Help me out here (996 value)

I'm looking to replace my CR-Z with something a little more exotic, powerful and comfortable. Maybe a longer-term ownership experience. I need a do-it-all too. I've mostly been looking at the C4S and ignoring the Targa, but this one came up when searching by color.

http://www.racperformance.com/2002-Porsche-911-Targa-Carrollton%2C-TX-75006/5652491

It's $28k. Now, I like the car. I like the options. I normally don't like the Targa for the extra weight, but this car, with aero kit and in white, is really attractive. That the Targa is a hatchback helps. Supposedly, there is even a Porsche-blessed roof rack somewhere out there.

I guess I'm curious about daily driving a car with coilovers, but that's not the burning question. Really, what gets me is that this car seems to be about $5k over book, at least by kbb, but eBay has a lot of cars with asks over book.

I do plan on reaching back out to see what the rationale is behind the pricing, but $5k seems like a big gap to overcome. I know the cliché about prices being what one will pay, but I'm going to finance this car, and I would like to get an LN IMS fitted. Paying $5k over book is incompatible. Am I undervaluing the upgrades? Is book just wrong?

Mike, I'm no expert on 911 values, but dealers often overprice their cars by that much. I'm never shy about pointing this out, since, when they price trade-ins, kbb suddenly becomes the bible. Since you're not totally ga-ga about the car, I'd express interest, then wait it out for a week or two.

The only non-factory upgrades I can see are the wheels and the unspecified coilovers. That said it does look very clean so it might be worth a little over book. But $5k over book seems a little much.

Hsa it had the IMS "repair" or replaced?

Just looking at the prices of the rest of their inventory, They are really proud of what they have. I don't see anything more than $21-22K there without proof of the IMS bearing being looked at. I think even KBB is a little high because there are 996's all over the place.

Mad_Ratel wrote: Hsa it had the IMS "repair" or replaced?

They indicated to me, via email, that they have no service record indicating any IMS repair or replacement.

Yeah. If there was an IMS service record and an asking price of around $22-23k, I'd be all over it.

I've asked the seller to provide the rationale behind the price.

1st, the IMS issue is over stated. All of the replacements have had failures too. I like the miles but Id prefer higher. The more the miles, the less likely to have mechanical issues. As to price, a proper clutch replacement is about 1500 because of the flywheel. The coilovers are about the same in parts, for cheaper ones, add labor to that. And, the C4S has been carrying a premium lately. Unless you want 4wd, Id wait for a plain carrera. Or just spend 10k more and get a turbo. Remember, the C4S will have some parts premiums too. So some maintenance will be more expensive than the plain carrera. The targa top will also be really expensive if it has a major issue as they are really rare. On the other hand, if you like sunroofs, you'll love the targa as, unlike the prior targas, it's really just a massive sunroof.

Do they have service records?

Only service records I'd worry about is oil changes. And the coolant reservoir. For oil changes, id want mahle or mann filters and a really high end oil like redline and 5k or 2xs per year, which ever is sooner. In reality, guys, these are like toyotas in maintenance compared to older Porsches. Much, much easier to live with. Mine is almost at 115k and still on its 1st clutch (50k is good on an air cooled 911). I onl use redline and drive it hard. Still 0 particles in my filter beteen changes and nothing on the magnetic drain plug I installed.

Regarding high prices - this is Ruff Auto in Dallas. Sweet shop to walk around and drool on crazy rare Ruff cars and others though.

Despite the Targa it does look sexy in white with that package.

Are there other ones out there, same option, same miles for $5k less? If so, why get stuck on this one? If not, then the book is probably wrong. The standard answer will be call the book and see if they have a car for sale.....

I agree. On a lot of the cars we like the book is worthless. Also, all the sub 20k 996s, especially 996/2 will probably fall into the adage that the most expensive car I ever bought was a cheap Porsche.

If you want to keep purchase price down, buy a 100k plus miles 996. They will be cheaper to buy and more reliable.

84FSP wrote: Regarding high prices - this is Ruff Auto in Dallas. Sweet shop to walk around and drool on crazy rare Ruff cars and others though. Despite the Targa it does look sexy in white with that package.

I'm glad you know them. That helps.

This thread is relevant to my interests in P-cars! Negotiating is all about asking for more than you expect to get because you don't know exactly what will make the other side happy. This works on both sides of the deal. Perhaps that is what the dealer is doing here. Recommend you express an interest, but not at this price. Wait them out. If someone wants it at a higher price, you'll lose out. But, if you're patient and willing to wait them out, if the car doesn't sell at their 'desired' price, and if you continue to express minor interest, they MAY come around. In the mean time, keep looking - you might find something you like more for a better price. Patience is your ally! After all, your $ is more liquid than their P-car.

That is a 24.5-25K car all day long, if may be factory aero exclusive car, it has the rockers and it has the sports exhaust. They can get 26.5K if they wait on it, might be a commission car sales with those guys so 24.5K is not out of the believable range.

FYI I believe the seat belts are non OEM or swapped OEM red for that year would be a strange option.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

Looking at the build sheet, the red seat belts came on it. $500 option. Also has the Xenon lights, and power seats.

I don't agree on the seat belts. That could easily be a factory option as this is a 996/2. Starting in 04, with the gt3 it because more common but tge targas had some strange options available. Also, the sports package doesn't really increase its value. The sports muffler thing is funny. It didn't increase hp, wasn't really lighter and not much of an increase in sound. It comes from the 996/1 being too quiet. All 996/2s got louder.

That IS the cheapest 911 they have in inventory. Gets people in the door, then they upsell them?

Good looking car. How long will 996 be the budget 911 before they start climbing? Seem to be no shortage of nice ones...for now.

I paid 22.5 for my '02 targa 1.5 years ago from a private party. Well optioned, PSE, full leather, carbon fiber. At 85k miles IMS was done because he was doing clutch and RMS. I drive it every day to work, still LOVE driving it. The owner included the porsche roof rack with it, but I haven't used it yet. A targa with aero kit is a pretty rare bird. Jcamper

Am I wrong in thinking that those are fake bbs wheels? That tells me that the owner was likely a "cheap way out" owner which would scare the E36 M3 out of me on one of these cars. Coilovers are probably meagans or some other junk.

sesto elemento wrote: Am I wrong in thinking that those are fake bbs wheels? That tells me that the owner was likely a "cheap way out" owner which would scare the E36 M3 out of me on one of these cars. Coilovers are probably meagans or some other junk.

Yes, you are. Those are not cheap wheels.

sesto elemento wrote: Am I wrong in thinking that those are fake bbs wheels? That tells me that the owner was likely a "cheap way out" owner which would scare the E36 M3 out of me on one of these cars. Coilovers are probably meagans or some other junk.

According to the ad, they are "BROMBACHER WHEELS."

Those wheels are Works.