Bought a 2010 C4S 6 months ago - PDK - Chrono+ - $116k MSRP. Added RG19 wheels - Passport 9500ci - fully integrated radar. I have 6500 miles on it.

Just had the 2nd of 2 back surgeries in the last 30 days. Don't think I'll be getting in a small car like the my C4s for a while.

I'm most comfortable in an SUV so looking at the Cayenne.

Question 1: what's the ballpark for how much my C4s is worth?
Question 2: if I go through a Porsche dealer, is it true I save on sales tax? Example: if I get 80k for my C4s and buy another car/truck through the dealer, do I save on paying sales tax on the 80k?

I'm looking at the Cayenne but open to other suggestions. Debating between Turbo and S - big $$$ difference.

Any other suggestions/recommendations?

 

As a physical therapy doctor all that I can say is make sure that you have quality physical therapy when your surgeon clears you to. Not knowing the details of the surgeries, I can't comment much more. FYI, if your surgeon says that you don't need physical therapy then I would question his commitment to ensuring a positive outcome. I wish you the best. You might not need to dump the C4S in the end.

 

In regards to the tax question it applies to all dealerships. If your trade is worth 80k then you will not pay taxes up to 80k on the next purchase, so if you buy an 80k car you pay no taxes. At least that's how it's here in FL.

 

Thanks... 2 level ALIF (L4-S1) on 8/17 followed by laminectomy on 9/8 because a fragment detached from the disc when performing the fusion initially.

Doctor is a huge advocate of PT and insists it's the only way to get full recovery. Even has his own PT clinic with pool and everything.

If you don't think I'll have to dump the C4s, based on my surgery and your experience, how long before you think I'm comfortable getting in/out of the car? I'm 35, non-smoker, not diabetic in very good shape (6'3" 180lbs). I'm sure it's just a guess but curious what your experience is.

 

keep the C4S...it'll just take some time and patience. When you are up to it, just be very calculated on getting in and out of your car. After that, you'll be fine. A year from now you'll be glad you kept her !

 

Thanks for the details. I was wondering about age and overall physical shape. At 35, with what you had done and having therapy that focuses on functional mobility, I would think that the C4S will be driven in the future. i would venture to say that I would be able to rehab you to a level better than 1 year prior to surgery.

Sometimes the best rehab is outside the surgeon's office. I would ask around town, including other surgeon's offices, who provides the best rehab. It's so tough to explain but you need to be exercising in a way that promotes strong functional mobility by loading the lower extremities. This will minimize excessive lumbar mobility/muscle over activity. We can discuss in private beyond this.

Good luck to you.

 

No tax? Huh? You ALWAYS have to pay the sales tax.... the only thing the dealer may do is knock a couple grand off the new purchase to quote "compensate", but you still have to pay tax.

Right?

 

Sorry to hear about the surgeries. It really sucks when your back/neck are in pain. I know that feeling and it does not mix well with sports cars. Sports cars are my life but when you dont feel up to it they can feel like a burden. If you have something else to drive then maybe hang onto the C4S.
Otherwise to address your questions:
As previously stated above the tax savings takes place anywhere on any car. I have used the tax savings when trading on a dozen plus cars. I also use it to justify trades! Unfortunately the dealer will say that someone can climb into a new C4S for invoice + 1.9 financing. So they will probably give you a figure in the (hopefully) 90+ range. Especially if you are trading into a new cayenne. But they will obviously take less of the cayenne if they show you more for the trade. PM me if you need more advice on that, I really hope your back is better in the shortest amount of time possible.
D

 

Yeah... file this under impatience I guess...

Here's the deal.. I have Mercedes CL63 which I thought would be more comfortable to commute to work (45 mins one way)... and it is.. but it's still very uncomfortable right now. My wife has an Escalade and that is much more comfortable to drive right now.. thus the reason for looking into a Cayenne.

I'm impatient I guess..and uncomfortable... and need to get to work... hopefully comfortably... the prudent thing to do is probably wait and see if my condition improves quickly... but that means a painful commute twice a day until that happens..

And no.. can't take my wife's Escalade which she needs to take all my kids to/from school/activities.

Back to the topic at hand.... any prognosticators in the group want to take a gander at how much these cars may be worth to a dealer:

1) C4S mentioned in the original thread.
2) 2008 Mercedes CL63 AMG - Black/Black - 15k miles.

 

Not quite the same scenario but I was rear ended 2 years ago (hit by an idiot doing 50/mph and we were standing still!!) and I am still going for massage therapy. Just after the accident my lower back was really bad, couldn't sit in a car for more then 10 minutes so we bought a Cayenne S and it made a huge difference with the support, adjustable lumbar, heated seats ect. so I would suggest the Cayenne route!! I do also own a 997S which is fine for me, just takes a little more time to get in/out!! Good luck

 

As a dentist by trade, we are notoriously known for having back problems.... Between the last lumber vertebrae and the first sacral on my back, I've got only a 3-4mm of "cushion" before its bone on bone.... doc said its like oreos and the cream filling.... hardly any filling between these two.

Must be from all the years bending over patients?

Anyway, I'll say this much about Porsche seats.... I've got the vented ones (I think they're the middle grade seats).... anyway, they are the most comfortable sport seats I've ever had. I'm a relatively small guy at 5'8" 160lbs and the lumber supports are great for my back.

After working all day, I look forward to coming out to a black car that's been in the sun all day... the heat of the seats is very soothing to my back.

 

Having gone throught this more times than I can count...

There are three figures at play:
1. The negotiated sale price of the new vehicle: A
2. The negotiated trade-in allowance on the trade in vehicle: B
3. The pay-off (if any) on the trade-in vehicle: C

What you owe in the deal is: A+C-B.
Taxes are figured on A-B

Often you can get a better deal on B if you go with a private sale but you would not enjoy the tax break by bringing it to trade.

the logic is that you paid taxes on the old car when you bought it. You are in effect "credited" with those taxes on the new vehicle sale when you trade it in.

Good luck and hope you get better quickly.

 

Don't sell it you'll be fine in no time. I've had back surgery and after the initial healing, it won't be an issue. As the dentist pointed out, Porsche seats are some of the most comfortable you can get for back issues. Getting in and out won't be a problem at all for many years. I am 56, and have had back problems for 20 years and I can get in and out of any Porsche without a problem.

 

I would guess that if you play around with the seats that you will be more comfortable in the C4S than you currently are. Sit quite a bit upright, scooch the seat toward the pedals so that your knee has some bend. Use the memory config to save this "new" setting and drive like that for a bit. Then make changes, 1 at a time, and save this new setting. You will find something that is quite comfortable but first you must gain some mobility since you are likely quite stiff.

 

No. In GA sales tax is calculated as (sales price - trade value) x $.07 (depending on county - I'm in Fulton). So a $50k trade = $3500 in tax savings. That's why I trade...anything over that $3500 or so I might get in a private sale is negated by the hassle of having to worry about a wire transfer vs cashier check, test drives by joy riders, etc.