3.4 v 3.6 new buyer info

After years of driving other cars I've decided now is the time to buy my Porsche (before I get too old!). So with prices favouring the buyer which 996 is best value? Should I pay more (around £3/£4k) more for the 3.6 or not? Any buying tips would also be a great help.

Have a look at the Hartech website for buyer info. Provided that doesn't scare you off then start looking at cars. I wanted facelift 996 and that took my into the 3.6 by default. I'd say the 3.4 is not a car I'd consider as it's a bit old now. Try not to let higher miles or higher number of keepers put you off. Try to find a good condition car with plenty of bills to support the service history. Work beyond getting the book stamped is what you want to see. Rads and condensers being replaced, maybe a clutch, that kind of thing. No two are the same in terms of spec. Work out whether you want things like sports exhaust, sports seats, sports suspension and xenon lights. If you are not fussed, then great. Prices seem to vary a lot until you see actual cars. Don't get misled by the ads.

If your budget will stretch to around £20k then buy a turbo, this will get you a 60/70k car and you will avoid the engine and RMS isues.

I had the same dilemma and went for the 3.6 as it looked better, had more power. So long as you buy one that has been loved and cherished, serviced every year regardless of the scheduling. Iwould highly recommend buying from a porsche specialist rather than buying private, but if you do go the prviate route, an inspection is a must. Hope that helps! I've had my 3.6 now after many months of searching and researching, and do not regret it one minute [ ] Cheers

Thanks guys. The only reason I was looking at the cheaper 3.4 is that the car will be a weekend car, however all the advice is excellent.

Hi I have a 3.4 that I use every day, circa 20k per year, unless you are really pushing the limit you will not notice the difference in performance, the 3.4 is excellent and represents great value for money

Thanks Chopper.

http://www.autozine.org/Graveyard/html/Porsche/996.html Lap times are the same or slightly better on MK1's according to these stats. http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html If you click the models it gives the different tracks.

For me the 3.6 is well ahead of the 3.4 and worth the small extra. It's not just the bigger engine (as mentioned above, performance improvements are slight), but the raft of general improvements. For example the tiptronic gearbox on my 3.6 is way more advanced than that used on the early cars. But for all the technical merits of the later cars, I actually bought mine on the looks - I simply don't like the more "blob" like appearance of the pre-facelift cars. But of course, looks are a personal thing and no offence is meant to owners of early 996 cars! If you do decide on a 3.6 C4 coupe tip-s give me a call (01258 861059) as mine is now for sale. For about 17k you can buy it from my local Porsche specialist (where it is currently on display). Or for 15k you can buy it directly from me (and still have the remaining years warranty). And given the weather, why would you even consider a cheapy 2 wheel drive option!?!

The lights on the MK1 were inherited from a fine piece of engineering that was an important stepping stone for Porsche. The GT1 http://amazingcarsoftheworlds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/porsche-996-911-gt1-cars-wallpapers.html I have no idea where the MK2 lights came from.

Thanks for the offer Ewan. The news you don't want is that 2001/2003 Mk 1's don't appear to be selling above £14k privately (I've been looking for sometime and most advertised two months ago are still advertised or are then advertised elsewhere).

It's always hard to know exactly how much individual cars sell for, and exactly where to pitch your own car when time comes to sell. My general view is that currently the mk1 cars are between 10 and 15k, and mk2 cars are between 14 and 19k. At 18k and over you move into the C4S and Turbo territory. Of course, within any given category, high mileage or low spec or poor condition cars will be lower. For example, its perfectly possible to buy an early 996 for 8k, it's just that in mileage and condition it would not be a car I would want in my collection. As I see it, the advanatge my car has over some others for sale privately is that it has been inspected and prepared for sale by my local specialist, and has a years warranty included. Consequently the buyer gets all the benefit of a "dealer" car, but at the private sale price. But for those people that prefer to buy from a garage, they have the opportunity to do so. I personally just don't see why anybody would want to pay the £2k extra - I don't see that you get any more car for the extra spend. I think my mk2 C4 is sensibly priced at £15k including a years warranty, even if another (more usually a C2 without a warranty) can be had privately for less. But it is only worth what someone will pay, and I am open to genuine offers. If the spec of my car fits your requirements, please do come and have a look and a drive. When I bought my Maserati a month or so back I decided that I really should sell the 996. But on Friday last week I bought another car as well. So now I really do need to sell it!

Ewan can you send me the link to your car.

http://www.dorsetsportscars.co.uk/car.php?cid=455 Here is the link to my 996, shown at the dealer. If you email me at [email removed] I will happily send you some more pictures and a full breakdown of the spec and service history. If you decide that you'd like to see and test it, I'll collect it from the dealer so you can come to my house instead - less pressure and better coffee!