Porsche Owners Thread - If you own one or just like or hate them! :)

[Gibbo]

Anyone bought Used Approved lately? Being quoted 6.9% APR and 'Porsche set it' so it's not up for negotiation? Sounds like claptrap to me.

Some dealership franchises have hard locks on the interest rates for whatever reason and some are negotiable. Shop around or finance the car by another finance company you can get as low as around 4% now on car finance if you shop around. Alternatively get a bank loan which are around 3%

No reason to really pay over 5% now!

 

[Gibbo]

@Chris1712 this is the website for the guy I used - https://www.hensleystephens.co.uk/

He got me the best rate with Paragon, another big finance company, but had access to better rates being a broker etc.

How it worked for me, car was up for 46k and I got a quote for this and then made a lower offer to the dealer which was accepted. I then let the broker know and he got Paragon to adjust the quote accordingly.

Paragon are one of the strongest, but something to point out with them, they will not allow to make over payments of the balloon. Which when I went to pay some of the SVR realised I could not which annoyed me somewhat, but thankfully I was in a position and had cash to settle the agreement in total so did so.

However I've just re-financed with these guys, via HMK-FS but on a rolling 18 month contract which basically allows me to get around the whole not being able to reduce the balloon and they gave me 4.4%, my thinking is in 18 months I shall just refinance, push for even lower rate of around 4% and borrow 20k less, thus reducing what I owe that way.

Our plans for Ferrari are undecided at present, basically going to keep it until free servicing ends, at which point decide to pay it off or sell it and put the money from it elsewhere.

But Paragon are good for competitive rates, just check the over payment situation, if your happy then maybe contact Helen at HMK-FS to see if she can get you upto a further 1% of the rate, worked for me.

 

[Gibbo]

Sorry what does this mean? Over payments of the balloon? You mean you can't get to any of the equity in the deal (if you have it?)? I was hoping to be in good positive equity at the end of the deal, and at least evens on year 2.

No for example, the SVR was like 80k, I put around 40k down, leaving 40k on tick.

When you make an over payment, you can reduce monthly amount, reduce the term, or pay of the balloon.

So say if you took that 911 at 60k, put 20k in and have £40,000 on tick. You can then choose how you want that 40k on tick, do you do 40k / 36 and pay around £1250ish a month which most people won't do because that is too much on the monthly. So you could decide to say have a balloon of 30k (final payment) and over the 1, 2, 3yr term pay off the 10k, thus making your monthly payment around £300, but once the term is up you still don't own the car, its got £30,000 owing.

What I like doing is having a small monthly and just over paying of said balloon, most finance companies will allow you to pay £8000 per year of the balloon for no charge. So if you did that when you come to hand car back if you paid that 8k every year on a 3yr term you'd only have £6000 to pay to own the car, so easy.


What I found out is Paragon do not allow that however, if you make an overpayment you just paying of their interest, so in short your money does far less, hence when I discovered this I worked out my money would be wasted and I got myself out of the agreement by settling in full.

If you do not care, you never intend on owning outright and just want to hand the car back then fine, but I buy cars with the end plan to own outright.

 

[Gibbo]

With this approach, aren't you better off with a personal loan?

Your best bet for large amounts is to re-mortgage, personal loans tend to cap around 25k.

 

[Gibbo]

Quick one for the Porsche owners in here, the clutch is starting to slip on the 996 TT, it maybe the original unit, does anyone know what the stock unit is rated too and what are the recommended replacements?

I have been looking at both Helix and Sachs, want to stick with an organic disc, Helix have a one option (514lb ft) while Sachs offer unit with similar torque handling (531lb ft) and there is also a Sachs performance kit available which has a slighter higher rating (660lb ft), anyone have any experience with any of these aftermarket units and how did they compare to stock in weight and bite.

Well not sure about Helix, but I know sachs clutches are OEM for many manufacturers of clutch, not that it helps much but never found fault with quality on anything sachs related whether it be suspension or clutch.

 

[Gibbo]

Haha yup, you knows it - we can offer £20k part ex and a whopping 9% apr on the base spec Macan

If you have a GTS get it sold quick whilst they have strong residuals, Porsche announcing that new GTS will return to flat 6 NA may start to impact those residuals in months to come, goes to prove a flat 4 turbo was not what any petrol head wanted and I guess it has shown in their sales figures hence a return to form.

 

[Gibbo]

I’m not too worried about residuals, I think the 997 GTS will always be sought after even if mine is one of the highest mileage ones!

What miles you on?

 

[Gibbo]

New GTS seems like an incredible bargain, if its as close to a GT4 as they are saying, 64k new, not limited so anyone can buy one does this mean in a year or so we will see GT4's finally dip into the mid 50's high 50k region price wise.

Glad Porsche went back to NA flat 6's though, the turbocharged motors really do sound rubbish.

 

[Gibbo]

This was delivered on 'lockdown day' and FINALLY had its first outing on Friday!

Even with idiot me driving it's an improvement from the .1 in every way except the noise, until you get up in the rev range anyway.

Stunning that! 991.2 GT3 RS? Auto or manual either way lovely car and in best colour.

 

[Gibbo]

It has been said the 2.7 is the sweet spot as you need to stir it harder when making swift progress. I'd certainly have it over the Z/Z4

I budget can stretch the 2.9 DFI is the real sweet spot, it is even more revvier and of course has no worries over bore scoring or IMS worries, its a totally rock solid engine that loves to be thrashed.

 

[Gibbo]

@Cleisthenes It's a C2S with the GT3 aero kit and PSE factory fitted from new.

@tom_nieto It's definitely not going anywhere, very much a keeper! It's a shame it doesn't get used more but then it's an event when we get to take it out.

Couple more pics..

Stunning that had one just like it but yellow a few years ago absolutely amazing cars.

 

[Gibbo]

Well the 992 GT3 reviews have hit the internets today, as always with every new GT3 they somehow make it faster, sub 7s ring time and some impressive numbers.

Thought I'd have a play on the configurator, my spec was £150,000 but they would probably never sell me one and have to say I think I prefer the 991.2 GT3 for looks and the better ride quality. Still I am not saying the 992 is bad looking, it looks amazing still, though the harsh ride on UK roads would potentially put me off for sure, anyway here is the car I spec:







Did not go too wild with the options, manual, ceramics, buckets, club package etc, total of 150k.

I'd be really pushed between race yellow, lava orange or the new green but I think for me this newer shape just works better in yellow whereas the 991 shape looks incredible in lava orange.
Still if I could order one would I change the 458 for one, I really don't know, only seat time I feel could make that decision, of course if I could order one of these at list can't see them ever losing money for a few years considering manual 991.2 GT3's are all 130-180k second hand dependent on age/miles.

I always said since the 997.1 C2S I would revisit a 911 at somepoint and I feel it will be a GT3, most likely a 991.2 manual that will pull me out of the 458, or if they drop a little more in price I could drop 2-3 cars from the collection to replace with a GT3, I like holding onto cars too much and end up hording them lol.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there


Contemplating coming back to Porsche, originally considered swapping the 458 for a GT3 RS but now had a couple of GT3 RS owners tell me the same thing, amazing on track but verging on boring on the road. Having only driven one on track it was ace but so is Ferrari but never driven an RS on road, hoping to sort that soon as speaking to OPC Chester about an ultra violet they have in stock, but got an inkling the owners who had had them are probably right and to drive on road at normal speeds maybe a bit meh whereas the 458 is an event every time I take it out and I’ve done nearly 12k miles in it now.

So I was wondering about all the Porsches I’ve driven and looking at the range and on looks alone nothing will ever compete with a 991.1 GT3 RS in purple for me, proper race car on the road but I started to think about a car that will be truly fun and epic to drive on the road at legal speeds and I simple kept coming back too a 987 Cayman R or Boxster Spyder but ideally both manual with carbon buckets but AC and radio spec back in. Last and best of the analogue cars with hydraulic steering, no torque vectoring, passive suspension and both under or around 1300kg I think. Also great for how small they are so fun and easy to place on narrower back roads. Plus get to keep 458 too but just wondered if anyone here has owned a 987 Cayman R or Spyder and how you found it? I had a Cayman R many years and I do remember it been incredible fun and very lively at any speed.

Downside is values seem to have jumped by 10k in last year or so and don’t particular want to drop 45-50k on one for the values to drop back to 35-40k secondly they all seem to be PDK which goes a little against the ethos of the car as surely the manual is a must? How is PDK on these cars if anyone has owned one?

Ideally want a Peridot green, buckets, manual, radio and AC. The other question is at 50k is it just better to go GT4 for 70k and I kind of fear a PDK Cayman R just be like a smaller slower 458?

 

[Gibbo]

On road trips my friends in Caymans (various types) definitely do seem to have more fun in the very twisty / narrow bits, but as soon as the road ever opens up they become more like annoying moving road blocks.

I don't really use my 3RSs for normal road driving, not boring as such, just not the right environment. If I owned a 458 I don't think I'd swap it for a 3RS, different cars for different days. A GT3 Touring, maybe...

Gotta have the big wing and the touring has same suspension as a GT3 so for me it’s gotta be the big wing car all day long. Guess once one becomes a GT3 owner then track days become a regular event, I do remember when I had my 911 I must have done 15-20 track days in it as even the regular cooking model was so good on track and been a Porsche it was so reliable even with a chocolate engine.

I’m not sure what gap in your collection a boxster spyder fills. Granted if you want a Porsche then that’s a really good option, but for road legal top down thrills you’ve got the S2000. If you want a coupe then the Vantage makes a good noise and goes pretty quickly too by all accounts.

This is way out of left field and it’s not a flat 6, but it is purple and has pop up headlights!
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12017136

Not for me and honestly I don’t think a Spyder is either and if I did get a Spyder like you say it would kind of render the S2000 useless though the S2000 has a better roof. Cayman R really favourite just guess I’m considering the PDK when I had one for a weekend it was like ten years ago and I can’t even remember if it was a manual or PDK.

 

[Gibbo]

Damn good looking cars for sure, but I think for me I want one of the last analogue cars, though I do keep forgetting I have a Lotus Emira on order which in theory could fulfill all of this if I go ahead with the order. Or I just go all out GT3 RS, but there is no denying the 981/718 are damn good looking cars and its good you can option them with an NA engine and manual gearbox still.

 

[Gibbo]

That photo really doesn't do it justice. They look far nicer in the flesh.

This, I am no electric car fan but the styling certainly stands out, quite a lot of them around our way and they are easy to spot and its not because I think they are ugly but they are rather large looking on road.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

It has been a long time since I was a Porsche owner and I am so close to returning, really wanting something analogue that is great fun at legal speeds and so I was looking at Cayman R but then thought if I buy one, I am adding another car which I really don't wish to do as a Cayman R would not replace anything. Then I remember the 987 Spyder which was another great car by Porsche, so started looking and they are extremely thin on the ground in the right specification which for me is buckets, manual, PSE, radio.

I have found this car:
https://www.ashgood.co.uk/vehicle-details/Used-Porsche-Boxster-987-Spyder-For-Sale-U2533

I am mega close at pulling the trigger on it but all that is putting me off is 50k for a Spyder is top top money and looking on collecting cars same spec, manual, miles were selling 40k a year ago, my question is would this be a mental buy that come Winter I could easily get 5 or even 10k less if I just wait.

Not got my heart set on a red one, but red is a firm favourite simply because of rarity, they are nearly all white or black, two colours I don't particular want though they do look great in white.

Also if I go Spyder then the S2000 can essentially be sold as I don't need two rag tops and if I sold the S2000 now I'd be making a few quid in doing so as its value has shot up, which if a crash happens could also drop in value if so called bubble burst.

50k is a lot for a Spyder and I would kick myself if in 3 months I could get more or less same car for 5 or even 10k less, I only want a manual and buckets are a must, but radio and AC is a must also.

 

[Gibbo]

Given were in a bubble right now its a crapshoot as to whether or when it will burst. Porsche values are pretty much up across the board so its a sellers market. On the other hand, the spyder is a unique model so values have always been pretty good. If in 2 years it was back to 40k i wouldnt be surprised.

True, anyone here got or owned a 987 Spyder, mate I know with one has had it since new nearly and still has it and absolutely loves it, says he enjoys driving it as much if not more so than his 991.2 GT3 manual, which is high praise.

 

[Gibbo]

I think maybe last year was a blip. Lower specced ones with higher mileage were selling for £45k in 2019.

Somewhat good to know, could be a pretty safe buy then and I think red is extremely rare in Spyders.

 

[Gibbo]

S2000 is only going to go up in value, I’d guess that the Spyder is at peak price right now.
Ask yourself if you’re doing it for the “investment” or just for driving pleasure?

Thinking driving pleasure, anyone who knows me here will know how much I loved my 997 C2S and the big reason for that was the steering feel but the fact it was such a well put together car. I remember borrowing a Cayman R for a weekend and thinking wow, this car is alive.

The only car I own that comes close to that steering is the Aston, but it does not feel alive because it is a big heavy 1600-1700kg GT car.

I do agree S2000 in theory are doing the JDM thing, which means they will only keep going up in value, buying a Spyder does not mean the S2000 has to go, it just means if I so wish to let it go I will still have a rag top, of course if in another year its gonna fetch 30k plus easy then to sell it now at 20k would be unwise, because it is not going to cost anything in maintenance as its got a service booked in September for £215 at Honda which will see it through another year.

It would just be good to get back into a Porsche and I can afford a GT4 and on looks they win hands down, if I wait I can probably stretch to a GT3 and wait a bit longer I can maybe get in an RS. But one thing all the newer cars lack is the epic steering the 986/996 - 987/997 generation cars had, a big part of this was lost in the move to 981/991 and many say those who are not blinded by 911 snobbery that the 987 R and Spydster are some of the most fun road cars Porsche ever made, and of course the ultimate is the 997 GT3 4.0 RS but those are ruthless money and really not worth it. The other argument is of course just buy a cheap 987 Cayman S for 15-20k or even buy a modified one as some great examples out there and they will drive just as well but of course the more special cars do feel rather special.

I am going to think it over, few people who own Porsches have said 50k is top money, but the cheapest ones are 40k that no one wants to own due to wrong spec, crashed and/or high miles. 45k would be a bargain and that its a 48k car as its very low miles and perfect spec and extremely rare due to been red, something like only 4 in the UK so even if the bubble burst it will be back to 45k that such a car sold for in 2019 so there argument is why risk losing a perfect example over maybe a couple of grand and if the market goes the way of Europe on Spydster then it could also be worth 60k next year so either make a few quid and move it on or find it gets under your skin and keep it.

I did also see this and on looks alone it is stunning:
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2009-porsche-987-cayman-s-sport-3




The last one sold for 33k and was a better spec, but paint job aside this is just a Cayman S with a tweak of power and some GT3 interior parts, the suspension is Cayman S and no weight reducing has been done by Porsche, not a bad thing at all because these cars handle so great out the box.

However if it remains sub 20k it will be a very tempting car even with a chocolate engine as they are super rare, I think 69 cars in UK and not many in orange.

Back to Spyder need to think it over, it does not mean curtains for the S2000 but would be sensible thing to do and get rid of one.

To answer your question Maccy it is about driving pleasure, but of course if I decide to exit it is nice to do so without losing money or very little.