Dilemma?

[carreracat]

I am facing a real dilemma.
I doubt that anyone but myself can answer this for me but I thought I'd canvass opinion anyway!
After buying my 3.2 in April 2004 I've enjoyed every minute of driving her and owning her, I've also spent around £4000 on getting lots sorted and fitting a new exhaust.
She is now in great condition and more fun than ever to drive.
Here comes the problem; I am moving abroad for proabaly many years where I can not take her.
Do I sell (and no doubt take a loss) or do I keep her in storage (and pay about another £1000 a year plus insurance in storage costs)?
I know it's a tough one to answer but any thoughts would be very welcome.

 

[twinny]

Hey Mark - Just answered your paint code question..

Think outside the box. Here's a wild idea.

Get a legal chap to draw up an agreement changing ownership to somebody else - friend, family member, PCGB member.
Stick an ad. in Porsche Post for a member to look after and maintain it for you whilst you're away subject to the conditions of the agreement, a bit like a hire car or company vehicle.
Take delivery of it when you return back! Serviced. waxed and not abused.

I have absolutely no idea if this can be/has been done, but I am sure we must at least one member out of the 15,000 that would know if such a document could be drawn up.

I am going to take my medication now.

Steve

 

[Greg Park]

Mark,
I guess you need to weight up how long you'll be away for (cost of keeping) plus how hard it will be to find a 3.2 carrera in the condition your current car is in.

If it's going to cost £1k a year and your away for 6 years (for example) then £6k may seem like a big price to pay. I'm sure if you ask around you could probably find somewhere to store your car for cheaper, friends garage, barn or a private collection etc.

Plus points are it will keep the mileage down, when you get back the car will be rarer (less around over time) and as you've said you've spent money sorting it.

If the 3.2 is the car for you, I'd say find a way of storing it and go down that route, as finding good 3.2's is getting harder, the prices of good cars are strong and it will always stay that way.

I've just purchased my 2nd 3.2, after buying a 993 (which although fast didn't feel as raw and special.

Greg

 

[jamescharnley]

Storage costs don't need to cost that much. I have a place near me thats is superb & only costs £10 / week .

Where abouts are you going? Why can't you take the Porsche?

 

[twinny]

Regarding storage, just take care.

Today's cheap storage can often lead to tomorrows "Barn Find!" The advert normally goes on to say ....."Owner moved abroad,....requires sympathetic restoration ...all numbers matching." I used to be into restoring classic English sports cars and saw plenty of these adverts before I saw the light and bought the 3.2.

Remember when making your decision to factor in the cost of re-commissioning the car upon your return, a thing often overlooked, but one which can turn out to be a costly exercise.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit obvious.

You were probably right in the first place....no easy answer.

Steve

 

[Beaky]

Another option is to evaluate whether you can take it with you? why not enjoy it whilst abroad

 

[carreracat]

Thanks guys,
I'm moving to Singapore where they may drive on the correct side of the road but they don't alow cars over three years old to be iimported and they don't allow cars over ten years old on the roads at all; so my cars spritely 19 years will count against it!
It's very hard to tell how long I'll be out there for, if indeed I come back at all, so it's very hard to judge what's best.

James - where's this place near you, is it a general or car storage place?

Stevev - I like your idea, I shall look into. Maybe best of both worlds?

 

[Beaky]

That sounds terrible, so there are no vintage cars allowed to drive on public roads in Singapore... just horrible.

Are there any loop hole worth investigating, i.e. it's not a permanent import but something that needs to be bonded every 6 months or so, or its a race car that will be mostly used on track (but you will need to do a got of driving to and from the circuit..... hint hint, or maybe a diplomatic car

Otherwise it's as the others have said, find a good home be it with a storage company or a fellow enthusiast to keep or own

 

[Guest]

I know some Sing guys keep their cars in Malaysia and drive them there - its the only way to get out of second gear! There is a Sing guy who uses the name "Sameer" on Pelican with an 80s Ruf Turbo which must be more than 15 years old, so there must be a way to get round things in Sing as well.

 

[carreracat]

Thanks Richard, I've e-mailed Sameer so hopefully he can save me!

Beaky, they allow you to register 'vintage' pre war cares as classics and other classics that are more than 35 years old, but they can only be used for a maximum of 28 days a year! Hope I don't regret this move!

 

[Beaky]

Good luck