Daily Driver?
#32
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
What are you all buying? What are you doing to “fix” them? I spoke with a well known aircooled Porsche mechanic, he basically said they all leak and don’t waste your money chasing it (yet everyone does).
I bought a high miles cab off craigslist. No PPI, I did not even test drive her. In three plus years, all she did was eat a dry rotted fan belt which I knew was on the way out when I inspected her and spit out the non-Porsche replacement. Maybe I am biased because I am a Land Rover guy, but if I had to put money on it, I bet she is more reliable than the GT3T over the long run. 993 is basically the last VW bug. They are almost that simple. I buy on reliable and 993 is near the top (four banger tacos, 12 valve cummins, and 7.3 powerstroke are about all that supersedes a 95 993).
I bought a high miles cab off craigslist. No PPI, I did not even test drive her. In three plus years, all she did was eat a dry rotted fan belt which I knew was on the way out when I inspected her and spit out the non-Porsche replacement. Maybe I am biased because I am a Land Rover guy, but if I had to put money on it, I bet she is more reliable than the GT3T over the long run. 993 is basically the last VW bug. They are almost that simple. I buy on reliable and 993 is near the top (four banger tacos, 12 valve cummins, and 7.3 powerstroke are about all that supersedes a 95 993).
Last edited by rk-d; 09-01-2020 at 10:40 PM.
The following users liked this post:
evilfij (09-02-2020)
#33
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
If you need your car to be an extension of the office, going to be a pain to daily due to serious lack of technology. Otherwise, maybe I’ve spent too many hundreds of thousands of miles in Jeep Wranglers and trucks and motorcycles with zero tech, this thing is easy to daily. Idles along nicely in gridlock. Maybe you will have to push the clutch 3,000 times in 8 miles on the interstate. Dunno. Second nature with any manual transmission. Mine is a cab and I find road noise a non issue on the highway (top up). Comfort is great. Machine like while being tame and easy to drive while putting around. And just enough juice to have a blast when the road bends. The more bends the better.
Yes they need parts that have and are aging out if you want to bring the car back to spec. Or improve some parts through far better shocks and so on. Or not. Half the fun of ownership is sorting the car out on your terms. Or sometimes as things break it is on the car’s terms. Same as any aging auto.
IMO the beauty of this particular model is the straddling of modern and classic while attempting to retain the original design ethos. Key point here is the attempt at that design ethos.
Yes they need parts that have and are aging out if you want to bring the car back to spec. Or improve some parts through far better shocks and so on. Or not. Half the fun of ownership is sorting the car out on your terms. Or sometimes as things break it is on the car’s terms. Same as any aging auto.
IMO the beauty of this particular model is the straddling of modern and classic while attempting to retain the original design ethos. Key point here is the attempt at that design ethos.
#34
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
WOW, I had an '86 Carrera and now a 993 both with over 100k miles on the clocks, and I can tell you my total expenditures haven't even come close to $50k. All the heavy lifting on my 993 by shops was done here in Richmond, VA, not exactly a low cost to serve your car town.
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as she would have been way too expensive a date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as she would have been way too expensive a date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; 09-02-2020 at 11:17 AM.
The following users liked this post:
evilfij (09-02-2020)
#35
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
WOW, I had an '86 Carrera and now a 993 both with over 100k miles on the clocks, and I can tell you my total expenditures haven't even come close to $50k. All the heavy lifting on my 993 by shops was done here in Richmond, VA, not exactly a low cost to serve your car town.
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as he would have been way too expensive date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as he would have been way too expensive date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
Last edited by Gbos1; 09-02-2020 at 11:12 AM.
The following users liked this post:
pp000830 (09-02-2020)
#36
Three Wheelin'
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Again, I chose to make the upgrades at my expense. I could have just drove the car and yes my costs would have been very minimal. I am not a mechanic and don’t have the time to wrench on my car. Labor becomes a big cost. This includes all parts to date. When you get into Engine out service, Transmission Re-Gears “done properly“, RS Parts, Suspension, 30k service, check strap repair, full custom exhaust, headers and the list is long......... etc..... it adds up quickly with parts and labor. I have a running spreadsheet with all my invoices to back it up. Many out there make improvements to their cars, but cut corners and skimp. Exactly why Maintenance Records / History are key to these cars to tell the real story.
But once you fall in love you will want to make the car perfect. Better than new maybe. That gets expensive! 50k is an outlier but I spent 10k on a combination of suspension and lwfw/clutch. Don’t regret a thing!
My outright maintenance costs have been very low. Similar to my Subarus to be honest.
#37
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I would say that it depends.....
I have done enough to my car that imo it looks exceptional and that makes the prospect of parking in public for 10 hours a day not that appealing to me. If it were a bit more of a wallflower and closer to stock then maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal?
Another thing I have struggled with is mine was matching quarter century old paint for an aero 2 wing I replaced the aftermarket wing that came with the car. This has made me very paranoid about any damage so from a certain point of view, making the car more special has made it less usable.
Then again, I've seen a lot of 993's knocking about Marin which are obviously being used as DD's.
My service costs have been fine but the amount I have spent on non-essentials has been considerable. Fisters, PSS10's some paint and wheels etc.
I have done enough to my car that imo it looks exceptional and that makes the prospect of parking in public for 10 hours a day not that appealing to me. If it were a bit more of a wallflower and closer to stock then maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal?
Another thing I have struggled with is mine was matching quarter century old paint for an aero 2 wing I replaced the aftermarket wing that came with the car. This has made me very paranoid about any damage so from a certain point of view, making the car more special has made it less usable.
Then again, I've seen a lot of 993's knocking about Marin which are obviously being used as DD's.
My service costs have been fine but the amount I have spent on non-essentials has been considerable. Fisters, PSS10's some paint and wheels etc.
#38
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
PS. We do have another newer model car that gets the brunt of the road trip abuse. Generally the 993 would get as much use as possible without unnecessarily racking up miles. Rarely snows here. Trips are modest. The car would not be a flat out replacement for a newer model. Conscious of letting her out of the stable for a good run without running up miles. I recall with the Boxster I averaged 3000 miles a year.[/QUOTE]
Three thousand miles a year is hardly DD territory.
Three thousand miles a year is hardly DD territory.
#39
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
WOW, I had an '86 Carrera and now a 993 both with over 100k miles on the clocks, and I can tell you my total expenditures haven't even come close to $50k. All the heavy lifting on my 993 by shops was done here in Richmond, VA, not exactly a low cost to serve your car town.
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as she would have been way too expensive a date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
On the 993 maybe $15 to $17K over all the years in both servicing & repair including a new clutch, 1st&2nd gear synchros, hydraulic lifter replacement all done by shops, the steering rack I did, in hindsight It was a bit much of a job but saved me $1200 and all the other stuff DIY. My low cost was and is that if the job doesn't require a lift, special equipment, as in an alignment or mounting tires, and it does not involve internal engine/tranny work I just do it myself.
For example with an online discount for Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart my oil change and filter runs $60 or so and three hours in the driveway, could be a lot less time for some, but I'm at the 3 Ibuprofen car therapy stage in my life.
For the original poster contemplating some DIY may be part of the economic equation.
$50K wow, I would have gotten rid of her years ago as she would have been way too expensive a date for me. Would have probably found a girl from the other side of the tracks, you know, A Chevy or a Ford.
Andy
#40
Burning Brakes
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have mostly used my 993 for DD from May -Nov since I bought it in 2008. It's always been fine. I also take it on longer trips - 1,500 -3,000km's and it has been fine for the most part.
#41
Nordschleife Master
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I would have no trouble DDing my 993, I used to when I had a longer commute. W/COVID, and my current car situation (2 cars block the 993 in the garage) it is just laziness on my part that keeps the 993 in the garage mostly these days. If I have learned ANYHING fro previous Porsche ownership (68 912, 80 911SC, and current 96 993) is that the air cooled cars were meant to be driven, Our 912 especially, was a dog and no fun if driven "lightly" You have to wind up that motor and push it for it to come alive.
When all this quarantine stuff ends, I plan on driving the 993 more often, even if it is only my 16Mile R/T commute to the office.
Don't agree with above that said 993 is not good for long trips, I get it, everyone is different, but my wife and I are fine to take the 993 on weekend road trips, no discomfort at all. I have never driven a Boxster, so I can't compare, but we have a Prius and and Sienna, and the 993 is just as comfortable as the Sienna for long trips, and for me, more comfortable than the Prius.
When all this quarantine stuff ends, I plan on driving the 993 more often, even if it is only my 16Mile R/T commute to the office.
Don't agree with above that said 993 is not good for long trips, I get it, everyone is different, but my wife and I are fine to take the 993 on weekend road trips, no discomfort at all. I have never driven a Boxster, so I can't compare, but we have a Prius and and Sienna, and the 993 is just as comfortable as the Sienna for long trips, and for me, more comfortable than the Prius.
#42
Noodle Jr.
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My 95 has 68K on it. Getting ready to drop $4K on a trans drop, clutch, new DMF, and all associated parts because of a shifting issue. Add the fact that I have to drive 2+ hours to the shop because there is nobody close that can handle or who I trust to do this job.
#43
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Andy
#45
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I cannot emphasize this enough. I bought a good 964. Top end was done, no damage car that runs strong but it had many small issues to be sorted. To give you one small example of why its important to have a mechanic who knows what they are doing: my clock lights were not working. This was traced back to the under frunk light by my mechanic who knows these cars backwards and forwards. The frunk light was installed backwards which was causing the terminals to contact the hood hinges and shorting it out. The clock lights are on the same circuit. Without this understanding this matter would not have easily been sorted. I had a small oil leak which looked like a valve cover. My mechanic suspected and quickly confirmed a hose on the back of the engine was cracked and the cause of the oil. Its dry as a bone now. My car is now 100% sorted but it could not have been done without a great Porsche mechanic. Once they are properly sorted they are really reliable cars for being 30 years old. I too sorta daily my 964 with a Raptor but it get more time than my 991 GT3 which is more of an event/occasion to drive. Good luck and enjoy!
Edwin