Freddie Two Bs

Yes, I think it's a fair assessment, locally. Not globally, meaning mileage cost is very nonlinear obviously. 0 miles to 20k miles: $100k difference maybe, or something like that. 500k miles vs 520k miles: $0 difference. for 60k to 160k, $15k to $20k sounds about right to me.

wyo

High mileage scares me on sports cars a lot more than on a car like my 96 land cruiser that had 85K on it when I bought it ( now 240K miles)
I think that most of the expense would be for external components rather than engine internals - that said in my first year of 996TT ownership on a 33k miles car and I have replaced alternator, battery, clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder accumulator, oil pressure sending unit and ignition switch - Time as well as miles is a factor

KM1959

I wouldn't consider any Turbo with over 50K miles. Lower mileage cars just feel "tighter". Suspension, doors, windows, seats,... all feel better. It makes perfect sense, everything in a car wears from use, not just the drivetrain. I checked out at least 15 Turbos (mileage 44K -89K) before I bought my 25K mile example. EVERY single one of them ran terrific, some even felt like they had a little more power than mine but, none felt as solid or presented as well. I knew it 5 seconds into the test drive.

I didn't always operate that way. Partly because I didn't always have the funds but mostly because I was naive. However, once I learned to look for the right stuff it made the car buying decision much easier. I only wish someone would've clued me in earlier.

993GT

^ I agree and disagree, the ideology makes sense but age is more relevant than anything at this point, they old...
drive some horrible low mile cars, some great high mile cars... TLC is most important to how they drive at this point.

DaveCarrera4

KM1959

Well of course a 50K mile beaten car wouldn't be a good car choice - unless it is a very collectable car. It is really easy to talk extremes.

My method have served me very well. Not only have I have been able to enjoy pristene cars without significant mechanical issues, and this is important, when it came to moving on to something else it made selling them very easy. Usually without even advertising. The money I spent up front was returned at resale. Patience is truly a virtue when car shopping.

Montescew

"02996ttx50

pussies lol.. I'm comfortable with mine at 150k

KM1959

It's totally cool that you disagree and especially cool for those who looked at my car before me and passed on it. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but I'm not lucky enough to hope for the exception. However, if you know what to look for you can make your own "luck".
​
Two years ago I got a tight, brand new-looking, trouble-free car for way under 40K - the least expensive car that I looked at. Seriously, how can you disagree with that?

Montescew

KM1959

Yes, clean title, not even a bumper re-spray. I have no idea how many people passed on it. It was this time of year, but very rainy in Southern California, and nobody leaves their house when it rains here - especially to check out Porsches. He was asking what it was worth but I told him was more than I wanted to spend. He said come check it out and if I liked it to make an offer. So I did. It had hideous old wheels and tires that were so old and hard you couldn't hardly hear the engine. But the car was so solid and looked like new. He was a super nice guy and explained that he needed the money to buy a bigger house for his expanding family. I asked him what he needed, he told me, and I wrote him a check for the car plus some extra parts (above and beyond the car cost). He also had a thick folder of maintenance records - plus the original window sticker. Then, when I picked it up a couple of days later he even had the oil changed for me. It was absolutely the best car buying experience I've had. I hope he and his family are doing well.

Sometimes I get bored and almost traded it in for a 991 Turbo S - the dealer offered me more than I originally paid - but I couldn't give up my car.

greencalex

autobonrun

You state that you have an experienced Porsche mechanic close by. To me, that should be a determining factor in your comfort level in owning a high mileage Porsche.The opinions you receive on this board will in large part depend on the experiences individuals have had with high mileage vehicles; bad experiences, don’t touch it, good experiences, go for it. Personally, I would not have a problem buying a higher mileage, well maintained vehicle; especially a Mezger engine'd 911. If I had negative experiences in the past maybe I’d have a different view. I understand the TT is more complex but the engine/tranny is robust. Other ancillary parts aren't that much more expensive as NA Porsches. Price out alternators as an example.Over the last 20 or so years, I’ve always thought "low mileage" has been over rated and over rewarded by the market. Many will disagree.

But I say this for several reasons:

1. The magic 100k mile figure is a relic from the 70’s in my opinion when many cars would either rust out before 100k miles, or there were major engine issues after 100k miles. I’ve never seen a rusted modern Porsche. Modern lubricants, better gasolines, and tighter manufacturing tolerances allow engines to last longer.
2. Many components that can cause maintenance problems have absolutely nothing to do with mileage and everything to do with time. Circuit board components for example fail due to age, heat, and humidity, not mileage. Most modern circuit boards used in cars are conformal coated to limit humidity impact, but this does nothing to limit the impact of age. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_coating
3. Synthetic lubricants have drastically reduced engine wear. Better gasolines have eliminated fuel system issues associated with gas heavies and varnishes. I recall scraping sticky varnish off carburetor parts due to the gasoline used in the 70’s. The last 10 years, all my fuel system parts have looked clean and new.

Lastly, I have several high mileage cars that I wouldn’t hesitate to drive cross country. My M5 has 150k miles and starts every time, pulls like crazy, and runs with no issues. My SC has 215k miles and the engine has never been touched. With headers and Dansk dual out exhaust, it runs better than it did 34 years ago when I bought it. The only maintenance I’ve deferred on my SC is replacing the windshield washer because the car has seen rain maybe 5 times in 34 years. Despite the added complexity, I feel a 996TT will be just a robust as my SC or my 993. Bottom line pick up a high mileage car for a fair price that’s been maintained and has records, then enjoy the ride. Don’t accept one with deferred maintenance. Once you buy it, it’s no longer deferred maintenance, it’s transferred maintenance.IMO.

manimal

That's awesome for you, but you obviously know you got very lucky, in addition to having patience and negotiating skills.

Montescew