Thinking of buying a GT3

[imported_PIERS FOX]

Hi guys,

new to the porsche game, as have been addicted to M cars for the last 10 years or so. Been thinking of getting a 996 and in particular the GT3. Unfortunately i think my budget will be around £40k. Can you please help with a few questions? - i know the forums for any marque are where the true answers come out!!

1. Should i wait for the 997 version - will 996 resales be hit enough to wait?

2. Can/Should i get one with porsche warranty?

3. Better to get a late as poss car, or one with lowest miles?

4. Anyone know of a black one for sale? was thinking about this one, but the miles worry me slightly:-
http://www.dovehousecars.com/stock/details.asp?VehicleID=81

5. Better resale on a CS or Comfort? Im keen on the bucket seats but not too worried about cage etc, as have a prepped E30 M3 for track use.

6. Typical servicing costs/frequency?

Really appreciate your help and advice, and hope to surf here soon with the keys in my pocket

Cheers

Piers


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[Fuchs]

Quote: Originally posted by PIERS FOX on 17 March 2006

Hi guys,

new to the porsche game, as have been addicted to M cars for the last 10 years or so.

-------------------------------------------------------------

you didnt over take a 996 being driven by a bearded old fart bouncing all over the road the other day did you? :twisted:

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[Jay T]

You just couldn't let it lie could you Warren.


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[Fuchs]

just curious............. :wink:

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[Porsche]

with your budget that puts you in mk1 996 GT3 pricing....

or a long wait for the 997 version

the car you have listed looks a good one as it has leather in CS spec, which means it stated life as a Comfort (with leather seats) and has had the CS options added, which is what a few gt3 owners I know have done... but any car needs a professional specialist inspection..... which wil also tell you what the rev's have been up to i.e. need to know how many time it has been over revved !!

porsche warranty can be bought easily and is probably worth while in view of the car's nature...


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[Tiptronic]

Not if its been tracked, which I imagine nearly all GT3's have at some time

Daz


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[Fingers]

Hi Piers

My personal opinion, the 996 GT3 will not go down in price to much right now, but give it another 10 -12 months and the 997 GT3 is out and maybe a few second hand cars are on the courtyards you might be able to get a bargain.

My opinion to your questions:

1. Should i wait for the 997 version - will 996 resales be hit enough to wait?

I would wait for the 997.

2. Can/Should i get one with porsche warranty?

If you buy new you will get it, but if you keep the car for more than the warranty period - get the warranty, I have never had a problem in any of the Porsches I have bought / driven but you never know! And of course, helps reselling the car.

3. Better to get a late as poss car, or one with lowest miles?

The new the better, the lower the miles the better, its just finding the right car which can be a pain

4. Anyone know of a black one for sale? was thinking about this one, but the miles worry me slightly:-
[u87oiy1eDP]

I know of two brand new 2005 model cars here - LHD of course - GBP 60,000 each.

5. Better resale on a CS or Comfort? Im keen on the bucket seats but not too worried about cage etc, as have a prepped E30 M3 for track use.

I would go comfort

6. Typical servicing costs/frequency?

Not sure exactly but my 986 / 996 and now 997 don't cost much at all and I drive a lot!

Hope that helps, we have several 996 GT3 owners on the forum, they know there stuff, I am sure they will offer their opinions over the course of the weekend.


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[Rob J]

Quote: Originally posted by PIERS FOX on 17 March 2006
Hi guys,
new to the porsche game, as have been addicted to M cars for the last 10 years or so. Been thinking of getting a 996 and in particular the GT3. Unfortunately i think my budget will be around £40k.

40k is probably around the bottom of the market right now and will get you into an early mk1, you'll have to shop around a bit though.

Can you please help with a few questions? - i know the forums for any marque are where the true answers come out!!
1. Should i wait for the 997 version - will 996 resales be hit enough to wait?

see my previous comments on other thread
2. Can/Should i get one with porsche warranty?

Yes, at 40k for a new engine god forbid be mad not to
3. Better to get a late as poss car, or one with lowest miles?

Most GT3's have low mileage anything over 5-7k a year is a high miler
4. Anyone know of a black one for sale? was thinking about this one, but the miles worry me slightly:-
http://www.dovehousecars.com/stock/details.asp?VehicleID=81

Thats real high miles for a GT3 you should get a lower mileage one for that price
5. Better resale on a CS or Comfort? Im keen on the bucket seats but not too worried about cage etc, as have a prepped E30 M3 for track use.

The GT3 afficinados say CS will be better than Comfort, buy what suits you is my advice
6. Typical servicing costs/frequency?

frequency same as regular 996 (12 months), costs mine had a major last year for under a grand including brake fluid change from an OPC. Parts are generally higher price than a regular 996, where they differ eg: discs.

Really appreciate your help and advice, and hope to surf here soon with the keys in my pocket

Cheers
Piers

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[imported_PIERS FOX]

Thanks guys, thats a great start, i'll keep an eye on the market, and if i can get a 2000 mk1 with 30k or so on, for around £40-41k i think i'd be v happy. I ran a 2000 M5 for 2years so am used to high costs!!

I'll repost as i find examples if ok - i'd rather have holes picked in a car b4 i buy it

Good w/e

piers


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[PiersFox]

I'm back, and the 997 is now out. The values of mark 2's seems to be around high 40s with the mk1's around low 40's, which puts them in budget!! 8)

i prefer the narrower track look of the mk1 and the rear spoiler. Whats the view on mk1 vs mk2?

Anyone selling a dark coloured mk1 (black/grey/midnight)

thanks again!


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[Dunc]

Oh no, here we go again!!

There have been a good few threads recently with the merits of mk1 vs mk2.

With your budget i'd look at mk1s only. Buy on condition before colour and as for colour there ain't many mk1s in the uk so you just have to take what's in the best condition. For primarily road use, a std mk1 will not disappoint so if this is your mo find the best std. car you can. If regular track days are your thing look out for mk2 or Alcon brake mods, track geo etc.

You've just missed a supposedly excellent example for sale on PH in Zanzibar which is a fantastic colour

If your serious i could go into a lot more detail (as will the others in the 3 gang!)

Dunc


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[PiersFox]

thanks - i saw the zanzi one on PH - have been looking on there for a while. Theres a couple of nice silvers on there too, just wanted to be a bit different (no offence to silver owners ;o)

Use will be predominantly road with maybe the odd track day, but still have the e30 for that.

Is the mk2 stiffer than the 1? (based on your comment)

thanks


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[Dunc]

I've limited experience of the mk2 having only had test drives but the general opinion is that the mk1 is set up (as std.) to be more pointy and responsive with the mk2 being slightly more 'safe'. The mk2 has a slight power adv. over the mk1 and has better brakes and a stronger gearbox.

It is generally said that the mk1 is a better road car though i believe the difference to be minimal. I also find minimal performance differences between the two as the mk1 is slightly lighter - a mk2 could poss. be tenths quicker round a track.

I absolutely love my mk1 and i like the rarity of them (which some believe will keep the mk1 value higher poss. above some mk2s).

Clubsports have a full rollcage (front section removable for road use), fire extinguisher and nomex buckets (mk1 has lightened flywheel). These are rarer and more valuable than a comparable comfort.

There is a mk1 CS in red (ad says zanz??) which is in Scotland but i don't know anything about it. Red GT3s look stunning and its within your budget. If your interested and it ain't too far away from me i'd have a look at it for you.

Dunc


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[scotia_steve74]

If you want a decent mileage Mk2, I think you're looking at early 50's realistically, up to late 50's from an OPC. Personally I think you should be looking at Mk1's at that budget as it will allow for any issues and a reasonable disc/tyre/other stuff budget.

I would also say that the Mk2 I am getting next week is not much worse of a ride than a 997 Carrera or 987 Boxster with 19" wheels.

I agree that the CS Mk1 will retain value well, but also think that the Mk2 will have a slight premium in years to come personally. I think the two may bottom out mid-thirties or early forties but I also thought was Boxster would retain value better! Personally I prefer the Mk2 as I'm not a fan of the earlier shape 996 as much. I think people are becoming less emotional with purchases and there is a disspoability factor with society that makes even the 997 a great buy after a couple of years at relatively cheap prices!

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[Max Bowler]

Local OPC here in Saudi recently sold a brand new mk2 for 310000sr, with the exchange rate at the moment thats about 42k sterling, it was a 2004 car, but zero milage, not sure of the spec. Incidentally, I had a look in the new Bahrain OPC yesterday( very swish) a new 997 GT3 is 38000bd (about 53k) and a new rs is 44000bd(about 63k). Got to admit I'm very tempted.





Max


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