Running Costs?

[Gosden]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and was hopefully looking for some advice from all you 997 owners. I'm currently looking into purchasing a Porsche and hopefully a 997. I'm only 26 years old so I was looking for general running cost of a 997 as I don't have an endless supply of funds (Yet! []). I have been looking at second hand 997 models around the 40k mark, but need to know if once I buy I'll be able to run and maintain it! So basically any information would be good.

Many thanks.

 

[Jimberland]

Hey Ben,

Welcome.
Good to have another potential younger member.
£40k sounds like a good price. If buying from a Porsche Centre they should be able to give you servicing prices, I think everything is fixed price now but be prepared for surprises.
Most things will be covered by the extended warranty in the first year. Post year one it is your call as to renew the warranty, it isn't cheap but a lot on here like the peace of mind it brings.

I'd check coil packs have been replaced as this is a common fault on earlier models.
I'd also check if it has had RMS replaced as again these have been known to go and if not covered by warranty would be very expensive.

General running costs. E.g Fuel & Oil
Fuel - first couple of weeks you will burn cash if you are anything like me as the smile the car generates when you give it some is very addictive! Otherwise they are surprising fuel efficient even in London where i live. Even more so at the mo' as i have just been banned for speeding!

Oil - seems to vary car to car but most people carry a litre of oil with them. How much you use again depends on the car and how it is driven.

If you plan on tracking the car...
Tyres aren't cheap as you'd expect, especially the rears.
Pads, pretty cheap but you'd be best upgrading to something more high performance / track based.
Clutch, comes down to driver ability but since you are buying used you don't know who or how it has been driven previous, but they aren't as expensive as you might think.

Other than that I would say they aren't any different to any other car i have ever owned.

I'd suggest taking as many different cars of a similar spec for a test drive as possible.
You'll soon get a feel of what feels right and spot one that doesn't.

Hope the above helps.
Buy one, you won't regret it!

Jim

 

[Gosden]

Thank you for the quick reply Jim.

It was good that you mentioned some of the problems with the early models, I'll keep that in mind.

I forgot to ask in my first post, but what are the must haves and nice to haves when it comes to optional extras? As I will be buying second hand it's not something I can spec to my exact wishes.

 

[snarf]

Agree with Jim but be warned by his "be prepared for surprises" some possibly most owners manage to escape with little more than servicing costs and wear and tear items but an unfortunate few appear to be locked into a never ending demand on their wallets. You can insure against most non-wear and tear costs by taking out a Porsche extended warranty but this isn't cheap at circa £1500 pa - it all depends on what price you place on limiting your down-side.

Also worth noting is the fact that most OPCs will give PCGB members a discount on servicing costs and this often covers the full cost of membership.

 

[pvernham]

I have had a 997S cab from new and done 27,000 miles. My experience to date has been that running costs for the car are very reasonable.

Aside from the standard service at two years, I have replaced all four tyres (although about to replace rears again) and then spent about £600 in total on replacing all coil packs, a new battery and wheel alignment.

I guess as the car gets slightly older, you would expect servicing to get more expensive as things like the clutch need replacing. I'm not sure on what the cost of a replacement clutch would be or whether there are significant costs for service/overhaul of something like PASM.

 

[spyderman]

ORIGINAL: Gosden
I'm currently looking into purchasing a Porsche and hopefully a 997. I'm only 26 years old...

Have you requested any insurance quotes yet? Were you sitting down at the time?

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: spyderman

ORIGINAL: Gosden
I'm currently looking into purchasing a Porsche and hopefully a 997. I'm only 26 years old...

Have you requested any insurance quotes yet? Were you sitting down at the time?

Yes, my thoughts exactly! You can get servicing costs here
http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/servicepricing/
If you did around 10k/year that would be about one and half sets of rears, circa £1000 and nearly one set of fronts, circa £500. Of course if you go on track that's another ball game altogether! I think those and insurance (for you at 26) are the major annual items. Servicing every two years and then the great unknown - faults, as has been mentioned. (I've just spent £1500 on tyres this week! Full set of Toyo's for the track and two rears for the road) They are not cheap to run but, for the performance, not the most expensive either.

 

[Jimberland]

Ben,

No problem.

As you can see from the replies the guys are on here are very happy to help and very informative.

In terms of spec... get as much as possible or as much bang for you buck.
For me and this is opening up a big debate, my must haves are...

C2S forget the C2
Sports exhaust
Sport Chrono
Sport seats
Heated seats
Sport design wheels
Bose sound system
Rear parking sensors
Tyre pressure monitor
Sat Nav

Can't remember what else there is other than cosmetic stuff??? Am sure someone will remind me!

X51! is a massive bonus but you will pay for it in terms of sale price.

Jim

 

[Jimberland]

Insurance shouldn't be too bad.
I got mine when i was 27 and had 6 points.
£1200 for the year, oddly hasn't changed as i have aged???
God knows what it'll be when i get my license back!

 

[pvernham]

I think you will find very different wear rates for tyres and brakes depending on driving styles.

I didn't think I was too gentle with the throttle and I have got 27,000 miles from two sets of rears and I think about 21,000 from the fronts. Perhaps I need to try harder! (on Pirellis)

 

[tscaptain]

Crikey, 13.5 K from a set of rears - and Pirellis too! I haven't used them myself but I thought they were supposed to be on the soft side of normal? Is this a record? Can anyone do better?[]

 

[garyw]

I don't suppose I'm exactly comparable [] but I get about 11k out of a set of rears...

Have a look through the threads about costs, but don't read about Robs though!! [] he seems to be going for a record on costs
Shocks do work out a bit expensive to say the least and whilst it will cost more to go through an OPC for a first time buyer it is the safer long term option.

We are aware of people buying cars and having serious problems, however its not the norm and the majority have happy and reliable cars.
Mines two years old and so far has cost a pair of rear tyres and a two year (minor) service.

garyw