40th Aniversary or C4S or GT3

[Guest]

I am faced with an interesting predicament, to buy a 40th anniversary C2 fully loaded with almost every available option or to go for either a C4S new or used or even a 2000 model GT3. Since embarking on this adventure my requirements have changed somewhat as I will no longer use the car as my sole form of transport although I still expect to pass 6,000 miles a year. So far I have been given great, yet conflicting advice from various sources, most saying that the 40 C2 is a 'bargain' and will be highly regarded although an independent Porsche specialist garage that I spoke to compared it to the basement bargain specials made by all manufacturers and said that it would depreciate fastest of all 911s you could buy and be hardest to resale.
So I've been told that the C4S is the 'best' to buy if I want to retain maximum value (and I do) but I'm not a particular fan of 4wd (No particular reason to be against it - I just think that 2wd is fine and a nagging suspiscion in the back of my head that more parts = more to go wrong and more to service) Therefore I think a GT3 would be the perfect compromise (if I can find the right one) especially as I can use another car for my mundane daily journeys. Am I missing any essential information and how would you rate the options?

 

[Rotorhead]

IMO, a nicely spec'd C2 Coupe is the best value, although the 997 is, realistically, only a year away. I think the 40th Anniversary is just a tarted up 'runout' model.

C2 production has now stopped and C4Ss are now being built in much greater volume. I think that C4S prices will fall as more become available and, again, when the 997 comes out. Many C4S owners have their names down for a 997.

Yesterday, I was offered a brand new, unregistered (O4/O4), C16 UK spec. C4S with all options (inc PCM2 etc) in seal grey/black leather and immediate delivery for £62,995 plus RFL.

The GT3 Mk 2 would no doubt hold its value better, but these are also around in some numbers so an element of depreciation is inevitable. A good GT3 Mk1 may be a better buy, although it is slightly more compromised as a road car.

Decisions, decisions

 

[ianbanneville]

I understand the C4S will be built alongside the 997 for about another 18 months, so will not be "obsolete" for a while yet.

It is always difficult to make a rational decision over something like this!
I would suggest concentrating on what you want to use the car for. The GT3 is by all accounts a fabulous piece of kit - but if you are looking to do a reasonable mileage/go on holiday etc the C4S may be more appropriate, but maybe not as focussed if you want to spend a lot of time doing track days.

The anniversary model is just not to my taste, but then that is just me! It is certainly well specced. I guess, once again, it depends whether your priorities match the spec it is available in (as opposed to having exactly what you want by ordering a new car).

 

[Guest]

I drive a C2 but that was more due to lack of choice at the time of purchase (oh and money to buy a new one !!).

I was talking to Dave Clarke a little while ago (of Road Angel and Tiff Needell co-driver fame) who has now owned just about every Porsche you can get - including the first UK registered GT3RS and a MKII GT3 at the same time. He has also owned C2's and a 996TT.

In his opinion a C4S is the best all round car for its mix or performance and comfort, fast enough to get the adrenalin going and keep you licenece whilst compliant enough to keep your false teeth on a long haul.

As always just an opinion..

 

[Guest]

I purchased a Millennium edition C4 from new. The car was fully loaded with absolutely everything, and was limited to just a build of 911 cars. It did depreciate like a stone, however that was more due to Porsche lowering their new car prices by over 10% than anything else! Nevertheless it still fetched £5,000 more on trade in than a standard C4 would have made. So I think that the Anniversary model will depreciate, but will always be worth more than a standard C2.

I sold the Millennium because I realised that it was just too comfortable and well speced. If I wanted a fully loaded car then I would have bought a Jag, or Merc. What I wanted was a 911. A seat of your pants terrifying grim reaper of a road missile. So I traded the comforts of the Millennium for a GT3RS. Now thats what I call a 911.

So at the end of the day, it all boils down to what you really want your 911 to do?

 

[Guest]

I faced a very similar dilema as my dealer offered me a few choices to swap for my ailing C4 - the Anniversary looks stunning in Carrera GT silver - however I'm not entirely convinced it will have that much to offer, in time, over a well kept C2 Coupe of similar age. I think the GT3 has a sort of cult status which will see its value maintained over time.
I tested a well specified C4S tiptronic which would have made an excellent everyday car, but as I was looking for that certain special experience I wanted to stick with manual - if there had been a similar manual C4S I may well have gone for it.
I guess, as others here have said, it all boils down to personal preference, taste and need for a good residual.
As for me - I wanted a replacement car in somewhat of a hurry and ended up going for the narrow bodied C4 again, but this time with the "pleasure switch" sports exhaust which gives me a buzz each time I floor the throttle - I want to keep the car for some time and thus potential resale costs are not an issue - If I were looking for a trackday car I'd go immediately for the GT3 - if I were looking for an all round performer I'd probably go for a C2 with PSM or any C4 or C4S.
Hope you have fun in whichever you choose.
Regards
Dave

 

[Grant]

Great advice from ALL the guys & I agree with all the comments, but with the sort of money you are looking to spend, if it was me I would wait for the 997. Deliveries start in September this year & the car will (99% for sure) hold list (or above) for 6-12 months making depreciation virtually zero short term, if you can get in early enough !
If you don't want to wait for the 997, at least wait until July, August when all the 996 PX's will start appearing for sale & prices will soften, C4S included.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the advice, I must admit that I hadn't even considered the option of waiting for a 997 but I wonder if my PX allowance would hold for that length of time or if I'd end up with a reduced trade-in rather than depreciation!
It seems though, that the general feeling is that the 40th anniversary is over-spec'd and compared to that fantastic price for the C4S, overpriced too. Still not sure what Im going to do but at least I'll be better prepared and informed when I talk to the dealers.

 

[uktrucks]

As ever only my biased opinion. Buy a Mk1 GT3 now as good ones are getting scarce. Enjoy a phenominal car before the beauracrats rob us of such things. Then sell it when & if a 997GT3 is announced and pick up a 996 GT3 Mk2 as they begin to slide in value.

I believe that 997 arrival in any guise will not affect Mk1 GT3 as it has shed most of it depreciation already. There is still more to lose yet but not the big chunks that a "cooking" model 996 will lose.
I said elsewhere that by March 2005 GT3 Mk1's will have fallen to around c£50k retail for RHD [c£43k trade]and c£43k retail for LHD [£36k trade] before stabilising for a long time. 996 GT3 Mk2's will be around £12-14k more at this point.
A new 997GT3 should one be built will be c£80k by then [2007/8] so £50k will seem like good value.
I will now put my chyrstal ball away

Allan

 

[Guest]

As an everyday proposition, I am with Dave Jones:
- 4wd
- narrow body

For fun and collector's piece must be GT3.

As for 997, would be inclined to wait and see the various iterations before plumping.

Spizz

 

[Guest]

Well the choice isn't getting much easier but it is getting nearer! (end of March) I still remain unconvinced as to the benefit of 4wd when 2 is fine for the GT3, GT2 etc. Could anyone convince me that it is significantly better (or sort after?) Would that choice still be best even though I want a manual car? (Something in the back of my head recalls being told that the C4 is best if you have Tiptronic)

Also, the Aniversary can't be called the 'cooking' model as it has the engine upgrade to 345bhp. Is this option used on many 996s or does anyone on this board have it as I haven't ever noticed it on any used cars I've seen in garages?

Thing's would be so much easier if I could decide exactly what I want the car for but I know from past experience that it will change over time so really I need a car that will be all things to one man (me) so I guess that puts the GT3 out of contention, only because of versatility.
Luke

 

[Kevin Cooke]

Luker,

I have the power upgrade in my C4S.

Certainly makes for a very crisp top end and very usefull for track days, I seem to recall from the power/torque curves that you loose out lower down the rev band so probably doesn't make the car much quicker on the road.

Regards

 

[Guest]

Call me a wimp. But on a wet road ( and in Scotalnd that is moat of the time ) AWD just feels more planted.

Spizz

 

[Guest]

After considering all the advice I went and drove all the cars and the minute I got behind the wheel of the Mark1 GT3 the decision was made! The sound of the engine, the 'feel' of the ride but most of all, the steering precision just made me forget about all the other models and say 'I want one'
Next saturday I shall have one!

Thanks for all the replies