Originally Posted by yrralis1

Sidenote --If you want Porsche like power and Honda like space (practical use) my M3 actually costs less than the Honda (free maintenance) . I have only replaced 4 tires in 30K miles . Not one penny more.


The maintenance costs are not that extreme with Porsche .Tires are your largest expense and most owners here change the oil MORE than what Porsche recommends BUT Honda has frequent intervals . 30 bucks a change can add up if the intervals are every 5K miles .


Inmsurance depends on far too many factors (age, driving history, amount of coverage, region etc) to even draw a comparision .

Honda has only a 36K 3 year warranty. Porsche has 50 and 4 years.
You are right about less attention and worry with a Honda accord .

The Accord still isn't free though .

Originally Posted by simsgw

Someone might have the numbers that way. I don't, but I can provide a little helpful information I think.

I commuted in a Civic for one year. 115k miles worth. Nice car, no complaint, and going over the Angeles Crest to JPL it was a nimble and pleasant drive. Never noticed the cost of maintenance. Then an Acura Legend for 185k miles. Another fine car. Two or three TL's and then an NSX when we retired. Honda makes excellent cars up and down the model line. Maintenance never was noticeable, although my wife set up a sinking fund for tires on the NSX just because she didn't like to keep enough in the checking account to cover a surprise need for a new set. The NSX ate them and spit out cornering force. Basically, our income kept going up with our choice of cars so it always stayed ahead of our noticing maintenance in any serious way.

Driving a 2009 Carrera S now. Haven't honestly noticed the cost of maintenance. You won't either if you can afford the additional $80k in the first place. Nothing outrageous like Ferrari, at least in my opinion. Just a fine car that needs mechanics and parts to match. No problems at all so far, in our first 19k miles. If you're thinking of an older model than ours, you need to consult a book on used Porsches because the age increases the maintenance cost as well as each type having special maintenance considerations.

I did notice your cost of tires on the Honda. That full set price will buy one rear tire on a Carrera, but not both. Figure a couple of thousand for a full set of N-series Michelin Pilot Sports. I just put on a set of rears at 18k, but the fronts are still fine. Given the longer life, I don't expect to pay more for tires than we did for the NSX, whose rear tires were the size of the fronts on this 911, but didn't last as long. The last ten years makes a big difference in the size of tires fitted on such cars.

My last oil change was $200 before the discount, which covered a little more than the state tax. Net cost was probably $190 and I don't like to wait the 20k miles the book specifies, so we'll spend that maybe twice a year.

A 911 definitely won't get the mileage of any Honda, but if I cared about gas prices, I would buy a bloody Prius. Or something less thirsty anyway. I admit that if I were still logging 110k miles annually, I might well care about mileage. We'd be in a Mercedes E350 or even perhaps a Honda product. To my mind, you can't get enough enjoyment at twenty mph on the San Diego freeway to make up for five hundred a month in gas bills. Figure 17, maybe 18, mpg if you commute on a congested freeway. Much better, and again probably not a factor, if your trip is less than thirty miles and not heavily congested.

All relative of course. If you can afford a new Porsche, you afford the gas. Period. But you may have Scottish blood too, and cringe at buying the gas for a supercar while stuck behind a bunch of econoboxes all morning.

Unlike some cars at the top of the heap, it is honestly true that if you can afford to buy a new Porsche you can afford the maintenance. And the gas.

Good luck with your decision,

Gary

Originally Posted by Blue

I really wanted a Porsche 3 years ago but couldnt quite accept the 996 headlights and the potential for maintenance costs. My alternative was a honda S2000 - 240hp and only 2600 lbs - not as fast as a 911 - probably closer to a stock boxter but definately faster than a V6 Accord. And it handles like a dream! Dont buy something that will keep you up at night - but if your ready, do it. I 'm going through it again - I want a Porsche 997...

Edit: And as easy to maintain as an Accord (except tires)

Originally Posted by JTaylorGT

I sold my S2000 for an '05 997S last year. I love both cars and both have required nothing more outside the routine maintenance. I had the S2000 for 5 years (bought it as an '04 brand new) and never had any mechanical failures. I sold it with 42k miles - it was hard to let go because I know that car would have easily lasted me another 10+ years, but the 997 is definitely an upgrade. Other than paying for a major 40k service (around $1300), it's been a dream to own! The major service is every 4 years so no big deal to me...the 911 has been around 45+ years, so they have grown very reliable IMO.

Originally Posted by Sleepy996

Sean you only live once get the 997,have a blast and if its not for you after some time sell it and move on. I can tell your a numbers guy and thats excellent if the world had more people like you our country wouldnt be having half the issues we are dealing with now. Do yourself a favor though and step out of the comfort zone and get the Porsche but only if you can comfortably swing it financially which I have a feeling you can ! GL

Originally Posted by Frissen

Is this a Accord to 997 MkII comparison?

Price aside my suggestions on the 997 would be:

1.- Service your 997 every year, oil change, filter change, brake fluid. Keep eye on everything else and attend promptly.

2.- Keep under warranty. Even small stuff like a MAF could run several hundreds of dollars.

3.- Avoid vallet parking, well don't avoid it, keep a $10 handy and park it yourself. I notice my major expense is tipping valet guys everywhere.

4.- Enjoy it

Originally Posted by PTParks

Just a short note on oil changes. I couldn't bring myself to wait the 12 months until the first oil change like my dealer recommended, so I plucked down $184.70 for an oil change around 4500 miles on the odo. I chalked this up to "Porsche Maintenance for Dummies" because I felt like one after seeing how easy it is to do an oil change on an '09 Carrera S. It's less hassle on my P car than any front engined car I've owned, primarally because the oil canister is topside vice being located underneath the motor. No exotic tools needed either.

Originally Posted by Crea

my C4S PDK is actually more fuel efficient than an Accord V6 that I have.

Originally Posted by tourbillon001

because it was practical for my life situation (one small child) and about 30k less than the car I was thinking of buying before deciding on the 911.

As for the running costs of the second gen 997, I think they are extremely reasonable. When I drive in a normal manner I get 17 mpg, 1 oil change a year at 200 bucks, and about 1 set of tires at a couple of grand. Maybe this is high compared to a honda but down right cheap when you consider the enjoyment this car brings.

Originally Posted by bbywu

After reading your responses on the multiple boards you posted to, I'm not sure anyone has really given you an answer (although there seems to be plenty of social commentary.) You will find this link helpful:

http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessori...anceintervals/

After reading this, call a dealership's service department and get a price quote on minor and major maintenance.

If you have very basic technical skills, most service can be done easily in your garage with very basic tools or with a minimal investment. Minor maintenance should cost about $75 for an oil change and $40 for brake fluid.

If you have above average technical skills, spark plugs need to be done every 4 years (every 2 on my GT2.) They are not very easy to get to like a front engine vehicle, but do-able by a DIY'er. Otherwise a dealership will drop the engine for you and do it for ~$750-1000.

Similar for the drive belt at 6 years. Unless you track your car, transmission fluid/final drive does not need to be changed (per Porsche) for 12 years.

bob

Originally Posted by SeanInLA

To the rest of you? No comment really...

Originally Posted by SeanInLA

At least the majority of you understood what I was getting at. Thanks guys those were the types of info I was looking for. I really appreciated it.

To the rest of you? No comment really...

Originally Posted by 2020

This is pretty simple. Do you want a faithful wife that will take care of the kids and is dependable. Or do you want a Hot trophy wife that everyone looks and gawks at and of course is high maintenence. Everyone has their own needs.