I've been researching the 996tt and 997.1tt, and both seem to have robust engines. However issue is everything else seems to have higher maintenance (ie. coolant pipes, 2nd gear popout, clutch slave, etc).

A friend of mine has a 997.1tt and had to have to engine his replaced due to a cracked rod, numerous clutch issues, and now may have to get his transmission rebuilt due to 2nd gear pop out. Another 997.1ttt I checked out for sale also had to have his engine rebuilt, etc...

A local indy Porsche garage recommended the 996 C4S an ideal "high mileage commuter" p-car to get. Another colleague of mine has a 996C4S for about 2 years now and has been very happy and has had no issues, save a possible radiator tank replacement in the near future.

I'm curious to know if a 2002+ 996C4S or a Targa has relatively inexpensive upkeep. Current prices are definitely attractive for the first time p-car owner.

Provided a C4S or Targa has its IMS/RMS replaced, what other maintenance costs would one be looking at? Thanks!

its all relative, depends what you compare them to though

i would never consider a porsche cheap to own though

A few hundred dollars every year I would be okay and content with.

A couple thousand every year I would get sick of real quickly and be shocked at my first array into Porsche ownership, and likely get my a$$ kicked by the wife.

Then I would stay away from a Porsche, or any exotic for that matter. Nothing, but nothing is inexpensive on these machines, unless you can do most of it yourself. Labor rate alone is in the $115/hr range.

How has your C4S been treating you? What have you done in terms of maintenance and repairs?

Make sure to get a PPI (Pre Purchase Inspection) done on whichever model you end up seriously considering just to make sure there are no gremlins lingering.

Depending on how much and how you drive tires alone can get you into the $1000+ range per year.

The 996 is generally a good solid car and plenty reliable, but FLA996TT is right. No exotic car is the right choice if cost of ownership is a concern.

Mine has been wonderful, but, mine was from a private collection and was fully maintained when I bought it from the dealer. I drive it weekends and a couple of days during the week.
I had the IMS Bearing and RMS done when I purchased it. Then after 3 months it needed lower ball joints, I do oil changes every 4 months or every 4500 miles, you can go 5-6k though , every year I have the brake fluid flushed and the coolant flushed, you can go two years though. Had to replace the battery (used Sears DiHard).
Optional stuff: put on sport springs, Fisters muffler, air intake hose, scrape plate, spacers, and alignment.


And getting one and not driving it is worse for it, these cars need to be driven and driven hard.


Also keep in mind rear tires only last about 8000-10000 miles, you can get a little more if you remove the toe out.

That's not too bad. I guess tires at $1k for a set of 4 every year or so. I'm also guessing the IMS/RMS updates is the big initial "upkeep", which is what, $2-3k?

One thought is to look for a 1 owner C4S 6MT who has already done the IMS/RMS updates. If not, look for one in solid condition and do the updates with my local indy p-car mechanic.

price of entry is cheap, price of ownership is a different story. one year you'll spend maybe $500.00 , the next year maybe $4k.

This is 100% correct.