Turbo a good choice for a newbie?

Hi, as i'm fast approaching the "menoporsche" I am considering purchasing the car I always promised myself. I currently have an RX8 which i've owned from new but as the 3 year mark gets near I find i'm itching for a change. The problem is , in 3 years i've only done 13500 miles. I'd hate to buy a new 997 & not use it so i've been thinking along the lines of a 2000 onwards 996 coupe with sensible miles around the mid 20's price range. I noticed a very clean 2000 Turbo on ebay with 50k miles at £38k - would this be a good choice? I wonder if anyone else may have viewed this car & if it is a "wrong-un". Is that price about right? Sorry to ask the same old questions, all replies welcome especially models/colours/specs best avoided - oh & i'm only looking at coupe's not cabrio's, cheers Jez

Welome Jez! A 996 TT is a great choice! It is however probably fair to say you will get a lower miles newer normally aspirated C2/C4/4S for the same or less cash. I wouldn't rule out the ebay purchase at all, but do get a proper inspection done by Peter Morgan or Phil Raby before committing. Alternatively, a few more miles, but comes with a year warranty, and will be well sorted no doubt http://www.paragon.gb.com/sales/vehicle-details.asp?ID=352189 Good luck, keep the questions coming.

I would say that a Turbo would be a good choice for a newbie. GT models might be a bit too much but Turbo very usable. £38K for 50k miles seems about right. Someone else would be better qualified to give you advice on that, I'm more of a 997 expert. Also consider a 996 C4S which is holding it's money well and for similar budget to Turbo. Many consider it to be the best looking 996, me included. If you want to have a chat about finance to make the most of your budget let me know.

Thanks for the welcome, the paragon car looks sweet as well. Think i'm going to have to view a few. I know the facelift c2/4 models are more desirable but are the 3.4's worth looking at? Theres a 2000 c4 with 50k miles at a dealer in s.wales for £26500. My budget is very flexible but I want a car thats not going to depreciate too much - same as everyone else I suppose! Cheers Jez, oh by the way roughly how much does an inspection cost by one of those recommended guys?

Welcome Jez. Colours that might be best avoided are meridian silver (from what I've heard) and rain forest green. Interior colours to avoid are savannah and boxster red. Strongest in terms of residual values is the C4S, no doubt about it and according to some the best looking 996 derivative. A Turbo is a great way into 911-dom and from what I hear on the forum is the probably the best all rounder from any car company. ~ Maxie

Just logged on to ebay & the turbo has miraculously gone up £1500, perhaps i'll stick with the sponsor dealers on this forum.

Hi Jez, The 996 TT is an excellent choice as it has the safety of 4wd and punch. All depends on your preference of power delivery. Personally prefer normally aspirated. However the 997 TT changes the rules for me and will probably be my next purchase. The running costs are not extreme although will be higher over other 996 variants. You may want to consider the best looking model :wink: ie the C4S not that I am biased but an good all rounder. Don't rule out the GT3 as there has been discussion on this before. My brother is pondering the purchase of a 911 and he is certainly looking at a GT3 as his first Porsche I would advice not rushing into it and test driving several variants. Definately get a check circa £300 and imho go for a porsche warranty over others. Enjoy the search. Regards Alan.

Alan, yep yours looks like my dream car. Dealer down this way got a dec 02 with 37k miles for £40k. What should I pay? Jez

Sorry should have put C4S @ £40k

Hi, 37k miles at £40K for Dec 02 sounds little high unless it is fully loaded. Been stated on here before about spec I have my opinion on sat nav but for that money make sure it has the following: PCM2. Sat nav switchable Porsche sports exhaust. Bi-xenon lights. rear parking sensors Sun roof. sport seats. sprot techno alloys Bose speaker upgrade Possibly carbon fibre or aluminum pack. Personallu carbon is the way to go and essential silver dials. All this makes the interior very special. Colour, well no matter what is said about silver by some people on here it is a great colour. But seal grey and blue hold money. Stay away from the more wild colurs that only GT3's can get away with. Black or metropole blue leather interior is a must. Porsche waranty and finished in zymol royale!!! Most good specced C4S's 2003 with 30K miles will be around late £30K early £40K. You may want to check out the Stirlings web site he had a good low mileage example a few weeks ago. http://www.stirlings.co.uk/ Mark posts on here and is a very respected chap in the business. Cheers Alan

YEP do it --- I got to that stage and bought standard C2 then learnt they are so addictive I started almost immediately looking for MORE !!! C4S is also great pretty much a turbo without a Turbo engine, but the delta between the C4S and Turbo is well worth the extra and IMO the tt is a safer buy with a stringer engine etc. The power is delivered so amazingly, to get that sort of car for £40K is just great. DO IT... also a crazy situation I just got an insurance rebate on my turbo over the standard 996 C2?? go figure Needless to say I now have tt (albeit gone to the darkside of 993 aircooled)

Also several other posts about Turbo's V's C4S http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=13331&highlight=c4s++turbo also search for is Turbo too fast for the road ?