Hi Everyone,

This is a great forum. I'm so happy to have found it.

I'm hoping to get some input from everyone as I'm looking to purchase my first Porsche. I'm looking for a (in order of preference):

1. 2008 911 C4S
2. 2008 911 C2S
3. 2007 911 C4S
4. 2007 911 C2S

With low miles, no damage/paintwork, clean DME (not quite sure what specifically 'clean' means though). Preferably White, Grey or Silver with tiptronic and navigation.

I found this car, a new 2008 911 C4S, Auto, White on Black (click here):

I'm hoping I can solicit some opinions as to what everyone thinks it's worth offering?


Incidentally, I copied all of the 2008 C4S and C2S listings from AutoTrader.com to understand the relationship between 'asking price' vs. 'mileage'. For the data that I collected (i.e. cars with < 15k), there appears to be no relationship from the scatter plot. In other words, asking price is indeterminate of mileage. Comments?

Aaron
Vancouver, Canada

 

Question -- before I comment -- Is tiptronic a must?

 

If I were you, and wanted an automatic, I would go with a 2009 PDK model. I've seen what a tip can do (owned a few different models) and while a very capable mechanism, it doesn't hold a candle to the PDK.

 

Cam --he can get a huge discount onan 08 car . As long as he's looking in California Pacific Porsche has two demo's listed on their website . Better than that though is the white used 07 Turbo at Niello with under 5K miles . That was my friend's car and he pampered it .

All those cars are manuals though.

 

I guess it would depend on the amount you could save on a used 08 vs 09, and if having the nicer tranny was worth it to you. Personally, after having spent some time in a PDK car, and driving daily with a tip, there would have to be a huge price gap for the PDK not to be worth it for me. Again tho, it's all about how much you value different options.

 

I prefer a manual myself but I tend to agree with you . I respect that you have a specific car in mind and even want to spec your order to suit yoir taste , Most used car shoppers can't do the same . They have to look at what's available and consider the entire history of the car . If they like the color there may be five other reasons not to buy it .

The big advantage of a Turbo is the Gt1 dry sump and added Hp and with Tiptronic it can be modded to be a beast . PDK is not in the Turbo yet anf Tiptronic Turbos are selling at good prices --even new.

 

Hi Yrralis1 and Camhabib - thanks for your responses.

Tiptronic/PDK is not a must, just a preference.
(+) Easier to drive day to day in Vancouver.
(-) Harder to find? (say only 15% of the population?)
(-) Harder to sell?


I've been looking at 997 Turbo's as well, but a local mechanic mentioned that the maintenance costs are substantially more than a non-Turbo. Not sure how if his information is reliable.

 

1) Pdk is not yet available in the Turbo so if it were a "must" then the normally aspirated car is the first to have it . The decision is a very personal choice which only you can decide . There are those who love the manual like me and others who feel the PDK is the cutting edge . It is a new item in its first year and whether or not it will evolve is not known .

2) Tiptronic --Is considered by some as "dated" yet it still is part of the Turbo and Cayenne line up . Many of the Tip Turbos have been discounted based on the demand for PDK but even the manual Turbo has reached very attractive pricing .

3) The gt1 dry sump engine of the 997Turbo has history of quality performance and reliability . Even with modifications these cars have retained daily driving use from many on the 997Turbo forum . Speaking for myself -- my 997 Turbo has been the only car I have ever faced two years with with zero problems .

In order to decide you'd have to drive both. In stock form the normally aspirated seamless acceleration of the 997S offers a nimble precise drive . The 997 Turbo has been referred to more like a sledgehammer of acceleration power combined with luxury .

I have owned both and like both for different reasons . I picked the Turbo though and I am keeping it "forever" . https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...t-forever.html

 

Aaron,

I am sure that you have your reasons for wanting a C4S with tip over a C2S with a 6mt, but living in North Vancouver and working in Vancouver, I don't find the need for either option, as I drive mine year round (except for snow).

As for the turbo being higher maintenance costs, that is the first time I have heard that, which shop is telling you this? There are a lot of people in the area that drive there Turbo's year round even in the snow.

If your hell bent on a 4wd and tip, I would do a turbo well before a C4S, the money will be near the same.

 

Thanks for all of the tips and suggestions.

You've made a compelling case for the Turbo. I've now broadened my scope to look at the viability of buying a 07 or 08 911 Turbo (Tip or Manual).

Can you guys offer any suggestions as to what are the going final sales prices for an 07 or 08?

 

07 will run anywhere from the mid 80's (with miles) to 105 (low miles and major options). Keep in mind that a Turbo new in 07 could cost 130K with less options and all the way up to 160K .

Most are paying upper 80's to mid 90's for a low mi car.

 

Hi Yrralis,

I'm taking a look at that White 07 Turbo at Niello you mentioned. Any info on how he maintained/kept his car?

Thanks!

 

Nontoxic88 -
The previous owner is a friend of mine who bought the Turbo one or two months after I bought mine . He was so impeccably meticulous with it that that he traded it because never drove it enough to enjoy it . Originally I thought he would mod the car like I did but he never did . The car is bone stock and probably can be CPO'd . It spent most of the time in his garage with a car cover . He also told me that he followed break in to the letter . In my opinion that is the used car to buy .

 

I usually don't chime in on these as most board members are shopping stateside and pricing is far different from the Cdn Market.

Nontoxic88, I just bought my 08 C4S from Norden Autohaus in Edmonton (i live in Calgary) in May.

I spent a couple of months looking and a USA car wasn't really in the cards for me as I had to trade in my 08 ///M5.

These cars are much more rare here in Canada and took me a while to find the right one and get some "fair" trade value for my m5.

My 08 had 6500kms, was a local (edm) car and was moderately equipped : sport chrono, adaptive seats, 6spd and full 3m. The "ask" price was $109,900. Working the m5 into the deal ect.....I got the car for $102k Cdn. The list on the car was almost $134.

Low mileage C4S's I would expect to be in that $95-$103k Cdn right now, there is just not alot to choose from especially if you are picky on colour and options.

I spoke to the guys at Weissach in Vcr many times and they had a couple of nice turbos (all usa cars) for ~$120k, they were willing to work with me but the difference btw the cars was just a bit too much for my budget.

A couple of things on bringing up a usa car to consider the final price:
- Shipping
- Currency Exchange
- 5% GST
- 6.1% Duty as the car wasn't built in North America

At the end of the day you are probably looking at a 25-29% premium for a usa car.

Hope that helps.

 

Yrralis1 - Thanks for the heads up!

Omes - I was thinking of bringing in the USA car on my own so the premium you mentioned (for buying the car from the dealer) could potentially be breakeven compared to the CAD 102k you paid.

I took an average of some of the cars in AutoTrader.com as of 5 June 09 as follows:

Car: 911 997 C4S Coupe - Standard options
Sample: 14 Cars
Mean asking price: USD 77,982
Assuming a buyer would begin negotiations on a car with a lower price than the average, say around an asking price of USD 74,000
Assuming, a 5% discount on the final price: USD 70,300
Assuming shipping would be max USD 2,500 for a Florida car in an enclosed hauler (USD 72,800)
Assuming currency exchange of USD 1: CAD 1.18 would be CAD 85,904
NAFTA Duty @ 6.1% = CAD 91,144
GST @ 5% = CAD 95,701
British Columbia PST @ 7% = CAD 102,400
Assuming CAD 1,000 for daytime running lights, etc = CAD 103,400