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Used Porsche and Prestige Cars For Sale | Harbour Cars

The musings of an insane person

A

APL911

Spa-Francorchamps
Joined
15 Aug 2017
Messages
305
Hello. I could do with some counsel (or counselling)...

I am in the process of thinking about being in the process of buying my first 911. Realistically, I can start the search proper in around 4 weeks as I do not have the time to commit to proper test drives and visits to dealers up and down the country at the moment.

My conundrum is this. I have around £20k to spend. Maybe £25k..... OK, let's say I have £25k to spend on a 911.

My dream would be a 996.2 GT3. Obviously I can't afford this. So I have been thinking about a 996.2 C2, with a view to fettling it over the coming years into a GT3 replica. (suspension, wheels, GT3 Aero Kit, Bucket Seats, alcantara interior parts.) My first worry is, will I be perceived as a troglodyte for doing this? I consider myself a fairly tasteful and well-rounded person, but I am a proper car enthusiast. I don't want to appear to be a 'Barry Boy" etc.

Looking at Autotrader at the moment, I can see Yorkshire Classic Porsche have a nice grey C2 with the factory GT3 Aero kit up for sale at £24k. (It's £25k on autotrader, £24k on their website)That is a lot of money for a 996.2 C2! On the other hand, to get a sorted 996.2 is going to cost somewhere near £20k, and then it will be around £6k to add the GT3 aero kit, so is the price that mad at £24k?

This then brings me to the fact that you can buy a pretty nice C4s for £25k, and these are appreciating. Where a C2 with various modifications will probably not appreciate as well, and may even put future buyers off. But do I care? I would like this to be my second car for a long long time.

And then, I notice you can get a reasonable 997 C2s for £25k. Objectively a much better car than a 996 C2. But a 997 C2s does not float my boat in the same way as a 996 GT3. But then what I buy won't be a 996 GT3. I also worry about the M97 engine more than I do about the M96. Not sure why? Is bore-scoring worse on the M97? (don't answer that....)

Anyhow, any advice would be appreciated. (*drive both and see what you think*) Thanks, will do!

Would it be frowned upon to create a 996 GT3 replica?

Does a 997 C2s trounce a 996 C2?

Does any of this really matter as we will all be driving electrically powered Quadra-Cycles in 10 years time?

Thanks

Antony
 
Nice position to be in Antony. The search is one of the best bits about looking for a new car so make sure you enjoy it.

The '97 is an extensively facelifted '96, so you won't find massive differences between either of them. Only you can say whether you prefer the looks and interior of one vs the other. With every generation one thing is certain and that is the driving experience becomes a little more refined (read detached) and whilst this has its pros and cons, ultimately it has eventually ruined the experience for me in the 991 (which is essentially now a glorified audi). Ultimately some folks just prefer newer cars and who would argue?

I don't think there is much wrong with a tastefully done homage to a GT3. It'll be your car so all that really matters is that you like it.

Yorkshire Classic Porsche have a reputation on this forum and it ain't good. Have a search for YCP and judge for yourself. Fellow 911uk'er easternjets would happily give you his experience I'm sure if you asked him.

If I had £25k to spend I would go for a 3.4 C2 manual. After the 4S they are the pick of the 996 line up and (unlike the 3.6/3.8 units in the other 996/7 cars are much more robust). My favourite N/A 996 is the 4S, what a stunning looking thing it is. :cloud9:

Enjoy the journey :thumb:
 
Hi again Antony.

My random 2 penny thoughts =

If you want to create a 996GT3 replica and a 997 doesn't float your boat you only need to look at 996s.

Creating a 996GT3 won't be frowned upon - unless you badge it GT3. :grin:

Buying a car with a kit already fitted will cost a lot more than an equivalent age/mileage/condition naked car. With your budget I'd suggest you buy the best naked car you can and add the bits at a later date. Alternatively keep it naked and decide in the future whether to modify it or to change cars.

You won't get your money back for many of the mods you have listed.

A 996C4S will cost you a lot more than an equivalent a C2/C4. Most are standard cars and look best if left that way.

On UK roads you'd have to be pushing very hard to exploit the extra performance of a 997S over a 996.

All that actually matters is that you buy the car you want. Just don't lose sight of the basics. Remember the engine is 75% of the value of the car.

Happy Hunting :thumb:
 
IIRC the 996 GT3 actually arrived after the 996 aerokit - so it's the GT3 that's strictly the imposter. ;)

I would recommend you follow the same advice I'd give any prospective Porsche owner; buy on condition and ALWAYS get an independent inspection, unless, of course, you buy from dealers who get heaps of praise for their honesty and backup.

Get a good car - from the sound of things, the 996 C2 (or C2S for that matter) - and then add the aerokit. Much better to have a sound basis for a GT3 homage than a basket case GT3 lookalike.[/i]
 
Happy to chip in with my experience.

Yorkshire Classic Porsche avoid like the 'plague', it's not even buyer beware it's buyer stay away!
Better still go to the garage and experience the owners attitude for yourself, he's a complete Pratt!
 
Hi Antony,

I think you need to decide what order your criteria fall into in order of importance.

Obviously the 3.8 997 C2S would be up on performance versus the other cars you mention.

C4S is nice looking, not sure it's a better drive than a C2 though. Always think of them as more show than go, if you know what I mean.

I was looking for a 997 C2S a couple of years ago and walked away from two cars for the exact reason you mentioned.

Eventually found a 996.2 that suited me perfectly spec wise - lowish miles, X51 Powerkit (345hp) and X74 suspension. Manual C2 coupe with sunroof delete and no PSM, sports seats.

It's no GT3 and not as pretty as a 997 (or C4S) but a great drive and perfect as a weekend/evening car.

For £20-25k you want to choose carefully. Drive a 997 though and if say a Hartech car came up I'd probably take that over an earlier 996 any day.

A forum member had a 997 3.6 C2 Coupé up for £18k ish recently. Could be worth a look?
 
Go for it :thumbs:

If I sold my Turbo then I would do exactly as you describe :D

:thumb:
 
Since you want a GT3 spec car, you will be replacing lots of it. I would get a 100k+ unloved 996 that as patchy history. Check the engine is in fine fettle, nothing else matters. Should be able to get one sub £10k still (yes they are out there).

Then with your remaining cash (you shouldn't need it all):

Full GT3 adjustable suspension, replace everything, ball joints track rods every arm, shocks roll bars bushes the lot.

GT3 seats, console delete, rear seat delete etc, nice wheel.

Get a replica body kit if you must.

Stick a new clutch and flywheel in and change the oil.

Drive it.


Buy a cheap worn car, replace most of it and you end up with basically a car that drives like new for the same money.
 
Wow, thanks for the replies everyone. It's interesting to hear the different approaches people have suggested. Also thanks for the heads up on YCP! I will avoid them.

Let's take this GT3 replica a bit further then, please indulge me if you can.

I start with a 996.2 C2. There is a dark grey one up for £15,500 from a private vendor.

I am OK with tools, but I want the job done well (I also don't have a lot of spare time)
So what would you budget for the following, and do you have any recommendations on who can do the work.

1. Suspension overhaul including GT3 geometry set up. OEM GT3 shocks & springs or aftermarket coil over kit?

2. Gen 2 GT3 front bumper, skirts and spoiler supply, paint and install.

3. Clutch (IMS?) & LSD

The bucket seats I can install myself, and the alcantara trim I can find someone local on google etc.

I am aware of RPM Technik, and Design 911 who could probably do the work. But is there an indy any of you can recommend (I would be willing to travel)
 
Diggermeister said:
........ Get a good car - from the sound of things, the 996 C2 (or C2S for that matter) - and then add the aerokit .........
Click to expand...

Good luck finding a 996 C2S :hand:
 
APL911 said:
1. Suspension overhaul including GT3 geometry set up. OEM GT3 shocks & springs or aftermarket coil over kit?

2. Gen 2 GT3 front bumper, skirts and spoiler supply, paint and install.

3. Clutch (IMS?) & LSD
Click to expand...

1) you are going to want GT3 adjustable coffin arms and adjustable top mounts too for the full GT3 effect.

2) depends on your bodyshop. Genuine bumper will be £££ even used.

3) If fitting an LSD to an aged box, may as well get it rebuilt. Over £1k at sports and classic

Note that you do not need specialist labour for any of this. If you have a trusted village mechanic then get them to do it. Just get it aligned properly afterward on a laser rig.
 
Hi Anthony

I'd change tack completely - I'd ask you what do you want a Porsche for...?? What do you want the car to do...??

When I bought Mindbody done months of research and knew, totally, that I wanted a 996.2 C4S Cab. It took me 6 months to get the car I wanted.

As you say, £25k probably won't get you a proper GT3; however - they are quite hardcore and not the most comfortable drive as a daily (I my honest opinion ion)

If I was you I'd keep my cash stashed I my sky-rocket and spend ages test driving different cars a d the settle on a spec and search for the right car.

Hope that helps. From here please keep us all informed of your progress and don't ever feel daft or embarrassed about asking questions about any Porsche issue - and feel free to chuck up like me to any potential P&J so we can help along the buying-way

Osh :thumb:
 
By the way, where are you based m8...??

Osh
 
Hi Osh

It's going to be a weekend car with the occasional weekday use, so comfort and economy etc are not high on the priority list.

I want something to develop over time, and keep for many years.

I'll keep everyone posted as I start to do more test drives in a few weeks.

Oh, and I live in Walton on Thames, Surrey.
 
one thing you will be missing...the engine and the sound. but that's a big bill to get a mezger.

make sure you do the brakes too. nothing annoys me more than seeing standard brakes on a GT3 replica. at least put some mk1 red on there or from a turbo? also lose the sunroof and make sure you do the sport seats and rear seat delete at the rear.

centre console delete is a good thing to do if you are over 6ft too. much more leg room

there was a really nice basalt black mk2 facelift 911 Carrera on ebay for sale which had the full oem GT3 kit, big red brakes, bilstein GT3 CO suspension & lowered as well as all the GT3 bits and it was around £25k.

the only way you would have known it was not a GT3 was to oopen the engine lid. done really well.
 
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