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Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 11:26 am
by Roryh
In a bit of a quandry over what to get next.

Having had a lhd 84 Carrera a number of years ago, I left the fold (and the forum) to go drive landrover defenders for a while - still have one which I love. I now find myself wanting another 911. Problerm is i'm honestly not sure what kind. I had a brief, disastrous dalliance with a 996 C4s, which I love the look of but didn't love driving. Mine was too sterile, and honestly not nice enough an example (ask me about the 19k bill that didn't involve touching the engine). So I started looking older.

993's and 964's but with a 60k budget they seem out of reach and I'm not sure it's what I want. Then thought about later 3.2's or a modified SC.

Stuff like

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... ar-to=1995


Has anyone else tried newer 911's and kept coming back?

Thanks

Rory

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 11:39 am
by Ian Comerford
It doesn’t answer your question but that seems strong money for a LHD car.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:20 pm
by Roryh
It does answer my next question which was going to be, "Is this strong money" ???.

Seems to have had a lot spent, but i'm not sure the work "backdate" is correctly applied, neither is the resultant premium. Looks modified, but i'd be tempted to put back on normal bumpers etc.

What's a lovely modified SC worth?

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:31 pm
by Nige
I think Andy might still have this for sale, even though the ad dates from 2024
https://www.impactbumpers.com/forum/ind ... ent-455827

Doubt you'll find a better 3.2 for that money.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:59 pm
by Bootsy
I was going to suggest a 3.2 - earlier than you were used to but not too early.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:15 pm
by sladey
First one's not a backdate - just messed with the bumpers a bit. Looks nice but expensive. Andy's one looks nice

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:29 pm
by Sam
The blue SC failed to sell off a £59k estimate in September:

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot ... 18210&sd=1

Obviously you’d be getting a warranty from the autotrader dealer.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:38 pm
by Sam
I think you’d get a good 993 for £60k with some patience. Whether you’d find it more exciting than a 996 I’m not sure, you’d need to drive one. The C4S is easily the least nice 996 to drive, it’s all a bit like slapping a plank of wood up the road, a 993 2S or 4S is much the same. Narrow 993s are definitely more up on their toes but are still pretty sensible and refined and comfy. If it’s edgy thrills you want rather than every day usability I reckon an SC is the move.


The blue one could be really great if you can get it at a price you like.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:56 pm
by Nige
Sam wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:29 pm The blue SC failed to sell off a £59k estimate in September:

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot ... 18210&sd=1

Obviously you’d be getting a warranty from the autotrader dealer.
Be interesting to see what the invoices were for from Tuthills, etc. £8k for service and maintenance on something that had received a thorough and rebuild and resto with 2k miles on it before it was imported to the UK a couple of years ago.

Does seem overpriced for an SC with some carbon bits and slightly odd interior retrim.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:07 pm
by misteralz
993 values have fairly softened these past few years. They used to have quite the premium over the 964 as they were the last of the aircooled 911s, then folk realised that they looked like someone had warmed up a Strosek 964 made of wax.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 9:18 pm
by Roryh
Nige wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:31 pm I think Andy might still have this for sale, even though the ad dates from 2024
https://www.impactbumpers.com/forum/ind ... ent-455827

Doubt you'll find a better 3.2 for that money.
I don't doubt it's lovely, but to make it mine would cost too much and probably spoil a lovely car. That blue SC on the other hand but probably in the late 50's which might be insulting given the asking. I'd be exporting it to Ireland so a warranty would be of little use.

Agree on 993's, i prefer a 964 looks wise, as a driver the 996 c4s put me off 4wd 911's for life.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 10:21 pm
by Sam
The narrow C4 996 drives fine, as does the 993
C4. It must be something about the geometry on the wider cars that makes them indelicate. ‘Like hitting a lake with a scaffold board’ said someone once.

Depends how cheeky you’re feeling but you could ask the consigner at Historics about the car. If it’s on SoR with the dealer you might be able to sneak in. Not particularly sporting towards the dealer perhaps, but I suspect they own it given how much higher the new price is than the auction expectation.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2026 10:29 pm
by hot66
My mates early 3.4 996 c2 drives lovely, feels like gentle progression from aircooled

I have a 987.2 spyder, and it also drives really well and is a fun quick car bits generally accepted my post aircooled Porsche owners as being one of the great tactile lightweight modern Porsches …. but saying that, when I decide I want to go out and have a blast on the dales roads I always take one of the aircooled cars . I’ve only done 168 miles in the spyder since beg July ! Make of that what you will

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:17 am
by Ian Comerford
To add…..a good friend had a nicely set up 996 C2 which he loved and used a lot. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse and traded it for a well specified 996 C4. He hated it, it didn’t drive anywhere near as nice, it felt far heavier, less agile etc. He quickly sold it and went back to a C2. I think they can be made to handle nicely but really won’t feel quite as special as an SC or 3.2, but I may be a little biased.

Re: Back on the lookout.

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 12:01 pm
by Sam
Hang on. £60k is 996 GT3 money!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 9256636403

Comfort with buckets is the sweet spot for road use I’d say. The single mass flywheel on the CS is a bit tiring round town. Id swap the passenger seat out for a folding one to get to the rear luggage space better and give it that 73 RS competition vibe.