Cheap Turbos on ebay and elsewhere?

[BrockPorsche]

So, I've always wanted a turbo but never realistically considered getting one.

Have been looking to get an M3 and then recently started looking at maybe a '99 C2 or C4 figuring to find a medium mileage one for $35-$40k. I'm quite new to the game and have never seriously looked at Porsches before about a week ago.

Have an aquaintance who bought an '02 new and it was $$$$ and extremely nice. So I started poking around looking at turbos on Ebay and local dealers.

Find ones like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Porsche-911-TWIN-TURBO-2002-PORSCHE-TWIN-TURBO-35K-ONE-OWNER-MINT_W0QQitemZ270074671139QQihZ017QQcategoryZ10156 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Porsche-911-02-911-Turbo-2002-Porsche-911-Turbo-Tiptronic-Bose-Surround_W0QQitemZ270080105159QQihZ017QQcategoryZ1 0156QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

TMV appears to be mid 70s for these cars...mileage perhaps? Is 57k considered over the hill for a twin turbo?

It's making me really really think hard about pulling $20k out of somewhere and just going turbo. I'm im that close already, why not? $20k extra to get a car I've always held up as my dream car is a cheap price.

Something wrong with these or...(salvage, flood, etc? They claim not). Is this just what they go for now? Would you not go near these at all?

So tempting......the maintenance cost on those brakes makes me fear though

[DougM]

They are both tiptronic, not 6-spds and have some mileage. Also, the market is very soft on these since the newer 997 came out. There are lots of 996 Turbos and NA out there. Great cars, but they depreciate like any car would. A 2002 is 4-5 years old and at $60k is about 50%+- depreciated. If you want a nice driver, I would not be concerned with that mileage. They are strong cars.

[racer]

Don't overlook insurance and Maintenance costs. While "cheap" to buy they are hardly inexpensive to maintain. The large # of 996TT produced and the arrival of the 997TTs have hurt their resale value. The TIP vs 6spd can be debated for a while. It comes down to preference andhow the vehicle will be used.