Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Porsche.

ULEZ requires post Jan 2006 registration to (eventually) drive without the T-charge within the North & South Circulars.

T-Charge comes in on 23rd Oct 2017 and is the same zone as the existing Congestion Charge.

The extension of the ULEZ to North/South circular is currently scheduled for 2019 (brought forward from 2020).

I'd be affected by the larger ULEZ as I live less than 500 yards outside the South Circular but I doubt my 2001 car will last that long.

Say that when the 996 becomes recognised as the classic which it undoubtedly is and even poor ones go for £250,000.

I predict this will happen in 3,057 AD.

Yeh but a 2.7 on skinny tyres is a sweeter steer.

Search for either, buy whichever good one comes up first.

The early 2.5s look particularly cool on 16s and with orange lenses, but are a bit weedy.

Miles off.

A really good 1990 964 is just about back to what they were new now - £50k. So in 9 years time your car should be close to its new price, which I'd guess was £60k or so.

Where this goes a bit wrong is yours being a cab. A new 964 cab was £10k more than a coupe and is now £10k less. But even so, you'll be fine, hang on in there.

I should probably say that what I am doing is far closer to, if not actually a restoration rather than fixing only that which would see the vehicle complete some of its journey on an AA truck if left unresolved.

I am sure no one who intended on flipping the car would dream of painting it, for example.

Sweeter steer, maybe, but you'll still be outdragged by mid-range hot hatches. The 2.7 is OK, but the 2.5 is indeed a bit limp.

Mine is about to cost me nearly £500 on brakes to get it through the MoT. This brings the total repair expenditure over the two years I have owned it to somewhere around £1000. That doesn't seem too bad to me. The alternator stranded me, but nothing else ever broke. It's being traded in next week so if you want to buy mine be quick :-).

They are available at prices to suit all pockets but don't buy a cheap one unless you intend to drive it into the ground. Spend money on a good one and you shouldn't have to spend anything like Dammit-levels of cash on it.

The chassis is brilliant - the cornering and balance is superb, and the ride, even with the sports suspension, is really good. Seats are comfortable and the steering positive. Brakes feel dull but work very well. Electrics are sound, but the stereo is total crap.

Personally though, despite some great drives I've never really fallen in love with it. In making it so very capable when being driven hard, Porsche made it quite dull when being driven normally. And 'normally' is how I mostly drive.

Will this affect all vehicles over a certain age or those failing emission standards?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-24v-s-2005/7123902

Pretty much all vehicles over a certain age will be liable for the charge. Only a few are "early adopters" that met the required standards before those dates.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/check-your-vehicle

That would be useful to know. My understanding so far is that it's based on the EURO4 compliance, with carve outs for old cars (pre-1974? at the moment).

Second hand bumper, wing, headlight, straighten the bonnet, screen, bit of paint, new airbag. All fixed for £4k.

Until you realise the whole chassis has been twisted and that's why the panel gap from the door to front wing is all squiffy.

Run.

After dammit's tails of woe, it's the washer jets I'd worry about.

They're only for the headlights. Leave them off for weight saving. It'd basically be an RS then.

It's the dashboard below the windscreen being all popped out which indicates the bulkhead is bent out of true. No thanks.

All 3 of my current cars won't satisfy that. Not much I can do about that, I'm not buying a post 2006 car yet.

2 of them are going - the MX5s, but I can't replace the E39 yet, but it definitely won't be driven within C-Charge zone from next year when ULEZ means it will cost me £15 or whatever it is. I think from next year that ULEZ charge is 24/7 unlike congestion?

I'd do brakes and alternator myself so that'd be cheaper.

I feel exactly the same about the 996, it just feels like a normal car when driving about town but that's part of the appeal, no? If you want the car to be an experience all the time, buy a supercar - it's literally designed to be an experience, or buy something impractical which feels like an experience. Or ruin your road car buy building half a race car and then have people shout at you from the pavement that your car's too loud. I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE SOUND OF MY IMPRACTICALITY.

But actually, I'd like to ruin the handling of the Boxster by adding 16" wheels, fat semi slicks, and a noisy exhaust. Then I'm done.

Also I can't buy yours because I think it's out of my budget and I haven't sold my MX5s

LOL no thanks

A car doesn't have to be harsh and full-on to be enjoyable, just have some character and charm. My SD1 and Merc oozed it.

The Porsche I would say is worse than a normal car in town. A Golf is far more fun to drive in town, and a Fiesta ecoboost is a bloody hoot (and not just because they are rented from Zipcar). It would be nice if Porsche could have somehow kept that level of low-speed fun when they developed their cars. I wonder if the otherwise unappealing 718 fixes that?

I like the 996 for around town, when I use it for that - instant response, no slack or wobble in the steering, strong brakes and good visibility.

Reverse parking isn't it's strongest suit, but hey - you can't have everything.

I was not aware of this webpage - put the number plate in and check MOT history and advisories: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Put the roof down and it's fine :-D

Try the fiat twin air engined cars.

It is a long way to go to look at a car. One that is quite expensive.

I'd be looking at the front suspension also as the damaged alloy. Light chasis damage can be straightened.

There is a similar sale on gumtree for a shell, rear damaged for £500.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/porsche/porsche-boxster-2.5-986-convertible-2dr%C2%A34-695-p-x-welcome-free-warranty.-new-mot/1235165329 cheap porker?

Expensive porker? https://www.gumtree.com/p/porsche/porsche-944-/1234628666