Hi folks-

Let me introduce myself. My name is Sam and I'm a HUGE Porsche fanatic. I've always dreamed of owning a 911(Lapis Metallic Blue exterior color to be exact) and I'm very close to buying my first Porsche.

I came to a conclusion that I can only afford a Carrera S model or below but would prefer an "S" in my favorite color which I might add is very hard to find, so I narrowed my search online and after intense searching, there are only 2 911's that catch my attention. So basically I need some advise from you Porsche fans/owners out there on which route I should take.

The first model is a 2005 Carrera S with only 18,500 miles + extended warranty till 30k miles and is equipped with a bunch of options such as an OEM Aero-Kit, Misha duck tail, 3M clear bra, Rear LED tail lights, OEM Carrera S II wheels, FabSpeed Maxflo mufflers and exhaust tips. (I've included links to each car for pics)

Price Tag - $47K

Link # 1: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...SOMEDGPPOBSITE

The second model is 2 yrs newer and is a 2007 with 54,000 miles and is just a base Carrera without all the other options mentioned on the "S" model above. Now you might be saying to yourself at this point, well that's an easy decision Sam! Not really because this particular 911 has the color I've always wanted and besides that If I was to purchase this model I would do some upgrades slowly to personalize the car by adding a GT3 Front bumper conversion, 997.2 GT3 rear bumper, replace both rear tail lights, and front running lights, and maybe add a wing + custom black wheels.

Price Tag - $35K (SAVINGS OF $12,000 between both 911's)

Link # 2: http://www.almgwinnett.com/detail-20...-11603695.html

I'm hoping you owners can help me a little. Thanks!

 

IMHO I would wait for an "S" in the color you want to come up or consider a more available color out there. Be patient or you'll be looking to trade up if you wind up settling at ll. It sounds like you plan to spend a bunch of $ on mods, if that's the case you are much better off spending the money towards getting a newer "S" and doing the upgrade mods slowly as budgets permit, more fun and satisfying that way vs. an immediate transformation.


Putting a ton of mod $ into a base model 911 might not be the best choice IMHO. Good luck with your search.

 

I agree-be patient. Don't get wound up in the "got to have it now" syndrome. I am always flexible on color options when buying a car, because if you are stuck on a particular color combination you might be in for a considerable wait. Have you given any thought to placing a "wanted ad" on Auto Trader and other advertising venues? Good luck.

 

Thank you for your honest opinion cbst09. I get what you're saying and I am considering it. My only fear is that if I wait for the color I want(Lapis Blue Metallic), then I might be waiting for a long time and I thought that maybe I wouldn't go wrong with a base carrera instead of an "S". Also I didn't really plan to do the mods I mentioned right away to get an instant transformation, I was just mentioning my ideas for the car in the future if I was to purchase it... What is the pros and cons of getting into an "S" vs base carrera? All I know if that the "S" has more HP but not sure if there are any other "MAJOR" differences I would lose out on if I didn't purchase and "S"... Also that blue carrera is priced super low by the dealer to sell FAST! According to Kbb & Nada the car is about $4,500 below book value which is a great deal imo.

Let me know what you think. Thanks - Sam

 

I personally like the 05S better than the 07.
I would not pay 47 for it. If you coulg get it for 42 or so that would be sweet
It looks like a much nicer car to begin with

 

Lol... Blkppr I would probably get cursed out over the phone if I offered the seller $42k for his car! The book value on the car is set at $49k especially due to the low miles for an 05. I like the 05 very much as well because of the extremely low miles, and the fact that it has been well maintained and has all the upgrades I would like on a 911 but I'm trying to stay within a reasonable budget.

 

Honestly when I was searching form nine a few months back I really wasn't looking for and "S" either. Didn't figure the difference in hp was much of a difference and I could certainly live with going 0-60 a few tenths of a second slower but....psychologically I knew I would want the "S" just because. I'm not trying to knock the base model, just stating my preference that I don't like to get the base model of anything. The little differences like the bigger brakes and red calipers and different exhaust tips make me happy and I have purchased too many things in the past only to sell it shortly after to get what I wanted in the first place and always end up paying more than if I had simply waited and got what I really wanted. you may be perfectly happy with the base model but in my opinion there are many who purchased a base and regret not going for the "S" whereas there aren't many that purchased an "S" and regret not getting the base and saving the $.


Between the two cars you have posted, I prefer the 2005 model. One word of caution that I am sure you are aware of is the IMS issue. For the rare occurrences that it did happen it usually happened to early 997s which were driven very infrequently and the 05' with 18,500 on the clock fits that description. With a good PPI and getting the seller to knock off a couple of thousand you could easily get the LN engineering upgrade though. Again, good luck with the search.

 

Wow, I was not aware of the IMS issues on the later models 991's until now! Can you explain what that is and the dangers that I could face if I decide to go with the 05 911?

Thanks

 

I'd personally avoid the 05's like the plague. What is your comfortable budget?

 

Dethman, this is very interesting breaking news for me because I had no clue about the IMS issues and could have made a terrible mistake by purchasing that 911. My budget is around $45k min and $50k max and if I spend that much, I would not settle for anything less than an "S"...

 

There is a possibility of sudden, catastrophic, total, and irreparable engine failure with no prior warning or symptom that it will happen until it does. Other than that, you should be fine...

LOTS of info on this forum and other P-car forums (RENNLIST) on the 996/986 and 997/987 IMS problems. Most of the IMS issues were resolved when Porsche started putting in a better designed IMS during the '06 MY. Whatever candidate car you are inclined to make an offer on, make it contingent on a clean PPI by a reputable, qualified Porsche shop and/or technician.

I agree with several others about going with an S model over a base. Both are great cars, but you'll probably have way more fun in an S.

 

Early build 05 cars like mine have the old style ims bearing. Late 05 and all 06 cars had the newer bearing that seem to have less issues. The early 05 models can easily be upgraded when a clutch replacement is due. Seems like it's general forum guidance to avoid the 05 models. I bought mine with CPo which expires This July with only 16000 miles on it almost 2 years ago and have not had a single problem. It was the color combo I wanted and I more than happy with my non a 05 early model build.

 

If you haven't, you should go to your closest dealer and test drive a 997.1 (2005-2008) S and non-S to see if you are happy with the idea of settling on a non-S. On my first Porsche I ended up "settling" on a non-S C4 after I found a great deal on a low miles one in great condition just because I got the Porsche fever and moved too quickly. It wasn't too long before I wish I had waited for a nice S (It didn't help that I also had a BMW S1000RR sport bike that blazed 0-60 in around 2.6 seconds, so anything else felt relatively slow). It was only around a year later when I couldn't take it anymore and after a extended search bought the 2009 S that I drive today. I love the performance and the electronics in the car much much more. I am very satisfied. (My wife had also okayed a used Turbo, but after driving both, I decided the Turbo was just too much for me, especially since I like using the Porsche as a daily driver).

At 47k, you are also not very far from being able to get a nice 2009 Gen II (997.2) car that has more power, better electronics, and even more refined handling. If you can afford it, I'd suggest adding a 997.2 S and non-S to your test drive. Besides the fact that its fun to test drive a bunch of cars, you may find that just a little more money will give you a car you can enjoy a lot longer.

With the newer cars, you will also find a lot more CPO cars. The extra 2.5k you'll spend may be worth the extra piece of mind. Plus, all CPO'ed cars are normally fully serviced and often have new tires and/or brakes and/or spark plugs, saving you money down the road.

As the others say, take you time and enjoy looking and test driving a few cars. In the long run I think you'll find it pays off... and you can probably even find the color you want.

One last thing: With the dealer I work with, you can tell them you are looking for a certain color/model/options. Much to my surprise, they will sometimes call select prior customers that have the car you are looking for to see if they are interested in selling their old car for a newer one and will help facilitate a deal for both of you. They have found that often the prior customer will soon be looking for a new car anyway and is sometimes willing to make a deal.

 

here is an earlier story that could have been you. There is a TON of info out there about the IMS. Overall it was a very small percentage of cars that had it, but when it does occur it occurs without warning and is catastrophic in nature and very very expensive. Check out the Rennlist forums, lots of info there as well. Good luck Sam
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...-question.html




Porsche actually had a class action lawsuit where they lost and agreed to pay for a portion of the engine replacement. A new engine will cost upwards of 35k though.
http://www.imsporschesettlement.com/

 

If you are a true Porsche fanatic as you state, you should do some research and learn about the car before deciding on buying one. There's a lot of info on the forums and tech articles by specialists that will tell you all about what to expect, what to look out for, and how to choose which one to get.

Now that the dream of owning a 911 is coming to fruition, you need to do your homework to help yourself get the most satisfaction from your hard earned cash.

If, after reading about all the horror stories and accepting the possibility that it could happen to you, you decide you still want one, then go for it.

That being said, as long a you know what to avoid, and understand that some of these failures aren't as bad as the web would make it seem, the ownership and driving experience is worth every penny.

I just went through the whole experience and spent countless hours just reading. It's a great way to spend your time while waiting for the right car to come along. I too wanted to own a 911 so bad I came close to buying a color I did t really want. But I talked myself out of it and 2 days later found exactly what I was looking for, white over black C2S.

You don't want to have regrets after spending $35-50k. If you want an S Lapis Blue, get an S Lapis Blue and nothing else. They might be hard to find, but they are out there.