Why is a 959 cheaper than a Carrera GT? | FerrariChat
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Why is a 959 cheaper than a Carrera GT?

Discussion in 'Porsche' started by smj113, Mar 10, 2011.

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  1. smj113

    smj113 Karting

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    #1 smj113, Mar 10, 2011
    Both are great cars, but you would think that the rarity of the 959 would give it a little higher price. Show and Display allows them to be used in the US, so for my money it would be the 959 (and the CGT, if budget allowed). Thoughts?
     
  2. Metal Guru

    Metal Guru Rookie

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    #2 Metal Guru, Mar 10, 2011
    Seems like 959's need more service and repair due to their age and lack of use. Your local Porsche stealership won't know what to do with one, either. Looks like that's what would impact the resale.
     
  3. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #3 nthfinity, Mar 10, 2011
    It really depends on the car, and supposedly who did the conversion.
     
  4. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 Bullfighter, Mar 10, 2011
    It's a interesting question.

    Some possible contributing factors, from a US perspective:

    1. The 959 wasn't legal for US registration, IIRC, so the car wasn't all that relevant here and never got much of a following.

    2. It's not much of a looker. I'm not personally a fan of the Carrera GT's looks, but probably most younger enthusiasts are.

    3. The rally circuit where the car made its name isn't popular in the US, and even in Europe may have pigeonholed the car.

    Other ideas...
     
  5. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 amenasce, Mar 10, 2011
    I think the CGT is a much more interesting car than the 959 and not just in terms of looks.
     
  6. GG

    GG Formula 3

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    #6 GG, Mar 11, 2011
    Why is an F40 cheaper than an Enzo?
     
  7. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 Bullfighter, Mar 11, 2011
    Because there are over 1,000 F40s, and ~400 Enzos, IIRC.
     
  8. smj113

    smj113 Karting

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    #8 smj113, Mar 11, 2011
    Following the same logic, the CGT (1270 total) should be worth less than the 959 (337 total). I realize that the car would be difficult to service, but I think it would be worth it. Long term collectability of both cars is good, but the 959 should be better in the long term. Show and display limits you to about 2500 miles per year which isn't too bad for a car like this. Now that the car is over 21 years old, it supposedly doesn't require the emissions testing that it used to. Show and display covers the bumpers etc.

    http://www.insideline.com/porsche/959/coming-to-america-in-the-porsche-959.html


    One for sale on James list for $260,000
    http://www.jameslist.com/advert/116350/for-sale-porsche-959
     
  9. gumbajv

    gumbajv Karting

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    #9 gumbajv, Mar 11, 2011
  10. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #10 nthfinity, Mar 11, 2011
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2011
    Add another 100k to bring it to the US +- ... and wait about a year.

    hmm... curious about the emissions testing part.
     
  11. nikkis34

    nikkis34 Formula Junior
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    #11 nikkis34, Mar 11, 2011
    What the hell is a 959?
     
  12. RS man

    RS man Formula Junior

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    #12 RS man, Mar 11, 2011
    You must still be a spring chicken! Porsche's Supercar that was overshadowed by the F-40 (for me anyway). It looks ugly and cumbersome. CGT is much nicer and deservedly costs more. Personally from the more modern air-cooled era I would prefer the 993GT2 for the turbocahrged cars whereas it would be the 993RS for the non-turbocharged cars.
     
  13. Cobraownr

    Cobraownr Formula Junior
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    #13 Cobraownr, Mar 11, 2011
    21 years old and older (by model year) are exempt from U.S. EPA regs. Hence, no engine conversion necessary for model year 1990 and older.
     
  14. bounty

    bounty F1 Veteran

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    #14 bounty, Mar 11, 2011
    Because of the F-40.
     
  15. waltk88

    waltk88 Formula Junior

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    #15 waltk88, Mar 11, 2011
    I don't really associate the 959 with rallying. While it was built to Group B rules, it never competed against such Group B rally monsters as the Ford RS200, Lancia Delta S4 and Peugeot 205 T16. It was more intended to compete in the Group B roadracing category. The 961 variant won the Group B class at Le Mans in 1986, finishing the race in seventh place overall.
     
  16. Fritz Ficke

    Fritz Ficke Formula 3
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    #16 Fritz Ficke, Mar 11, 2011
    CGT price is sliding like a used car and will take the big dive when the next Porsche super car comes out. All cars do that. The 959 did that and if the car has merit the price starts coming up after awhile. 959 is classic car climb now and the CGT is on the used car slid right now.
     
  17. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #17 nthfinity, Mar 11, 2011
    The 959's engine was so advanced, it won Le Mans 10 years later in the 911 GT1 :)
     
  18. Testacojones

    Testacojones F1 Veteran

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    #18 Testacojones, Mar 11, 2011
    It was because Group B was killed that the GTO and 959 didn't get to compete, a real shame.
     
  19. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

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    #19 4re Nut, Mar 11, 2011
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    Excellent question; I'd much prefer to have the 959 and I think long term the market will reflect the same.

    One of my favorite liveries, the Rothmans 959:
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  20. waltk88

    waltk88 Formula Junior

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    #20 waltk88, Mar 12, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. smj113

    smj113 Karting

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    #21 smj113, Mar 14, 2011
    with emissions testing removed from the equation, it should not cost $100,000. I have not idea of the total, but shipping it on a plane would cost approx. $20,000, boat would be much less. Assume some import/customs/gov fees and processing, and it would probably still be under $50,000. The car is already approved under the gov show and display program, so that part shouldn't be too bad. Parts and servies is really the only hard part of this car.
     
  22. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

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    #22 Bill Sawyer, Mar 14, 2011
    Over time I believe the 959 will be worth more than the CGT. When it came out the 959 was more revolutionary than the CGT and it's price has yet to reflect its place in history. I think its a good time to buy.
     
  23. tervuren

    tervuren Formula 3

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    #23 tervuren, Mar 14, 2011
    The thing is though - most of the "revolutionary" on the 959 made it into the 964 Turbo. You could get a similar car with similar performance, that looked about as good, for a heck of a lot less money.
     
  24. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    #24 David_S, Mar 14, 2011
    That last statement always has and always will blow me away. In my case, I have always LOVED Ferrari styling, but in the case of 959 vs F40 - it was always the F40 that looked ugly and cumbersome. The 959 (at the time) looked like the ultimate evolution of the 911 - whether in photographs or up close in person, it appeared to be hewn from a solid billet. The F40? Whether in photographs, or up close in person, it looked like they used tubes of adhesive (in fact, GREEN adhesive) to slap on "wide body" features and a big whopping spoiler to a stripped down F-car shell.
     
  25. stradman

    stradman Formula 3

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    #25 stradman, Mar 16, 2011
    Good balanced article about 959 and values:

    http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/german/1209-1988-porsche-959

    Its definitely a sleeper at the moment but will reach ultimate collector status in due course. Buy now while you can......

    Don't let high servicing costs dissuade you. CGT is very expensive and don't forget Mclaren F1 costs 25k to service too. That hasn't stopped it climbing in price to the millions.....
     
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