The performance/dollar for this car blows the Gallardo away BTW. Just not even close. I can't speak to cost of ownership, but if you aren't buying a car just to turn heads and are more concerned with actual performance you need a 996 Turbo.

I have spent probably $2000-2500 in the last year or so on upkeep. (Brakes, bought tires, changed fluids.) I do all my own work except for major things like a clutch which I will do later this year.

 

I think 5k/yr is very realistic if you're paying for labor. This year I'm hitting closer to 8k, but that's my own fault for modding while it's in the shop! "While you're in there..." is a phrase you may say more than you think!

 

Performance wise, isn't a 996TT basically equal in 0-60 and top speed as a 2004 Gallardo?

Does anyone know if the 10% rule applies to the Gallardos? I am working towards a 996TT right now, but if i somehow make more money in a year on a consistent basis, I may set my goal of getting a Gallardo (which is my ultimate dream car)

 

The 996 Turbo Cab is my dream car. Before the Porsche Turbos existed it was an XKE Jaguar, I had one of those too, a concours shape black '64 Series l. To me a car is only as good as its worst feature. On my Turbo that I've had for 2 years, it's the color and I knew that going in.

Back to cost of maintenance. I do all my own servicing and such. I change the oil at around 3K to 3500 miles. I use T6 Rotella and German Mahle filters. A change costs me under $60. The only repair part I needed was an accumulator I found on ebay for $126 shipped. I needed a set of tires and went with Sumitomo HTR Zll which cost less than 2 PS2 fronts for the set of 4 mounted. I also bought a battery.

If I banked 10% of what I paid for my '04 two years ago for repairs and maintenance, I'd have over $9K in that account right now. I bought a low mile mint example which helps a lot.

 

Most often it is from corrosion that arises from the trash that collects in amongst/between the radiator and condenser.

The bumper cover should be removed and the condenser unbolted and gently swung out of the way to allow the trash to be removed/cleaned away.

Then afterwards every so often blow the trash out before it gets a chance to get all wet and compacted.

These cars are just big hoovers when the radiator fans are running. Any transh anywhere near the radiator ducts gets sucked into the radiator ducts and collects in the bottom, around and between the condenser and radiator.

 

$10k/year is insane! I spent about $1.5k to bring it back to perfect after I bought it. Ever since then, $100 for my own oil/filter change . Almost through the first year.

Oh yeah, and if you are talking Lambo/Ferrari, now THAT is expensive to maintain. The purchase price is only the entry ticket...

 

Interesting, and so your yearly expenditure averages to $4500. And not sure what you meant by the color being the worst feature for you... would this be color matters not, as long as everything else you wanted is there and is in excellent condition?

 

Is a Lamborghini basically following the 10% of original MSRP to repair/maintain? Compared to Ferrari, is it generally cheaper of the 2?

I am glad Porsche is rock solid in general and is much cheaper to maintain

 

It's hard to put a number on it but there are two main reasons Italian exotics are so expensive compared to a Porsche:
1) Parts. A Porsche is still more of a mass produced vehicle, so parts are only a fraction of the cost of a Ferrari/Lambo. A Porsche will also be a lot more reliable. It's a car that is made to be driven every day.
2) Service. There aren't very many independent shops who will touch a Ferrari or Lambo, so you are often stuck to dealerships who will charge an exorbitant amount of money to work on them.

Unless you are extremely well off, I wouldn't touch an Italian exotic with a 10 foot pole. My neighbor is a Ferrari mechanic; he's been around these cars for a long time and told me it's not uncommon for the maintenance to exceed the (used) purchase price of the car.

 

WOW. Lucky for me I have no interest in Ferrari. Too bad I love the Gallardo too much.

is it possible for a newb/non mechanic to learn how to fix and repair, or install parts themselves on an exotic like a Lamborghini, from reading a few books or going on internet car forums? This way, one can theoretically only pay for parts and do all the stuff themselves-- rather, the things that aren't technically complex/complicated.

 

Cars are assembled with nuts and bolts so sure it is possible for someone to work on the car in their garage at home. You're not going to find a ton of technical support online, though. It will not be a good car for a newb to learn on and you better be willing to keep the car forever because not many people are going to be willing to buy the car from you if you've done all the work.

 

the analogy oft heard is : cheat with the italian but marry the german.

 

^^ Good advice. The Italian cars don't get worked on by owners very often. Maybe older ones do, like Porsche's. I'm a do it your self-er, albeit not a very good one, and the only way I can work on my car now is because of those who came before me and published how they did it. No way a similar body of knowledge has been shared for Ferrari or Lambo owners. In addition to the substantial cost savings of DIY, there's a satisfaction associated that is worth a lot to me. A lot of guys get as much from working on their cars as driving them. But they usually aren't Italian owners

 

I've noticed on FChat it seems like there are plenty of guys working on their 355's and older so there is a bit of community there that I haven't seen when browsing forums for newer F and L cars.

I definitely get the same satisfaction from working on my on car as driving it. I'm certainly not a newb with a wrench, though.

 

Actually my expenses were about $1002 for 2 years, $501 for a year. This is less than fuel or insurance costs.

During my almost 1 year search for my perfect Turbo, I wrote down all the options I wanted, color choices, and what was important in my selection.

What I ended up with is a Cabriolet with all books, keys and records, that had been serviced every 2600 miles. The car was mint in every respect and looked showroom new. The price was fair. It ran perfect and had zero issues. The only option I got on my list was heated seats.

I settled for my last color choice, Basalt Black, I didn't get Sports Seats, I didn't anything else I was looking for, but I'm still happy.