Hey Al -

Nope . . . not done yet. Stay tuned . . .

Scott

 

My total operating costs have run about $1 per mile. Including mods. For which the labor was almost free because "we were already in there". My DIY skills include adding oil and changing light bulbs.

 

Scott

 

Good call!
One year of ownership...required maintenance = 1 oil change
One year of ownership...personal modifications = I don't even want to go there!

It really is going to depend greatly on the condition and how fastidious the prior owner was. A well sorted and documented car shouldn't cost much at all to maintain. These cars are like built like a brick sh-thouse!

Dave

 

The 993 as she sits, bone stock, is an incredible car. Initially (It gets worse) I spent at least $2,000 on a M030 RoW suspension (Struts/shocks and sway bars) hoping to increase my track time. I was turning a 1:19 at this thack. After the suspension, I returned to the track to set some new track records...my new record time, a 1:19

Mea Culpa, I confess, I went overboard on my car and I don't regret it. It is now a great track car, and street car too. I am also lighter in the wallet by about $20,000. The times improved at the track...I can now do a 1:15...that's $5,000 a second.

In summary, if you drive the car and take her out for some exercise, your expenses should be limited to gas, oil, brake pads and routine maintenance. The 30,000 mile interval maintenance is about $2,000....but it is incredibly intense. Also note, there are no valve adjustmenst as is the case for the 911 cras up through the 964. The 12 spark plugs are changed at the 30,000 mile interval service.

You'll hear some chatter about possible secondary air injection problem (SAI)caused by excess carbon deposits. There is a flush procedure for this, about 10 hours of labor.

There is also a possible "problem" with valve guides...this is a $4,000 fix. I bought my 993 with 17,000 miles on it...I have put on about 52,000 miles on the car in six (6) years. So far no SAI induced check engine lights and the valve guides appear to be fine with no indicitaions of incipient failure such as excessive noise, oil consumprion or smoking.

The 993 is a great car.....great around town, and incredible shape, incredible at the track, and if you are out at the Bonneville Salt Flats, you can red line 6th gear and reach a terminal velocity of 170 mph.

 

!!!

 

If your interested in a 993 the best thing you can do cost wise (In this order)

1) Purchase a Rennlist membership (Better than gold)
2) Read all of the maintenance tips.
3) DIY (Do it yourself) You’ll learn to love it more.

4*** )Stay away from all other Rennlist links about wheels, tails and all other mods (THIS WILL SAVE THE MOST MONEY)

 

993's can vary in maintenance costs by a huge margin.

If you are the sort of guy who takes your car to a dealer for everything down to burnt out tail light bulbs, I can't even imagine how much it would cost.

Dealers typically charge about $200 an oil change.

If you are willing to learn and enjoy doing things yourself, these cars can be fairly easy to own. Tires aren't cheap. Brakes aren't cheap.

Plug wires are outragous. But almost everyting else seems to be pretty reasonable.

I'd look for a '95 model if possible. But, it may be cheaper to buy a '96+ pretty soon as I have a feeling the '95's are going to explode in asking price.

 

Ok, I'm a geek...

Cost of Ownership Spreadsheet

I have some of the basics in a very simple spreadsheet. Estimate and replace cells in yellow with your own guesses. Like I said... its simple.

 

Here are the highlights of my expenditures during the first year of ownership:

* Top end rebuild - all exhaust valves and guides were replaced (w/ non-OEM guides), and the SAI passages cleared
* New clutch and lightweight flywheel
* H&R coil-over suspension installed at that time too, car set to ROW ride height, aligned and corner balanced
* Front euro bumper, Turbo S ducts, and clear corners
* Upgraded from CDR-210 to CDR-220 and added ipod hook-up harness
* Billeted racing pedals, SS gauge rings, and new floor mats
* Front protection bar
* "Air-1" cup holder
* Silver hood crest and engine lid "Carrera"
* RF brake line and new windshield wipers
* Driver side power seat cables (parts & labor)
* Porter Cable orbital polisher, waxes, pads, and MANY other car care products
* 18" wheel upgrade (996 5-spoke lightweights) and new tires - (being delivered)
* 996 3-spoke steering wheel - (being delivered)

Total cost of the above has been just shy of $15k, about $5k of which was borne by either insurance or the dealer.

And I haven't even done a measly oil change yet!

 

these cars cost a fortune to maintain.

 

Agree, they cost a fortune to maintain. You really can't budget it as part of your living expenses. Something will just pop out and drain you. Need just treat it as a mistress.... :P

 

One should buy wisely. As I mentioned, my maintenance, non-track costs for the four years I've had this car have been minimal. I know you don't like hearing this, but my car has been almost bullet-proof, and it's been pushed very hard at the track.

 

i know the PO of my car very well. for 7+ years the car never had any problems...the first year i had it it cost over $10k in maintenance (top end because of SAI, new clutch, steering rack). yeah, you might luck out and have a great run of next to nothing in maintenance (like mark)...or you might end up paying through the nose (like me). that is the problem with a 10 year old car; you just don't know what will break next and you don't have a warranty to cover you.

 

If you have to ask you can't afford it........but........if it's what you really want, then price is secondary.

ZP44