Lucky for me I've built just about every motor/car out there over the last 10 years except a P-car. That being said, I'm highly competent / experienced with a spanner and lift etc. However, parts will still cost me the same as everybody else and my time is becoming more and more valuable as my career accelerates etc.

Ok so, the reason I made the post:I hear 1 of 2 stories about P-cars 1) Expensive to Maintain and Operate etc. 2. Most reliable sports cars ever. Which is it?

02+ owners with cars with over 50k miles on them..

What type of maintenance has your car needed?

 

I have an 03 with 40K and have put about 9K a year on it since I bought it 3 years ago. The most significant cost of ownership has been self inflicted due to my moditis. I have had no major repairs just regular oil changes, scheduled service and tires. You can get good reasonably priced tires for these cars around $600 for a set of 4 and they perform quite well. Oil changes are pricey if you get it serviced at the dealer and major service cycles at the dealer run $350-$500. Overall in my opinion the maintenance costs have been quite reasonable for the performance delivered. You can save some additional money by finding a good independent Porsche mechanic. Like any car as it ages there will likely be a greater risk of major repair issues and Porsche parts are not cheap.

 

consumables are high on the list.

Tires, tires, and more tires. While I do track fairly often I am always surprised by how the 911 eats rear tires.

Pads, brake fluid, oil changes, all the usual stuff but more frequently.

 

So, they eat tires and pads which I expected that. I'm only considering an 02+ car and it's going to be driven but not abused, just driven as Porsche intended.

Just concerned about a motor failure.

 

It could cost you nothing a year... as my last 996 did or it can cost you a 16,000 dollar engine in a week.. all up to luck of the draw.. buy an extended warranty and enjoy the ride.

Engine failure is NOT that common.

 

Is the 9k including mods? That seems like a lot per year. Unless you are burning through tires monthly.

 

I have owned my 01 c2 coupe for 3 yrs. I am into my second set of rear tires (fall 08), a new set of front rotors (still in the box to be put on soon), a clutch kit and RMS (fall 08). I am presently dropping the tranny to replace the transmission support bushing. I might send the transmission out for an overhaul since it has 94,000 miles on it. I will replace the drop links and sway bar bushings while I am under there, replace the brake fluid. These cars are very easy to work on, and if you are the least bit mechanically ept, you should not have any problems conducting any of the routine maintenance and perhaps even some of the more adventerous tasks. I track my car 2-5 times a year and if I am going to put my life on the line, I know I did the work right.
Jim Greer

 

If you don't track the car, the maintenance costs, other than tires, are no more than any other car for a DIY'er. Tire life can also be extended by dialing out the negative camber without negatively effecting aggressive street driving. There is a slight added cost to a DIY oil change in that you have to use twice the amount of oil than most cars. You should easily get 40,000 miles out of the brakes on a 6 speed. Clutch is good for well over 100,000 miles.

 

Sorry that was 9K miles per year. I have have not spent more than $1000/year on maintenance. No out of pocket major repairs yet. Knock on wood.

 

I've had mine for a year... except for the "optional" expenses (body work, etc.) I've probably spent less than $1k - and $600 of that was for tires all-around... I expect to pay 2/3 of that for tires (rears) next year... other than that, DIY oil changes (about $60) and keeping it clean... next thing on the list are new plugs and coils (maybe), but those are supposedly once every 100K miles...

Not too bad...

Rudy

 

Ok so as we flesh this thread though, it seems tires, pads, rotors should be expected and I expect those with any car. The RMS is typically an issue on the >02 year models and motor failure is rare, but typically the 3.4 is the one that blows up and it's around 50-65k miles if it does. If it makes it past that, there are guys on here with 150k no issues....hit or miss for sure, but it seems like I lower my chances of disappointment if I push for an 02-03 car.

 

112K miles here... if you can get most of the stuff done by yourself, great. Find a source for cheap parts (sunset, suncoast... they are the same company) and ask around the web for DIY's. Then, find a trusted indy that can do the stuff you can't. I don't think maintenance is going to kill you.... it's the $6.95 transmission seal that cost $3000 to replace that will. LOL!
-joel

 

02 Cabrio.....coolant tank...top cables....brakes and tires....Clutch+RMS...Plus oil changes(done in house)

a couple of little items here and there...basically very low maintance....3 years and thats all ive done...

 

No plan to track more then once a 1/4. I do plan to daily drive it. One of my best friends owns a performance shop, so lifts and expertise will be there. They are starting to specialize in the 996-997 turbo market so they've told me they'll back me up and I trust them.