$43, 500 for a 996?

I found this ad at a nearby dealer for a 996- The price is in the Boston Globe at $43,500 today. I saw the car a couple of weeks ago and it looked pretty nice- I seem to remember 57k miles. I'm currently a 964 guy and this car is out of my $ range. Does anyone else think that this seems cheap for this car? Oh yeah, here is the link <a href="http://www.championms.com" target="_blank">www.championms.com</a> BTW, I have nothing to do with them and don't know much about the 996 (Other than the fact that I cannot keep up with them at DE). I am just curious. Thanks

This is clearly the lowest price I have seen to date for a 996. One of two things: either the dealer is desperate to get rid of some of his cars -- perhaps this one has been sitting on this lot for some time now -- due to liquidity concerns, or the car has been damaged in some way, shape or form. You can tell this is an early MY'99 because of the yellow indicator lights, however, both front and back can easily be swapped out for around $750. Anybody who looks at this car seriously should do a thorough due diligence on it (including checking for repainting) before purchase. A reasonable price for most '99's -- and I've looked at quite a few for a friend recently -- is around $50K from a private seller. Obviously, pristine condition, lots of factory add-ons and dealer markups will all increase this price, but unless the car is extraordinary, you should be able to pick even an amazing '99 for no more than $52-$53K-ish. The fact that this is a *dealer* car going for 5K less really raises my suspicions -- unfounded as they may be. Regards. BTW -- My friend has already picked up his '99, so no worries.

I would stay away from this car, at that price and from a dealer... maybe there the car get un accident, who knows.. ..when you do some kind of economies sometimes, then you pay twice later... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

with low mileage ( 15-25K ) '99s everywhere , why would you consider one with 57 K miles ? That car is due for lots of expensive maintanance, may be almost out of warranty as an " early '99 " , etc. The latest Excellence shows 1999 high mileage , avg condition 996 coupes are selling as low as $39K to $58K for very low mileage loaded pristine garage queens . So the price is actually not out of line for the very high mileage. In fact, dealer probably paid high 30s for it! All car dealers in the US use the same on-line real time auction data bases , so ALL pricing info is known , whether it's the biggest Porsche dealer in the US or a fly by night used car lot in Podunk , Arkansas one is trading in to.

I think if the car checks out ok then it would be a good one to get(wish it was lower then I make it a dedicated track car : ) !!!) just like Greg Fishman's 2 beauties(993 C2S). It's a great trak car especially adding mods to it. Regards. Mike

It is scarey, certainly depressing, that a '99 996 that was $80k+ new 3-4 years ago is selling today for 40-50K (thats as much as 50% depreciation in 3-4 years!). That is serious depreciation for a high-end sports car - compare ferarri where late model year cars sell for close to sticker or certainly not less than 10% - 15% below sticker. I would have expected such depreciation on other new cars, but not porsche. It has made me think twice about buying a "new" 911 in the future. I love my '99 C4 - but any thought of trade in for a new C4S has been killed by the combination of depreciation, luxury tax on the new and the prospect to significant depreciation on the C4S when the new V8 comes out.

"It is scarey, certainly depressing, that a '99 996 that was $80k+ new 3-4 years ago is selling today for 40-50K (thats as much as 50% depreciation in 3-4 years!). That is serious depreciation for a high-end sports car - compare ferarri where late model year cars sell for close to sticker or certainly not less than 10% - 15% below sticker. I would have expected such depreciation on other new cars, but not porsche. It has made me think twice about buying a "new" 911 in the future. I love my '99 C4 - but any thought of trade in for a new C4S has been killed by the combination of depreciation, luxury tax on the new and the prospect to significant depreciation on the C4S when the new V8 comes out." What I cannot believe is that folks keep buying Porsches. After the situation that I am in with my '00 996, that was in excess of $80k. I will never buy another Porsche new. I have never felt like a bigger jackass, than buying the 996.

Anybody check this car out? I just saw it again in last weekend's paper. Now its $45,900.

Interesting read. I guess as more and more Porsche lovers hold off on buying new and instead buy used as scott plans to do, the used car value should go up. Hopefully but unlikely, that may drive the new car prices down. I knew of the relative bargain used Porsches available due to the soft market, the precipitous drop in new car value as soon as you drove off the lot, but I still went for the new Porsche for several reasons. 1. Improved car. Better HP, suspension, interior, etc. It's not all about getting the bells and whistles. For some people, myself included, it helps to know that most/all the bugs of the model line have been fixed by the time I get the car. Mines been bullet-proof so far, fingers crossed. 2. New car appeal. There's nothing like getting an absolutely new, fresh from the factory, nobody else's sweat or boogers, car. You know exactly where the car has been, what it has gone through. There are no surprises that nobody told you about. 3. I plan to keep this particular car a looooong time. Kinda helps out with the #2 reason I gave. If I wanted another Porsche or sports car in the future, I'll have to find another way to afford it other than sell this car, my first Porsche. 4. I wanted a 996, and I wanted the C4S. No choice but to buy new. Due to reasons 1 - 3, I don't think I would have waited for a second hand one. 5. IMHO, cars are not investment vehicles. They WILL depreciate. And if you are going to drive the car worrying about depreciation, you cannot have fun. Porsshe's are cars meant to be FUN.

The bottom line is that buying a new Porsche is crazy. Why do it when 90% of them are very well kept with low mileage and you can get it for 50 to 70% if what it cost new. Best part, most of these cars are like new. I'll keep the remainder of my money invested where it will grow and let someone else throw away the cash on a new car.

Well, I guess I'm crazy. Happy......and crazy. To the loony bin!!!! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />