benfmd

What is the typical lifespan af a 911 model?

When will we see a 998?

Ronnie

i think a 997 will last you more than 20 years if looked after properly.

i think Porsche bring out a new version every 6-7 years with a model refresh in the middle, so based on this, guesstimate the next 911 around 2010 / 2011

yemenmocha

The 993's and 996's were each about 5 or so years so I would expect the 997 to be about the same.

MMD

Mine will last as long as the warrenty.

The cars are simply tooooo complicated and computerized. Porsche seems to be getting on the Ferrari bandwagon by charging exorbitant prices for replacement parts.

For example: can you imagine getting four new PASM struts for the car at 60k miles? What's that gonna cost you? $8,000? $10,000? My CD player was bad and THAT would have cost $2400 to fix without warrenty.

I don't mind paying lots of money to get these cars fixed, but I don't like being robbed doing it.

geof

Although this thread asked about how long the 997 model will be manufactured, I am hoping people will use this as an opportunity to discuss how long they think an actual 997 will last if properly maintained. I am about 95% set on getting a 997 Targa when it comes out (and my wife has already picked the color), but the biggest question for me is how long will it actually last. From reading posts here and talking to Porschephiles, it seems that their new cars are not as "bullet proof" as their older ones, say 993 and earlier. I don't know how much of this is actually true, and how much of it is from the inevitable "things ain't made like they used to be..." nostalgia meme that even the ancient Greeks used to recite.

I am willing to deal with minor glitches that require a trip to the dealer to fix- that is OK and these are complex cars. But the questions I have are this:

1) If I go on a road trip into the mountains, will the car stop and leave me stranded?

2) If I go on the same road trip in fifteen years with the same car, now fifteen years old, will it stop and leave me stranded? This question assumes that it is well maintained and repairs are made proactively.

I'm not a racing type of guy, but a long-drive-through-the-country-to-relax kind of guy.

I am fortunate that I can truly afford it. However I am not so wealthy that I can shrug off $85-100k if it becomes too unreliable to enjoy in five years.

Edgy01

I think we all have to agree that they're making cars better every year but once you get a car that becomes so complex that they are beyond economic repair in a time span shorter than the service life of the majority of the components, then you have failed to produce a viable automobile.

I used to keep my Porsches for a very long time,--but they were simpler then. I will be very curious to see how long this one remains economically viable. A friend of mine bought his wife a MB SL500 a couple years ago and he expressed concern that with all the solenoids and complex functions to the articulated roof he might have to let it go when it came off warranty. So far, however, he has been very pleased with how well it is working. Time, of course, will tell.

For the poster immediately above me,--check the 993 mesasge forum to get the archives on a man with a 993 Targa. The thing began to rust in many of the channels and Porsche is claiming that it's not the 'structure' that is rusting. (Of course he lives in Washington STATE so what do you expect!) But,--you need to recognize that even with galvanized sheetmetal you're not home free!

Dan

MJSpeed

Model Prd Yrs lifespan
911 1964-1988=25 years
964 1989-1994= 6 years
993 1995-1998= 4 years
996 1999-2005= 7 years

**Over 70% of all P-cars ever made are still running today!

**Discovery Channel.

MMD

They seemed to have sneaked this new concept in on the consumer in the past few years.

It seems to me the motivation is based more on the extortion of a captive audience than actual replacement costs.

It's scary.

MMD

Here's the wiring harness of a new Porsche (cayenne). Pretty scary stuff if you want to hold onto your car for ten years.

Stephenkng

Isn't all new car like that???????

allegretto

Personally I think there's a bit of nostalga going on here.

If you are a good owner and don't abuse your car it will likely last many, many years.

Sure they are a little more complex now. But in general you are talking to new car junkies if they are on this board. We trade em away for many real or imagined reasons.

Stephenkng

Agree 100%

Dariof

So true.

MJones

Historical dates

black/terra

are when P-car decided to use water.