I’ve only gone and done it….

[the baron]

Been hankering after another 911 for a while and have been looking at 996 for a while as they are good value at present and seem to be on the rise, this was was a bit of a bargain that I couldn’t pass up, it’s been looked after by Cotsworld Porsche for the last two owners so I know mechanically it’s sound.

Its a 1999 Carrara C4

The wheels need a refurbishment and there are a few marks on the paintwork, the interior is spotless, it comes with a large file of history and the service book is fully stamped from main dealer and specialists.

Here’s a few pics

Edited November 2, 2021 by the baron

[Davey P]

Blimey, that looks brilliant, well played that man 

[Mattman42]

That needs ambering up and a sequential number plate with the Boxster - good job! Keep us posted on how you get on with it

 

[the baron]

Just now, Mattman42 said:

That needs ambering up and a sequential number plate with the Boxster - good job! Keep us posted on how you get on with it

 

Lots of plans, amber is one, maybe, Fuch wheels are an option and the Porsche dog check black and white material for the seat inserts and a few other ideas, of course will keep he pics coming

[Davey P]

4 minutes ago, the baron said:

Lots of plans, amber is one, maybe, Fuch wheels are an option and the Porsche dog check black and white material for the seat inserts and a few other ideas

Personally, I wouldn't do any of those things.  But then again, I've got a Cayman, so what do I know! 

[½cwt]

Steve, exactly how many Porsches are there in the family now??

[the baron]

50 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

Steve, exactly how many Porsches are there in the family now??

😂dealership comes to mind 😂

[allatsea]

Great Minds.....did the same about 6-7 weeks ago....

 

[the baron]

52 minutes ago, allatsea said:

Great Minds.....did the same about 6-7 weeks ago....

 

Nice, and which do you prefer?

[allatsea]

6 minutes ago, the baron said:

Nice, and which do you prefer?

Both! And both very different

I'd had a C2 facelift about 10 years ago, sold it as the horror stories of IMS failure etc finally got to me, then 5 years later brought the 986 (a wreck at the time, which I've nursed back to life, now pretty perfect) which I use for occasional blasts. I'd seen a C4 being used locally as a station car and kept thinking, that'd be good, so picked this one up. Again, lots wrong, needs love, clearly had originally been loved, then I think, fell from grace. 

Intend using as my daily run about and will take a while to set up properly, but, like you, I have a couple of ideas.....

Interestingly I was drawn to a C4 and a Tip, based in Surrey, so driving often a chore, but so far love it! 986 is a manual so I've got that covered.

 

[Daboy3000]

16 hours ago, the baron said:

Lots of plans, amber is one, maybe, Fuch wheels are an option and the Porsche dog check black and white material for the seat inserts and a few other ideas, of course will keep he pics coming

Let me know if you are selling the clears, I could PX my ambers if interested.

[usman10316]

Seems to be a bit of a theme here. 

986 Boxster into a 911 996 C2, but don't really have the heart to sell the 986 Boxster. It even flew through its MOT yesterday for me! 

So just ended up keeping them both for now at least - and both are very enjoyable to drive in their own unique ways really. 

[RedBarediver]

Both look lovely. I am in two minds at the moment. Been hankering after a 911 and the 996 seems such a bargain that it is a shame not to get one. Only two things are holding me back namely the fact that I really can't justify (or afford) to keep four cars, and the fact that my 147 is so good. I spent time and effort on it and even at 107,000 miles it is absolutely perfect. I would hate to sell it off for next to nothing, buy a 996 and end up regretting it. My 986 needed about £2k spent on it to get it mechanically sorted, which is peanuts really if you consider what a great car it is, but I would imagine getting a neglected 996 back to tip-top condition is not going to be cheap...

I'll drive the Alfa through this winter and consider a 996 next summer maybe. The Boxster is not going anywhere.

[Menoporsche]

2 minutes ago, RedBarediver said:

but I would imagine getting a neglected 996 back to tip-top condition is not going to be cheap...

Trying to remember who - antjrice? - has done a cost comparison thread for his C4. The 996 cost twice as much but a lot was optional expenditure. 

[usman10316]

18 minutes ago, RedBarediver said:

996 next summer maybe

Depends on your budget - I felt that 996 prices will be near out of reach by next year, right now on there aren't many or any decent ones for under 13K - and a lot of them do have high mileage (not always a bad thing of course!) I remember a few years ago, you could pick a nice one up for 10K easily, and a maybe decent one for under that. As the days seem to be passing by, they are just going up in value and close to the bottom end of the 997 market. 

I was going to sell the Boxster, but not really the time to be selling. It flew through its MOT last week, so I've just decided to keep both for now. My philosophy is YOLO + they want to get rid of anything with a combustion engine asap so might as well enjoy it whilst I can!

[RedBarediver]

1 minute ago, usman10316 said:

Depends on your budget - I felt that 996 prices will be near out of reach by next year, right now on there aren't many or any decent ones for under 13K - and a lot of them do have high mileage (not always a bad thing of course!) I remember a few years ago, you could pick a nice one up for 10K easily, and a maybe decent one for under that. As the days seem to be passing by, they are just going up in value and close to the bottom end of the 997 market. 

I was going to sell the Boxster, but not really the time to be selling. It flew through its MOT last week, so I've just decided to keep both for now. My philosophy is YOLO + they want to get rid of anything with a combustion engine asap so might as well enjoy it whilst I can!

I agree with you. Anything decent 996-wise seems to be North of £13k and probably closer to £20k. When I got the Boxster in 2018 they were significantly less for a decent example. I think people have realised they are a lot better than everyone was saying. Pretty sure we have a bunch of YouTubers to thank for letting the cat out of the bag by telling everyone what a great car the 996 is.

At around £20k it's worth looking at a 997. I do like the 996 though and if I can get hold of a good one for between £13k and £20k it would make it hard to go for the 997. It would also make a good stablemate for my Boxster. Both midnight blue, both with amber headights, and silver turbo twists...

[edc]

28 minutes ago, RedBarediver said:

 

I'll drive the Alfa through this winter and consider a 996 next summer maybe. The Boxster is not going anywhere.

Sounds about just enough time to see the Alfa rust away so sounds like a good plan 😜🤣

[RedBarediver]

18 minutes ago, edc said:

Sounds about just enough time to see the Alfa rust away so sounds like a good plan 😜🤣

LOL That Alfa is almost 14 years old and is still running as well as Swiss watch. No rust but it's a dirty diesel so it will probably be illegal to own before long

I do like both the Alfa and the Boxster. Very different cars but each in its own way a pleasure to own and drive.

Edited November 7, 2021 by RedBarediver

[allatsea]

1 hour ago, Menoporsche said:

Trying to remember who - antjrice? - has done a cost comparison thread for his C4. The 996 cost twice as much but a lot was optional expenditure. 

My 986S cost me £2700 (2016), then the first bill was over £4700, the PPI report (6 weeks after I'd already brought it...) on the C4 is suggesting a bill quite a bit north of that, but that's having 'everything' they mention done, which clearly all won't need doing at the first pass. Suspension refresh will be the most expensive and of course will give the most obvious benefit a lot of the rest will be 'discretionary spend'.  But I went in with my eyes open and wanted a car that I'd had refreshed and I knew exactly what and when it had been done.

I've just been across to the VW website. A new Golf starts at £23,860 (in my mind this figure was going to be £15K!!).  If I can get my C4 finished for less than that, it's a bargain and I get to drive around in a 996. And, with a fair wind and following seas, it'll be many thousands cheaper than that. 

 

[usman10316]

3 minutes ago, allatsea said:

My 986S cost me £2700 (2016), then the first bill was over £4700, the PPI report (6 weeks after I'd already brought it...) on the C4 is suggesting a bill quite a bit north of that, but that's having 'everything' they mention done, which clearly all won't need doing at the first pass. Suspension refresh will be the most expensive and of course will give the most obvious benefit a lot of the rest will be 'discretionary spend'.  But I went in with my eyes open and wanted a car that I'd had refreshed and I knew exactly what and when it had been done.

I've just been across to the VW website. A new Golf starts at £23,860 (in my mind this figure was going to be £15K!!).  If I can get my C4 finished for less than that, it's a bargain and I get to drive around in a 996. And, with a fair wind and following seas, it'll be many thousands cheaper than that. 

 

When I bought my Boxster, it needed a suspension refresh, something I was aware of, but being decent with a set of tools meant I saved a lot of money DIYing a lot of jobs. 

I feel buying an older car is always a risk, and hopefully one that pays off! At the end of the day, would you rather be driving a Golf or a 911? That pretty much always answers it for me.

[RedBarediver]

15 minutes ago, allatsea said:

I've just been across to the VW website. A new Golf starts at £23,860 (in my mind this figure was going to be £15K!!).  If I can get my C4 finished for less than that, it's a bargain and I get to drive around in a 996. And, with a fair wind and following seas, it'll be many thousands cheaper than that. 

 

No contest as far as I'm concerned. For the same money as a new Golf you get a well-sorted 911. And then also remember after you've owned the Golf (and it bored the pants off you) for a few years it's worth probably less than half of that. I did briefly consider a Giulia but at the prices they charge for them I would rather have a Porsche - even an old one.