First post, first Porsche, V excited...!

Hello all I live in the London area and am looking to buy a 911. I have a budget of up to 40K and had decided on the 996 as it seems to be the best blend of modernity and affordability. However as I anticipate only owning it for 18 months maximum (impending house move), depreciation is the thing I am most keen to avoid. So my questions! are any of the 996 models more depreciation proof than others? does my budget allow for a good C4S? I have seen the 40th anniversary model - worth the extra £? is anyone 6' 3 or more? Ive not managed to get a decent driving position, the main problem being my left knee and the centre console. Was thinking a tiptronic might solve this, but it might just be im not making the most of seat/steering wheel positioning. Any thoughts from taller drivers welcome! Finally, does anyone recommend a particular seller given my location? Im willing to travel for the "right" car/dealer but this could become an issue when testing, getting inspections done etc. Sorry for all the newby questions, any help much appreciated! Many thanks Oliver

if you're wanting to avoid depreciation then you need to be looking air-cooled :twisted: £40k gets you into 993TT/C2S/C4S's...............as 997's will soon be in the £40k bracket this will depress the 996's even more

Welcome Oliver, if you go here: http://www.911uk.com/template.php?page=28 you'll find a list of independent dealers, some of whom are in the London area.

Hi Oliver and welcome! Agree with what Rodders has said, if depreciation is the primary criteria, buy a good 993. As far as 996s are conerned I would avoid tip's straight away - less desireable come resale time. The C4S and anniversary are probably the best models to go for as demand is higher and so depreciation less. GT3's are also a good bet, but a bit too hardcore for London. If you can, get a C4S with good spec and you'll be on safe ground for the future. Options like PCM2 and the power pack will make it pretty desireable, but will also push the price up to buy.

Not so sure about that Rodders - I can't believe 993 values will hold over the next 18 months... They are way too high for 10-15 year-old cars that were built in too high volume to be considered a real classic. I may be wrong (has been known :wink: ), but I think they will start to drop soon: It's ludicrous that you can buy a 996 for less than a 3-4 year older 993 with the same mileage at the moment. C4S is probably best bet, followed by Turbo, unless you want to go hardcore with a GT3 (probably have to be LHD for that money).

Hi Oliver and welcome to the forums. A Tiptronic will get rid of your left leg problem and you will feel much comfier. I use my left foot to brake in mine, that way I don't knock my right knee on the steering wheel when trying to brake. They are just too small for us larger fellas :wink: Regards, Marcus

I hear you too Wattie,but the thing is that although the 993 is not a "rare as hens teeth" motor.....relative to the 996 they are.............and I would say that if he can afford to run one then a 993 TT would be possibly the least depreacating "£40k" 911 to buy afterall a £40k 996 is just going to plumment in value as the 997 starts to get more affordable,as for the 993 dropping in value..........I bought mine for £26k 24months ago and I still see similar age and older 993 NB's up for mid £20k's

Agree a 993 TT or 996 C4S. i think 996TT (which is the best VFM Porsche IMHO) is a bit beyond your range for a good one There is no direct 997 replacement for 996 C4S - i.e. a turbo bodied(with turbo brakes/suspensione) NA car, so i think values will hold better (but then i am shamelessy biased ). Only things against the C4S is that its perceived as the 'slow' 996 and there are relativley a lot of them about. BTW welcome!

I think the key lies in the mileage. A ropey 993 fetches less than a ropey 996, similarly, a mint late 996 4S fetches nearly £50k (and hence more than a 997 or even a mint 993S), and under £40k will buy you a very good 4S or even a Turbo. But buy a low miles 993 for top money and pile some miles on it, and it'll depreciate like anything else. Anyway, back on topic... If you're a tall fella, you'll be comfier in a 996. Don't dismiss a tip, will give you plenty of driving thrills with much more convenience and judging by the amount of 996 tips about, I believe they will be in demand used, especially in urban areas.

A Centre Console Delete Kit might solve the left knee problem, you have a space between the 'transmission tunnel' and the stereo where your knee can fit INMHO £45 gets a really good C4S, £40k gets a high miler, and a inspection is vital remember its £1600 for new brakes on a 996 C4S as there turbo brakes, late £40's gets a really good narrowbody car re the debate re 993 prices, INMHO i dont think 993 prices willl drop suddenly, demand is good supply isnt and the supply isn't going to increase

Many thanks for the welcome and the advice everyone - I guess its my own fault for trying to buy with my head rather than anything else! I hear what youre saying re 993 - by brother in law had one and actually made money on it. My concern abnout that is that the interiors are quite low spec (i like factory fit aircon etc) and I think I wont be able to get a Porsche warranty on cars older than 10 years? So on this basis, it sounds as though a 996 C4S for resale value and a tiptronic for practicality? I realise Im going to lose some money on the car but would like to give myself the best chance come resale, while working around certain physical limitations! I really would prefer the 6 speed for varius reasons but it seems as though this will be a problem Thanks for the list on where to buy - i saw this and was wondering if, of those, anyone had some great experiences or some not so great experiences they might share. Cheers Ol

Ol You just missed my 2005 C4S for 45K by 2 weeks, have a look at her in my garage <=======click left to view Marcus

Dont worry about a warranty on a 993 The water cooled horror stories of snapping intermediate shafts, means keep the Porsche warranty for as long as possible on 996's &7's

Hi Mark I of course bow to your superior knowledge! I had considered that 2 things I needed were a PPI and a Porsche warranty, but I have been mostly looking at 996s. Ive been looking at your website and like your ethos - have you any stock in my price range coming in? Marcus - very nice! Why did you sell? 45k is more than i wanted to part with though, hence my initial question as to whether I should just stick to the C2 facelift model given my budget. Would be interested to hear from any "larger drivers" to see if any of them manage with the 6spd! cheers Ol

I am not spectacularly tall at just 6-foot, but I do have very long legs (35") and have no problem at all with a manual 996 (or 993, my previous car, for that matter). BTW, lots of 993s have factory fit air-con - it just doesn't work that well! :wink: