911 996 Which Colours

[steveharris746]

Always wanted a 911 since I was a kid. Now in a position to buy one.
Which colours are the best for resale or what colours to avoid. Looking at a 99-2001 models.

 

[Alan Woods]

Same as any modern car: Silver, Black, Grey, Midnight Blue. People will tell you avoid Guards Red, Speed Yellow, White (are there are white 996's over here, never seen one?) and Greens!

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Hi Steve,

As Alan mentioned, the usual suspects are popular of which you'll probably see the
following variants:-

Blue
1) cobalt blue (light blue)
2) ocean blue (medium blue)
3) midnight blue (deep blue)

Silver

1) arctic silver (standard silver)
2) polar silver (blue tinge)
3) meridian silver (beige tinge)

Black

1) black (flat uniform)
2) basalt black (metallic)

Grey
1) seal grey

Common colours u may wish to avoid are arena red(maroon) guards red (flat red)
speed yellow (banana yellow) white (flat white) rain forest green (deep green)
and orient red (pinky red)

You may also wish to avoid a savannah interior (beige) as its a bit of a marmite colour.

Having said all that I had no difficulty at all selling my previous Arena Red Boxster
with Savannah interior!

You are buying your dream car, buy what makes you happy, if its an unpopular
colour combination then haggle more and be prepared to sell for less too.
Swings and roundabouts IMO.

Good luck Steve

 

[Mercurial]

Don't forget to add Iris Blue to the list of "blues" (although you only rarely see it).

Richard will have a comment to make about Savannah interiors. []

 

[jonathanw]

How about "Zenith Blue" to add to the list. I had a nice 996 cab in this colour.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Not all colours were available in all model years. There is a list of what was available, and when, in the FAQ section (available to PCGB Members only). Here is a link to the list, for the benefit of non-members: >CLICK HERE< (pdf format).

Personally, I say go for what appeals to you, because when you sell it will appeal to someone else. I wish I had been bolder and gone for Guards Red. Nothing subbtle about it, and I think the 996 looks brilliant in that colour - especially with an aerokit. Also, it's different - I think you would have a job to find one.

As for interiors, I do like Savannah - it makes the car feel much lighter and roomier inside than boring black. I've heard all the nappy-poo jokes, and I don't care - I like it!

Guards Red and Savannah - what a combo! Mmmmm. That, and Turbo on the engine lid - perfect!

 

[Tony M]

Hi Steve,

Some good advice here on what colours to buy and which ones to avoid. Since you are buying secondhand , in theory, it may save you many thousands of pounds if you buy a Guards Red or a Banana Yellow car. Take a look at the prices of 996's and actually see how much you can save by buying a non conformist colour and I think you may well find that the price differentials are so slight to make little difference.

When it comes to resale time for you, there are people out there that do not want to follow the pack, just the same as the first time buyers of the Red, Yellow and White cars, so you will be able to sell it on with no trouble.

If you do buy a Banana coloured car, you may have to sell it for a few pounds lower and take solace in the fact that you saved many thousands when you bought it[]

Do not be put off by the 'Colour Scaremongers'. Buy the colour that takes your fancy and drive the car, not the colour.

 

[Mercurial]

Just to throw this into the mix: got to admit, Speed Yellow, ok []

 

[AGT]

ORIGINAL: jonathanw

How about "Zenith Blue" to add to the list. I had a nice 996 cab in this colour.

highly recommended as very rarely see others. and anyway, only girls choose cars based on colour don't they?

 

[Dylan1]

lots of useful advice here .personally,when i achieved the dream and got a 911 I bought an arctic silver one ,which was nice ,but not "my"choice-i ordered my next porsche new and in the colour I wanted-atlas grey-and as a result feel much happier with it.when i persuade linda the 997TT is "go"it will be in the colour i/we(!) want-if you can find the colour you would choose yourself on a used one then you will obviously save a lot!![]

 

[steveharris746]

Thanks for all your replies, very useful.

Has anyone seen Meridian Silver? Found a car I quiet like. Havent seen it in the flesh yet.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Take a look here: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=269468. Open the <Members Cars Pt 1> link, and take a look at Rodney's and John's cars, which are Meridian I believe.

 

[John Ware]

Certainly is! When I bought it, I ended up with the choice of three cars which were appropriate. The other two were Arctic silver. Nothing wrong with that at all but it seems that every other 996 out there is Arctic. Meridian is a very slightly darker silver which appears very slightly gold (did someone say beige?) in certain lights. Beats Arctic by a mile (but I would say that). The photos on here just look like a slightly greyer Arctic and don't do it justice.

If I were to order a 997 (fat chance), I'd specify Meridian. If I were to order a GT3 (even fatter chance), I'd seriously consider being bolder.

 

[andy@3rdeye.biz]

Like Steve Harris I'm finally taking the plunge and looking at a 2000 996 Carrera. Are there any key specifications a model has to have to make it a good example? This one doesn't have a CD player or satnav for example but its got a great history, is unmarked and low mileage at 49k.

I had a new 2001 M5 with no satnav/tv and it made it harder to sell.

Andy

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The old PCM1 Satnav you would get in a 2000 car is relatively useless these days - no maps available, and an outdated system. The good news is that it is relatively easy to fit an aftermarket system to a 2000 car - a lot easier than the later MOST (fibre optic) systems. Buy based on the condition of the car - you can retrofit some of the goodies afterwards.

 

[Mercurial]

I agree with Richard about that.

PCM1, whilst it's nice in that it provides readout for mpg, etc. and a telephone (which can be useful, albeit only occasionally), the map provides little more than a pretty decoration. The tape unit doesn't have any of the usual refinements (e.g. rewind) and, besides, I guess that it's only very rarely that anybody plays tapes nowadays. The CD is good in that it takes six discs (preloaded in the luggage compartment), but I guess that it won't be long before docking for iPods, or similar, is pretty much standard, so shortly to be superceded (i.e. already being superceded). Fitting an aftermarket system is the way to go so it shouldn't be much of an issue buying a car without the Porsche system installed. There are several on here with experience of choosing and fitting an aftermarket unit so help is at hand.

Personally I'd be keen to go for litronic headlights, sunroof, heated seats (not vital but a nice touch), and probably a PSE (but you can add this yourself).

The mileage is encouraging (not too low to indicate insufficient use and not too high to suggest it's been worked hard).

Overall, condition and mileage are the deciders.

 

[andy@3rdeye.biz]

Hi chaps. Thanks for the info and keep it coming! Just driven it and its VERY tight and good. Can you point me to somewhere I can get a decent (Porsche?) upgrade of the music system to include CD? I'll be using a separate satnav with it so can play MP3 and it gives telephone capability via bluetooth.

I've understood your messages about buying based on condition (and it meets that) but are there any other features, whether I need them or not, that would affect resale or the price I should pay?

Stuff that might have been optional extras when it was new and so on.

It's listed at 26,995 but I'm not giving him that. Any ideas? Will it fall much over the next few years?

Andy

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

If you are going to use a portable satnav, then you could probably add a CD changer to the existing unit. Many UK cars are prepped for it anyway, with the changer cable and mount. Look for option 441 on the Vehicle Identification label. Otherwise, a more modern Becker unit will match the interior best (Porsche use Becker radios). If you go for an all-in-one take a look at the Pioneer AVIC D3BTI which has been talked about extensively here, and chuck away the TomTom!

The options list is as long as your arm - it's all about personal preference. You can add OBC, Cruise, Rain Sensors, HID lights at reasonable cost if the car you are looking at doesn't have them. Stuff like M030 sports suspension, 18" wheels etc are expensive to add afterwards, and depending on how you use the car may or may not be desirable - so the same will apply when you want to sell it.

I beg do differ about heated seats - I've got them, and never use them. Maybe in a cabriolet they may be useful, but I can honestly say that my ar*e is seldom cold! Now if they had something for cold fingers or ears on a frosty morning that might be worth having! [] []

If you are going to keep the car for a couple of years, you'll find that depreciation will happen - just slower than most.

 

[Mercurial]

Richard - If you spec' heated seats on an Audi, you get a heated steering wheel too. Maybe an RS6? []

 

[Ess_Three]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

I beg do differ about heated seats - I've got them, and never use them. Maybe in a cabriolet they may be useful, but I can honestly say that my ar*e is seldom cold! Now if they had something for cold fingers or ears on a frosty morning that might be worth having! [] []

You should try living in the frozen north!
It's been between -5 and -7 C lately round here...and heated seats make it so much more bearable!
I tend to have them on full to start with (get some heat into my creaking back - too many 'bike accidents!) then knock them back to the mid setting, tilt the sunroof....and enjoy the drive.

Maybe a Cayenne would fit the bill for cold fingers, with their heated steering wheel!


Back to the original topic...
I say buy what colour you like and don't think about the depreciation. I buy a car for me, not for the next buyer...hence Speed Yellow!