Hey Guys ...

I really REALLY want a Turbo, but I am afraid I will regret it on the long run.

Circumstances: I need a car that I will drive daily, work is 40 miles away from home, so am expecting to put 90 miles on it everyday no matter what.

I don't have any experience with Porsche cars, I only drove the Turbo once on a track, and I never felt better, the power is just insane and I'd love to have it under my foot.

Concerns: My biggest concern is Durability and maintenance in the long run, I know they are advertised as daily drivers and very little exotics can withstand the abuse a Porsche can take, but what sort of expenses am I looking at yearly? how often do they require maintenance? I don't baby my cars and therefore I have had many bad memories with BMW and Mercedes, the last X5 I bought stayed at the service center more than it did in my garage.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Just bought a new 08 997 Turbo about 4 months ago. It's my daily driver. My commute is 35 miles each way. Have had 2 other Turbos, 930 and 993 plus too many Porsches to list. The 997 is by far the best Porsche i've had. First service is 12000 miles. Cost is $668. Getting 20 miles to the gallon average. It's just a wonderful car that is a pleasure to drive and enjoy.
Don't buy one and let it sit. These cars are meant to be driven.
Go for it!!!!!!!!! you won't regret it.
Jim

 

Just passed the 38,000 mark on mine since Feb 08 its my daily driver and track car.

In terms of maintenance there have been no real surprises.

You have the regular oil changes, do that as often as you like, and with whomever you want, then you want to do the larger service intervals with a dealership, just negotiate the price ahead of time so there are no surprises.

Change the spark plugs every 20,000-25,000 miles which is part of the service at 25,000 mls anyway.

In terms of everyday drivability the car is fantastic. Great visibility, lots of power and torque so its fun, clutch is light so you dont want to kill yourself in traffic.

Only complaints are: no bluetooth, no sat radio, no automatic lights (drained my battery once).

And of course on the weekends or at the track you can have some serious fun.

 

If you are going to be driving for over 20,000 miles for just work alone. You will be looking at service twice a year. Its going to add up in price. You will also have to replace rubber quite often.

 

Thanks for your input guys ...

that's great to hear, with my particular BMW, it was always something new that needs servicing, too much technology and too much hassle in return, one day its the computer, then the AC, then the gears, then the computer again .... got fed up with it real fast, its freaking 2009 already and they need to make machines that Work!

I have no issues with regular maintenance (tires, breaks, oil .. etc), but wont tolerate weird issues due to poor manufacturing and/or quality defects.

Thanks again, I guess it is time, I've always wanted one of those Little Bullets

Mo

 

Of all the "exotics", the 997tt is one of the best for DD w.r.t.:
* comfort
* performance
* cost/mile to maintain

I'd never DD mine, only because it's not a long-term keeper for me. Though one takes a huge depreciation hit with 1 mile, or 100,000 miles, the fewer the miles the better for resell. There are also mileage milestones where incremental depreciation hits (e.g. 10K verus 20k verus 50k miles, etc.).

I think your only real worry is finding it too slow after a few weeks

 

I have an '08 TT Cab and drive mine 4-5x/week. Great gas mileage, easy to drive, feels solid, and maintenance is actually not as frequent as one would imagine on this type of exotic. I agree that these cars are meant to be driven. They are built like tanks and can take the abuse. I too had a BMW ('07 M6 Cab) and didn't drive it everyday due to the 10mpg I got since it was a V10. IMO, the 997TT is a much better daily driver.

 

I switched out from 3 99/01/03 M3s. As far as durability M3s were getting worse and worse. Find no problems with my 997 turbo. Oil changes at 20K, and rear tires at 18K and fronts at 36K. I guess maintenance costs at 40K will be about $500-600. This is a car you can rely on. I always worried about the newer model M3s always breaking down for some reason on the highway. No worry with the Porsche, but you're paying for this security....but at least you are getting your money's worth, something you don't always get now-a-days. Looks like year-to-year will be a bit lower than I expected...that is one (and only) thing with the M3, it always held its resale value.

 

Stop thinking and get one while they're relatively cheap. Hell, the Turbo's a green car, Al Gore would love it. If you keep your foot out of it, 20+ mpg is possible.

 

I had buyers remorse after cutting a check for my first Porsche. But that lasted right up until I got the suspension and EVOMSit installed. Now I feel I got my monies worth. But at the current used pricing you cant go wrong, simply a solid bargain.

 

I am also looking at a 997TT as a daily driver. How do the wheels hold up in the NY/NJ area? I am concerned with low profile tires and bending/denting the rims. Also, doesn't the car lack storage. Can you even fit a briefcase in the trunk? Groceries?

 

This car can absolutely be a daily driver and many people use them as such. It depends on what kinds of roads you will be on, your tolerance for traffic, etc., while in a sports car. Some people love it and others can't stand it and get a soft DD.

Maintenance has never been an issue for me. I have had Porsches for 6 years and never had one problem.

I find that while sitting in traffic or on bad roads...I take solace in the fact that I'm still enjoying being in such a wonderful car and that perhaps...just perhaps...any moment traffic will clear...I'll able to run through the gears and feel the excitment of the acceleration...that never happens while I'm in my damn Lexus wasting my life away during my commute.

So go for it...enjoy it...live it...I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

The wheels are totally fine in NY/NJ. Storage is surprisingly good. I shop with it all the time. But for heavy loads of shopping I use an SUV.

 

I applaud you guys who drive it every day but I am far too neurotically in love with mine and want it to glisten in it's mileage infancy stage . Compared to some 8500 miles is a lot but many of those miles were to the shop to get more modifications . The more I customized it the more I bonded . The time/effort/expense . I sometimes feel that even though its my car I respect those who worked on it so much that if it gets a ding we all would feel it . Perhaps its silly . I don't feel this way about my other cars and never felt this way before about a car .

Thus --I keep the miles low.

 

One very nice daily driver. I've had mine over 16 months put on about 10-k no problems. Much better built car than BMW or Benz.