On the Wisdom of Owning a Modern Porsche
08-09-2012, 07:05 PM
#16
08-09-2012, 08:52 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To each his own. Some like to preserve their cars. Mine is a DD, but my "commute" is 8 miles round trip. I do not drive it in the snow, not because it drives bad, but because I almost got killed by an SUV driving blonde on a cell phone one winter. I enjoy every minute in that car. In fact, I would love to do a cross-country trip in it. There are some great posts of guys that have done that. Most cars will face the same issues as they age, so you either get a new one or pay for the upkeep.
The one issue I have is that I don't track and never get the full value of the car. It's frustrating tottering around at 45 or 55 in these types of cars. Nice thread. Cheers.
The one issue I have is that I don't track and never get the full value of the car. It's frustrating tottering around at 45 or 55 in these types of cars. Nice thread. Cheers.
08-09-2012, 11:25 PM
#18
7th Gear
Thread Starter
As the OP, these opinions are more or less what I expected to hear. I just wish I could get a better feel for long-term repair costs, although I suspect the variability is too great for an average to be meaningful. I'll just put a couple hundred bucks a month in the Porsche repair fund and keep my fingers crossed.
And when all is said and done, I imagine few men lay on their death beds smiling happy thoughts about the Porsche they decided not to buy. Wish me luck.
And when all is said and done, I imagine few men lay on their death beds smiling happy thoughts about the Porsche they decided not to buy. Wish me luck.
08-10-2012, 08:46 AM
#19
Instructor
Having driven a 997S as a daily since it's launch, I can say that I've not had one maintenance issue. Nothing has broken...no warning lights...nothing. The biggest expense besides depreciation when using a modern 911 as a DD is.......TIRES.
If you drive 10 or 12K miles a year, expect this not insignificant cost. The rears only last about 8K and the fronts will last through two sets of rears.
Good Luck.
If you drive 10 or 12K miles a year, expect this not insignificant cost. The rears only last about 8K and the fronts will last through two sets of rears.
Good Luck.
08-10-2012, 10:24 AM
#20
Instructor
As the OP, these opinions are more or less what I expected to hear. I just wish I could get a better feel for long-term repair costs, although I suspect the variability is too great for an average to be meaningful. I'll just put a couple hundred bucks a month in the Porsche repair fund and keep my fingers crossed.
And when all is said and done, I imagine few men lay on their death beds smiling happy thoughts about the Porsche they decided not to buy. Wish me luck.
And when all is said and done, I imagine few men lay on their death beds smiling happy thoughts about the Porsche they decided not to buy. Wish me luck.
08-14-2012, 10:28 AM
#21
I am in the same boat as Jason (OP) and here are my humble thoughts on the matter.... There is NO real wisdom in having a porsche, atleast not in the conventional sense. One buys a porsche, 991 or otherwise as an indulgence. Once you understand and acknowledge that it is an indulgence and you know yourself to be a prudent person fiscally but not one of unlimited means (as evidenced by your desire to purchase a 991 outright for cash, but still worried about the cost of upkeep), here are my conclusions...
1) Figure out your insurance costs and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2) Scheduled Maintenance only while under warranty + Tires + Brakes and wiper blades should average $100 / month... (first year will be less but this is a good average number for a DD).. If you intend to track it, add a lot more for brakes & tires and maybe even suspension components that the warranty MAY not cover. i cannot give you estimates for this.
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
4) After the warranty expires your repair fund may have balloned a little with the interest earned and the $100 or so a month extra that was put in and not used for maintenance thus far.
5) Right before the warranty expires, see if you can get your dealer to CPO the car for another 2 years using some of the repair funds if you are so inclined, or just take a chance since your are comfortable with your repair fund.
6) Drive your car worry free for many years, putting in the $200 every month. Even if you have a major powertrain repair, you are still covered by your fund.
7) If you come to a point in your life where you a) cannot put in another $200 a month into that fund, b) cannot afford insurance or c) have depelted the repair fund and have no inclination to replenish it... sell the car, buy a brand new honda accord with an 8 year extended warranty and fuggitadboudit... You will have live the porsche dream for a while and you will have fond memories and you can go back to being fiscally prudent and proud of it with no regrets.
To those who think leasing is a good idea... if it works for you great; but I really dont see someone like myself, pay $50,000 + dollars over 3.5 - 4 years for a $100K car in payments and have nothing to show for it, plus all the hassles of buying new tires, fixing paint flaws, etc etc etc at lease turn in. I will never be able to enjoy this car if leased, and I think that the OP may agree with me on this.
1) Figure out your insurance costs and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2) Scheduled Maintenance only while under warranty + Tires + Brakes and wiper blades should average $100 / month... (first year will be less but this is a good average number for a DD).. If you intend to track it, add a lot more for brakes & tires and maybe even suspension components that the warranty MAY not cover. i cannot give you estimates for this.
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
4) After the warranty expires your repair fund may have balloned a little with the interest earned and the $100 or so a month extra that was put in and not used for maintenance thus far.
5) Right before the warranty expires, see if you can get your dealer to CPO the car for another 2 years using some of the repair funds if you are so inclined, or just take a chance since your are comfortable with your repair fund.
6) Drive your car worry free for many years, putting in the $200 every month. Even if you have a major powertrain repair, you are still covered by your fund.
7) If you come to a point in your life where you a) cannot put in another $200 a month into that fund, b) cannot afford insurance or c) have depelted the repair fund and have no inclination to replenish it... sell the car, buy a brand new honda accord with an 8 year extended warranty and fuggitadboudit... You will have live the porsche dream for a while and you will have fond memories and you can go back to being fiscally prudent and proud of it with no regrets.
To those who think leasing is a good idea... if it works for you great; but I really dont see someone like myself, pay $50,000 + dollars over 3.5 - 4 years for a $100K car in payments and have nothing to show for it, plus all the hassles of buying new tires, fixing paint flaws, etc etc etc at lease turn in. I will never be able to enjoy this car if leased, and I think that the OP may agree with me on this.
08-14-2012, 12:48 PM
#22
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I am in the same boat as Jason (OP) and here are my humble thoughts on the matter.... There is NO real wisdom in having a porsche, atleast not in the conventional sense. One buys a porsche, 991 or otherwise as an indulgence. Once you understand and acknowledge that it is an indulgence and you know yourself to be a prudent person fiscally but not one of unlimited means (as evidenced by your desire to purchase a 991 outright for cash, but still worried about the cost of upkeep), here are my conclusions...
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
08-14-2012, 01:21 PM
#23
Burning Brakes
I am in the same boat as Jason (OP) and here are my humble thoughts on the matter.... There is NO real wisdom in having a porsche, atleast not in the conventional sense. One buys a porsche, 991 or otherwise as an indulgence. Once you understand and acknowledge that it is an indulgence and you know yourself to be a prudent person fiscally but not one of unlimited means (as evidenced by your desire to purchase a 991 outright for cash, but still worried about the cost of upkeep), here are my conclusions...
1) Figure out your insurance costs and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2) Scheduled Maintenance only while under warranty + Tires + Brakes and wiper blades should average $100 / month... (first year will be less but this is a good average number for a DD).. If you intend to track it, add a lot more for brakes & tires and maybe even suspension components that the warranty MAY not cover. i cannot give you estimates for this.
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
4) After the warranty expires your repair fund may have balloned a little with the interest earned and the $100 or so a month extra that was put in and not used for maintenance thus far.
5) Right before the warranty expires, see if you can get your dealer to CPO the car for another 2 years using some of the repair funds if you are so inclined, or just take a chance since your are comfortable with your repair fund.
6) Drive your car worry free for many years, putting in the $200 every month. Even if you have a major powertrain repair, you are still covered by your fund.
7) If you come to a point in your life where you a) cannot put in another $200 a month into that fund, b) cannot afford insurance or c) have depelted the repair fund and have no inclination to replenish it... sell the car, buy a brand new honda accord with an 8 year extended warranty and fuggitadboudit... You will have live the porsche dream for a while and you will have fond memories and you can go back to being fiscally prudent and proud of it with no regrets.
To those who think leasing is a good idea... if it works for you great; but I really dont see someone like myself, pay $50,000 + dollars over 3.5 - 4 years for a $100K car in payments and have nothing to show for it, plus all the hassles of buying new tires, fixing paint flaws, etc etc etc at lease turn in. I will never be able to enjoy this car if leased, and I think that the OP may agree with me on this.
1) Figure out your insurance costs and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2) Scheduled Maintenance only while under warranty + Tires + Brakes and wiper blades should average $100 / month... (first year will be less but this is a good average number for a DD).. If you intend to track it, add a lot more for brakes & tires and maybe even suspension components that the warranty MAY not cover. i cannot give you estimates for this.
3) Spend a little less on options than your budget or expand your budget a bit to put aside $20,000 - $25,000 into a repair fund right at the outset of your purchase.. Add another $200 per month into the repair/maintenance fund as you are thinking of doing.
4) After the warranty expires your repair fund may have balloned a little with the interest earned and the $100 or so a month extra that was put in and not used for maintenance thus far.
5) Right before the warranty expires, see if you can get your dealer to CPO the car for another 2 years using some of the repair funds if you are so inclined, or just take a chance since your are comfortable with your repair fund.
6) Drive your car worry free for many years, putting in the $200 every month. Even if you have a major powertrain repair, you are still covered by your fund.
7) If you come to a point in your life where you a) cannot put in another $200 a month into that fund, b) cannot afford insurance or c) have depelted the repair fund and have no inclination to replenish it... sell the car, buy a brand new honda accord with an 8 year extended warranty and fuggitadboudit... You will have live the porsche dream for a while and you will have fond memories and you can go back to being fiscally prudent and proud of it with no regrets.
To those who think leasing is a good idea... if it works for you great; but I really dont see someone like myself, pay $50,000 + dollars over 3.5 - 4 years for a $100K car in payments and have nothing to show for it, plus all the hassles of buying new tires, fixing paint flaws, etc etc etc at lease turn in. I will never be able to enjoy this car if leased, and I think that the OP may agree with me on this.
Put away $25K at the outset and a further $2400 a year on top of that - are you insane man!!!
08-14-2012, 02:01 PM
#24
Instructor
I would disagree with the "classic long term looks" comment in reference to the 991. Its a new body style. There is not much classic and certainly not much "long term" about the design of vehicle. It's a NEW 911 as they call it. Time will tell if its looks and alterations are classic. I didn't bet on it...and stayed with the 997 style. I'd like to see a revive of the 930...now that's a classic look.
08-14-2012, 04:29 PM
#26
Late Porkchops
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
08-14-2012, 04:57 PM
#27
Race Director
Never ever liked the complexity of the toureg/Cayenne. How stupid. I guess they realised their mistake w/ the new model . TO your point -ALL cars are becoming rolling computers and are inherently complex.
what about, waiting for a 1yr old car w/ a CPO? Thats what i did w/ my 997.2. I got 3yrs of wrrty + 2yrs CPO for a total of 5yrs/100k miles. I DIY all the minor stuff like Filter and Oil CHanges so the costs have been manageable.
BTW, i dont think 991 sales are that good. Perhaps depreciation can be your friend.
what about, waiting for a 1yr old car w/ a CPO? Thats what i did w/ my 997.2. I got 3yrs of wrrty + 2yrs CPO for a total of 5yrs/100k miles. I DIY all the minor stuff like Filter and Oil CHanges so the costs have been manageable.
BTW, i dont think 991 sales are that good. Perhaps depreciation can be your friend.
08-14-2012, 09:02 PM
#28
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I would disagree with the "classic long term looks" comment in reference to the 991. Its a new body style. There is not much classic and certainly not much "long term" about the design of vehicle. It's a NEW 911 as they call it. Time will tell if its looks and alterations are classic. I didn't bet on it...and stayed with the 997 style. I'd like to see a revive of the 930...now that's a classic look.
Buy it, drive it, sell it when it's time.
08-14-2012, 11:07 PM
#29
Instructor
08-16-2012, 09:11 PM
#30
Rennlist Member
