would you recomend?

A 1999 carrera coupe with 99,xxx miles? for a teen with only 2k a year for upkeep?

I think the main concern here is not the annual maintenance cost. If the teen is a very responsible and matured teen, then I guess it's fine. Otherwise, think twice, for the teen's safety. Sometimes, a responsible teen might be fine alone in a Pcar. Add another teen passenger and it could be a bad combination. Just my opinion.

would you say on just reliability like if I have class or have to be somewhere will it serve it at least 94% of the time problem free if I maintain it every 4 months (tuning, blah, blah)(btw Im not stupid just vague)

So, let me guess...you are the "teen"....? If you get one in good condition, $2k a year is more than enough for maintenance. But if you figure in unexpected breakdowns, wear & tear items...(that all depends on the condition of the car you get) then with $2k you'll be short. Btw, you don't need to tune a 996 every 4 mths. Regular basic maintenance would be like oil service every 10-15k miles, and don't forget tires last about the same 10-15k miles.

Tires will last less that a year if the car is driven as a daily driver. As a teen, what have you found your insurance rates to be on this car that you seek?

I pesonally would not do it, especially if it's joey efin carrera... my .02 cents

Man, what happened to Joey?

I'd say no as well. While it definitely is a fun car to have one decent repair bill will wipe out that 2K budget pretty quick unless you're really handy with a wrench (wheel bearing, clutch goes out, water pump, etc...). Tires on that car will take up a good chunk of that 2K as well if you need to replace them. For a teen I'd pick a car that gets better gas mileage, has lower insurance payments, and lower maintenance costs - used Honda or Toyota are more practical choices.

I would trade any teenager for a 911, even if that teen only cost you 2k a year.

There is no teenager that cost less than $2K per year, none.

I'd say no! What can you look forward to drive when you're 30 or 40 if you start with a 911 as a teen? It's too expensive (honestly I woke up after 5 BMWs when I saw my first repair bill for the 911 almost 2 years ago on my '00 C2 Cab with back then only 27k miles). Don't overstretch your budget and go to the limit. There are lots of other things to spend the $2k on but the car. In Europe, a Golf GTI is the car you'd like to get if you can spend $25k. Great fun car, just right for your age and lots of potential to gain experience. A Porsche (maybe not the Cayenne) is also a natural victim of cops.

I would say look for a newer 300Z or G35 - less chance of maintenance trouble, and less chance of wrapping around a telephone pole. Not to be snobby, but these are not cars for people who cannot stand a bit more maintenance cost - possibly up to $10K for a new motor on a 99. As other posters have said, you will go through a set of tires per year not to mention clutch (approx $1300 IIRC), etc. I drove a Turbo while living with mom and dad in college - but I was making pretty good $$ and had no other over head. Man, I wish someone had told me about real estate back then . . . If you are faced with a big repair bill and the car has to sit for weeks or months while you come up with the cash, this not the way to go.

I don't think a teen deserves a 911! Someone driving only a year or two should not be given one of the best sports cars around. My first car was a used Toyota Celica, so you know where I'm coming from! Let them earn it, and don't spoil them!

If I had a 911 when I was a teenager I would have killed myself. If they want something fun to drive and German, (and I apologize for continuing to be a GTI evangalist) get a MkV GTI.

+1 I almost killed myself in a VW Dasher Diesel. Get something safe and reliable and then move up.

+1 on the G35! Go for the manual coupe w/rear wing. Fun, fast, chick magnet and it will get you to class. Also, learn DIY maintance. Then you will appreciate the subtle but significant differences in that and a 911.

+1 on the G35! Go for the manual coupe w/rear wing. Fun, fast, chick magnet and it will get you to class. Also, learn DIY maintance. Then you will appreciate the subtle but significant differences in that and a 911.

D#*n this stupid slow computer causing double posts

Edit one of the messages and choose delete.

Buying a Porsche is the cheap part,keeping it on the road takes real $$.

You can say that again!

I had a porsche when I was a teen and I did kill myself.

I killed myself twice - damned thing was too fast!

I got a quote back from my insurance agent and actually a month it was only about $15 more than if i drove a g35.......

disregarding the teen thing in general the 1999 carrera with 99,xxx miles? would you buy that high milage of a porsche?

In general, there is no free lunch. As older the car and as more miles it has, as worse it's condition and as higher the risk that you've high $ repairs to keep it on the road. A Porsche is not cheep at all to maintain. It's a high-end sportscar and high-end are prices for parts, labor, ... Don't take the purchase price as benchmark. There are thousands of $ between a $25k '99 911 and a $25k '07 VW Golf GTI, guess which car will have cost you more after 2 years of driving.

Oh heck buy a Hyundai brand new and drive it all the way through college then buy your Porsche.

I will cast my vote in favor of the GTI. Had 2 of them, then a Jetta GLI, two GLX's, a Passat, an Audi S6, and then an S6 Avant. Finally, the 911. The GTI is great fun, safe, and large enough to haul a girlfriend or two. There are lots of aftermarket parts to make it faster better stronger, although you probably won't need to. Just my mature thoughts. (I would have killed for a 911 [or been killed in it] in my teenage years) Stefan

I would think twice about buying a 99,000 mile '99. At 13,000 dollars to replace the engine and alot of miles on the transmission, suspension, etc. it could be a manitenance nightmare? Worth the risk, I dont know. If you have enough $ for a high mile car, save longer for a lower mile car.

i'd rather have an e46 m3

It is theoretically possible for a teen to drive a high performance sports car and survive the teen years, physically speaking. Fiscally speaking, no way. On a German car of that age and mileage you can count on electrical parts failing, and they are expensive to diagnose and repair. If you have any major mechanical stuff go (as described earlier) then you are toast. My neighbor's kid bought a Mitsi turbo thing which would do high 13's in the 1/4 mile and has been relatively reliable other than a broken timing belt which ended up requiring a top-end rebuild... but proper maintenance would have prevented that and even then, the rebuild was a lot cheaper than it would have been on a Porsche. PM me if you want to buy it - it's not running, he'll make you a deal. :-) Michael

You need more than 2k to replace an engine and with 99k miles, that may just happen. Only way I'd do it is if you have a solid warranty on the car. Otherwise, you're liable to end up with a beautiful 911 sitting on blocks in your driveway if the engine goes kaplooey and you can't fork over about 7800 for the engine alone. 350z/G35 would probably be much more practical choices in the used sports car genre. The 350 is even a better idea since all your friends can't get in it and distract you while you are driving.

should i just get a new one?