Would you buy a new 2006 model Porsche?

[Alan Woods]

Assuming that most 924 owners here are 'enthusiasts' - and not necessarily assuming that all of us on the 'first rung of Porsche ownership' (not my words) are here through financial restraint * - if we were/are in the position to buy a new sports SUV (Cayenne), 2 seater roadster (Boxster), 2 seater coupe (Cayman) or 2+2 coupe (911), would Porsche be our 1st choice? Me, personally I'm not so sure.
* Trying hard not to offend/stereotype anyone here, hope you know what I mean.

 

[Guest]

For a roadster or coupe, I would say definitely yes - for the SUV no, if I wanted a vehicle like that I'd buy a proper offroader like a landrover.

I think the more difficult choice would be whether to buy a new 2006 model or an older one, particularly where the boxster is concerned.

 

[danmason]

Yes Porsche would be my first choice... BUT newer cars don't really do it for me; too many amazing cars have already been made and nowadays it seems more like gilding the lily.

 

[geoff Ives]

Porsche would be my first choice but, like others, not a new one. For the kind of money we are talking here I could get a 911 2.7RS 9just) or a superb 356. or, a reasonable 365 AND a 924Carerra GT.

 

[Guest]

I occasionally drive, but dont own, a 2005 Boxster S, a lovely car and remarkable value for money. Not on my wish list for 2006, but if a new car was on the list it would be that one.

 

[jerry911sc]

No way*. No matter what my bank balance or tax advantages losing £10k driving off the forecourt goes against the grain. And at that money it would have to be a GT3 Mk1 anyway. An 04/05 997 you bet - unfortunately most of the options would surplus to requirements (satnav, phone, airbags, cd, aircon, parking sensors, 58 way power adjustible seats, kg's of sound proofing, auto power mirrors, cup holders -aaargh). A Cayenne - you're having a laugh! OK it would fit the kids in but so would a Disco).

*Cayman-you bet! err except it where would I put the kids.. so no.. but I think it would be well worth having the first MY of this one. One heck of an exciting car overlooking the dodgy name for a sec. Bet the residuals prove to be better than the 997. New used may even be roughly same or higher than new in 07/08 if we don't get a recession?[]

OK so I admit I am not a genuine 924 owner - but I would be happy to b1 so can I be an honory 924 jockey for the purposes of this thread?!

 

[mik_ok]

Well I'm closer to 924 ownership than Jerry so here goes []

We got a 944 'cos I fell in love with them years ago (circa '85 when Peter Dron ran one as a long termer for Fast Lane mag). Wanted one ever since ~ partly for the pace, but mostly for the fabled handling balance of the 924/44 series. The fact it was a Porche made it a realistic "older car ownership" possibility (that a Lotus isn't, for example (in my mind)).

It's this robustness that draws folks to older Porkers, so whilst it would take a rather large change in circumstances for me to be happy with the losses involved in such a new purchase, I have already considered the 2006 range..... I may be "on the look" in 2010 for example..... [8D]

I don't have any particular lust for the brand, so wouldn't choose a Porsche over a competitor on badge alone. Luckily they still make some corking cars.....

Cayenne? I have 2 kids and yet can never imagine circumstances that will allow me to consider any whopping heavy 4x4 as a suitable car. Not whilst people like Audi continue to make wickedly rapid estate cars that tickle me to a MUCH greater extent.

Cayman/Boxster ~ See above 2 kids comment. Despite the reported ability of these cars, were I were to get a "selfish b4stard" car it would probably be something more extreme ~ Noble or TVR spring to mind.

997 ~ Most definately. Still the dynamic benchmark at the price (and often above), and I thoink they look spanky (outside at least). Luverly. []

 

[red924]

I agree with the sentiments of most of the rest of the people so far, in that I would not mind a 'newer' Porsche but definately not a new one.

One 2 years old or so that has lost it's initial value is a much better bet.

 

[geoff Ives]

There are two good reasons for owning a 924/reading this forum page.

(1) You are on the very first rung of Porsche ownership and are using a car that you can afford without getting into massive debt. If this is the case then you may well be dreaming about a new Porsche.

(2) You are into Porsche history and are driving a car that has history as well as being an everyday driver. A sub section of this catagory is for people like myself who have an other older, more fragile Porsche (1974 911 2.7S) and want the best of 2 or more worlds,

Suggestions for those in catagory (2). Another historic Porsche that can be used as an everyday car, isn't a rust box and returns a reasonable fuel economy is the 911 3.2 Carerra. Given the fund / oportunity that would be my SENSIBLE choice but only if I could keep one or both of my 924's.

 

[danmason]

Well next on the list for me is a 356 in about 2 years' time (hopefully). Then I might finally get around to getting myself an early 911 (or conceivably a 3.2 or 993, depending on what mood I'm in on the day []) a couple of years after that - providing I have moved house by that time and have the necessary space for 4 Porsches! Anything newer? A Cayman might tempt me in 10 years' time, we'll see.

 

[Guest]

Not in a million years. The engines are still in the wrong place! (pepper included. That one's too high!) []

(and I'd rather have a DB9 even though it's a Ford)

 

[wizard]

Having read more about the Cayman recently, I have started to take a shine to it.
However, I quite like being the individual having something different. I expect in a few years time the Cayman will be a regular occurance on the road , just like the Boxster and 996.

 

[vincematthews]

Definitely no to a new Porsche - way too flash for me . . . as for the Cayenne, can anybody really imagine them becoming collectable when we're all on fuel rationing in a few years time??

I'm happy with a 924 at the moment cos the bodywork doesn't rust to pieces, but money no object (for bodywork repairs) it would have to be a very early 912 / 911. They have the understated looks that were the original design intention.

Alternatively I wouldn't mind going back to a 356C (like the one I let go for £1000 complete with spare engine!!) - that would get my personal manager on board too . . .[]

Other cars - Austin Healey 3000, Lancia Aurelia, Ferrari Dino etc

 

[Alan Woods]

Interesting responses. Personally if I had a 70K budget for a single modern sports car, as much I would like to say 997 (or Cayenne if I had a 4X4 urge), I think I'd look at a used 360 instead - the whole Porsche thing has changed so much over the past 20 years, sure the company is doing great, but with the increased production (100K+/year projected with Pan-thingy and mini-Cayenne) there comes a dilution of exclusivity - this all started with the Boxster I suspect (good car though it is). I don't know, I'm just sort of dissolusioned with the modern version of the marque, although as mentioned the Cayman seems to have got it right. It's a shame Porsche doesn't say "enthusiast" like it did, and the alternatives (TVR, AM, etc) just don't appeal (in terms of quality or racing heritage, etc), know what I mean?
On a brighter note, have a nice weekend everyone!
Alan.

 

[sawood12]

Modern cars have become so sanitised these days and just seem so boring as a result. It seems you can drive modern cars round bends at any speed with little or no driver involvement as the electronics just kick in and sort things out for you. The steering wheel has just become an indicator to the computer as to which direction you would like to go. If I had £70k burning a hole in my pocket I would keep my 944 Turbo and get good examples of a 924 Carrera GT, 968, 928GTS and 993C4S. I like the 997 but could never justify spending that amount of money on one car so will have to wait 10 yrs for them to depreciate. In any case the earlier 'proper' Porsches have so much more character and are far more involving to drive and therefore much more fun. These are cars at the end of the day and not gloryfied Playstations.

 

[Guest]

The starting point for many discussions has to be "if you had enough money would you......."
And for sure under those conditions, if I was looking for a car with performance and day to day useability a Porsche has to be at the top of the list. I do make the strongest exception to the Catenne though, but only because I'm somewhat pathalogical about SUV's as a class. I'm sure that as this type of vehicle is concerned, the Cayenne is probably its class leader, but......