Price guessing time!

As some of you may know my C4S has suffered a catastrophic engine failure (dropped valve seat). I'm pretty sure I'm going to go down the rebuild route however there do seem to be quite a few TT's around at a sensible price. What do you think an Arctic silver manual C4S with a busted motor is worth? The body is in very good nick with very slight bubbling on the edges of the front wheel arches, a mint interior (metropole), refurbed brakes and suspension (shocks, top mounts, coffin arms, tuning forks etc). Full service history and 117k miles. Just out of interest that is.....

I'll play. Based on the car being worth about £21k in a private sale if it had a working engine - I'd say £10k. The difference would allow for a really good engine rebuild to be done and compensate the buyer for the associated transport and organisational hassle.

Finger in the air quick stab - 10k.

Hi Its not the same thing of course, but we bought a nicely looked after 110k mile 996.2 3.6 C2 Tip (Grey/Black) with a nice spec and badly borescored engine for 6.5k. Berni

With the current lockdown hassle, getting it transported, finding a buyer who isn't adverse to risk - £6-8k.

Sounds about right then - around 10k under normal price.

Before my 996, I had a 2005 987S that lunched its IMS bearing. I was left in a situation like you where the rolling chassis was worth about 7k and a dead motor. I took the emotional route and had the engine rebuilt. It came back much better than before, with all faults remedied, and I thoroughly enjoyed the car for several years afterwards. As a roller, I'd buy yours for 10k and send the engine to Hartech for a 3.9 rebuild. It sucks that you're the one left with the chassis and a big bill looming, but the early water cooled engines are always going to go pop eventually. Once you get the engine rebuilt, you'll know your car has a ton of fault free miles in her.

Hmm. Some interesting answers so far. I'll be honest I thought a bit less... I'm going to get my man maths calculator out (ie a nice cold Estrella) and have a think. If there is anyone out there considering buying a C4S with a broken engine then I would certainly consider any offers...

I would say 6-7k and it should sell fairly quickly.

I purchased a 997 C4s with a bore scored engine 2 years ago for just over £13k. I don't think the prices have changed that much in 2 years and at the time I see a few 996 for £8k. I would still say £8k/£10k, I would put it up for £10k and give yourself some room to be knocked down.

I had the same problem with mine, unfortunately dropped a valve and cracked the engine block, Revolution Porsche couldn't repair it and offered me a donor engine at 6.5k (which wasn't rebuilt) I didn't fancy that option so they reckon I could scrap the car at 11-12k in parts (obviously depends what's on it) ie a handbrake can be £600 !! Strasse can repair the a broken engine block but there time scale was scary! And a very relaxed approach. I did get a a fully rebuilt engine to spec, from AMS Porache who are fantastic 👏...not sure I'll ever see my money back out of mine but least I know its good for another 100k 👍 Good luck (7-9 as is, 8-11k in bits to answer your question)

I went through this when my engine dropped a valve seat. There is a limited market and anyone buying is going to know the cost of a rebuild but they also have to allow for any other issues on the car which they can't price in as they can't drive the car. E.g is the alternator working? Is the power steering pump good? Does it start easily when warm or is the starter cable or the starter worn? Is the AOS good or bad, how is the exhaust and or Cats? Brake pipe over the greabox? Clutch & Flywheel? Suspension good or bad? If the head has dropped a seat, no one will want to take a risk on the existing head. New head is £4K, used is anywhere from £1k to £1.5k depending on availability. All of these items are additional to the engine build cost. So any buyer will have a lot of leverage to beat you down, or simply walk away. I think you might get £8k - but if that is what it is worth, and it costs about £18k to get a 3.9 from Hartech and have a lot of the items above tackled, then the man maths is to ask what you could get for £8k plus £18k = £26k. If you believe you can get a cracking good 3.9 C4S with zero miles and lots of new or overhauled other bits on it, then sell yours and buy it immediately. Otherwise you will find that your car with a rebuilt engine is the best value 3.9 C4S available. And that my friends, is why I spent money on the one I had already. And I feel better already just restating it!

Yep, i went for it too, I would only ever buy a broken or rebuilt 996 in the future 👍

I know that its meant to be a sin to do this but have you thought about breaking it....Just a thought :dont know:

I think you would have to be mad to break a car. It is a massive amount of work and you will have a ton of parts which take ages to sell. A car in pieces also takes up a massive amount of space. As said above £10k is about right, £6-8k for a fast sale. MC