Hi all,
Looking to buy a sports car to own for only a year (just got to get it out of my system!) and need some opinions to help me make up my mind.
I can't afford to keep one indefinetly, so I am looking for a 'real' sports car that has nearly bottommed out in terms of depreciation so that my 12 months of fun won't cost me too dearly, taking into account depreciation and running costs. I reckon I'll put 12,000 miles on it.
I'm open to opinions but I,m currently salivating over two cars at the moment:
Car no.1 Porsche 911, 966 Carrera 4,(4wd) Tiptronic W plate, March 2000, 2 owners, silver, Black leather interior, Full Porsche history but dealer will service it with 'his' garage before sale. Looks almost immaculate inside and out. Looks like new discs and no kerbing of the alloys. Appears to have a fair degree of TLC. Windscreen price £33,395
Car no.2 Maserati Coupe 4200 Cambiocorsa with Skyhook suspension Dark metallic green with Light beige leather interior. 2003, 1 owner, 23000 miles. Looks (and sounds) stunning (just a shame about its old Datsun-looking rear profile). But I get the impression that it is a 'racing car adapted for the road' rather than the Porsche which seems to be a road car, road car err, if you know what I mean. Private sale, the guy wants £35,000.
The head says Porsche even though it is double the age and mileage. But the heart definetly says Maserati.
If you were in my position, what would you do?
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If you were in my position, what would you do?
keep the money in a high interest account.
sorry but you did ask.............
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
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A 996 or Maserati 4200 that has 'nearly bottommed out in terms of depreciation'?
After 1 year and 12K miles you will be lucky to sell either of them for £10K less than you bought it for. After adding on insurance, servicing and fuel, you're looking at about £1500 per month.
If that's within your budget and you want a 'sports' car, go for the Porsche although I'd look around for a late 993.
Kevin...
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For the cost of the depreciation on one of your suggested cars over 1 year (c.£10k) you could get yourself a Nissan Skyline R33 GTi-R. Garret T28 turbo'd 400+BHP, 400+ftlbs torque, Quaiffe gear kit, 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds. And it will be reliable. And after a year you'll be able to sell it for not a lot less than you paid for it.
On the other hand you may be one of those that think Japanese cars are boring and anodyne.
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On the other hand you may be one of those that think Japanese cars are boring and anodyne.
A Skyline is not exactly an Almera is it!
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Talking of fun sports cars for a year...
I am bidding farewell to my beautiful new shape Mercedes SLK 350 manual with a big spec soon. It's done 13K, UK car and goes extremely well. 0-60 in around 5.5 or less.
Most of the mileage was a whizz around Europe where the car was a dream.
Anyway. You can have it for a chunk less than the other cars you are looking at!
Depreciation, I dealt with that already - it's unlikely to go very far in the next year.
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If you are only going to have it a year then I'd seriously look into a one year lease with a maintenance package. If your car blows up within the year then it could cost you dearly as none of those are cheap to look afer.
If you definitely want to buy then Aprilia's suggestion of a skyline is a good one. If you import one directly from a Japanese auction then you could make money.
Porsches are good reliable sports cars so you probably wouldn't go far wrong.
If you want to have a real hairy bloke sports car then get hold of a TVR tuscan/ tuscan S. Best sound bar none. Real risk of killing yourself in the wet so make sure you have a will sorted :-)
teabelly
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If you want Porsche think Boxster S on a 53 plate facelift onwards. Buy wisely and get an inspection, check out www.boxa.net Good low milage car will be about £22-25k.
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How about a Twin-turbo Supra (JZA80? They are 326bhp as standard, but theres loads putting out way over 500bhp (its the car on the fast and the furious film) You should be able to recoup most of what you paid come selling time. As previously mentioned, you're asking for a car that won't take a big hit in depreciation, so I wouldn't consider your two choices of the newish Porsche or (any) Maserati!
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I tend to agree with the sceptical advice given above. An affordable 911 is a myth. These are expensive cars with expensive parts prices and even using specialists the labour costs can run up very quickly. Maserati even more so.
Having said that, life's too short not to have a bit of fun. How about a nearly new Boxster S, still in warranty? Or a recent Elise/Exige?
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Get an Impreza STi with the prodrive pack. Run-out 05 models are a bargain at the moment or plenty of older ones around for the cost of the yearly depreciation of the cars you mentioned. If the image is a bit much for you, get a spec D for under £30k and sell it to me in a years time, you'll lose much less than £10k. Go drive one before saying 'no, not in the same class' or whatever, you'll be stunned by the performance. Plus the build quality will be as good as the Porsche and much better than the Masersati and more reliable than both.
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Agree re Elise suggestion, they are an absolute hoot and track day heaven. For 35k you could get a superb Elise for real sports car fun and a new Focus ST from a broker for, er fun and practicality.
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Sorry but you're in a dream world if you think the build quality of the Subaru is comprable to the Porsche. I've driven both and the Subaru is a well built Japanese car but it is not in the same class as the Porsche.
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OK the 996 isn't a particularly attractive spec. Tips are generally harder to sell than manuals. What options does it have? It needs either OPC or specialist servicing, irrespective of the competency of "his" garage. DON'T buy any Porker without getting an independand inspection either by an OPC or a good specialist. Buy a copy of 911 & Porsche World from Smiths and their are some people offering inspections in the back, Peter Morgan goes recommended. However if you have the inspection done at an OPC then they'll warrant the car for around £700-800 for the year & continue until it's 9 years old. 996's have had catastrophic engine failures be warned! We've just had a member have a Tip box blow up on a 996 & the box alone is £ 7,500!!!!
A cheaper 993 might be a better bet but is an older style drive and that may not be what you want, try it out is the only answer.
Sevice costs at an independant would be circa £ 250-300+VAT
Come over to Porsche Net www.porsche-1.net and ask on there, I don't do Porkers with the engine in the wrong end but lots on there do.
As for the Masser similar comments, might be worth asking on Pistonheads.co.uk as their is at least one owner on there.
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Thanks for all your opinions, I must admit though, I just don't get cars like the subaru imprezzas and the EVO's. Sure they might have sports car performance but they look like old Egyptian taxis to me. I mean, ask any kid to draw a sports car and I bet it won't look anything like a Subaru or an EVO.
£10k depreciation in 1 year.....wow, I didn't expect it to be that much. I've checked out the other sites mentioned and it seems that people are very impressed with their Boxsters and compared to the 911 Carrera 4, the price seems quite reasonable. Any ideas on when the price bottoms out?
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The head says Porsche even though it is double the age and mileage. But the heart definetly says Maserati.
Strange - that's exactly what I was thinking.
Spend it. After all this time next year we may all be coming to terms with teh $150.00 barrel of oil, and this may be the last chance to enjoy the cars as they were meant to.
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Well longobordo, if it was a straight choice between the porsche and the maserati and you aren't worried about depreciation then I'd plump for the maserati. When did you last see one on the road? You see loads of porsches, it'd be a bit different to have a maserati.
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I don't believe for a minute the Porsche will drop by £10k in a year if you buy right, but the green Maserati will definitely hit you hard.
If you're looking for fun I wonder if the 4wd Porsche is right. It's very quick and ruthlessly brilliant, but not really fun.
Jason Dawes did an article on the Ferrari 355 in last weeks Sunday Times. It seems that might tick the fun/low depreciation/£35k boxes.
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If you have that kind of money, I'd seriously take a look at a Boxster - but that's cos I like convertibles! And I want one!!
As well as the Porsche forum mentioned above, take a look at
www.rennteam.com
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Can't claim real experience of any of these cars but a water-cooled 911 is an expensive proposition and I personally wouldn't want a Boxster at any price. If what you want is tail-happy then a good 993 would be the one. Personally if it had to be a Porsche I would look for a 968 Club Sport, very quick and more invisible than a 911.
But the Maserati is so much better looking than any Porsche that I might well be swayed by that.
What makes you think you will be able to say goodbye to it after a year? You may be hooked for the rest of your life.
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