DARREN KING
Early water-cooled 911s and their same-age Boxster/cayman counterparts are some of today’s best-value sports cars. A plentiful number of these Porsches are available to choose from, but regardless of which model you’re thinking about buying, do your homework to avoid an expensive mistake...
The first (and maybe most reassuring) thing I can say to any would-be Porsche owner is that your money is safe with this brand. Unlike Mercedes-benz or BMW cars, pre-owned Porsches simply don’t tend to suffer the same kind of depreciation most people associate with used vehicles. In fact, as is often the case, there’s every chance the value of the Porsche you buy will increase in value, even while you watch the odometer climb. That’s not to say you shouldn’t buy without careful consideration, though. A ‘cheap’ Porsche can often prove to be expensive if the buyer hasn’t done their research and ends up driving home in a lemon.
It might sound obvious, but the first thing to consider isn’t which Porsche you want, but which Porsche you can afford. There really is no point spending your time looking for a decent second-generation 997 if your budget is really only able to stretch to an earlier Boxster or Cayman. And if you are considering a late 997, ask yourself why. Granted, PDK is a fantastic transmission and sharper responding than the earlier 997’s Tiptronic S semi-automatic gearbox, and there’s the 997 Gen II’S DFI engine to tempt you, of course, but you might end up spending double on a late 997 than you would if buying a first-gen example. Does double the cost equate to double the fun? I doubt it, and certainly not if you’re determined to buy a 997 with manual transmission.
Visit Unique Porsche’s base in Westhoughton, Greater Manchester, and you’re likely to see up to twenty water-cooled 911s or Boxster/ Caymans in for servicing and maintenance at any given time. We cater for 986 and 996-generation Porsches on, and even though you may think these cars are much of a muchness, there is huge choice available within the 986, 996, 987 and 997 ranges. Your available budget will determine which cars and specification you’re able to buy, at which point you can start to drill down which Porsche suits you best. The temptation is to put blinkers on and aim for 911s only, but do you really need those rear seats? The Boxster/cayman’s mid-engine layout makes for superior chassis dynamics. At a much lower purchase price than a 996 or 997, you could own a better handling Porsche and have cash left to personalise your new ride. Boxsters and Caymans make great race cars, too. I say this because you may be looking for your first Porsche to enjoy track days or more serious motorsport, rather than buying a car for fast-road duties. A recently established arm of Unique Porsche is dedicated to race car preparation. Boxsters are a popular and lowcost route into competition driving. Believe me when I say they’re regularly putting the noses of seasoned racing drivers out of joint, beating 911s in Porsche Club Motorsport events.
Obviously, if you’re looking to prepare a Porsche for track life, you’ll work through the car’s chassis front to back, replacing all suspension and braking components, but this is also something the buyer of a 986, 996, 987 or 997 for street use should be considering. After all, these cars are getting on a bit, and with exposure to the elements, as well as general wear and tear caused by regular use, it isn’t unusual to find an early water-cooled 911 or a Boxster/cayman in need of renewed suspension consumables. Rubber bushes are a common complaint, the material decaying with age, but more serious and far more expensive faults can also present themselves. You don’t want to discover this after you’ve handed over your hardearned cash, which is why I always recommend having an independent Porsche specialist carry out a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). Before Unique Porsche grew to become as established as it is today, I started the business by offering mobile PPI checks for prospective Porsche purchasers. It’s a service the company continues to offer today. Moreover, we welcome existing owners to bring their cars to the Unique Porsche workshop, where we will carry out an inspection of the usual trouble areas free of charge.
Determination to secure specific equipment often clouds judgement when it comes to Porsche purchasing. Don’t pass up the opportunity to buy a fantastic car just because it doesn’t have, say, heated seats or cruise control. Consider the fact these kind of special features are easy to retro-fit and don’t necessarily cost a huge sum of money. If in doubt, pick up the phone and give me a call. The Unique Porsche team looks forward to hearing from you.