General maintenance cost question
02-02-2018, 02:28 PM
#33
Newer owner here, so I was in your position a couple months ago.
You say "I was looking for something sporty that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain, but also has to get decent gas mileage and actually fit someone of my 6'4" height." Sporty goes without saying. The way I drive mine, it's thirsty and it requires premium fuel. The cost is on par with my Suburban on a per mile basis. I don't expect driving at 6'4" would be a problem. Ingress and egress might be. The steering wheel does not tilt - it telescopes, and only a couple inches. Regarding maintenance, I think there's a way to pick your fights where the cost is not an arm and a leg, but some things you just can't skimp on, e.g. the quality and types of fluids. Some costs are ridiculously high, like window and door seals or wheels. I plan to fight the "Porsche tax" on wheels.
"Basically something fun that I or my wife could drive for trips, work sometimes, etc." A Carrera is the perfect car for that, especially if your drive to work includes a fun road.
"Maybe someday when the kids are grown I'll think about it again." C'mon, be the cool dad. My daughter acts like she's a princess by being dropped off at high school in a car that's 5 years older than she is. Plus, she rode in the back seat for a 100 mile round trip. It's a family car, too!
You say "I was looking for something sporty that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain, but also has to get decent gas mileage and actually fit someone of my 6'4" height." Sporty goes without saying. The way I drive mine, it's thirsty and it requires premium fuel. The cost is on par with my Suburban on a per mile basis. I don't expect driving at 6'4" would be a problem. Ingress and egress might be. The steering wheel does not tilt - it telescopes, and only a couple inches. Regarding maintenance, I think there's a way to pick your fights where the cost is not an arm and a leg, but some things you just can't skimp on, e.g. the quality and types of fluids. Some costs are ridiculously high, like window and door seals or wheels. I plan to fight the "Porsche tax" on wheels.
"Basically something fun that I or my wife could drive for trips, work sometimes, etc." A Carrera is the perfect car for that, especially if your drive to work includes a fun road.
"Maybe someday when the kids are grown I'll think about it again." C'mon, be the cool dad. My daughter acts like she's a princess by being dropped off at high school in a car that's 5 years older than she is. Plus, she rode in the back seat for a 100 mile round trip. It's a family car, too!
02-02-2018, 03:38 PM
#35
Rennlist Member
135i are coming down in price. Might be worth a drive.
02-03-2018, 02:45 AM
#37
Rennlist Member
Sounds like it's what I feared, I shouldn't get into a vehicle like this unless I'm ready to commit some more serious cash for continual maintenance. Bummer.
While I'm here, does anyone have an suggestions for something I might look at in the $10k to $20k price range that I haven't thought of? I was looking for something sporty that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain, but also has to get decent gas mileage and actually fit someone of my 6'4" height. I'd been through this list:
Honda S2000--too small
BMW Z3--too small
C5 corvette--interior just isn't great, wasn't a fan
c6 corvette--I like but really presses the price range
porsche boxster and 996--too expensive to maintain
viper--too expensive
pontiac solstice--not my favorite
Basically something fun that I or my wife could drive for trips, work sometimes, etc. My height causes major issues with a lot of the candidates unfortunately. I don't really want anything newer that's still rapidly depreciating, nor anything that's too common (you're probably like Vette's are common, but in the midwest US they aren't). I'm sure there are options I'm missing. Maybe there aren't any other options.
Thanks for all the info on the maintenance, that's really good to know. Maybe someday when the kids are grown I'll think about it again.
While I'm here, does anyone have an suggestions for something I might look at in the $10k to $20k price range that I haven't thought of? I was looking for something sporty that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain, but also has to get decent gas mileage and actually fit someone of my 6'4" height. I'd been through this list:
Honda S2000--too small
BMW Z3--too small
C5 corvette--interior just isn't great, wasn't a fan
c6 corvette--I like but really presses the price range
porsche boxster and 996--too expensive to maintain
viper--too expensive
pontiac solstice--not my favorite
Basically something fun that I or my wife could drive for trips, work sometimes, etc. My height causes major issues with a lot of the candidates unfortunately. I don't really want anything newer that's still rapidly depreciating, nor anything that's too common (you're probably like Vette's are common, but in the midwest US they aren't). I'm sure there are options I'm missing. Maybe there aren't any other options.
Thanks for all the info on the maintenance, that's really good to know. Maybe someday when the kids are grown I'll think about it again.
Other are correct about the 996. They're 25-30k cars regardless of what you pay when you buy it. If you're turning the wrench yourself its not terrible, but I'd hate to think what I would have paid if I'd taken it to a deal for everything I've done so far. That applies with most cars though.
Last edited by charlieaf92; 02-03-2018 at 12:51 PM.
02-03-2018, 01:58 PM
#38
Rennlist Member
Elvis has left the building!
02-03-2018, 03:12 PM
#40
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If you can find a BMW 335is, that would be a good car to consider.
I'm the same height as you, and had a Z3 right after they came out. Z3 / 4 should be ok, comfort wise.
I'm the same height as you, and had a Z3 right after they came out. Z3 / 4 should be ok, comfort wise.
02-04-2018, 05:20 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
I am on the other end of the spectrum from some of the owners, for now. I bought my 1999 C2 almost a year ago . When I bought it, it was a Craigslist "bring a trailer because you can't drive it home" deal. It had a bad ground and needed a new alternator, which I suspected when I bought it. I also changed the oil immediately, even though the previous owner had a receipt showing it was recently completed. Since then, I have driven it event free for 3000 miles and the only required maintenance was an oil and filter change. There are some bugs, such as at least one bad micro switch in the doors, and I smelled antifreeze recently when I drove it and I suspect it needs a new reservoir.
2018 will be completely different than 2017 when it comes to maintenance. It has had no major maintenance in the past and it has 92k miles. The engine and transmission have never been apart, or out of the car. It has the original clutch, double row IMSB, AOS, etc. I plan on doing an "engine out" this summer with IMS Solution, chain tensioner pads, deep oil sump (not sure which one yet), oil pressure plunger upgrade, AOS, coolant hoses, plugs, coils, clutch, and other "while you are in there" items. I suspect it will cost me 5k, or so, in parts.
As someone said earlier, these are 20+k cars, whether you purchase it inexpensively, like I did, and spend the money later, or pay up front. There can be a problem with paying up front if you are not getting what you think you are getting. If you buy it at a non-specialist dealer, you are paying full price and it is somewhat of a crapshoot. The dealer often has no records and knows nothing about the car, but they want top dollar.
If you decide you don't want to go the 996 route and want something relatively inexpensive that should be reliable, I would look into a 2011 or newer Mustang GT with the 5.0. I have owned several GTs and the V8 torque is addicting. I am thinking of getting another as my next daily driver if my Mazda3 dies, which it probably won't, at least not until it has over 200k miles based on our past and current experience with Mazda3s and a Mazda MPV.
2018 will be completely different than 2017 when it comes to maintenance. It has had no major maintenance in the past and it has 92k miles. The engine and transmission have never been apart, or out of the car. It has the original clutch, double row IMSB, AOS, etc. I plan on doing an "engine out" this summer with IMS Solution, chain tensioner pads, deep oil sump (not sure which one yet), oil pressure plunger upgrade, AOS, coolant hoses, plugs, coils, clutch, and other "while you are in there" items. I suspect it will cost me 5k, or so, in parts.
As someone said earlier, these are 20+k cars, whether you purchase it inexpensively, like I did, and spend the money later, or pay up front. There can be a problem with paying up front if you are not getting what you think you are getting. If you buy it at a non-specialist dealer, you are paying full price and it is somewhat of a crapshoot. The dealer often has no records and knows nothing about the car, but they want top dollar.
If you decide you don't want to go the 996 route and want something relatively inexpensive that should be reliable, I would look into a 2011 or newer Mustang GT with the 5.0. I have owned several GTs and the V8 torque is addicting. I am thinking of getting another as my next daily driver if my Mazda3 dies, which it probably won't, at least not until it has over 200k miles based on our past and current experience with Mazda3s and a Mazda MPV.
02-05-2018, 03:37 PM
#43
Rennlist Member
Lots of people call us looking for our opinion of cars they are considering and guidance with a purchase. The best money spent is a proper PPI along with dropping the oil pan, oil change, compression and leakdown test, and finally, borescope inspection. If you spend the $1k or more on this, you will save in the long run.
I tell people to buy as new a car as you can afford while keeping $5-6k set aside for immediate preventative maintenance. If you address all the main areas of concern up front, you can hopefully plan on several years of trouble free ownership, barring unforeseen failures that no one can predict or completely rule out.
The main point I want to throw out is not to shy away from 06-08 cars because of the IMS bearing not being serviceable. This is a non-issue in my book.
I tell people to buy as new a car as you can afford while keeping $5-6k set aside for immediate preventative maintenance. If you address all the main areas of concern up front, you can hopefully plan on several years of trouble free ownership, barring unforeseen failures that no one can predict or completely rule out.
The main point I want to throw out is not to shy away from 06-08 cars because of the IMS bearing not being serviceable. This is a non-issue in my book.
