I made the mistake of adding up my expenses for the 968 since purchasing it 2 months ago. Here are the damages [not including purchase price, registration, smog, and insurance totaling $15000]:

Necessities:
Fixed p/s leak at Garaffo’s 8/29 for $350
Misc brake light, hood light, parking light, and glove box/trunk bulbs from Porsche dealer 9/15 for $20
Replaced cracked windshield at Garaffo’s 10/1 for $150
Replaced leaking rear engine seal and clutch pilot bearing at High Performance House 10/16 for $700
Flushed brake fluid at High Performance House 10/16 for $150
Rock chipped front bumper/rocker panel re-spray at Auto Europa 10/17 is $1000

Goodies:
Ruf wheels refinished by Wheel Techniques 8/30 for $650
Bought another dash, e-brake handle, and door lock from Parts Heaven 9/1 for $280
Bought CS wheel horn contact at Porsche dealer 9/1 for $25
Bought airbag resistors, lithium grease, and contact cleaner from SM Electronics 9/1 for $20
Bought new shifter leather, vibration dampeners, and clip from Porsche dealer 9/1 for $100
New factory center caps from Porsche dealer 9/5 for $130
Replaced stereo, sub/amp at Audio Blow-out 9/10 for $265
Installed factory LSD and e-brake handle at Porsche dealer 9/15 for $650
IceShark full battery cable kit 10/8 for $270
New front bumper grill and screws/washers from Porsche dealer 10/17 for $165

Grand total: $4925

And I'm not even done yet! The car needs tires soon, intake manifold/valve cover/fuel rail cover powder coated, clear bra after the new paint, oil/filter change, missing exhaust hanger replaced, and rear hatch pins so I can adjust my sqeaky rear hatch!! Please tell me if I'm completely nuts or if you think this is somewhat normal for the first 2 months of ownership. It is a damn good thing that I love this 968!

 

I would not consider the work done on the body to be a necessity if it was only a paint job with no panel and/or rust damage.

 

You're not crazy, I'm amazed at how quickly things have added up on the yellow car, and that's just routine maintenance and some mild upgrades...and that's with me spinning the wrenches!

Steve

 

Did you not learn from your first 968- Never add up the receipts. and if you are married never tell the wife.

I never violate the first part and my wife encourages me to spend on it so I will violate the second part all the time when I find some time and spare $$$ around.

 

Its a cardinal sin to total your receipts. I have a huge folder with receipts that i never plan to add. I know it would give me a heart attack.
Looks like the car is coming along nicely. Its amazing how much one can spend even when the car is well maintained.
Raj

 

My receipts for the first 6 months added up about the same - once you added tires and a clutch.

Do not ever do this.

 

Hello! Welcome to responsible $$$$ Porsche ownership, if you DIY then you save a lot. Raj is right you cant think about it.

 

Unfortunately, I can only DIY when I have the time but most of it is spent @ work where I don't get paid OT because I'm a manager [salary], taking classes, and trying to start my own business. I still couldn't do the LSD install or re-paint obviously but oh well - I just can't add up my receipts anymore! Also, my advice to other folks buying this kind of car is, even with a PPI and great PO, budget 25% above the car's value for fixes/upgrades to fully sort the car to your liking. Afterall these are not new cars and I recommend credit card for necessities and only cash allowed for goodies which is how I'm doing it from now on.

 

When I got all the paperwork together for selling the coupe I was tempted to add everything up, but my better judgement kicked in...and I just put them in a folder and walked away!

 

I guess it's a correlary to the law of never totalling up your reciepts, but I got my M030 sways in last week, and now all I can think about is better tires...

Donn C.

 

PorscheG96 I will wrench for you if you like. I just need another month or so, so I can walk. I need money bad and I don't have a job.

 

You are crazy, but not for spending the money, for summing it up. You should never sum up the expenses or you'll feel bad. Just hop in and drive if you ever wonder why you spend so much on it.

Being an unemployed student, I have learned how to own a 968 cheaply I have spent a total of $1200 on my car since purchasing it 2 years ago... The biggest expense was the timing belt & WP job (which I did myself, but parts were pricey).

 

Depends on how much you got out of the expense.

Satisfaction, for instance, can't be quantified in monetary terms.

Miles, on the other hand, can, if this is a priority for you. I left a daily driver 944 in the Caribbean with 216K miles on the odo (around 125K driven by me) and adding up total maintenance on that car in 10 years of ownership totaled a whopping US$21,818, which is not bad at all considering the car only cost me $6K.

Not sure I could've bought and owned a comparable new car for less!