Running a 996 is becoming an expensive hobby...

JM30 · 3 Sep 2018

Add me to the list, I LOVE this car and its a keeper so doesn't hurt too much to keep it tip top, doesn't take away the fact its big money on a hobby and i will be honest i didn't know it would cost me what it has done when i first started looking for one, apart from the usual stories of engines it goes deeper than that and it's many things around just the horror engine failure that may or may not happen!,

Owned mine over 2 years now, first year spent £3.2k servicing, repairs, tyres, this year £1k service, upgrades out of choice but some pre failure upgrades, prior to buying mine the previous owner had spent lots on suspension upgrades and servicing but i still found lots to do! and the list goes on (mostly because i want things done not needed really)

Every example is different of course and like people say luck can come into it, not to mention choice of specialist doing the work, i found certain places charging nearly double for the same job,

Enjoy the car, but i will say at least you have a nice list of jobs done to achieve a higher sale price when you do sit down and write the advert, great job also mate at least you had the work done to keep the car performing as it should, now get out and enjoy the hard work when you get the time.

:thumb:

Dammit · 4 Sep 2018

Marky911 said:
^^^^ :grin:

Wasz - I see your point but for me personally the only 911s newer than a 996 that I'd own would be GT3s and they cost way more than I'll ever have in my 996. Plus GT3s cost a fortune to keep right as they get older.

So yep if any 911 will do, then buy the newest one you can with an OPC warranty. Job jobbed.
But if analogue and classic are your thing, which they are very much for me, then big running costs are just part and parcel of 911s. Plus you can't tinker much when you have an OPC warranty dictating things.

I'd go even older if I could, back to a 964....
and 964 bills would give 996 bills the sh*ts. :grin:

Like I say as long as we are buying cars we like because they excite us or whatever then it's generally win-win, once you get past the costs.

If someone buys one as an "investment" though, or to run for nothing then flip it, well they're probably in for a bit of a learning experience. :wink:

I agree 100% with this, with the caveat that if it stops being fun/it's costing too much then it's clear you should move on, hobby's should be fun.

I'm trying to stop my C55 going the same way as my 996 at the moment- it's meant to be the bike and shopping wago that sits outside in the rain. Problem is I don't think anyone told it that.

Daniel · 4 Sep 2018

My car came with £48,600's worth of bills over it's life. Plus I've put £2,900 into her in the last 2 years of ownership.
£2,710 per year.

coullstar · 4 Sep 2018

That sounds about right to be honest.

I always feel like this after a year of ownership as you to tend to spend a lot to start with to get it how you want it. They bill then settle out Ive found. On my Rs4 it actually made me money last year as I sold a heap of bits Id taken off. :lol:

Ive had mine almost a year and not sure what Ive spent but its basically had all new exhaust and clutch plus about 6 sets of wheels until Im happy. I dare say suspension will be next but the way I look it is then its just consumables really after that plus its allowed me to pick the items I want on the car rather than living with what other people have. You have to keep them a while for it to make sense.

dombo · 4 Sep 2018

Similar experience to mine. Bought the car in May 2017 for 18k, a 996 cabriolet. First service had everything done that needed doing, £2k. Two front tyres, PS2s at around £250 the pair. This year it had a new exhaust - as the car is intended as a keeper I looked at original Porsche replacement or Kline. Went with Kline as cheaper but still came in at around £3700, but should last longer than the original mild steel effort that had begun to corrode and blow after 15 years and 70k miles.

However, when wife complains I point her to our other main car, a 2012 diesel Volvo estate. Bought used in May 2015 for £12k, it has cost around £300 a year in servicing, but is now worth around £5k, and likely to depreciate further. It also sounds like a bag of spanners in a tumble dryer when it starts up.

While I don't expect my man-toy to appreciate to fund my retirement anytime soon, it'll provide a lot of fun getting there.

Alex · 4 Sep 2018

Thought the original Porsche ones were stainless........henca lasting 15 years. :dont know:

chrisu · 4 Sep 2018

i guess it depends what you think the car 'costs' and 'owes' you.

I don't include consumables such as tax, petrol, Insurance, tyres.

I do include servicing, LTT, aircon rads (although as i seem to swap them every 4 years maybe these should change category), auto box oil change, wheel refurb etc etc.

Last service was 4 figures though......

To be fair the front could do with the chips doing but i know as soon as i get it done it'll get sprayed with gravel.

Car drives great and was fantastic on recent trip to Germany to see Santana. Could have taken the 4X4 and got double the mileage but meh - boring.

T8 · 4 Sep 2018

Obviously my experience of 996 ownership was when the cars were newer than they are now but I've just checked my notes and old threads on here:

In 3.5 years of 996C4 ownership (Oct 2009-May 2013) and 11k miles use I only spent £4430.79 on servicing and consumables.

In 2 years owning a 996Turbo (May 2013-May 2015) I only paid out for a minor service, 6 tyres, a battery, front discs and pads in 10.5k miles.

I guess for me it's been about a combination of buying/selling cars at the right time and being a bit lucky.

rabbitstew · 4 Sep 2018

I think its luck of the draw really. My 997 cost me just £250 over the first 2 years on bits (couple of sensors) and a minor service (£300). I did nearly 30,000 miles over that time so I felt that wasnt a bad cost per mile.

However, the previous owner in the previous 18 months and just 5400 miles spent over £9000 on the car.

Now im into year 3 of ownership ive spent £700 on new clutch slave/master cylinders and £1000 on setting the suspension.

Comparing that to my previous car, that cost me pretty much nothing on parts as it was virtually new, but cost me £3500 a year in depreciation.

Alex · 4 Sep 2018

A big chunk is luck of the draw....but I'm not being funny, some of the prices I see people paying for standard jobs makes my eyes water. Probably why Astons have such a bad name cos everyone's out to fleece an Aston owner.

I had my wheels fully refurbed and powder coated the other month for £240 for all 4. I've just got a quote to have my hardbacks sprayed to match the car - £100. Services usually come in around £300 average including relevant plug changes.. New sachs clutch including fixing oil leak, checking ims bearing and removing seal, gearbox oil change came in at £670. I guess I must be doing something wrong :dont know:

mikeluke · 4 Sep 2018

If it makes anyone feel any better....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VXR8-Sup...569228?hash=item1a5d20a14c:g:4MYAAOSwBSxbISNb

I know the guy who owns this and I can believe that he has easily spent £60K on it!!

NLW73 · 4 Sep 2018

running a 15 year old plus sports car that was prob £70k new is never going to be cheap and never will be. its not a ford fiesta.

but then you don't buy it for it to be cheap to run. you buy it as you love 911s, always wanted one as a kid and there is nothing else like to it drive and enjoy.

regarding the luck thing yes that is true but if you keep the car long enough you will get big bills. the more you use it too the more the bills. in fact its a complete lottery as you could own it for 2 days and there is a big bill round the corner

running a Gt3 over a standard 996 is about 2-3x on bills. pads alone are £500 for the fronts on the mk2 6 pot calipers.

Stotty · 4 Sep 2018

I'm at the point with mine I just pay up and forget about it... though my wife is less philosophical!

It's a bonus if it costs me less than £1k when she needs something, but then she's not a weekend car/garage queen, and I've done over 110k miles in her last 10 years.

You simply have to keep on top of the maintenance, and accept you're driving a car that cost £70k new.

Alex · 4 Sep 2018

My car is 18 next month. I'll bet if I go out and buy any of the usual "small cars" like Micra, Fiesta, Punto that are 18 years old and maintain it to the same standard as mine but take it to the local dealer, it costs me the same money. Most of them crappy little cars don't even make it to 18.

Jay. · 4 Sep 2018

Stotty said:
I'm at the point with mine I just pay up and forget about it... though my wife is less philosophical!

It's a bonus if it costs me less than £1k when she needs something, but then she's not a weekend car/garage queen, and I've done over 110k miles in her last 10 years.

You simply have to keep on top of the maintenance, and accept you're driving a car that cost £70k new.

Yep, no matter how small a job appears to be it still somehow works its way to being £1k.. Typical!

Great effort smashing on all of those miles :thumb:

Running a 996 is becoming an expensive hobby...

JM30

Monza

Dammit

Paul Ricard

Daniel

Donnington

coullstar

Singapore

dombo

Silverstone

Alex

Nordschleife

chrisu

Silverstone

T8

Super Moderator

rabbitstew

Imola

Alex

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mikeluke

Mugello

NLW73

Albert Park

Stotty

Monza

Alex

Nordschleife

Jay.

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