New 997 vs Used 997S

[mickshep]

Hi folks
I'm looking to trade in my 987 which is coming up to 2 years old against a new/used 997, fortunately there's a few bob left after the tax man gets paid at the end of month so I'm off looking in February.
Due to business politics the current agreed ceiling price on car purchases is £65k which pretty much leaves me with a choice of new 997 with 19's, PSE, nav, bose and the knowledge no one else has ragged it before me or 12-18 month old 997S with a few miles on and no idea what the previous owner has been upto. I like the idea of a new car with full warranty etc. but get the feeling everytime I saw a 997S I'd feel that I'd made the wrong choice - does the performance gain outweigh not owning the car from new, which would you choose ?
Also I have a few people potentially interested in my current car so I may end up being a cash buyer, does anyone have an idea what the usual discount is on the OPC sticker price for used approved cars for a cash buyer around the 65k area?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated
Cheers
Mick

 

[Alex L]

I got a 'used' 997 C2S Cab with 2000 miles on the clock.

I saved about 2k from the list price but the part that I liked the best was that I didn't have to wait 9 months for a new one to be built. So someone did the run in for me and I still had a year and a half warrantee left! Win win.

I was a little worried that someone had thrashed the engine before me but I felt more reassured after being told that most of the Porsches that come out of the factory are already pretty well run-in.

As for money off, you'll be VERY lucky if you get anything at all, new OR used. I managed to get 500 quid off the sticker price on mine but that was because I was friends with the sales guy way before he even started working for Porsche.

Perhaps things have changed since there are more 997s on the market. I know Porsche will be VERY keen right now to get rid of all their Tiptronic cars given the PDK will be coming in later this year with the facelift. Letters offering free test drives in Tiptronic 997s have already been received by many people I know, which is not something you typically see from the UK OPCs.

 

[Rotorhead]

Few thoughts.

Quite a few people, including several leading journalists, have preferred the 997 to the 997'S'

There's usually around £2k margin to negotiate on a used OPC car.

Best buy, would be a private purchase. Not too much risk with a nearly new OPC supplied car with low mileage, full history and plenty of warranty remaining. Still get it checked though

I think the 'facelift' is summer 2008 for the 09 MY.

 

[jonathanw]

Mick

There's nothing like getting a brand new car in my opinion. You can spec it as you wish and have the benefit of the full warranty. Although on paper the S is that much faster in day to day driving I suspect a good driver in a non S will always beat a mediocre one in an S.

I would suggest the PSE just had it fitted to my car (it was not an option when I bought spec'd mine) . Go for the 19" classics - they look good and are easy to clean. PASM and xenons are also a must and apart from a few horses and slightly inferior brakes your non S is as good as an S.

I would always be wary of somebody selling a car after a few thousand miles.

I love my non S and as you can see have had a variety of them for nearly 25 years.

Enjoy ++

Jonathan

 

[YvesD]

mickshep,

Immaculate low mileage cars are out there, mine is one for example.

C2S X51, fully loaded, 5000 miles in 17 months, carefully run in to the book, never stalled, never missed a gear ( manual ), no clumsy shoe scuff marks on the door sills, no scratches, dings or the like, Zymoled etc etc.

£85k replacement cost if bought today and currently valued by the OPC at around £70k ish..

Not for sale by the way !

Yves

 

[Z80]

ORIGINAL: mickshep

Hi folks
I'm looking to trade in my 987 which is coming up to 2 years old against a new/used 997, fortunately there's a few bob left after the tax man gets paid at the end of month so I'm off looking in February.
Due to business politics the current agreed ceiling price on car purchases is £65k which pretty much leaves me with a choice of new 997 with 19's, PSE, nav, bose and the knowledge no one else has ragged it before me or 12-18 month old 997S with a few miles on and no idea what the previous owner has been upto. I like the idea of a new car with full warranty etc. but get the feeling everytime I saw a 997S I'd feel that I'd made the wrong choice - does the performance gain outweigh not owning the car from new, which would you choose ?
Also I have a few people potentially interested in my current car so I may end up being a cash buyer, does anyone have an idea what the usual discount is on the OPC sticker price for used approved cars for a cash buyer around the 65k area?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated
Cheers
Mick

Hi Mick,


Interesting dilemma. I'd always go for the 997S because of what you've already aluded to above about seeing other 997S's.

This might be total tosh but offered in good faith....

After my spell at Millbrook for the training day and seeing just how strong these cars are, would suggest that you should not worry greatly. To help further, if buying used from an OPC, ask them to check how many Range 1 or Range 2 over revs there are. These things (as far as I know - please help me out here guys) are records of how many times the rev limit has been exceeded. Can't remember exactly but Range 1's are ok and indicate slight intrusions into the rev limiter, whereas Range 2's indicate, perhaps, a missed down shift and there's been real penetration into the red.

Someone on here will explain better, but the OPC can plug into the diagnostics port to gather this information that's held in nonvolatile memory accessed by the ECU.

When I had my 996 I fluffed a gear change from 2nd into 3rd & the tacho wizzed into the red for a short while & I noticed the rev limiter cut in. I asked the OPC to see what might have happened. They read out from the diagnostics port that there'd been a Range 1 caused by me daft shifting but then they dismissed by worries.

So Mick, if you mean 'ragged' as in running into the red limit you can see how many at least (as far as I know that is) there have been & perhaps gain some additional information that way. Dunno if your OPC would be prepared to do that for you though.

Best Regards,

Greg

 

[Ronnie C]

It depends on the price really.

Bottomline is we owners are going to be hit hard when we eventually sell or trade in, so tbh I think it's plain rude when you see all these low mileage, nearly new cars at OPCs going for near list price.

Unless you are buying a GT3 / GT3RS, waiting times for new builds are relatively minimal at the moment, well months rather than year.

 

[okellyt]

How about a 2nd hand 996 GT3? []

 

[Rob Edwards]

Hi
After several new Boxsters I traded my 987S for a 9 month 997S (OPC demonstrator) with 1100 miles on the clock and virtually every item I would have wanted for me (with the exception of auto dim mirrors which I have but would not have specced).
Got £7k off new price - just run in, immaculate and spec I would have chosen anyway - also top trade in.
I'm as happy as the laughing gnome in a leaky nitreous oxide factory[].
Worked for me!!
Congrats on whatever you decide - I came close to more temptation recently over a low milage Gallardo (but sensibly resisted!)
Rob

 

[Monty2]

Mick
As Yves can tell you, if you go for a nearly new C2S ( I did in Dec before my cayenne S could nose dive any further) you can then have the X51 (near GT3 performance) kit fitted if your feeling flush. you won't have the same OPC upgrade option with a C2 .
My 6 month old C2S fully loaded incl PCCB (worked out to have £9500 worth of extras) but with just short of 6K on the clock cost me the price of a new C2S with no options. The car came from Porsche UK stock and I thought it might have been around Millbrook a few times but it was immaculate, no scratches or blemishes on the paintwork and boy did I check, new tyres, not a spot on the interior no scuff marks on the wheels, even the ceramic disks looked brand new. My Cayenne S came to me as a six month old from the identical route and it again was like a brand new car when I picked it up. I've dealt with Michael Cornwall from Cambs OPC on both occasions (he also got hold of a 6 month old 987S last year within days of me looking as well) give him a call.
I'm still getting to know my 997S it takes a bit of learning which is great as only downside of a Boxster S is that you can jump straight into it and its so well balanced it quite forgiving of new driver over indulgence, the C2S likes to think its the boss in the relationship and gets the respect it deserves.
That'll be another tick for the used 997C2S and again mine's not for sale either.

Good Luck

Paul

 

[Rintoul]

Hi Mick
Adding in some lateral thought, It all depends upon what you want the car to do for you. I suspect that if you already fully use the performance of your boxster you won't feel that you have gained all that much for the xtra £'s spent getting a standard 997C2 except more space and cudos. If the money is burning a hole in your pocket and you want to spend the maximum of your budget and you desire more performance then you will need to go the used route, this then opens up a few options.
Having been through this dilema a few months ago when swopping my 996C4 (and 2 RMS in 36000 miles) and looking at a new 997S (RMS design still not cured), I decided performance and reliability per £ were my main criteria. The 997GT3 was no longer available ( all preordered) and the 997 TT was A. 18months waiting and B. too much of a leap in cost at £106K (I am retired). My conclusion was to buy a highly specified 996tt with X50 powerkit, aerokit, sports suspension etc for £70k (saving £39k on its list price). This not only saved me money (always tempting) on a new 997C4S but it is also far quicker & sharper, and lets me sleep at night regarding reliability. I know the warranty should cover most issues but if you read some of the threads on this subject it reflects poorly on Porsche. IMHO the 997 is still a wonderful car but I chose to go down a different route to suite my personal preferences. (By the way I have been a Porsche owner for 18 years and still think that they offer the best all round package...at the moment). []

 

[mbrands]

At this point in the product cycle, I'd go for used. In a year's time (give or take) the face lift will be out which will hurt residuals on the current model.

Also, I'd try and buy privately rather than through an OPC and get it inspected before you buy. You can save a lot of money by taking the OPC out of the equation. Enough money to get a newer lower mileage car. If it is less than a year old the balance of the manufacturers warranty will be the same. Just to give you an idea; last year I sold my 14 month old £75k list 997 back to an OPC for £61k and a week later is was up on the web at £69,950.

 

[Julio Geordio]

Sounds about right. From the horse's mouth, an OPC looks to clear £5k on each used car. So, with some preparation costs, a warranty, haggling from a savvy punter of course, and VAT and your £70k vs £61k looks there or thereabouts.

Still makes you weep though.

 

[richardgilbert]

I have just sold my C4s which was listed on the forum, that car would have cost nearly £88k new was six months old and had less than 5k miles on, when i spoke to several opc's and used car buyers they where all amazed at how many used 997 were about and the ease of buying a new one ie no waiting list. One guy had just bought a six month old C4s coupe worth 91k new with 2000 miles on for 63k, its very much a buyers market and i think you can buy a fully loaded C2S for less than a new one if you shop around and buy private and keep your nerve!!!!!!!

 

[Chris5150]

So what did you get for yours then Richard, if you dont mind me asking!!

 

[timhum2002]

Richard

Seems like great news for a buyer of a used car although it does very well illustrate the effect of highly specifying a new car and determining how much of the extra cost will be recovered at trade in time. Given the base price for a C4S is around £68k it is a lot of extras, what did you fit for the further £20k??

Tim

 

[mickshep]

Thanks for the comments guys
Gone for the C2S, deposit down today on a 2005 car, black with black, nav, heated sports seats, sport chrono, 3,500 miles on the clock and just like new, significantly under my budget and much more significantly under the cost new. Should have it by the end of the week, will post some pics when I get chance, looking forward to the leap in performance from my 2.7 987, suprisingly only £150 increase in insurance for the year. Got a feeling it's going to be a long week, hope the weather improves as the car's never been out in the wet !!

 

[okellyt]

Good for you

I am looking forward to the pictures

 

[2fast4u]

Mick, was in the same dilemma as you were and did exectly the same as you!! Traded in a Boxter 3.2s for a 997CS2. Did think about buying a brand new 997 buy opted for a one woman owner with low milage 8 month old 997S.

Haven't looked back since and love it to bits.........! []

Kim

 

[Monty2]

You've gone quiet Mick
So its likely your out there driving having picked up your C2S, be good when you come down off cloud 9 to post a few of your first impressions.

Cheers and well done that man