I am getting very tempted.

I originally wanted to get a year old 997 c4s but I really cant stomach the ridiculous depreciation at the moment so I am thinking again about the c4s. My thinking is that at 30k what is the worst that can happen over 3 years, maybe worth 18k so 12k depreciation over 3 years, not too bad and by that time the 998 could be with us and the depression/reccession over. I feel that the 996 c4s is getting more disirable as the it ages but I dont know if it is me looking through those special coloured glasses I like to wear when I want a new car. What do you people think? Thanks.

Like most cars, expensive Porsches depreciate more than cheaper ones so a £45k 997 C4S is going to cost you more than a £30k 996 C4S to run. Actually you should be able to get a 996 C4S for less than £30k. My 2003 C4S with 50k miles and some desirable extras was valued at high £20k's only a couple of weeks ago. Whether 996's find a price level at which they will hold, I don't know. The worst of the recession is still to come and my local indie Porsche dealer tells me that buyers are very thin on the ground even now. Finance is harder to get and very expensive with FHBR still at 6.5%. I certainly wouldn't bet on a 996 C4S being worth £18k in 3 years time although the C4S is still one of the more desirable models

All of the above points are very valid but i think that the days of buying a car with the view of selling it in 12months time so as not to lose too much cash have gone. The current market gives you clearly more negotiating power and therefore you should be looking to buy a car for the longer term. Also remember that the 997 will only need servicing every two years and ive just had a major service done on mine for £900 all in. My mate pays annually more than that on a beamer. Its a matter of opinion but the 997 is a very different car from the 996 in the interior and judging by the current market you could probably do a switch for no more than 15k if u want a c4s. Id do the trade personally

Note that the later C4S cars are on the same two year service intervals as the 997s.

Alternatively, spend a bit more (£40-45k) on a decent GT3 and sell it for more or less what you paid for it in three years.

The 996 turbo - yours for around £30k, truly the best value supercar available on the market today, bullet proof engine, absurdly fast, relatively low running costs and very docile around town. You're hardly going to lose much on that over the next few years. What more could you ask for?

Have to agree - turbos are looking very tempting at present. Then again a lot of metal is ! Even OPC reading have 03 plate 996 Carrera 4 cab for under £30k !! This looks a nice TT http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/745649.htm

Sold! But I think that was the new low, he apparently got bid low 20's by a dealer[:-]

I spotted that one too - I am going to wait until after Xmas and see what happenes as the prices on 996 turbo's have dropped about 4K on average in the couple of months I have been looking.

wise move imo-i reckon by spring the 996TT will be a brill bargain-only 3 yrs ago it was the top of the heap so unbelievable value now[ ]

As everyone will say that a certain car is better, it is best for you to know what you actually want. There are great deals on all cars at the moment and the 996 TT is probably going to be the best at holding its value over a long period (as Turbos are the things that make up most bedroom wall posters for boys) but you must buy wisely and I would guess that you would need to buy as new a car as possible in the best condition. This will help to ensure that not only will you get the most back at resale, but you get the most out of the car when you have it.