Honestly, I wouldn't touch the Ebay car with a long pole. Pretty much everything that could be suspect about it is. If it was immensely cheap, then it might make sense, but its £30k. You'd be much better off with an early 997 for that. Values of those are on the up. In the meantime, this is what I've had for the last 8 years, but it took about 3 and a half to get done. And they are never finished!
Agreed, the Ebay car looks so wrong I'm amazed it's on the road. MOT history starts in 2015 in with 2747kms and ends in 2017 with 2950 miles.
Nice car!! I agree bought my GTS a few years ago. Love it and it’s now worth a good few grand more than I paid for it! You’re right I think whatever 911 you buy it’s an ongoing expense to keep on top of the maintenance.
Nice. I’m in a similar position with a turbo S. But prices have softened a bit now. Still all good though
Looking at that, I'd probably say it's been made an after market hole in the roof, so the chassis won't be strengthened accordingly, and it won't drive well or be safe. My suspicion is that the vendor knows his cars, and is well aware this whole thing is hooky, hence he's including the numberplate. At that price, I wouldn't touch it tbh. You may find a few older cars struggling to hold value in the next few years in any case, especially if they aren't right.
This is the truth that people don't realise. I dont think many actually make much overall profit on even cars which gave ostensibly rapidly increased in value. Generally, you spend as much money taxing, insuring, servicing and fettling as you get back if you actually work it out. No matter how "bombproof" the cars are, the engines are old, as are the interiors. Bits perish naturally and fail with age. They need constant maintenance, and aren't cheap. I sold one recently for over three times what I paid for it ten years ago, but if you're not driving them regularly, they need very careful attention. I reckon I just about broke even. I'd have probably actually been better using it as a daily driver. I generally cycle or go on the bikes everywhere now, so I simply don't use a daily driver. I bought an absolutely beautiful midnight blue xjs straight six which will go tax exempt next year for 4 grand as a toy, and actually try and drive it once a week or once a fortnight, and it's been perfect. I just need to resist my usual itch of making it absolutely pristine (it looks pristine, but long term would need a bare metal respray , and given the engine has had a good life, it may end up like triggers broom). I'd also be wary of buying without any kind of backup. There'll be eBay bodges with filler and duct tape cobbled along and now being sold because of the price of petrol, the cost of living, and it's dawned on someone, the cost of maintaining a classic type car. Any classic, unless you're a mechanic, or have deep pockets, should be bought off someone fastidious, mechanically minded, and with deep pockets. Over my 20 years of owning various old cars,(Jag, Mercedes SL, Porsche, Mercedes se, Jag) I've realized that you're much better off spending the money up front on a good one than buying a fixer upper, unless you are doing the work yourself as a pleasure project.
There’s never been an insignificant 911 as time shows, even the 996 is increasing in value, although you could argue that’s it the increase in the 997 values that are pulling them up, but as with the 749/999 they will grow into their face eventually. You can’t lose with a turbo 911 especially over the long term. The older the better ,and the thicker the underpants the better!!
We need to see pics of said money pit. We won’t laugh at your 70’s hairstyle, bubble perm or coiffure?
Yes you’re right, what you spend probably negates any profit from an increase in the value of the car. The C4S gen1 I had before the GTS had a load of money spent on it. Luckily the increase in its value when I sold it offset the expenditure. Buying well in the first place is key and like you say it’s worth paying the extra for a good example unless you’re a mechanic with plenty of time. Which I’m not on either count!
Every time I take mine out something else seems to pop up or pop off! Small plastic bits in the main, occasional sense or, but it’s 25yrs old: doesn’t matter what build quality is like, things perish. Which is ironic as plastic is never meant to degrade and it killing the world
There is a reason they hold their dough. I nearly sold mine recently and thought to myself what next? What can I have next for the same dough? Nothing comes close to an all round package as a sorted 911. Even the Mrs asked ‘what are you thinking, you love that car- you’ll regret it’ And she was probably right. Whooosh…. And off to the seaside we went. Even put the dogs in… took ages to clean the next day… Told Carwow to stop calling, I’m keeping it!!
Tbh I have barely driven my boggo C2 tip I’m anger. While I love the sound of the flat 6 when revved through the gears, I just like plodding along in it. I drive my 1.3 mini far harder. I also never know how the 996 will cope with handling: it’s so light that on bumpy roads it gets very skittish.
That’s true. I had a GT3 body kitted 996 from 2017 until Xmas last year and even though I absolutely ragged the ar5e off it, basically used it as a van/dog transport so the interior was totally shagged and then sold it with an oil leak, play in the steering, a major service due, 2 saggy front shocks and 4 bald tyres, I got back what I paid for it a week after I advertised it. Thankfully an enthusiast bought it in the full knowledge that he had a few big bills heading down the track…. I want a 997 now, but I think I’m going to wait to see if the coming economic sh1tstorm brings prices down a bit.
It might do but I doubt it’ll soften prices that much. The 997 is the enthusiast’s sweet spot in the 911 range. Tidy examples will do strong dough. Lovely motors too…
Yes I can relate to that. I swapped my E46 M3 for a C4S. The words “iconic” and “ legendary” are words used to describe a 911, so I bought one without even giving it a proper test drive. After all it’s a 911 and it’ll be great, I thought without doubt! I was quite disappointed. I did buy a tiptronic which I soon discovered was a big mistake. I’m not slagging it off as it’s an excellent gearbox in its own right but inappropriate to the car. I spent three years trying to get on with it but finally realised that even with a 911 you can buy the wrong one. The GTS is a completely different animal, what a 911 should be. 410bhp as opposed to the 350 in the C4S. Sports exhaust, sport+ settings and all the extras as standard. It’s not as extreme as a Turbo but fits perfectly in between.
Where can you sensibly go after a 911 Turbo without getting into the realms of madness such as Ferraris or Lamborghinis etc. I couldn’t bring myself to spend £4K on a new clutch and if anything went wrong with the engine you may as well throw a match at it. The 911 whilst not the cheapest to run is a great every day car that’s not going to put you out on the street (hopefully!)
