The Fate of me getting a 996 or a sc430 rests in your hands.I need everyones opinion!

Hi guys, first time poster and let me say this community is awesome and extremly insightful. I REALLY need ALL your honest opinions regarding my unique situation. I am a 21 year old college student who has saved up a bit of money and am now looking at a new car. My decision has been boiled down to two options since they are in the same price range. a 996 or a sc430. Now lemme give you some background as far as where I am coming from. I have been in love with p cars every since I was a 5 year old envying the hell out of my big brother who is 18 years older than me and his 928. God that car was the sh*t but the maintence beat the hell out of him that he couldn't keep it for much long. I know that one day i will have a 911, I just don't know if right now is the right time and this is where you guys come in.... I have saved up about $23,000 and will get a $10-12,000 loan that will be reasonable for me to pay off within 2 years. My concern isn't the upfront dollar value of the vehicle, its the cost of maintence that i should expect to pay after getting my new car. I have done tons of searches on this forum about reliability and warranties and I must say that this is what has held me back from getting a 996 yet. I mean if the engine fails, I am REALLY screwed but what may be just as important in my decision is that I can't afford to be paying $500 maintence costs with any kind of frequency what so ever. The lone reason I am considering a sc430 is simply because of the fact that from all the research I have done, this car is as close as you can get to getting a luxury sports car that you can drive with the piece of mind knowing it will never take a dump on you by means of a huge maintence bill. I love EVERYTHING about the 911 over the sc430 except for just the reliability which will probably hold me back from getting one at this point. I am leaning toward the sc430 and am now posting here so you guys can convince me that I am making the wrong move. I will be going to grad school, so I really will need a car that will be extremly dependable and not lay me with a large maintence bill ever pretty much lol. Is this really a situation of where the 911 might be too rich for my blood as far as maintence costs over the 4-5 years or so driving 15k miles a year that I expect to keep the car? Please enlighten me rennlisters!

First of all, Welcome aboard! Based on that quote alone, I would recommend you stay away from a 911 for now. Secondly, with your budget of around the low to mid $30k, you would probably be looking at a 99-2000 model. If you are lucky to find a well maintained car, and most wear & tear parts have been replaced, then you might be fine with just periodic maintenance and oil changes. Otherwise, you could be spending quite a bit on a car that age with average miles. And everytime the car goes in the shop, you can be sure it's gonna be at least several hundred $ ranging up to a couple thousand. And like you said, if the engine fails, you're screwed. If the clutch goes, transmission, RMS, etc, those are all big tickets. Unless of course you're handy with a wrench and can DIY. Otherwise even an annual full maintenance service will be painful. The other option is to get one with a warranty. Of course, I also understand how eager a P fan can be to realize his dream, I'm not saying you won't be able to find a good condition 911 that's gonna be problem free. If you feel lucky and are willing to take the chance, Go for it! Psssst...and you CAN'T compare a SC430 with a 911. That is a lame sports car, IF it's even a sports car. It's an overpriced Toyota luxury coupe. Yes, it's reliable, very smooth and quiet ride, but if your dream has been a Porsche, you will likely be disappointed. You might be better off with a G35 coupe. I was gonna suggest the E46 M3, but that is not much more reliable than a 996. Just my humble opinion, and Good Luck in your decision...

Patience is a hard thing to come by when you are young. And this is what you will need for now. The last thing that you need to do right after college is to buy a car that with one issue could put you into financial hardship. Skip the Porsche for now and work on building a stron financial base that can absorb the uncertainties of Porsche ownership unless of course you like to work on cars and don't mind something much older. That said, a Lexus SC430 is not a sport car and you will be very disappointed if you think driving one will anyhing close to driving like a Porsche. Why not look at the Honda S200?

I agree 100% with the above comments. I think if you actually drive the Lexus and the 911, you will realize there is absolutely no comparison. I understand your desire for a 911, I was in your shoes at that point in my life. At the time I opted out for an early 70's 911 (that would have cripled my finances trying to maintain it), for a brand new at the time '83 GTI. That was a fabulous car that perfectly fit my needs. In fact, I wish I still had that little car. Point is, I think there may be a more appropriate car for you than either of the two you mention. I don't know exactly what that is, you really have to decide. Keep looking, researching, and finally start driving some cars. Remember that patience has it's rewards. And as Mick says, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you need."

i have had 4 porsches and this may sound crazy...but,how about an older 911..i have an 87 911..now by no means is it a 996.the 996 is faster,bigger,more comfy,ect..BUT the 3.2 is a classic and is like a race car..fun as hell.there are a few guys here with 997's and they still have their 3.2..they are bulletproof..you can get one for 15-18k and have some more to do repairs...i have owned 2 boxsters(1 was an s)and a 95 993.and i feel that the 3.2 is the most reliable of all of them..my a/c works no oil leaks..ect..the lexus is not in the same ball park as a porsche so i will not comment..but if its your 1st porsche,you really should drive the 3.2..its raw.its fun as hell..more fun than the 993 and the 996imho..good luck,j

Here is my 2 cents. I bought a used 2002 C4 convertible three years ago. I love this car. I came out of a firebird with 500 hp and the two do not compare because the 996 feels like part of your body when you drive it. BUT this car has had a new engine at 30000 miles, three rear main seals, two convertible top repairs, and a clutch replaced (ana patridege anda pair tree....). Total repairs mostly under warrenty probably about 15 thousand dollars. So I would recommend a used Toyota supra or Z car so you get your sports car juices satisfied before embarking into the wonderful world of Porsches. Would I own another one? Absolutely! Best regards.

I'll chime in. You don't want to buy something that A. will cripple you financially at the first problem B. something that is not what you want. I don't care how much it costs, making a payment on one car and dreaming about the one you should have bought sucks. Were it me, I'd be looking at Subaru STI, Mitsi Evo, G35 Z350 etc... Something Japanese for the reliability factor, and some of these cars come close to the 996 in performance. Most of these cars can be had new for the money you are talking, which means warranty so you're covered for at least 3 years until your payments are done. Also they are very fun to drive. The other option I'd be looking at, if you can spin a wrench, maybe a decent reliable used car and an older Air-cooled 911. The older SC's are pretty easy to work on and you would always have your corolla, accord, etc.... to get you back and forth to school should a financially crippling issue develop with the 911. Good luck and have fun with it, whatever it ends up being.

DUDE - You cannot get a Lexus SC430. You're 21, not 71! I was in a very similar situation at the same age 10 years ago. Can you tell us a little more about your situation? Where do you live? How close are you to graduating? What will your degree be in? If it were me, i'd buy something like a GTI or WRX and have no car payments and wait till the point where you can get the 911 that you really want and with a warranty. Did I mention how you absolutely cannot buy a SC430?

The SC400 is not a sports car......period. It is a "luxo-cruise-convert-barge". If that is the way you want to "roll" get one!! I imagine I might slow down enough to want one of those when I'm about 180 years old. Scratch that, maybe I'll be ready at 185.

You should be driving an E46 3 Series Coupe like a 330Ci. The Lexus is not a sports car. You have plenty more years before you decide on getting a 911. It took me 4 yrs after I finished school before I could justify the 911 that you see in my avatar.

I agree with others; the SC430 is an old man/white shoes car. Extremely ugly also, in my opinion. The proportioning is all screwed up because of the too small greenhouse on top. Compare it to the MB SL which also has a folding hardtop, and you'll see what I mean--the MB got it right. The best option, which you probably won't take: At 21, if you buy a beater and bank the $23,000, you'll be able to buy a Ferrari cash when you're 40. Every dollar you invest at age 21 is worth SO much more than every dollar you invest when you're older. I realize, of course, that it's not as much fun that way...

Dude, you are doing all this backwards.........listen, i am not the one to preach that you have to pay cash for a car (a lot here do), as I understand the value of living the good life. BUT, what the heck are you doing piling up loans even before graduation ?????? (other than student loans, of course)...put, half of what you have saved on a good mutual fund, use the rest for a suby, mazda, used bimmer (even this may be too much) or something like that. Taking this kind of risk early on makes no sense. I too had to wait for 4 years after graduation, yeah, I got married and then had to buy a family car, a home and so on, before the p-car,...I am not even saying you should do that,...but, come'on!, you've got to wait at least till graduation and get a job ????? Hey, but it's your life,..you asked, and this is what i think.........But, there is no if's and but's, SC430 is NOT A SPORTS CAR

I'm quiet sure banking the money wont happen. This is usually what happens. Boy buys Cool Car that helps him get Hot Girl. Boy marries Hot girl . Hot girl gets preggy , so boy must sell cool car. Hot girl loses figure due to baby pounds.(hopefully temporary) Boy is left with no cool car and less hot wife. The moral of the story is 1. make sure its love and not just physical attraction. 2. Make sure the cool car is Really Cool . ( After kids come along there may not be another) 3. Make sure wife is cool too. ( I know alot of guys that make good money and drive crap cars cause the wife wont LET them buy another cool car. Know, I agree, buy an older 911. One that wont strap you up front. Good Luck, and dont buy an old man car! There is plenty of time for that later. MUCH Later!!!

You can get a really nice low mileage boxter for the money you've got saved up. A little more practical for every day driving than an older 911. and much less of an original investment than a 996. That being said i think at your age you should go buy a new miata or slightly used s2000. if you don't have a job and the money for the upkeep of owning a p car than go japanese young man. and the lexus ? wait until your 60 dude.

The first problem would "break you". If you can't afford problems, go Lexus.

Man, you need to drive some cars. I can't even put a SC430 and a - - Porsche, any Porsche, in the same sentence. Such totally different cars. Take once huge step back and decide what you want in a car. If it is status, forget the Porsche. It has it, but it comes with a cost. If it is a sports car experience, then okay, consider a Porsche.

Excellent suggestion My car history went Alfa Romeo 164 (cheap first car) -> BMW 325 coupe (E36) -> Porsche Boxster -> Porsche 996 -> ?997 GT3/Cayman 'S" The whole time I have bought cars that have been below what my friends perceive to be my level of affordability. I have done this so I could invest for the future and with patience get a comfortable lifestyle with less stress. My current 996 is I think my last 'patience car' Instead of rushing out and spending that $23k on a depreciating liability that gives you lots of fun, why not use it as a downpayment on an investment property that will give you money every month? I put down about that amount of money on each property I purchase and get about $600 a month after repairs etc in free cash (before income tax)

ahayvi, You and I are in somewhat similar situations, except that I didn't consider an SC430. I put down 22k on my 911, and took out a 14k loan for the rest. And as of yesterday, I've gone through a failed engine. Oh, and I just restarted my college career in September. Let me just say that my CPO warranty was an absolute godsend. Had my engine gone without the warranty, a replacement would have been an extremely severe hit to my finances - I do not think I'd be in a 911 anymore. I bought the car with 42k on the clock, and it's been trouble free. The 60k service was a little expensive - and I got a superb deal on it, but other than that it's been oil changes and tires. I had some sort of electrical problem with my passenger side tail and headlights, but the dealer fixed those free of charge in about a half-hour under CPO. Cosmos makes a good point about there being several big ticket items that can put a big dent in your wallet. Honestly, I'm spending more money than I should on a car. I decided to pay off the loan in a few months, which was a very good decision. If I still owed money on it, I'd feel a lot worse when taking it in for big ticket items. My best advice would probably be to save up until you can take out a smaller loan. Of course, you could be in the same boat I was: I knew if I didn't buy before I started school, it would be a terrible idea once I did start Just some thoughts. Edit: Oh, yeah - having a loan on the car makes modding a ridiculous proposition Just more to consider.

At your age it is just not rational to spend $23K plus another $10K-$15K in loans on a vehicle. Not that Porsches are rational but financially it just does not make sense. Invest your $$ - you are going to need it, buy something cheap that you can afford. Get something newer that has a warranty and you will not worry about maintenance costs. I agree with the BMW 3 series suggestion. Look for a used 04 or 05 and it should have a maintenance package along with the warranty. Wait until you get a job, then get a nice car. I know the $$ is probably burning a hole in your pocket but trust me, spending your wad on a car + gettting a loan is just not a responsible thing to do.

You can't enjoy a car, any car but especially a Porsche, if you are continually worried it could "break you". Not worth it at this point in your life. There will be enough pressures in the near future, cost of the car should not be one of them. Buy a "FUN" car, a worry-free car. There is a lot to choose from. WRX, GTI, S2000, heck, even a Miata. I had a fun little VW Scirocco, then a fun Honda Prelude. Have fun, with no worries from the car. Then, when the time comes, buy the dream car worry-free and enjoy that as well.

I am leaning toward the sc430 and am now posting here so you guys can convince me that I am making the wrong move. I have to admit that I'm always puzzled by posts like this. To me it's no different than saying that I'm dating a blonde and brunette, please help me decide which one I should marry. The SC 430 is a great looking, well made, and very reliable sporty car. The 996 is an all out sports car. These cars are so different that I'm surprised that anyone would have trouble deciding between the two. Now if you said you had trouble deciding between a C6 Z06 or a Viper or a 997, we could offer our views and you could compare them with what the guys offered on Vette and Viper forums. But at least these are all sports cars aimed at enthusiasts.

This is not one of your concerns, but I have both cars, and I get looks & stares in the SC430 (especially when the top is down). Children will point at me like im a celebrity & people will turn their heads when i drive by. I dont get the same attention in the porsche, maybe people think im a stuck up a-hole in the Porsche.

SC430? Where'd that one come from? I'd go 2002-2003 330Ci, or iC if you want the convertible - P-car's no good if you can't afford the maintenance.

From the way you pose the question, my interpretation is that you are getting in over your head financially. Then, ask yourself what you want out of a car. Is it luxury or sport? IMNSHO, an SC430 is only sporty when compared to a Lincoln by its target demographic of retirees. Unless you do your own maintenance, Porsches are not cheap to maintain. If you want to enjoy it and not have to worry about it all the time, you should also have $5K to $15K available that would not "break" you. I don't think anyone will give you an extended warranty on an old P-car. For sport and reliability, I would take a serious look at an S2000 which is at least getting close to Porsche territory.

Boxster!!! Great driving car, reliable, and you can have it with no payments. Five year old boxsters have gone thru most of their depreciation and will hold value. Most of all it is a blast to drive!!!

[QUOTE=arenared] IMNSHO, an SC430 is only sporty when compared to a Lincoln by its target demographic of retirees. QUOTE]

I know a lot of people on here are older and say buy the car outright, and although it is a very nice feeling of not having car payments, at your age, you can do well through investing car loans are CHEAP secured money you can easily get a loan at 6% If with a bit of effort you can't get more than that rate of return by investing (after capital gains or income tax) then you probably have no business driving anything more high end than a hyundai sonata or chevy impala I live very comfortably within my salaried income. My separate investment income could very easily pay for a lease payment on a Lamborghini Murcielago, but I choose not to at this stage of my life. Try to look past the short term and look to the 5-10 year plan. I'm not saying buy a honda civic, but definitely look at a 3-5 year old BMW coupe, put 10% down and finance the rest. If you don't qualify for this loan then that should tell you something

Not very smart to be spending all of your money, PLUS an extra $10 to $12 (and will easily turn to $15 to $17K). The smart move would be, to get a broker, start investing and don't buy a P until you are at an age and point when it is smart. Most people who buy P's can buy them outright. Having car-debt is one of the stupidest things you can do, any money person will tell you this. Especially when it's a car that's 7 years old and high miles that you should expect to have issues. My BEST advice is to spend about $10k of your money, and invest in a good, solid Honda Civic and drive it into the ground. If you are smart w/ your dollars now, you will have the P of your dreams when the time is right.

I think this is a bit of a gross generalisation. I actually just bought a $45k truck/SUV for cash and although its nice to feel right now that I don't have a payment, I have a couple of real estate income opportunites that are coming up that will give me a 25-30% cash on cash return if I put $20k into each one. So i will be getting a note at 6% on the truck that I currently own outright. Would a 'money person' really think its a stupid to exchange 6% interest rate cost on $40k car loan into a 25% return on a $40k investment? after all taxes and costs I am still looking at a very decent 15% return that would not be possible without releasing the cash equity in my vehicle....

Gentlemen, I think some of you are getting out of topic here. As always, some of you are ever trying to tell everyone that "buying a car cash is the only way to go for a P, otherwise you shouldn't drive one". "Taking a loan on a car is bad, and investing money elsewhere is better"... Come on...this is a young gentleman here, with dreams just like us back then. I was impatient and went for what I wanted when I was young. He asked for opinions on the cars he wanted, NOT for the best way to handle the money he has! Let him have your opinions on the cars and answer his questions. Let him do with his hard earned money as he wishes. Damn, that's what car loans, mortgages are for. For those who want things that they cannot immediately afford. Some of you, from previous posts, make it seem like Porsche owners are an elite group, that if you can't buy it cash, you don't belong to the group. Life is short, just do what is possible within your means, as long as you don't end up in deep financial difficulty. Realize you dreams if possible, and be happy, you might not be around long enough.

CosmosC4S - I agree completely. Well said.

I completely agree with Eric's comments. Trust me, maintenance costs an issues on these cars take away the joy of ownership. It is great that you have the dream... it gives you inspiration and keeps you focused. Follow your heart, work hard and be patient. Youth is such a wonderful thing... way better than a car. And I would definitely go for a nicely maintained '87-'89 911 way way before any boring thing from Lexus... Best of luck!

I'm sure my 3 sons would agree. Save your cash and keep saving, graduate, get a good job...then buy a TT or GT3 shortly thereafter. I don't think you would regret it.

I just bought a 996 cab. The car absolutely rules. If you have to ride the bus while you are scouring Ebay for a used set of tires, it is worth it. Lexus? My Dad is 74 years old and I won't let him buy a Lexus!

Thanks guys, after reading all the post, I am going to sell my 996, it is such a bad investment.............pssst, yea right, I havent spent a dime on my car except for expendibles. Good thing I know how to work on it, I have the manuals, 82,XXX miles and still rollin'. There is some parts on the car that could put a strain on the wallet if they broke, i.e. $675 a piece oil pumps (2), $1200 intermediate shaft, $875 A/C compressor, and others items that could drive you to but I have had good luck so far. Knock on wood.

I was in a similar situation, the difference is that I already graduated. I took my lifetime savings $20k and realized my dream of owning a 911, I chose a nice 2002 C2 6sp with 32k miles. I put $2k in my 0% APR credit card and finaced the rest. My payments are a lot less than what most people pay for a honda accord. I always dreamed about having a 911 since I was 5 Y.O. I got a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics. I got a very good job wich provided me a company vehicle so my 911 stays in my parents garage all week.. some people say that I should have bough a house, others say that I should have saved the money... I wanted a 911 and thats what I got, and couldn't be any happier. I am getting a 4 year extended warranty to help me sleep better... thats my story.. my advice to you is to wait until you graduate and get a decent job.. then realize your dream like I did and do your homework before buying, I did research for many years before buying my 911. Dont buy any car.... just wait, remember, he who endures conquers Greg

[QUOTE=CosmosC4S] Some of you, from previous posts, make it seem like Porsche owners are an elite group, that if you can't buy it cash, you don't belong to the group. Man, I'm glad someone finally said it!

I would have sold my mother to drive a Porsche when I was 21. I would have maxed out my credit cards, sold my guitar, anything. 21 is one of the few ages you can actually enjoy a car like this without stressing about it - who gives a **** if he's a little over his head? Go for a '99 for about 28k, throw a few grand in the bank for maintenance, and drive the hell out of it.

Why not a Boxster? 25k will buy you a nice Boxster, put 5k in the "rainy day" fund. No shame in starting in a Boxster!

Sorry, I don't think it's a good idea to spend that kind of cash when you are JUST starting life in the real world. It's a bad idea to start out spending your life savings on a car that MAY not be reliable at all. If you guys want to encourage him to spend all his money and go into debt before he even gets a job, thats fine. I say, DON'T get car debt. Just because it's the American way, doesn't mean it's smart. There are SO many more important things in life. Think about your future, security, family, retirement. Your P should come when, and ONLY when you can say everything else in your life is financially stable. Just trying to give GOOD, SOUND advice. I am surprised more P owners don't agree w/ me. Anyhow, it's just my humble opinion, that happens to be right!

Yeah, but the car will hold its value (and his savings), so at most he's risking 10 or 12 grand car loan, which is chump change. He could buy the car for 30k, sell it in 5 years for 23k, and still have his original savings. What else is he going to do, buy a Honda?

I live in orange county california. UC Irvine student, psych major. I already have a z and think its a nice car and all but the porsche has and always will be my dream car. Its such a unique car that there simply is no substitution for it. The reason the SC is my second choice is because of its smooth ride and beautiful interior. The money ive saved up cant even get me a few square feet of land where I live. And finally, I will be spending my money on a car. I have a reliable good paying job that has got me the money ive saved up AND I am positive the car loan will be payed off for by the time I graduate and move on to grad school. The only thing I really wanna know is if i should expect to pay so much money on the 996 in maintence that my entire plan of having a reliable car for 4-5 years without having to put forth any kind of money down for anything thats not a oil change. I know that stupid little problems with pcars can still run you about 500 bucks just to fix, I simply cant afford to be paying for costly maintence/repairs at this point of my life. I really cant picture myself during my middle aged or older years driving a 911 (no disrespect) . I honestly have/want it all. I have a nice car and a beautiful gf but to drive the 911 during the prime years of my life........ WHHOOOOOOO! thats the sh*t, or as you older folks call it, the american dream or something. lolololol

I'm in my late 20's so I'm not an example of some of the middle aged people on here, but i think that buying a 996 at the year you want to get and keeping it for 4-5 years is likely to be more maintenance intensive than you maybe able to deal with I didn't realise you were going to grad school as well. Unless your parents are bankrolling you (an enviable situation that I never had the benefit of), I think that it is maybe not the best plan. Although we aren't talking F or L cars here, where if you have to ask about cost then you really shouldn't be asking about buying, we are still talking about a vehicle that was not that far off $100,000 new that has associated higher running costs I personally would not go there right now since you have such a long way to go before getting out of school, but thats just me. A boxster give 80% of the porsche experience for a lot less money going in and less in terms of insurance and other running costs

If you want a 996 ultimately, just get it now... If you're anything like me, you'll end up buying the SC, drive it for a year, and desire the 996 anyway. Probably sell the SC for a bit of a loss, then buy the 996. I say, skip the loss part Just get it done!

i would spend 17K on a 3.2 911..its more than enough car for you and they are reliable.its cheaper than a new accord or camry..the other thing is to save the money.you can always get a p-car in the future.or lease a new boxster for maybe 500-600 month..no warranty issues..and maybe buy it at the end..i will say that my 3.2 has been lots of fun..more fun and reliable than the 2 new boxsters i owned and the 993..and although its a lot slower and older than the the 996..its more fun imo.j

My wife has an SC and I have the 911. They are both amazing cars and I love the contrasting driving styles of each. If they made a manual SC I might consider one for me.........Which one would I rather call my own and drive..... the one and only 911. Get yourself a 2002 CPO 911 and don't look back.......

Get The P car. Dont settle.

Please disregard my last post about waiting till you graduate. It sounds like you already made up your mind up to buy one or the other. As the owner of 2 P cars and a new Lexus my vote is definately for the Porsche. I would advise buying an extended warrenty and be sure to rat hole a couple of hundred a month for your mainterence and tire fund. Also it's likely your insurance may be a bit more as well. Let us know your decision

you only live once!!! You are single young and still in school....get the Porsche!!! Drive it, but remember to keep the Rpms under 4000 untill the temp is over 180...check the oil and the coolant.....and enjoy!! All against??.......right......just do what you feel is best for you! The engine in a P can break down as much as the engine in a Lexus..... Post the images if you decide to go for a P!

I don't get the OLD GUY remarks, escpecially considering your other car choice is a LEXUS! I'm 36 and just bought my 996 in July. I'm having more fun in my 30's than I ever could in my 20's. Plus at 21 the insurance quote alone should be frightening. At 25 I bought a well cared for 944 'cause I'd always wanted a P car. It was affordable and fun, but it still wasn't a 911. I kept it for 4 years and sold it for 2K less than I bought it for (not too bad). The only thing I regret was not keeping it and turning it into a track car. If you have to spend the money on a car, forget the LEXUS altogether (anyone that sees you in that ride will think you borrowed your dads car) and get the Boxster. If you spend 20-22 on a used Boxster, you can drive it a few years and the depriciation shouldn't be any worse than any other $20K car. Hold off on the 911 until you can afford to drive it like you stole it! I don't "abuse" mine, but at the same time I'm not scared to run it to redline through the first 3 gears just for fun. If I break something, then it's my own stupid fault and I'll get it fixed! Whatever you do...BUY THE WARRANTY!!!

+1, except I still only have 1 Porsche,...have to remedy that one of these days

when i was at your ago, i could get one, but i waited, then i got merried, buying house, had one baby, buying another house, had another baby..... fast-forward to the past Sat. the weather is perfect 70s, no wind, the best Nov. i 've even seen in N.E. for years. i have a nice 996 cab setting in my garage, but i couldn't take it out for a span. i need to do shopping with kids, feed them, take them to nap, etc. etc. now monday, i am all exhausted from the week end, and trying to put myself together to do some work. my point is, do it now. otherwise you either can't buy it (other fin. duties in life, kids college, morgage, etc), or you don't have time to enjoy it, even though it's setting in your garage!!! as for SC430, not a good choice. for your $$, i would shop hard for a CPO 99-01 996. good luck!

For that money I would look for a brand new VW GTI - full warranty, fun car, pretty reliable. Leave these cars for later... just my US$0.02

I think you've heard it from enough people on here by now, but let me reiterate that you should cross the sc430 off the list. I also happen to think that buying a 911 if high ticket maintenance bills are an issue is a mistake, as there are a lot of other cars that you can get in used for 25-30k that will be fairly reliable and MUCH cheaper to fix if they break: 1. c5 Corvette 2. Bmw E36 M3 or m Coupe 99-00 3. Subaru WRX/STi 4. Honda s2000 5. OLD Acura NSX If you want my opinion, get the s2000 for a few years and sell it when you finish grad school for a 911.

You folks are all assuming that our friend wants a sports car. The fact that the Lexus was on his list suggests that he is just looking for a prestige car. In that case, perhaps the Lexus is the right car for him. If prestige is the sole criteria, and the future budget is tight, the Lexus is not a bad choice. He might go for years before seeing someone his age driving one, but that is his choice. I wish I could be happy driving that car. Just think of the savings in tire replacement alone! But it would be dangerous for me to drive a Lexus. I would fall asleep and wreck the thing.

I'm sure you know this, but everything costs more with a Porsche. Period. Maintenance, tires, gas, repairs, you name it. BUT, nothing compares to a Porsche. If you're like everyone else here, you understand that all other cars are judged by the bar that Porsche created. Stated simply- they are all compromise cars (or specialized vehicles for towing your Porsche ). I suggest getting a nice under 40K mile 996 and buy an after market warranty. They're not bullet proof (other threads show this) - but the good ones will definitely pay your repair costs no questions asked. I did it, and so did a bunch more folks here. I'll repeat what a few others have said - don't settle. -td

My neighbor has the SC430. I have never had a desire to drive it, and he tells me all the time that he wishes he would have bought a Porsche. After seeing mine, and learning what I paid for a CPO car, he said he's buying a Porsche when his lease is up on the SC430.

I just drove the sc430 through a road course at the "taste of lexus" even at dodger stadium. It is by no means a sports car. It's more of a luxury coupe, a high end solara than any p-car. There's significant body lean and dull steering feel. Throttle response seems a bit disconnected and the seats are comfortable but not supportive. Imo, the sc is a nice car to take your gf out on the town, but it's not a fun car by any means. Reliability and depreciation are things to watch on a 996 or any other sports car. But as the others on this board has advised, don't compromise. Don't blow your hard-earned savings on a car that you don't really want. The only worse than buying a lemon that you love is a creme puff that you hate.

Truer words were never spoken...