996 TT prices??

[Soarer20]

996 Turbo list prices seem to have risen by almost $10K over the last several months. I thought they were a fair value at $36k. At $45k not so much... considering the 997 turbo can be bought for a little over 50-55K and is a better car in a lot of ways (Newer, Faster, more reliable, much nicer interior, better looking body work, etc.).

I don't consider the 996 turbo to be a collectible car and there were a ton of them made. Can some experts weigh in on where they think the prices might be going?

Is the demand for the 996 turbo a temporary bubble or are people behaving irrationally and bidding up the price of the car?

[-Levi-]

within the next year I will be buying one, I have noticed the same thing. wish I would have pulled the trigger last year- I am curious to see what other people have to say.

[Matt Monson]

I'm not sure where you would have found a nice 996TT for $36k six months ago. That's been a ridden hard put away wet with many miles price for a long time. $45-50k is what it's taken to get into a nice one for at least a year if not longer.

[Soarer20]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I'm not sure where you would have found a nice 996TT for $36k six months ago. That's been a ridden hard put away wet with many miles price for a long time. $45-50k is what it's taken to get into a nice one for at least a year if not longer.

Personally seen several in the Seattle area that sat for over a month at under $40k last spring. Haven't seen too many trashed 996TT.

So enlighten us Matt, why is the 997TT selling for only 20% more than the 996TT?

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Soarer20

Personally seen several in the Seattle area that sat for over a month at under $40k last spring. None were dogs.

Last spring was a year ago.

If you shop smart you can find something with middle to higher miles that was taken care of. I think that's the best value. A 100-150k mi car with records, one owner kind of thing.

Sitting for a month isn't a long time. These cars aren't GT3 hot.

[specialtyoneinc]

Originally Posted by Soarer20

996 Turbo list prices seem to have risen by almost $10K over the last several months. I thought they were a fair value at $36k. At $45k not so much... considering the 997 turbo can be bought for a little over 50-55K and is a better car in a lot of ways (Newer, Faster, more reliable, much nicer interior, better looking body work, etc.).

I don't consider the 996 turbo to be a collectible car and there were a ton of them made. Can some experts weigh in on where they think the prices might be going?

Is the demand for the 996 turbo a temporary bubble or are people behaving irrationally and bidding up the price of the car?

It sounds like you are looking at Tip cars. No way you can find a clean 997tt in $50-$55k range in a coupe/6spd unless it has a bunch of miles/mods/stories etc.... Options, color combo play a huge roll in the prices also.

The 996tt's for sure have been going up in the past year. There has been a ton of recent media hyping them as the best bang for the buck. They were underpriced for sure. The days of under $40k clean/lowish mileage 996tt's coupes are long gone unless you are looking for a tip. I'm no expert but I don't see them becoming collectors cars (maybe perfect low mileage examples one day) but the depreciation has hit the bottom of the curve 1 1/2 to 2 years ago. The 996 generation collectors cars will be the GT3/GT2 and possibly the 05 Turbo S.

[Rick Brooklyn]

The mezger 997 aren't more reliable, they have that pressed sleeve thing or whatever it's called, there's a big thread on rennlist on that.
And I did think about a 997 but in the end I realized I liked a 996 better. Less electronic, bit less of a gran turismo and bit more of a sports car

[Alan A]

Where are these 55k 997TT?

I looked at both hard for 7 months. I wanted a particular color.
I wanted a coupe with m/t and under 50k miles and apples:apples there's a 20-25k difference between models.

A decent 996TT coupe with sub 50k miles and a stick is 45-50k. Any less and it will have issues or you got a steal.

[Soarer20]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Where are these 55k 997TT?

A decent 996TT coupe with sub 50k miles and a stick is 45-50k. Any less and it will have issues or you got a steal.

Hmmm.... I've tracked a lot of listings on CL and ebay. Cars on pelican and rennlist are usually listed high and we don't know what they sold for. My pricing target obviously is optimistically low

What is the consensus on ebay? I hate the thought of it but I too am looking for a particular color and ebay seems to be the only way I'm going to track it down without waiting years for it to pop up on other classifieds.

[Alan A]

I know of 3 guys that paid in that range in the last 6-8 weeks for a vehicle meeting that description.
One is typing.

eBay is just a place to get eyeballs.
Get a PPI same as anywhere else.

What color?

[rayng]

where do you find 997tt for 50k?
i'm looking for a blue one with pccbs.

[Alan A]

You don't. You can get a 6TT for that.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Soarer20

Hmmm.... I've tracked a lot of listings on CL and ebay. Cars on pelican and rennlist are usually listed high and we don't know what they sold for. My pricing target obviously is optimistically low

What is the consensus on ebay? I hate the thought of it but I too am looking for a particular color and ebay seems to be the only way I'm going to track it down without waiting years for it to pop up on other classifieds.

You want your cake and eat it too. A "particular" (aka unique) color desire isn't something you get at a bargain. If you are serious about this car expect to pay full market or a slight premium. And seriously consider talking to a dealer/broker. They get talked about like they are scum here. But they have resources. They are experts as networking.

You build a relationship with one and tell them what you want. You keep looking in the meantime. But they have resources and visibility that you don't. They look for your car, tell you when they find it, and negotiate a deal. They will expect as slice of the transaction but if you are particular about something like color it will be the quickest way to your end goal. And really, what's $5k on a $50k car? Sure money is money, but if you want something other than silver you might have to pay to play.

[techweenie]

I may have a slightly beat up 996TT for sale in a month or so around $30K.

But nice ones - like my own car - are over $45K, pretty consistently.

[specialtyoneinc]

Originally Posted by rayng

where do you find 997tt for 50k?
i'm looking for a blue one with pccbs.

I got one for $51,995. 2007 Riviera Blue on Grey interior with wood trim, 5 owners, 22" custom Asanti rims, 95k miles and salvage title. Oh and it's Tip and a Cab. Sweet ride. PM me if your interested.

[techweenie]

Beverly Hills Car Club just got one in!

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I may have a slightly beat up 996TT for sale in a month or so around $30K.

But nice ones - like my own car - are over $45K, pretty consistently.

That's cheap enough I could rip out the engine and put it in my Cup Car and build a GT2 Cup!

[1979-930]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

And seriously consider talking to a dealer/broker. They get talked about like they are scum here. But they have resources. They are experts as networking.

You build a relationship with one and tell them what you want. You keep looking in the meantime. But they have resources and visibility that you don't. They look for your car, tell you when they find it, and negotiate a deal. They will expect as slice of the transaction but if you are particular about something like color it will be the quickest way to your end goal. And really, what's $5k on a $50k car? Sure money is money, but if you want something other than silver you might have to pay to play.

This is really good advise. If you can find a honest dealer/broker that has a lot of connections and you are patient they can save you money. I have never used one for cars. But I have a broker I use for equipment. He charges a flat $5k per deal. It takes him 6 months on average to find the right deal,(model, condition, maintenance records, low hours), but I usually save 20% verses auction or other dealer prices.

[A914Guy]

I don't think it's a bubble but I don't see 996TT values going much higher, with the possible exception of the '05 S and the GTs.

If you are serious about finding a special 996TT, my advice is to spread your net as wide as possible. Use all resources you have and that means dealers, eBay and all the internet sources, local and national PCA classifieds and consignment companies. If a car meets your initial review get a PPI done on it. The possible exception to that is a dealer car and lastly, be ready to travel to see the car in person.

As discussed here, the market is up on nice examples and highly equipped cars in rare colors are a premium. Many nice cars don't even hit the commercial market. Two years ago there were 5 to 10 996TTs for sale on eBay every week. Today there are half that and that seems to carry over to the other internet sources (cars.com, auto trader, carguru, haggerty etc.).

Here are three examples of purchases that demonstrate casting the net wide makes sense to find something special and good cars can be bought reasonably:

Two years ago I bought mine after an 18 month year search. I was looking for a rare color, paint to sample car, '03 or '04 with X50 and sub 50K miles. What I found was a '03, 32K mile, white/beige, X50, PCCB, 6 spd., sport seats, color coded wheels and a small wood package. A unicorn of sorts. It was in near perfect condition and a car with a complete service history. Of all places, I found it in rural MN at a classic car shop looking for a '70/'71 Cutlass Supreme convertible for a friend. Take a look at "hookedonclassics.com" and see if it fits the profile of a dealer that would have a unique 996TT for sale. It was a consignment car and to buy it, I had to pay a premium at that time.

Today that premium price point is typical for good TTs. I routinely get inquiries to buy the car and have a standing buy offer from a gal in the local PCA. Interest in the 996TT is clearly at a peak.



Just months after buying my car an old friend called and said he was in the market to buy a 911. He was thinking 996/997C coupe in the $30-40K range. After a ride in my '03 he was immediately interested in a 996TT. We hit the local Dallas/Ft. Worth market, drove a few cars and stumbled on a new trade at a Porsche dealer. It was a higher mile car at 59K miles, but it was a two owner TX car that had a good service history, excellent paint and interior. It was also a X50 car with the PCCB option, black on black with a 90 day dealer warranty. The car was bought for $42K which I thought was a great buy and under value for a X50, PCCB car, even with near 60K miles.


A year ago a close friend got the bug after driving mine a couple times. After about a 6 month search we found a two owner FL car on eBay. It was also a low mile car (34K) with a complete service history in excellent condition. It was a base turbo, small wood package, dark green over beige, with a dealer tune and in excellent condition. That car was bought in the low $40s and I think he bought it $5-7K under value at that time.


I still look at the dealerships, the various internet sites and PCA sites weekly and it's clear that finding a unique car will take a pretty deliberate effort. If you have a budget of $45-55, I think you can find a very nice TT.

Good luck with the search!

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

That's cheap enough I could rip out the engine and put it in my Cup Car and build a GT2 Cup!

Do that, and I will definitely move to Colorado!