Mindrazor

I may get some flack for putting this out here, but I'm wearing my racing helmet, so please hear me out. I'd appreciate some insights on how people view this concept and how they justify the overall costs. I do over analyse things and deny myself lots of joy as a result, but here goes...

Most people discussing the bore scoring issue say they'll just drive the car and put away $25 - 30k for an engine rebuild fund. Then they'll rebuild the engine and that seems to be end of discussion, as if it's the fountain of youth and all problems are gone. I guess that's fine if you use the car once a month and only put 10000miles a year on it. If a rebuild is good for 100,000 miles, that gives you 10 years of smoke free driving.

But thinking about those who really enjoy driving these cars, that do more mileage in the car, as a daily driver, track days etc, easily putting 20,000 miles annually on it. That's just 5 years until the next rebuild. Considering some of us like to keep cars for a few years and not flip them frequently, that starts looking like an insanely expensive ownership experience.

Hypothetically, buy a C2S for and average $20,000, needing a rebuild after a year due to bore scoring and severe oil burning at $25,000, then driving 20,000 miles a year for the next 5 years, and spending $30,000 on another rebuild, that could mount to $75,000 in 6 years, for a car that's currently only worth $20k.

Am I unreasonable for expecting to keep a 997 for 7 years and enjoying it for what it is instead of putting it on a pedastil and only using it occassionally? The idea of spending a fortune in the process just sucks all the fun out of it.

I need a drink...

Hootsama

2006 Carrera S at 74,500 miles. Just about 19K miles since I purchased her in Oct 2020.

I think it's highly flawed logic, if it helps , to assume a rebuild will need to be done on a recurring interval. Sure, all rebuilt motors have a finite lifespan, but I think it is extremely fair to plan for a solid rebuild (especially assuming 30K cost) to deliver well above 100,000 miles vs. buying a used M97 for replacement which leaves open much higher likelihood of factory component failure.

I am one of those who stresses about the miles even as I thoughtfully appreciate just about every last one of them. I believe bore scoring may be in my future... so I am beginning to save. I am far less concerned about the risk of repeat engine failure than I am about refresh/replacement of other important parts as the car goes to 100,000 and beyond.

I think I might just have a drink, myself.

Mindrazor

LoL Cheers

Carreralicious

I drive my car every weekend for fun and even in the winter season here in the Northeast and still I can barely struggle to drive 5K miles a year so if your scenario below say you are looking to drive 20K miles a year, more power to ya! Even 10K miles a year with your stated once a month use means over 800 miles a weekend.

misterdega

I put 25k I think since I bought last year in May.

groovzilla

For 25 years my Porsche's were driven almost daily. Last 10-12 years I used them sparingly. I probably now drive 1500-2000 miles annually.

yelcab

Show me where I can get a 997S for $20,000 and I will buy another one, today, all cash, no ppi, no BS.

kellen

2-3k per year

Sporty

About 3-4k a year and that's with me really trying as I have been working from home for the last few years. I do get a lot of mileage just looking at it in my garage and caressing it when I wash it though - does that count?
Your economic lesson doesn't work for me though as I 've owned mine for about 17 years and considering what I can sell it for today with no major issues it would have cost me about $2k a year for all that enjoyment if I were to sell it, but its not going anywhere.

Saaboteur

Approximately 5,000-6,000km per year for me only. It's my summer/warm weather car, as the winter is too harsh (for me) to justify driving it year around. Complicating factors is that I also only drive my AMG in the warmer months too, so they both get relatively limited mileage.

4Driver4

I try to drive each car a least 1k miles a year, which is what I have stated as my annual mileage to the insurance company.
I get close every year with the 997, maybe to 750 miles in the 993, and everything else is less than 500 miles.
Daily driver Q7 does 10k miles, Suburban does 5k miles, Miata (other daily driver gets 5k miles).

Regarding repair costs, I bought my 997 with low compression in #1. I think it was stuck rings from infrequent oil changes with crappy oil. I rebuilt it, so I have some time there - lol
For all the cars, I just take it as it comes.

frybear

I try to drive it as much as possible but for me there’s nowhere to go. I do drive it to the lake house every weekend at 150 miles round trip but during the week, it’s grocery runs which I hear is not good for the car so I take the long way home. But we’re talking maybe maybe maybe 2-3 miles a day max.

Gleebag

Very unrealistic rebuild schedule you laid out. Change oil every 5k with quality oil from driven and they’ll last. I put 35-40k miles a year on my 997.2. Best daily there is.

93,xxx and counting!

andino

I've got 170k miles on my original lump and it's still kicking. If the fear of scoring or rebuild scares, you then perhaps picking up a later model variant where the scoring isn't an issue will be the play for you. Otherwise, $20-30k in a rebuild to last another 200k miles is fine by me personally. I bought my car to enjoy it and track it so these things are just the running costs of doing that. I put on about 5-6k miles a year these days but I was doing a lot more when I first got my car and it was my only car. I still drive it often but not daily anymore and I no longer have a commute which means it doesn't pick up nearly as many miles per year.

sandwedge

Engineer? To your question though, around 2,000 to 2,500 miles a year for me. Much more than that before COVID but work mostly out of my home office now so much less time on the road. I miss it but you adjust.

Close to what I do but slightly less.

Same here.