would now like another. And even more dissapointing is I paid 16K for my mint 964 C4 at the time, and it would still be worth that and more now....

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Not that I've seriously narrowed down the 911 range yet but these are looking like my favoured choices:

911 SC 3.0 litre 1978-1983
911 Carrera 3.2 litre 1984-1989
964 Unsure yet of model

I'm not in a rush and I'll take my time, I'm also going to give my local specialist a visit as well to get their thoughts and knowledge on any local cars they might have knowledge of.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

I used to own a air cooled VW Beetle so I know all about agricultural.

Besides a Spec C is not exactly a comfortable ride either.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

For cars of that vintage two places come to mind in helping you source/restore/prepare to top condition - Autofarm and Paul Stephens.

The guy that prepares the classic cars at Autofarm is a friend of mine - top bloke and has a barn full of cars he works on. He is fanatical - he did some paint for me on my GT3 and even the detailer I used who is a paint specialist could not tell me which panel was painted. He was adamant that the whole car must have been done.

Ironically Porsche resprayed the front panel after I sold it - it was so obvious it was truly pants by comparison.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

911 3.2 SC is a better choice than the 3.0

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Thanks for the information.

I know what you mean about paintwork repairs, I'd only trust a good friend of mine who runs a small body shop but they do a first class job and I wouldn't send any car of mine anywhere else.

I know how fussy he is and he wouldn't even charge me if he even thought I wouldn't be 110% happy with his work.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Oops, I should have put 3.0 or 3.2 but how many of the 3.2's are there about?

But I suppose I might have a bit of a job finding a good example of either car.

zip106

Ask this question on the Porsche forum over on Pistonheads - you'll get much better responses from actual owners of the cars you're thinking about.

I think some of the answers won't be what you want hear....

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

This is something I've been thinking of doing too, a nice 3.2 or 964 tucked away in the garage for weekend use only, appreciating asset

billythekid

911 every time. The only other Pork worth having is the very limited editions, like the Club Sports but even then I would probably rather have a classic 911.

Dont expect to run it on mondeo money though, to keep it in good condition I would still use a good indy garage. £2k a year should be plenty, and TBH you will have change most years which I would put into a pot for a bare metal re-spray or new engine etc...

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Always fancied a 911 3.2, but i could only afford a dog, so i'll have to stick with my type r Might buy one one day and spend my time doing a home nuts and bolts rebuild when i'm about 90

PPPRob

If I were looking at Carreras or earlier I'd think carefully about something with a 4 speed box. The 5s are a lot nicer to live with.

drb5

iTrader: (4)

I'd go for something like this.....


LOVED the Singer 911 since i seen them on Pistonheads a good few months ago. Stunning vehicles.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

theres are a few for sale on the porsche GB forum right now !!( that where i bought my 944S a few months ago ), that way you know yr getting a "well look after" car ....most of the time !