Wow...thx for the auction prices...I had no idea somebody can get this. However this doesn't tell me what year it is.... The car looking at is 08' C4S with well optioned.

 

Those were all 2008's C4S cars. The options unfortunately I won't know.

 

I use Edmunds TMV for value and think eBay is a good way to go. On around page 4 of "DME over revs Ranges 3, 4 and 5 reported. Is it OK?", I have a post on why I think eBay motors is a good choice. I'll go copy it and paste it here.

 

I hope this doesn't violate posting rules, but here are my comments on why I think eBay is a viable alternative:


The reason I am buying the car out of state is to get a better selection of cars. I found a two I liked locally, but the dealers were not realistic on price. Essentially it saved me ~$10,000.

I bought this one through eBay Motors. I bought a Mercedes the same way 10 years ago. Back then my then wife asked me "what kind of idiot buys a used Mercedes on eBay?". When I received the car it needed a couple things and the seller stepped up to the plate.

In addition to trying understand the vehicle, I also look at the seller. I look for sellers that have a dealership and a very high ~100% feedback rating. this car's dealer has a 100% feedback rating. The Mercedes seller had a 98.9% rating, also on hundreds of sales. (I remember one of the two negatives coming from someone who bought a used Jaguar and claimed it was a lemon. I thought their complaint was the definition of a used Jaguar).

My rationale on this is twofold, first if I buy from a local dealer and I have a problem, I have no public manner of recourse. I could get completely screwed over and the local dealer's actions would never be known. With a high rated eBay seller they want to maintain their high rating and will work hard with the buyer to fix a problem. Once negative feedback is out, there it lasts forever for every potential buyer to see. While the description of the negative strike drops off over time, but the strike remains. I feel this is better than with a local dealer.

My second reason for being comfortable in buying a car I have not driven is exactly based on the who in their right mind would buy a car they have never driver? type of thinking. This is exactly what dealers do at auctions. The car sitting on the lot, even if a local car, may very well have come in from another dealer through the auction. They will always verbally say it was a trade, but you never know. If they buy a car with problems, they still need to sell it. So essentially I am buying the car in the same manner as the dealer that is selling the car locally.

Also, even if the car came in on trade in, the dealer has to make the decision quickly, so what does that really tell a buyer? It doesn't tell you they knew the car and the owner, it tells you they were able to sell a new car, take a quick look at the trade in and buy it at a price where they hope they can resell it at a positive margin.

When a dealer buys at auction they don't get to drive the car or run it through diagnostics. For me I have frank conversations with the seller who has at least a vested interest in maintaining a public reputation, something the dealer does not get from the seller at auction. Additionally, I had the local dealership perform a pre purchase inspection and a test drive. Maybe, their set of eyes and opinion will catch a noise I would not know to listen for.

All in all, I am buying a car in the same manner, if not with more precautionary research, than the car on the local dealership lot."

 

Thx for the Ebay info. I am actually a Power seller and feedback rating means everything. So I do feel confident in buying a car from ebay which I have done it in the past and I will do it again.

Stack 24: Do you have a Atlanta sale info around late June to early July? I am curious how much this guy paid the car that I am looking at.

 

I drove this car few hours ago. I was impressed w/ how everything felt and look like it's brand new car but I was little disappointed w/ power delivery. Car was def faster than my current Boxster S but not by much. It has 70hp more than mine but it's a heavier car. I was expecting some exhilaration but it was nothing like that at all. I remember driving a GT3 996 and that was a pure excitement. This C4S felt nothing like that at all. This driving experience led me to learn one thing, more power.... I feel if I want to spend this kind of money....may be I should save and spend even little more to buy either TT, GT3 or Italian Exotics (F430/Gallardo). Car was so beautiful to look at but I wasn't lusting it. I remember the feeling of a pure joy when I was driving Boxster S in rain while I was test driving it, but I didn't feel that way at all. Is is normal when you are test driving a car when the owner is sitting right next to me?

This experience made me hesitate to buy this car. I even felt C2S would be a more agile car (drove 3 weeks ago). Can somebody shed some light on this? I guess I am little spoiled after driving Boxster S for many years. I feel 911 C4S isn't that of a step up from where I am now.

 

Very interesting post of the test drive impression . It is hard to have both the agility and massive Hp. The Gt3 is graceful like a figure skater and the Turbo is more like a sledgehammer. The Gt3 is hard core . The Turbo has luxury . Both have a lot of power over a Boxster S. I actually think the ideal combo is to have both because each offers greatness .

The closest thing to the middle point in a street car is the GtS . It's comfortable for daily use , has the beauty of the wide body, the agility you seek from the C2S , the seamlessness of an NA engine , the 23Hp power kit .. so it finds a nice balance .

 

I know how GT3 feel which is exactly way you describe it "RAW". I have never driving Turbo so I have no idea what 500 torque feels like. I prob is going to like GT3 more but it's going to be journey to find the right GT3 that's not been tracked or abused. Only way to be sure it to get brand new one. : ) Yes GTS is a car I drool over. I have seen a post with this guy who just bought black w/ red interior... aaaaawwwl..

 

That's an interesting perspective and probably accurate. You are used to the lighter car that has more of a rocket on a Go kart feeling (being respectful, because that is a wonderful rush of a feeling).

I can't speak to the 911 feeling as I have not spent a lot of time with them and mine shows up tomorrow afternoon! I did get to drive a Ferrari 575 Super America, it has a very refined feeling almost surgical. If you want to go from point a to point b you can and will very quickly without any worry. Very amazing car, without flaw other than I'm too large to drive it. In contrast, my brother in law has a vette c5. That car is pure muscle and scares the hell out of me in a very fun and exciting way. The doghouse pounces and thrusts and the rear end will rip from under you out in a second. A real rush, but a different type of car.

You should try a bunch. It sounds like you want to step it up and turn up the raw thrill factor. I bet the TT will do that for you, but for a lot of kicks and giggles and a couple holy cows, push just a regular c5 vette a little hard.

I think the difference is how much you can get out of the vehicle without losing it. That is where the more subtle feeling cars will outshine the wilder feeling cars. It's a matter of what you want. On the one hand you may never track the car you are buying and never need to rely on the handling edge of the 911 or Ferrari. In that case, get the most fun factor in a light powerful car you can, maybe a Lotus or a Lambo. On the other hand, the more refined sports cars typically grow on you over time as they surprise you in their power and finese. I have always guessed that is the difference between the Ferrari and the Lambo.

Be careful and get the right mix, because it is not either/or and you would hate to pay a lot for something that doesn't satisfy what you are looking for. You are smart to play around with a number of cars to pick the right combination of power, performance and price best fit you.

I know a lot of people will laugh at this comment, but I don't care because I love cars. Years and years ago I had a miata and I still love that car and smile whenever I see one. I went to look at the car and thought "this is a chick car, I won't like it", but when I drove it I was amazed to have what felt like a MG/go kart (without the Lucas electronics) going 90+ up the side I-70 into the mountains. Of course, being 6'3" the first comment a buddy had for me when I drove up in my beautiful new little blue car was "Hey Shriner, where's the parade?" LOL!

Have fun trying as many as you can! You'll never regret it!

 

If you narrow it down to the Gt3 , Gts. and Turbo it sounds like you can't go wrong with any of them .

If it's astreet car the gt3 might be a bit tough . The clearance on the front spoiler and some of the no frills comfort might not be ideal if its the only car you plan to drive .

The Turbo is a sheer momster . It is not agile nor does it have the same seamlessness of an NA engine . On the other hand the tuners have come so far with the car . it costs more though to add things to a used turbo . The new PDK 997.2tt is a great car bone stock .

The GTS -- is the balance . The thrill factor of Gt3 is hard to match and the Turbo power iis king . The smag is you might want one of the other two but at some point it comes down to whichever of thse suits yoir needs .

Pesonally .. if I had to pck only one I'd opt for the Turbo . In my opinion it is the ultimate luxury power car . To me it feels like low level flying with that Turbo spool .

 

That black with red GTS is so sexy it's almost pornographic! There is a very sexy black GTS on eBay right now, but it is a PDK. I know that's what Indy racers use, but so far my personal taste remains a manual. Could you be happy with a PDK?

 

Thanks for last three posts.

I wish I can drive a TT and see if that's the car I want. I won't know until I drive them. It's funny that my friend wants to me to try a vette and I told him no. It may be a powerful car but I know I won't enjoy the looks of it.

After riding Ninja, I want something that is going to let my adrenaline going. So I need a expensive but safer substitute of my former bike. I know I live only once...and I want it to be a fruitful one. Now I really want to have drive 997 GT3/TT to know what I want for sure. 911S isn't really going to do it for me. I would simply buy it so that I have it, but then.....would I be a happy owner? I doubt it.

Question: If a some guy is to make about 20-30k cash a month....what is a reasonable price for a weekend car?

Sorry..PDK is unacceptable. Somebody need to give me 25k discount to get me to buy that. hehe : )

 

I'm not a financial planner, but IMHO: That answer is a function of net worth in investments (only discretionary real estate should be included and they are only viewed as a source of cash net of costs), your income, not gross but net of federal, state and property taxes and fixed charges such as mortgage utilities, heath insurance, cable, etc. (gross income is misleading), as well as the stability of your income stream, the term until retirement and your target nest egg at retirement.

I'm in oil and gas and after the crash in the industry in the 1980's, there was a bumper sticker that read: "Dear God, Please Let There Be Another Oil Boom, I Promise I Won't **** It All Away This Time"

If you are new to the income, don't underestimate the fragility of good fortune.

 

OP: sadly the $69k budget won't let you in the GTS doorway nor the gt3. Even a heavily used '09 c2 6spd might be hard to find below $69. Check out CARS.com. I'm not certain the 991 will negatively affect the 997 pricing since there were so fewer produced. Can you chill for 3 or 4 months ? Maybe by then there will be some lower priced toys.

 

Yeah I almost pulled off a deal this past month for a 2007 C2S but pulled out of the deal last minute after seeing how high the used car pricing really is. Figured I would wait till a bit later in the year and see how the prices adjust in the market.

BTW to the OP - the site I get my pricing is down at the moment. When it is back up I will get you the prices.