On further consideration, don't sweat it guys!
Look, in less than two years, the 998 will be on sale here.
At that point, our 997.1s will just be completely in the gutter for resale as you'll have a new body, new engine, PDK will be established, etc. So we are all going to lose our shirts anyway, it's just happening in early 2009 instead of late 2010.
So unless you are planning to sell you car before then, don't worry about it.

 

This is likely true for the 997.1 and 997.2. Although, I don't see the 991/998 being released until the fall of 2011 as a MY2012. So, it's closer to 3 years.

 

Nice mods, the CO's will makes big improvement over springs. Are the brakes the Brenbo 380mm?

BTW I remember you saying that you were done with your mods, modding is never done. I think when you are not modding you are planning your next round.

Congrats on the new stuff.

 

I realize there is an inexorable decline in prices no matter what... unless you have an enzo or 959. I just think some cars are better built to handle the declines. I will say that I've been impressed with how the 993s held their value and have even gone up. I wonder whether the 997 will hold value like the 993 or more like the 996. I guess time will tell. Prior to seriously being in the market for a Porsche... I couldn't think of a Porsche that ever looked bad or dated. Even cars 20 years old have that look! When I ordered my e46 M3 I knew that there would be a new one around the corner. I still did it because I wasn't a huge fan of the e90 body design. In some ways the e46 does look dated... though I personally prefer the look of the e46 over the e90/e92/e93. I think that will help keep the values of all Porsches up. While a 10-12year old M3 looks pretty dated (though a European e36 is still considered an amazing car by enthusiasts), I think a 997 will still get looks 10-12 years from now. There is something timeless about Dr. Porsche's design and I think this will help keep these prices from totally bottoming out. The Panamera is a different story (hopefully that's not the beginning of a "Bangle-like" era with Porsche).

 

Agreed, most if not all 911s are timeless.

I do think that the 997 will hold the test of time pretty well. Somewhere in the middle between a 996 and 993. The 993 being the last of that generation, of course, will always retain a strong residual, imo.

 

One of my partners totalled a 993 a few years back. He was really bummed. Had the car for a few years and babied it. Someone cut in front of him in the rain and he lost control. He was shocked to see that the prices had gone up from when he had bought it used.

I agree... the 911 is a timeless design. Though there are many more on the roads than Ferrari's, they are still (like Ferrari's) head turners. I think the fact that the 997 design is an evolution or an homage to the 993 is definitely in it's favor (water cooled engine aside). Coolest thing in the world was driving along in my e46 last year and coming up to a 993 at a stoplight. He rolled his window down and went out his way to complement the e46 M3... I returned the favor and told him how beautiful the 993 was. Sadly... only half of the M3's I've seen around here lately acknowledge you and give the thumbs up (none of the e92s ). Haven't encountered anything but a 360 Modena in my new car yet (he was too busy revving his engine while doing a uturn to acknowledge anyone). Sorry... didn't mean to get off topic, though I think the public perception of a vehicle has a lot to do with it's resale. The 997 has it.

 

I've owned two E46 M3s. They are great cars and still look good today, imo. The E92 is overdone, and a gas pig with no low end. Where's Curio?! JK

That's a terrible sotry about your friend. What did he replace it with?

 

Ended up getting an 06 c2 cabrio and a cayenne for his wife. I think he still misses the 993. I think the e46 M3 was distinctive... I think it's harder to differentiate an e92 from it's non M brethren. I realize that it's a great car... though I enjoy the e46 more... the low end is precisely what seems missing. Let's not upset Curio!:

 

I as well as a few other 6speeders bought there cars from Park Place Porsche in Texas. They have a bunch of CPO cars. Check out their web site for those that are interested in a great buy on a CPO car. They have a very easy no haggle approach. They ask for your offer, then either accept or come back with a take or leave it price. I gave them what I thought was a low ball offer, and we only $1200.00 off. So just like that we had a deal in less than 20min.

 

Porsche was in demand when people could refinance their mortgage and buy a Porsche. Now that the housing market has collapsed and equity is not as available there is less demand for a Porsche.

That said, the feds are planning to print trillions of dollars in the "stimulus". This will create an inflation that will drive Porsche prices up.

In general cars are not the best investments. They are for getting from a to b.

 

Could not have said it better . In fact I like the idea of getting and having a 997.2 as a daily to preserve my Turbo but made the error of buying an M3 so I may have to wait a little . M3 resale is awful .

I have been watching prices of all of them . Turbos are are the deal du jour . The idea of buying a low mi 140K car for the current price (used) is unheard of .

Most used shoppers are looking at the 48-68K price range though and unfortunately that rules out the Turbo . Plus the mods add up too but it really is a phenominal car.

 

In my area when real estate collapsed Porsches still sold despite a bad economy . South Florida is an international tourist spot and many live here part time . Condo prices dropped so much that one could buy a unit and a Porsche at the same time and in many cases be near their families who live here.

This has changed as the economy slow down has effected every market and investor. In fact many who have wealth might even face bailing oit a family member and there goes the Porsche .

Dealeeships everywhere have cars . 08 leftovers and Turbos are the screaming deal . and the 09's will sell for unprecedented discounts comparably to former facelift success cars.

 

My guess is that Porsche dealers would take their NEW cars to auction before they would sell them to customers at truly massive discounting.
So if you start seeing "new" Porsches at your local multi-marque performance dealer that usually handles used cars, perhaps that's how they are going to get there. We'll see.

 

I have noticed this in the posts. My local dealership has cars too and they want to sell them . I have bought half my cars from the Collection and quite a few from Champion too . They are both located near to one another . Both have been great with me yet the Collection has become like family to me . They have some nice cars on their lot.

 

There really is some insane deals out there right now. I want to replace my 996 with a 997S, but don't know wether it'd be best to sell mine first & then buy, or if I should get the 997, & wait until things pick up again to try to sell the 996 for a little more than I'd get right now. Common sense tells me values aren't going to rise again though. I mean, it is a car afterall. What do you guys think?