James P Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August As we a now able to import early 996.1 Carrera's under the 25 year rule I'm wanting to get opinions if anyone is willing to buy & drive a LHD 996 Carrera on club permit? Some don't have an issue driving a LHD air-cooled 911 so why not a LHD 996 Carrera? Does it make sense at around $40k to $45k landed, complied, roadworthy & ready for the buyer to get the club permit? At this price point most cars will be a Tip but some may be Manual You can only get a LHD imported car on full registration if it's 30 years old under this import rule, the benefits of club permit is no stamp duty. Cars are inspected in Japan & then i inspect them here for all the usual 996 Carrera issues, only some cars will have service history. Let me know your thoughts? Here is a 1998 996.1 C2 Tip i just got in... Harsh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl888 Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August IMO, I don't know why you'd bother with a LHD 996 in Australia, unless you specifically wanted to drive a LHD version. The pool of decent, well looked after locally delivered 996s of all variants is expansive here. The only justification one could use for the car above would be to save money. Saving money is not a good entry parameter into 996 ownership. Or any other car. I appears this might be a business for you, best wishes for your venture. However the market will determine whether it's viable. I think the number of buyers for the vehicle pictured would be exceedingly limited, and even less when you came to sell it. I could be wrong. James P, rafikdous, Dalai and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August Just my opinion here James, as I know you're very well versed with all things 996 etc (still kicking meself for not buying that white 98 you had years ago 🙄) The pictured one does look nice, though I was offered an Aussie delivered silver '99 tip with 140,000km very recently for $45k (deceased estate that's just sold for less than that), so a '98 LHD 996 tip would be a hard sell I reckon. tomo and James P 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepand Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August It makes sense at about 30k on the road otherwise you’d just buy a local RHD or something rusty out of the UK James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedpest Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August Sounds like your not the first cowboy to the rodeo. (see images below) At least these two are RHD. The market has spoken when this one didn't sell. 1998 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera for sale by auction in Springvale, VIC, Australia (collectingcars.com) . tomo and James P 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBRUT Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August Also worth noting that NSW historics don’t apply until the car is 30 years old. James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harsh Posted 6August Report Share Posted 6August Nothing wrong with a left hand drive unless your a Macca's fiend. Just recently took possession of a Australian compliance 997 and finding the pedals in the RHD don't feel right, I mean after all they were originally designed for LHD and the conversion (factory or not ) is just an afterthought! I know of a few people that might be interested in a $40k 996 tip James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troubleshooter Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August IMO the figures don't add up James. Aus del 6.1 auto coupe 100ks VGC fair history = $55 - $60k. (being generous) LHD, import etc discounts apply - say $25 - $30K (being generous again). Equals a sale at $25k at worst and $35k at best. Extremely small market I would think as well. Peter John, James P and tomo 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August Any 996.1 GT3's available @James P ? James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter John Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August Just now, hugh said: Any 996.1 GT3's available @James P ? 😯😯😯 3 hours ago, Shedpest said: Sounds like your not the first cowboy to the rodeo. (see images below) At least these two are RHD. The market has spoken when this one didn't sell. 1998 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera for sale by auction in Springvale, VIC, Australia (collectingcars.com) . Same car Shedpest and James P 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedpest Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August 18 minutes ago, Peter John said: 😯😯😯 Same car Should have looked more closely, doesn't change the context, seems no-one wanted a nice looking LHD 996 Tip. Dalai and James P 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August 14 hours ago, James P said: Does it make sense at around $40k to $45k For me, not at all. James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl888 Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August 2 hours ago, Peter John said: 😯😯😯 Same car Well that's the thing, if you're going to bring a 996 in as a LHD import, to sell, you really should bring in something to differentiate it from the other 175,000 that Porsche made. As a suggestion, anything with 10,000kms or less, in a weird specification, orange, oak green, sports seats, manual, X51, original paint etc. And documented (Yes, I know that's hard to find in Japan, they're obsessed with throwing the books away). Or a Mk1 GT-3 with a very, very nominal mileage. Or a championship winning Cup car, or a Cup car with delivery mileage only. Otherwise you're just competing with the other no records, high mileage, modified stuff that's already taken a haircut over the past 6 months. IMO 996s appear really nice in white, it shows off the organic curves quite nicely. I think the way to do your marketing is to book mark every 996 on CarSales, check every month to see what's moving. What's moving will give you an idea of what buyers are looking for. Good luck. 2 hours ago, Shedpest said: Should have looked more closely, doesn't change the context, seems no-one wanted a nice looking LHD 996 Tip. I think it should be: someone wanted the car, just not at the sellers reserve. Speaking of which, does anyone know what it was bid to? As an aside, am I alone in thinking Collecting Cars is not an appropriate platform for selling such a vehicle? James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spets87 Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August Coming from a recent holiday in Japan, buying a Japanese import doesn't seem as risky anymore. Cars were spotless and appeared well looked after. Must be the general culture of cleanliness that was prevalent everywhere. James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t888 Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August Why not import RHD ones? Things will get interesting soon enough when 996 turbos hit the 25 year mark. We are only about a year away from the first ones being available. James P and tomo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalai Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August 8 minutes ago, t888 said: Why not import RHD ones? Things will get interesting soon enough when 996 turbos hit the 25 year mark. We are only about a year away from the first ones being available. If from Japan, even though it's a RHD country LHD's were seen as a status symbol. Therefore many non JDM cars are LHD and unfortunately many are autos. t888 and James P 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter John Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August 55 minutes ago, carl888 said: Well that's the thing, if you're going to bring a 996 in as a LHD import, to sell, you really should bring in something to differentiate it from the other 175,000 that Porsche made. As a suggestion, anything with 10,000kms or less, in a weird specification, orange, oak green, sports seats, manual, X51, original paint etc. And documented (Yes, I know that's hard to find in Japan, they're obsessed with throwing the books away). Or a Mk1 GT-3 with a very, very nominal mileage. Or a championship winning Cup car, or a Cup car with delivery mileage only. Otherwise you're just competing with the other no records, high mileage, modified stuff that's already taken a haircut over the past 6 months. IMO 996s appear really nice in white, it shows off the organic curves quite nicely. I think the way to do your marketing is to book mark every 996 on CarSales, check every month to see what's moving. What's moving will give you an idea of what buyers are looking for. Good luck. I think it should be: someone wanted the car, just not at the sellers reserve. Speaking of which, does anyone know what it was bid to? As an aside, am I alone in thinking Collecting Cars is not an appropriate platform for selling such a vehicle? I meant the link shared above is the same car in photo from op 3 hours ago, Shedpest said: Should have looked more closely, doesn't change the context, seems no-one wanted a nice looking LHD 996 Tip. Not at auction, should I say this one, but someone wanted it- @James P! James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James P Posted 7August Author Report Share Posted 7August Thanks for all the feedback gents... I know a LHD 996 Carrera won't be a popular car to guys that already own a 911. Thinking back to my first Porsche a LHD 911 SC sporto many years ago, that wasn't a popular car also & it only cost me $12k to buy when other RHD 911's were a lot more, maybe this is the modern day equivalent? I'm not comparing a 911 SC to a 996 at all but I'm looking at value in todays market, maybe the 996 makes more sense at $35k to $40k for the young first time Porsche 911 enthusiast buyer? I've been fortunate to own over 50 911's of all varieties & have enjoyed driving all of them, this 996 is just as enjoyable for what it is & what it was designed for. I could offer these Jap 996's for sale alongside the usual P cars i sell if anyone is interested... 7 hours ago, hugh said: Any 996.1 GT3's available @James P ? Yes mate some are available but they are over priced & all heading to the USA 4 hours ago, Peter John said: I meant the link shared above is the same car in photo from op Not at auction, should I say this one, but someone wanted it- @James P! Yes it was good value, in my favourite 996 colour, M030 suspension, non sunroof car... & I'm in contact with the previous owner in Japan providing me with most of its history. sjm, hugh, TwoHeadsTas and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjm Posted 7August Report Share Posted 7August You make a good point, A lot of 911 drivers are neither wealthy nor poor, somewhere in between. A cheapish entry into the brand might just be enough to buy one. I was in the same position with my first 996(grays auction site) TwoHeadsTas and James P 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harsh Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August Agreed and we need some young blood (they can afford a $40K car) in the forum, instead of all us crusty old bastards Shedpest, tomo, James P and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August What’s “young” asking for a friend… tomo, TwoHeadsTas and JWM 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomo Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August It was 21then 30 now 60ty🤔😊 TwoHeadsTas, JWM, sjm and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjm Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August 10 hours ago, tomo said: It was 21then 30 now 60ty🤔😊 Yep, anyone under 60 😅 tomo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomo Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August HaHa 60ty is long gone ☺️ sjm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLD Posted 8August Report Share Posted 8August I bid on that car, but stopped where I thought the value was at. It didn't sell when listed privately at $35k so I think $40k would be a struggle... James P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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