IXLR8

Trust me, I do. I'm not a slave to the banks, my cell phone, my work to make rich people richer.

It great being self sufficient not having to call any service people in to fix things like your car, your heating/AC system, your home electrical, your PC, etc.

MarkD

I too have a full time job (unrelated to Porsches) and it's the one that keeps the lights on. The Porsche business is one of passion and enthusiasm. Thoroughly enjoyable!

glad to hear you'll have more time soon. Maybe then you can open that shop and start hauling in those truckloads of cash so often referred to

MarkD

I wouldn't take it to a dealer...
either DIY what you can (lots of support and info here!) or find a good independent, if you haven't already

IXLR8

I'm looking forward to the time off. Time, like a runway behind you, is of little use.

I'll stick to working on my own cars and motorcycles so that I don't have to spend "truckloads of cash" to maintain/repair them and those of a few friends. Besides, its great mental therapy.

The one thing about time...that person stuck in their final moments in the hospital never says "God, I wish I made that meeting".

77'3.6vram

I used FarnbacherLoles ,while still in business,Dan Jacobs,SpeedSport and Automobile Associates of Canton over the past four years.All of these independents are as expensive or more expensive than the Porsche dealers in this area.The hourly rate is irervalent given most of the independents do not list there billable hours on there invoices.Things mysteriously fail while at independents and the bills are always augmented with questionable repairs that somehow become needed.Price discrimination is a very real problem in this new world order our Pres. has created and Porsche owners have been targeted as a result.

kapflaco

I think you are right about some of the Indy shops...especially the ones that specialize on Porsches. Some of the ones in the DC area have the fanciest showrooms...even rivaling high-end dealerships. I've priced other jobs locally and there are definitely occasions where the best deal has been the dealer. I'm fortunate in that I count my mechanic as a friend. In getting into this type if hobby, I feel that the first step is always to line up a trusted mechanic before you buy this type of car.

I just took the first hit and ordered the parts for the RS clutch conversion from Sunset...my wife is going to kill me!

77'3.6vram

I lived in Miami for twenty years and had a hole network of trustworthy mechanic friends(still do).I have tried to create the same thing up here but I have run into allot of issues.If you know to much about how long a job should take a real experienced Porsche mechanic the gurus in this area do not want to work with you.I do not know if it's the economy or if the guys in the N.E. enjoy raping people they wish they could be.I am bitter about the situation.In the last three years i have spent an average of twenty to thirty thousand dollars maintaining or customizing my six Porsches.With two of the specialists up here I have been told that " I have customers that spend three times that much on one car in a year" and my business is not that important to there bottom line.Grown men are not looking to make new friends.They want to make the most $$ they can.IMO

77'3.6vram

The dealer wants 13 hours to R&R the engine.While it's out the clutch install is another two hours.The chain boxes are five hours per side with the engine out and seven hours per. if they are done while the engine is in the car.The independent wants 15 hours to R&R the engine plus three to do the clutch.The chain boxes are 10 hours if it's done while the engine is out for the 18 hour clutch job.Both claim that they are quoting Porsche book hours.No matter how you cut it a clutch job with parts is $2500.00 to $3500.00 and the chain boxes are another $1000.00 to $1500.00.Add the 90k service with plug wires,caps& roters,power steering belt,spark plugs,fuel filter,pollen filters and both oil filters and 10qts of oil, three poly V belts and you are looking at a $7500.00 job with out tax at the least.If you get different numbers for the same work ,please,let me know.

77'3.6vram

A 90k service also includes flushing the brakes,changing the transaxel fluid and doing a four wheel alignment!