Market Watch

Market Watch

Sales debate - is the Porsche 911 992 market in trouble?
Recent sales listings reveal some scary viewing in the 992 arena. Asking prices show not just price reductions month-on-month, but falls across the board. In some cases, those reductions run to tens of thousands of pounds, and even Carreras have been slashed. What’s going on? Jonathan Franklin of Jonathan Franklin Cars neatly sums up the background. “The market has been slowly getting itself overheated, partly since Covid, when people suddenly began spending.
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BMW 640d Sport Coupé F13 - 2011-2017
In the first of a new series, we take a closer look at three different BMW coupés you could buy on a £25,000 budget. Whether you’re planning to spend a little or a lot, every car buyer wants value for money. And if you’re thinking of splashing out as much as £25,000 on a BMW coupé, then choosing the right model at the right price becomes even more important.
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Sales debate - how much compromise is involved in finding your perfect Porsche 911?
Tracking down your dream 911 can be a less-than-straightforward process. In our heads it’s relatively easy to draw up a wish list of our ideal car, but then we have to find one in the real world. Inevitably, that perfect set of demands may not be for sale. How much compromise should we factor in when searching for ‘The One’? Avantgarde Classic’s Jonathan Aucott is quick to point out that compromise is somewhat inevitable with used 911 purchases.
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Sales debate - What budget gives you the widest choice of Porsche 911 models?
Buyers who can nail down their dream 911 and spec have an easy ride when purchasing. They search, wait and hopefully find. However, not everyone can pinpoint their next 911 so readily. With this in mind, we asked our trade experts what sort of budget gives you the greatest choice of 911 models, as a used purchase? After only the briefest of pauses, Jonathan Ostroff, sales manager at Hexagon Classics, is straight on a figure to work with: “£65,000” he says.
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1960 Porsche 356B 1600 £100,000
This fully restored rust-free US-import 356 is completely perfect. But, as Richard Gunn asks, is it too good to use? A lot of money for something not that far removed from a Beetle? This, though, is real early Porsche purity. And it’s in beautiful order, cosmetically and mechanically – all it seems to need is the rear badge fixing more securely and the vibrating brakes attending to.
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Sales debate - how does the GT3 market view the PDK-only Porsche 911 991.1?
Looking at the lineage of GT3 production, one model stands out: the 991.1 variant. Of all the iterations, the 991.1 is the only one that wasn’t available with a manual gearbox. Does that make a difference to how the market views it, compared to its peers? Philip Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars suggests that it doesn’t. “Most people are happy with the idea of PDK now, and accept it. There’s a good market for PDK GT3s, but if you really wanted a manual, you’d probably just buy a Gen2 version.
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Sales debate - how significant is the number of previous owners?
It’s one of the first questions we ask when interested in any vehicle, but more so a 911: “How many owners has it had?” We asked our experts, what significance does that number carry when looking at a used 911? “In older cars, the number of owners is largely irrelevant,” says Jonathan Ostroff of Hexagon Classics. He points out that condition is the key factor, not how many people have registered the vehicle in their name.
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Volvo P1800 Jensen Cow Horn according to customer's request One set includes : One front bumper in 3 parts One rear bumper in 3 parts Mounting kit (bolts and nuts). The rear bumper is shaped like the front bumper, but the size of the rear bumper samples. Bumper is made from 304 stainless steel (it never rust, even at different temperatures), 2mm thickness, After the bumper is finished, it is polished to high gloss. It looks like chrome.
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Sales debate - is a Targa 964 still the cheapest classic 911 to buy?
For many years, the Targa was out of favour in the 911 market, offering possibly the cheapest way into each model. Is that still the case? No, says Philip Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars: “They were once unloved, because they leaked, or gave wind noise issues, so the Cabriolets were more popular. Today, that’s probably reversed.” Philip explains this is partly down to fresh interest in the model after the 991 Targa reintroduced the silver hoop of earlier cars.
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Market Watch Alpina B10 V8 E39 - Saloon and Touring models
Alpina’s exclusive E39 B10 V8 Saloon and Touring are fast becoming collectable classics – but make sure you buy a top-notch example. Words: Guy Baker Market WatchOur expert takes a look at the ultra-rare E39 Alpina B10 V8. Almost all BMW aficionados have some kind of soft spot for V8 E39s, and Alpina’s bespoke takes on the theme are now becoming sought-after with classic collectors.
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Sales debate - are the 30th, 40th and 50th Anniversary Porsche 911s sought after?
Porsche is no stranger to producing special edition models. Philip Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars has sold examples of both the 964 30th Anniversary and the 996 40th, and rates both cars highly. “The 40th is incredibly special,” says Phil. He points out what a great car they are to drive, thanks to the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in a non-GT 996.
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Market watch BMW Z4 M Roadster E85
Stylish, quick and exciting to drive, now is the ideal time to buy a Z4 M Roadster. Words: Guy Baker Fast approaching classic status, BMW’s eye-catching E85 Z4 M Roadster packs the brilliant S54B32 engine and provides top-down motoring thrills on a sensible budget. And if you buy the right car now, you could see your investment rise over the next few years.
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Sales debate - can you get a good Porsche 911 example for less than £25,000?
Talk of the 911 market is often ruled by the heady top-end, but this month we consider if exceptional cars are still available at the affordable end of the 911 spectrum? Philip Raby, of Philip Raby Specialist Cars, thinks there definitely are, but adds a few caveats: “A manual, early 3.4-litre 996 is becoming quite desirable. The problem is, finding a good one.” Philip advises spending £20,000 at a minimum. If you’re looking to spend anything less then you could be asking for trouble.
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Sales debate - is there a market for Category C and D Porsche 911s?
Adverts that mention Cat C or Cat D are referring to Category Markers, issued after a vehicle has an insurance claim.  When a car is damaged, the insurer decides if it’s worth repairing or not. If it isn’t repaired, the owner is paid out, the car is written off and the insurer applies a Category marker to it. Previously, they were Cat C and Cat D, but these were replaced in 2017 with S and N.
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BMW 535d Saloon E60
Fast, frugal and affordable, BMW’s E60 535d is also easily tuned, but steer clear of unloved examples. Market WatchOur expert takes a look at theused market for the E60 535d. Words: Guy Baker Once the fastest accelerating diesel car in the world, BMW’s E60 535d was the definitive fast diesel saloon – and now, you can buy a good example for less than five grand.
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