Sign In Join 



Porsche 911

2048 messages,  Last post on Aug 31, 2009 at 9:15 AM

You are in the Porsche 911 Forum. Your Host is claires

What is this discussion about? Porsche 911, Porsche Carrera GT, Coupe, Convertible


Messages Page 179 of 206
1
...
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
...
206
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#1773 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? What to do??? Kids too! [gtmaguire] by sborowski
Mar 06, 2008 (10:19 am)
Reply

Replying to: gtmaguire (Mar 05, 2008 4:57 pm)

Although my kids are much older so the back seat question is not an issue, I struggled with the new vs. used dilemma myself. I settled (maybe not the right word to use in this instance) for a new 2008 911 S. I found several used 997's that would have been nice, but given the broad number of options and customization variations available, and given that when it comes right down to it, it really isn't that much more to buy a new car designed exactly how you want it vs. "settling" for a 1 or 2 years old car someone else put together. I ordered my car in Basalt Black with full leather, sports chrono package, Navigation system, CD changer, adaptive sport seats (highly recommended. I'm 6' 4", about 230 and fit very comfortably), and a few small cosmetic features like colored wheel caps, etc. I've had it three weeks and love the car. As far as test driving is concerned, a spin around the dealership doesn't do the trick. I spent two days at the Porsche Sport Driving School in Birmingham last June. That's the most fun you could ever have with your pants on. That truly was the ultimate test drive. Absolutely love the car but it is a second car. The car I'll leave at the airport, fight traffic jams in, let a valet lay an hand on, etc., is a 2006 BMW 750 Li. Love that car too, but for entirely different reasons. The Porsche is comfortable to use as a daily driver, but not an everyday daily driver if you know what I mean.
 
Regarding the "back seat", never mind. Your 1 and 3 year olds may fit back there for the next 6 months but that's about it. Consider this car nothing more than a 2 seat sports car.
 
As long as your bride has given you the green light, go for it, but keep the Range Rover.
#1774 of 2048
Semi-urgent Help Requested -- Buying Porsche by gocard1
Mar 07, 2008 (11:37 am)
Reply
Hi -- I have a potential opportunity to purchase a one owner '06 911 Cabriolet (Silver/Black) with 13k miles. Warranty runs in 9/09. I'm getting the options list but think it is moderately optioned -- not totally base model, but not all the bells and whistles either.
 
Asking price is $69k but I think they will sell for $65k or lower. I am in Los Angeles area.
 
What is reasonable pricing for this car? Is this a good deal, a so-so deal or a screaming good deal? Can I expect to get it for low $60s or is that pushing it?
 
Thanks for any and all input!!
#1775 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? What to do??? Kids too! [sborowski] by habitat1
Mar 07, 2008 (3:55 pm)
Reply

Replying to: sborowski (Mar 06, 2008 10:19 am)

Regarding the "back seat", never mind. Your 1 and 3 year olds may fit back there for the next 6 months but that's about it. Consider this car nothing more than a 2 seat sports car.
 
Don't tell that to my daughters. They have logged at least 6,000 miles in the backseat over the past 2+ years. I'm 5'7" and my wife is 5'1" so that obviously helps a lot, but my 12 year old is now 5'2" and we get no complaints from her when she sits behind my wife. I have a friend who is 6', wife is 5'6" and their two smallish 7 & 9 year olds fit reasonably well, although they are at the limit.
 
Frankly, I probably wouldn't have bought a 911 S Cab, if it wasn't for the back seat. Great car for sure, but the Cayman S would probably be preferable to me as a pure 2 seater, especially given the price difference. And on the other end of the spectrum, I had an opportunity to pick up a Ferrari 360 at a decent price, as well. But, for us, the 911 makes a great family car on the weekends and a heck of a soprts car for me the other 70% of the time.
#1776 of 2048
Re: Semi-urgent Help Requested -- Buying Porsche [gocard1] by habitat1
Mar 07, 2008 (4:13 pm)
Reply

Replying to: gocard1 (Mar 07, 2008 11:37 am)

I'd call $65k for that car a fair, but not great deal.
 
My 2005 is the same "age", with the 4 year warranty through 9/09. I have a few more miles (18,000). But mine is the "S" model ($10k more than the base) and is fairly loaded w/ $13k+ in options ($102.8k MSRP). I have been told by my dealer that when the weather breaks here in the next month or two, I should be able to get around $70-73k privately. The only advantage the one you are looking at is the model year, but there were no changes at all between the 2005 and 2006 and, as it turns out, they are the same age as far as the warranty goes. I think the low 60's is the right price for the one you are considering.
#1777 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? What to do??? Kids too! [habitat1] by gtmaguire
Mar 07, 2008 (5:17 pm)
Reply

Replying to: habitat1 (Mar 07, 2008 3:55 pm)

Thanks so much to everyone so far for the advice. I am so torn about the car. I feel like buying the full size Range Rover is so much more logical. On the other hand, I really want to get the Porsche. Ironically, my wife thinks I am being ridiculous. She says just buy the Porsche. The price is an obstacle for me. I buy my cars outright and I have a hard time with going over 85 thousand. Particularly since I am buying her a new Range Rover Sport. 150 thousand for two cars cars really bothers my Irish frugality... and yes I know that sounds ridiculous......
 
So. If you had to choose a used 911 cabriolet for $85k or less and a 2004 Land Rover Discovery as your back up car, or a new fully loaded 08' Range Rover. (don't forget the two kids) What would you do? Ok, I have also looked into a used 2007 Maserati $84K, my wife thinks they are boring.
 
Oh and I am 5'9, wife is 5'3", thanks habitat1, I had almost started to rule out the Porsche. You have given me hope!
 
Also for amusement purposes only: wife to me"you can't do anything in moderation ever", my response "Moderation is for quitters!"
#1778 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? What to do??? Kids too! [gtmaguire] by madmanmoo
Mar 08, 2008 (5:15 am)
Reply

Replying to: gtmaguire (Mar 07, 2008 5:17 pm)

Factor in reliability issues. Range Rover has some less than stellar quality ratings. The same goes for Maserati. You may save a little money, but are you going to be happy when you're in and out of the shop constantly?
 
If your kids fit in the 911, then go with it!
#1779 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? What to do??? Kids too! [gtmaguire] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Mar 08, 2008 (9:06 am)
Reply

Replying to: gtmaguire (Mar 07, 2008 5:17 pm)

You'll just have trouble with the Discovery I think and the depreciation on Rover is brutal. Look ANY new car you buy is not an "investment" and ANY new car you buy cannot be justified in terms of "common sense". If we all had common sense we'd be buying 2-3 year old cream puffs with service records, super low miles and an excellent reputation for reliability, and let the other guy suffer the depreciation that starts the minute you drive off the lot.
 
But having something that nice and brand new, which is yours from the get-go, has a definite allure.
#1780 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? Lease or Own? Tips for Buying? by gtmaguire
Mar 08, 2008 (6:38 pm)
Reply

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 08, 2008 9:06 am)

Ok, I have made the decision Porsche it is! I am going to keep our old Discovery as the back up car if I need to drive the kids anywhere. I clocked day care to my house it is 1.1 miles, I could just go home switch cars and get the kids. I also rationalized that with gas prices skyrocketing, the Range Rover was a waste of money. Ok, I am admittedly looking for an excuse, but still I do hate paying 100 bucks to fill up my car every week. Wife is getting her RR Sport anyway soooooo..... Going to the dealership on Sunday to take a 911 for a drive and start the process. So, I am still on the fence about the new or used thing. I could do a new coupe without pushing my psychological threshold of 85k, but I really want the conv. Suggestions? I think leasing may not be right for me, but I wanted to hear if anyone had a different view on it. I plan on keeping the car for three to five years. I am planning on buying the car outright. But, I was wondering if in three years or so if I want to get a new one does the car retain more value as a trade in or if I just leased? Or which is more realistic and honestly more likely, I will have to get a sedan or another SUV, with having older bigger kids, I may just have to sell it anyway (or hide it from my wife somewhere!). I went to the Porsche website and did a three year 12k mile lease for 54,000 total payments. I also wanted to know what to expect about the negotiation in the dealership. I have looked at cars.com and carsdirect and they both basically list the MSRP price as the price of the vehilce. What should I expect when it comes to haggling over the price of the car? I was planning on going to about 4 or 5 dealerships to compare pricing.
 
Oh, sorry for the length of my posts, but thanks for the advice that you folks have given me. I hope to have my car by April
#1781 of 2048
Re: New or Used Porsche??? Lease or Own? Tips for Buying? [gtmaguire] by habitat1
Mar 09, 2008 (4:01 am)
Reply

Replying to: gtmaguire (Mar 08, 2008 6:38 pm)

A few responses:
 
Leasing: It sounds like you are somewhat similar to me. I always pay cash for my cars, figuring I'll bite the bullet once and be done with it. If I was looking at a BMW I might consider leasing, as they offer great lease rates/subsidies. Porsche doesn't. I would have been stroking a check for about $1,600 per month on mine and that would have taken some of the fun out of it for me.
 
Coupe vs. Cab: Where do you live? Climate? As I said, my purchse of the 911 was based on it being a sports car the whole family can enjoy. The Cab does run $10k more than the coupe, but the joy of driving around on a nice day with the top down and the girls hair flowing in the wind is priceless. The coupe is more of a track ready car (no added roll bars required), but for public road fun, the Cab is hard to beat.
 
Base vs. S: The initial cost difference looks like $10k, but the S gives you Xenon, PASM, 19" wheels and a couple of other goodies in addition to the more powerful engine. Net difference for the engine is about $5,400. After driving a base 911 a few weeks ago, I think the S is worth it. If you go the base route, I would seriously consider the PASM (Adjustable suspension) option. The base car I drove was harsh over bumps compared to my "normal" setting, but still not as tight around the curves as the S set to "sport". Noticable difference.
 
Price negotiation: Good news, Porsche sales are down 12% so far this year and the lousy economy/stock market is on your side. Also, the 997 model has now been out for awhile, compared to when I bought. Bad news, we are heading into prime spring season for buying a Cab, so dealers might be less inclined to heavily discount. I picked up my 2005 off the showroom floor in September 2005 as the 2006's were on the boat. Perfect time to negotiate - and I got a decent discount off from a dealer in Baltimore. But even at that time, some of the DC area dealers were trying to hold to near MSRP. Use Porsche's website to check out dealer inventory online, before you walk in.
 
Options: Don't get bent out of shape over the 20 page option list. If you are oredering a new car, keep it simple.
 
My car: 2005 997 S Cab, Seal grey, Black Leather Seats, Power memory seats, Navigation, Bose, 6-CD changer, Porsche Sport Exhaust, Sport Chrono, heated seats, self dim mirrors, etc. Current MSRP for an identical 2008 model = $107,385. New 9/27/05 (29+ months). 18,200 miles. Broken-in to perfection. My daughters will kill me if I sell it, but the stone mason is tempting me with added ideas (costs) for our new house. So slip me $ 72,995 and I'll even split you on the cost of an extended warranty to take you past a new car warranty! But you have to take care of it and give me a right of first refual to buy it back when you are done in 3-5 years.
#1782 of 2048
Made the mistake.... by lr3rx8
Mar 15, 2008 (7:35 pm)
Reply
of just trying a Porsche for fit. Now I'm a tall guy, and even taller from the hips up - like someone 6'8". I've owned Mazda's as sports cars,the last a 2004 RX8 I got new for just $24K - my daughter shifts it now as her daily driver - now with almost 70K miles on it. Bought the RX8 mainly b/c I fit in it - no other sports car allowed it at that time - I didn't want a convertable anyway, corvette was too small.for me. So I'm driving and turn into the nearest Porsche dealer here in Atlanta - Jim Ellis. Try the Cayman on for size - and its a no-go. The sales guy says try this Targa 4S... fits like a glove! Now I couldn't even get the sunroof version of the RX-8 because of my size - and in the Targa and later a 2S, I'm feeling incredibly giddy. But common sense takes over when he asks me if I want to take it for a spin. Same thing got me to buy a LR3 for my wife a couple years ago, and I don't want to cash in any of my losing investments... So I say no.
 
Now I've yearning for a new sports car... RX-8 was as nice a handling car as I've ever owned - I could really fling it around in the Georgia mountains - and I could buy 2 of them for the price of the engineering excellence the Porsche 911 offers... A also notice lots of folks don't use the 911's as daily drivers, and while I wouldn't need to I would not have and qualms using the rotary rocket as a D-D, but what about the Porsche?
 
Help! Can you guys talk me out of or into the Porsche?

Messages Page 179 of 206
1
...
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
...
206
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement