First time Porsche buyer, and I'm losing my mind on which one to pull the trigger on. I have an opportunity to buy either a '10 Turbo w/ 87k $45k & serviced or a '10 4s w/ 75k For $35k from someone I know, a one owner car. They both have high miles, is it something I should stay away from. I really want the Turbo, but if something goes wrong, the expenses are astronomical.
Are there common issues with either one, that I should look into, or do I just walk away from both?
Thanks for your help

 

Have you driven both? What are your impressions of the PTT vs. the P4S? You're the one that has to be happy. From what I know, the PTT is more power than most drivers need or expected. I drove an `11 P4S for 3 years and sold it just at the point where it would have needed new rubber...just about 23K on the odometer. That would have cost about $1700. Annual maintenance averaged $600/year. I probably would have needed to do the brakes within another year; that would have been at least $1200. Mine was almost out of warranty and I had basically no problems during the time I owned it. Obviously, the PTT is more expensive to maintain. These are fantastic cars in my opinion, but Porsche cars are unique, need to be driven, require regular maintenance, and cost a lot when things go wrong. Consider that replacing the PASM (air suspension) system is probably a $10K bill. In your case, the mileage on the P4S would be discouraging for me; however, $35K is a good price. Your call...both great cars, 1-owner says a lot, be prepared to invest $$$ in either one.

 

The PTT is out of town, haven't driven but called the dealer & they know the car and says it's been serviced and the owner drives a lot. I think the 4s is more practical for everyday driving, but man does the PTT look so much better w/ all the options.
I guess my main concern is, do I stay away from Panameras with high mileage?
Thank you

 

Both cars have high mileage. Porsches are extremely well engineered vehicles, but keep in mind that they are performance cars. Between the ones you're looking at, I think the P4S is the better deal. Porsche ownership is not for the faint of heart or those with very limited means. Factor into your decision (and the price) that these cars are out of warranty and, in that connection, that you would do well to purchase an after-market warranty if you can...another cost. I think something like 75% of all Porsche vehicles manufactured are still on the road, which also suggests that there are more than a few high-mileage ones out there. If you can afford it, the P4S with an after-market warranty would be a nice way to become acquainted with the brand.

 

The 4S for 35k is a steal of a deal. You rarely see Panameras in the 40s and are usually base models.

 

No matter how much depreciation hits either of these cars, they will never cease to be $100-$150K cars in terms of repairs and maintenance.

 

turbo

 

I just learned the high mile Turbo is still a certified pre owned till July 1st 2016, or 100k miles, that makes it look a lot more attractive, agree?

 

Yeah it'll be easier getting an aftermarket warranty of the car is already under a Porsche warranty.

 

Turbo! You won't regret it. The warranty is also good to have, albeit for 7 more months.

 

Agreed.

 

Turbo if at all possible.

 

Absolutely.

Allows you to drive car with safety net of dealer service and peace of mind until next July.

More importantly, if you decide to keep the car, you are eligible to purchase a Fidelity warranty by June 30th. You CANNOT buy an extended warranty unless you are covered by factory warranty. Trust me, I've been all through this process on my 2011 PTT.

GL

 

Because with the Panamera I have only had experience with the 4S can anyone here inform the OP regarding maintenance on the PTT? I think that information would be particularly relevant to a decision.

 

First I will say that I personally have not seen any 2010 turbos priced that low...but it has very high mileage. It also makes me wonder if there are potentially other issues that have driven the price down. Often times when they are priced so reasonably, there may be a history of accidents, body work, or generally in poor condition. I would try to find out this information.

If you are seriously considering one of these, I would take it to a Porsche dealer and have them do a pre-purchase inspection to check the car out. This will give you some peace of mind if it comes back with a clean bill of health, but may change your decision to buy if they find things wrong. Be prepared for both, but I would without a doubt have this done.

As our fellow forum members mentioned, these cars can be very expensive to fix, so you must be prepared to spend some money on repairs when they come up, which is even more of a reason to have the inspection done. Be sure to get service history on these vehicles to see if they have been properly maintained.

There is one other thing you ought to think about as well. Panamera's with this kind of mileage are VERY hard to sell because of the high mileage. If you buy it and put on some miles, you will also find it VERY hard to sell and most likely will have to essentially give it away when you sell it. Something to ponder.

I hope this helps... good luck. If it was me, because I love speed, I would get the turbo. Just my 2 cents. There will be VERY few cars that could outrun you with a turbo, but more with the "S"....lol.