Great video. They do cost a little bit to maintain every year. Have had my 2002 for over 19 years. I maintain a spreadsheet of what was historically done, when it was done, as well as what needs to be done regarding replacing parts and general service. I try to stay on top of it to keep the costs reasonable every year. Sure things break that you don't plan on, but generally speaking, it has allowed me to plan ahead for items. Within this framework I add "enhancement" projects of things that I want to do but don't necessarily need to do as it pertains to keeping the car in good running order. An example of this would be to improve my oil pressure stability and decrease the risk of oil starvation in 2022 thru a new integrated dry sump system as well as oil cooling system that are in development and will be released for sale soon in the US. Important items because I like to track the car as well. In either 2023 or 2024 it's to refresh my exterior by adding an RPM ducktail. With it comes paint and while I'm doing it, I might as well clean up any little dings and pain chips. You get the idea. I plan on keeping the car until I can't get in and out of it in 30 years, so I figure I need to first keep it running thru preventative service and then enhance it. Yep, and even plan for an engine rebuild over the next 2-3 years to address every known issue with the M96 as well as enhance performance. Quite frankly, it is an incredible car on and off the track. More importantly, you can build it and enhance it the way you want over time. Keep up the great work. Appreciate what you do.
I've had my 996.2 for 6 months now and have put almost 3000 miles on it. My only expenditure has been petrol but this is because I put the money into a well sorted car from FGP, who I cannot recommend enough. A cheaper car is a large outlay to sort. With all the work you've done so far Lee, your maintenance costs over the next few years will be way down, apart from normal servicing costs. Love the car, love the videos.
Well said mate, it’s all about remembering you still have a 911 no matter how cheap to buy are not cheap to run properly. It’s all about prevention and the jobs you have done this year are not yearly maintenance just ‘ohh dear’ jobs. Even though thats cost the same as a fiesta for the year. It’s all about the smiles per mile, 996 all the way! Love mine and spent far to much in two years but wouldn’t change it.
a great video Lee "little Irish" is part of you .. & looks GREAT !!. I dare not add up what i have spent on mine in 3 years ..... but every penny has been worth it. I admit most of my expenditure has been preventive maintenance future proofing my 996. & I still smile with every mile driven.. Best wishes for the season !!
Great video Lee, hang on to it as you know the 996's are really starting to get the recognition they deserve now, and prices are on the rise each year.
I've had my 1999 996 for about a year now. Had a lot of deferred maintenance when I got it, and even then I've only spent about 3,300 USD getting it back into shape. Engine mounts, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filters, oil and oil filter, crank position sensor, and new light bulbs all around. Also replaced rusted lug bolts and got a new key made. Of those items, the only that really needed to be done (ie not preventative maintenance) were the oil, all the filters, and the crank sensor.
I've had my 996 C4S for three months now, it's in with a specialist garage for an IMS bearing upgrade and some other bits worth doing whilst the engine is out (Tiptronic so engine and gearbox out job) but the specialist has found it had a "monumental" power steering leak. It looks like the bill is going to be close to £4000 now, but, that should mean relatively trouble free motoring for a while (touch wood). The previous owner had spent close to £5000 in early 2021, so the car is now essentially Trigger's broom.
Just bought a 996 that’s exactly the Low spec original I wanted with no rear window wiper , no Sunroof , manual , and ocean blue . In the shop specialist shop here in Spain getting the ims rms and a full service done which I factored into the price over a totally sorted one and I’m loving this project .
Great video, Lee. I can identify with much of this….I have spent about £10k on mine in the past year through a combination of maintenance, improvement and bad luck….which of course happens on 20+ year old cars….some paint, replacement for PSE ended up with new headers (Topgear) and Milltek Cup Exhaust, low temp stat with the service etc. Then the steering rack went and in the course of the geo afterwards, I had to fork out for a load of Porsche suspension parts. But, it’s driving and sounding fantastic, has appreciated in value a bit, and like Lee, it’s my hobby and my dream car. I wouldn’t blink at spending the same again….just maybe a bit of a wince as I did it 😀.
Thanks Lee for all your great vids. You were a valuable source of info & inspiration for me buying my 99 C4. (now my personalised plate) - I couldn't be happier with my purchase, my heart was set on a 996.1, a totally gorgeous pen from Pinky Lai. Little Irish is a gem, the right amount of personalisation and upgrades without destroying the flavour of a 996, so congrats on achieving such a superb result. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from NZ.
If it’s any consolation, I spent $8k USD on mine this past year, including an engine out service with water pump, chain guides, AOS+lines…and then it still went boom. The tedious and financially straining process of a 3.8 rebuild begins in the spring.
@@DarkstarDarth yeah, pretty unideal timing, as I’d just gotten married a month before, too. I’m staying positive and excited to build it into a 3.8 with head work, IMS solution, Carrillo rods, ARP hardware, etc. Gonna be a fun project!
Another great video Lee! I know when I look at how much to spend on any particular affair whether it be planned maintenance/upgrades or corrective work I balance out the "high end" against the Low end" pricing for parts and also what I may want to do myself or have done at a service shop. I know I saved a lot of money in labor by doing much work myself. I have the luxury of a decent sized garage and a pretty fair shake of tools, and of course the internet and various Porsche based forums have been a huge help to me! I have also been sort of tracking my outlay against the rise in value as well as a potential (hopeful?) continued rise in value and think my 996 hasn't been so bad for to me run and as a daily driver, well, that's the real pay off!
Again, a great video Lee. I owend my 1999 C2 for just over 5 years now and have virtually done the same type of work to mine. But I will say one thing, apart from the Suspension upgrades, the Gundo Hack was my favourite upgrade and Bang for your buck! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Lee!
Great video lee as always i cant believe how much its cost to keep your car on the road i just hope i can save enough money to keep mine on the road its going to be hard with what i earn but i am going to work an extra day a week just to try keep this car because i love it but it is alot more expensive than a I thought running theses cars crazy really just hope nothing major goes anytime soon or i will have to sell and take a big loss so fingers crossed i still have it to come to one of your next meets
They are without doubt a labour of love, with my reservation being they can go boom at any point like you say Lee, IMS/Bore score, so as long as you have large pockets they are great cars and will be a classic in time. Enjoyed the video thanks.
This makes me feel much better about the few thousand I’ve spent on ours this year - including a reasonably large bill for my Boxster yesterday but at least it’s sorted for another year! They can’t be run on a shoestring and keep right however they do reward you massively!
I've had my 996 for 9 years and in that time I reckon I've spent about £400-£500 per year on maintenance, and insurance is about £280/yr. The car isn't neglected, I'm an engineer and the car wants for nothing mechanically, it gets an oil change every 3000 miles and all the suspension and brake components have been replaced at least once. The real cost for the owners who are not handy with the spanners is labour rather than parts. Specialists are not cheap, and OPC labour rates are astonishing.
Another great, open, honest video Lee. Hang in there mate your run of bad luck with Little Irish will change soon. Maybe the spreadsheet needs to be dated from the start of ownership and a new video / spreadsheet update at this time each year to give a true pound / cost average. I guess most of us watching & owning these do not daily drive them so will be in similar positions. I reckon if lucky enough to have picked up a good one with most of the usual work done then £2k / annum would be about right for maintenance and general running cost (not including fuel). 3.5yrs in with mine and I've averaged just under £2k including some fun upgrades.... (maybe I have some bills coming my way!). Anyway, best wishes & good luck for next year, keep the faith and if Little Irish doesn't cost so much you might be able to afford a new comb for the barnet 😆😉
I'm about the same as you this year - 2 oil changes (~$120 or so per for parts), new slotted discs, pads, SS lines and brake flush (Porsche Brake Kit - Ferodo Racing/Sebro $1,500), Elephant Racing GT3 adjustable Lower Control and Camber Arms front and rear ($3,880). My big savings was the labor - easily $2,500 that I pocketed by doing the work myself. Plus, I had to change my X-Pipe back to stock for my California smog (like your MOT) and back, probably another $500 saved. These cars are fairly straight forward to work on, though I'm a lifetime bike mechanic and have many of the basic tools to do the work.
Really honest and thorough video. As an 06 c4s x51 driver running 115k+ miles and five previous owners, I’m about £8k deep on maintenance in the first 18 months. Now due an engine rebuild due to scoring in two of the cylinders. The more people realise how much these cost to run, the more people will invest into them, keep them for a long time, invest the money needed while ignoring they’re in negative equity for a few years. Then eventually, the used values will catch up because any unsalvageable examples will have been eliminated from the market, and ultimately I wouldn’t sell it for less than its cost me, I would sooner keep it. I would imagine you’re of the same mindset with the 996?
I paid my local specialist to give mine a thorough inspection and they came up with a list. We talked it through and prioritised and categorised. I now know what needs to be done, what is going to need to be done in 'X' time frame and what is a nice / preventative to do. I can now roughly work out what I am going to do over the next 3-5 years and save monthly for it. If the engine sh1ts itself then I know what I can put off to alleviate some of the eye watering rebuild costs. This year have spent £2k (most of that was on new front drive shafts 996.1 C4 and a major service). Next year prediction £2.5k but that includes discs and pads which are consumables in my book...
Another great video, mny thanks for that. I've just bought by first 911 (a 1999 996 C4) which has had a lot of work done by the previous owner so I'm hoping the first year won't be too bad for additional expenses but I agree it's wise to have a contingency fund if you run any performance car. Looking forward to hearing more about the 'Gundo Hack' as I've pretty much decided that will be one of the first things I get done. Also, where did you get your wheels from please?
Well said Lee I also spend more than I thought on a new alternator draining the battery in 10 hrs and search for the problems 1500 Euro in total waiking you up during the holidays at 6 am at hotel. :(.. but I learned a lot of 996s now.
I always love these breakdowns. I bought a 996 Turbo 6 years ago at auction and had to cover some deferred maintenance issues right out the gate - and had a few component failures in the next couple years. Welded the coolant lines as a preemptive measure, new intake plenum, but it's otherwise mechanically stock. At this point, I'm probably averaging $5k/year in maintenance and parts over those 6 years. Would I have bought the car if I knew ahead of time actual the cost of ownership? Maybe not, but I'm still glad I did.
I dread to think what I have spent this year!! (full brake overhaul, and gear cables) I had the engine rebuilt last year, so that is done!! I still have a list of jobs but its starting to get onto the nice jobs(paint front end, powder coat some parts and poss a PCCM).
God Bless you Lee! Completely honest! Your summary at the end was the best piece of self justification and logic I’ve seen or heard - the most important thing is though, have you had £6k(£3k if you count capital appreciation - which should be classed as a bonus!) worth of enjoyment from the car? If the answer is ‘yes’ - (and I suspect it is, otherwise, why would we do it?) then it was all completely worth it, money well spent.
Nothing. It costs nothing to run. Coming from a multiple AMG owner and a 2000 carrera 4 being my first venture into the Porsche world I can truly say, that at 126,000 miles this is one of the finer vehicles I have purchased. Mechanical Perfection my only issues are headlight switch, passenger window actuator, and convertible top switch. These are more electrical nuisances than actual mechanical issues. Mechanically the car has not a single issue. When cold there is a Notch going from 1st gear into second I think it likes being in the rpms when shifting. Otherwise I cant find any faults to the car. I compare it on my channel to my 04 SL55 which is a technological marvel in comparison to the rather simple 911. That simplicity Makes it so damn good and so damn reliable. It really is a must own; the perfect sports car for the Tesla guys out there that dont want to fiddle with complex amg’s etc but just want a damn good, reliable, simple, sports car.
It’s always An eye opener when I read about other owners costs and experiences Lee , sometimes glad I keep the garage Queen locked away most of the year , but I suppose I’m lucky being a technician by trade and do the majority of my cars maintenance myself. I think if I wasn’t so fortunate I dare say I might not be able to have the such luxuries 👍
I spent amidst exactly the same this year but a big chunk of that was due to rust where the front subframe joins the chassis. I am coming up to 6 years of ownership in February and my total spend on just parts and Labour is over £20,000 plus insurance, tax and fuel ontop of that,
I went skiing today with my daughter and it was amazing. Going to go again tomorrow. I am going to do an engine out service on my 2001 C4 in the spring which will be about the same amount as you spent this year. I still think you are out the $6K. You would have to sell it to get the $3K back and your not going to do that. Even if you did sell it you would likely buy something else that also now more expensive then it used to be. Still cheaper then kids though!
I know how you feel Lee. Definitely need cash in reserve with these cars. Some good years, some painful ones. It’s all part of the ownership experience. I’ve gundo’d my Dansk sports. Major difference and bargain for the money. So at least you’ve got a major sound upgrade 😀
Well, everyone should budget for upkeep each year, and some years will be heavier on the budget and some will be lighter. You can't expect to repeat this next year as much of that spend is towards investment. To give a fully accurate picture you could include the RUclips payments and ecommerce referral fees.
I have had my 996 Targa for about 6 months, I am frightened to say this but no expense yet, the previous owner did spend 11 grand on Engine and gearbox , all photo documented and invoices to prove , I have been running it in very cautiously this summer. The Targa does need to work more smoothly so I am sure I won’t be so smug when that gets done. When all said and done you really can’t beat a 911 for a regular classic drive.
@@ianeverley9839 The Targa is a lovely classic, you don’t see to many around, if your thinking of buying one , apart from checking all the usual things on a Porsche 911, check the targa operates smoothly backwards and forwards, it’s a 4 grand major job to re build it, you will see various tips on line how to get the roof to slide better but it’s not a proper fix and like I said the targa if it’s working correctly will slide freely.
How many miles did you do? And add petrol + appreciation + maintenance and then divide by miles. It is really not that expensive car to run. Most new cars cost more by depreciation!
What an expensive privilege to appear rich, £6k is an investable amount to build a more sustainable portfolio, you are very generous to classify your lovely Irish as an asset, however I must concede that Porsche ownership can bring in some income at the point of sale mainly rare sought after models. I must thank you for posting this helpful content, I aspire to own a Porsche when I accumulate sufficient dividends, for now delayed gratification is my mantra. The affluent can afford to run a Porsche not mare mortals like me but I will die trying 🤓
In the end Porsches are a hobby and hobbies cost money. To compare owning a "classic" Porsche to running a bland modern car misses the point. They're a labour of love and shouldn't be judged solely through money-tinted glasses.
Great video. They do cost a little bit to maintain every year. Have had my 2002 for over 19 years. I maintain a spreadsheet of what was historically done, when it was done, as well as what needs to be done regarding replacing parts and general service. I try to stay on top of it to keep the costs reasonable every year. Sure things break that you don't plan on, but generally speaking, it has allowed me to plan ahead for items. Within this framework I add "enhancement" projects of things that I want to do but don't necessarily need to do as it pertains to keeping the car in good running order. An example of this would be to improve my oil pressure stability and decrease the risk of oil starvation in 2022 thru a new integrated dry sump system as well as oil cooling system that are in development and will be released for sale soon in the US. Important items because I like to track the car as well. In either 2023 or 2024 it's to refresh my exterior by adding an RPM ducktail. With it comes paint and while I'm doing it, I might as well clean up any little dings and pain chips. You get the idea. I plan on keeping the car until I can't get in and out of it in 30 years, so I figure I need to first keep it running thru preventative service and then enhance it. Yep, and even plan for an engine rebuild over the next 2-3 years to address every known issue with the M96 as well as enhance performance. Quite frankly, it is an incredible car on and off the track. More importantly, you can build it and enhance it the way you want over time. Keep up the great work. Appreciate what you do.
I've had my 996.2 for 6 months now and have put almost 3000 miles on it. My only expenditure has been petrol but this is because I put the money into a well sorted car from FGP, who I cannot recommend enough. A cheaper car is a large outlay to sort. With all the work you've done so far Lee, your maintenance costs over the next few years will be way down, apart from normal servicing costs. Love the car, love the videos.
Well said mate, it’s all about remembering you still have a 911 no matter how cheap to buy are not cheap to run properly. It’s all about prevention and the jobs you have done this year are not yearly maintenance just ‘ohh dear’ jobs. Even though thats cost the same as a fiesta for the year. It’s all about the smiles per mile, 996 all the way! Love mine and spent far to much in two years but wouldn’t change it.
a great video Lee "little Irish" is part of you .. & looks GREAT !!. I dare not add up what i have spent on mine in 3 years ..... but every penny has been worth it. I admit most of my expenditure has been preventive maintenance future proofing my 996. & I still smile with every mile driven.. Best wishes for the season !!
Thanks Lee, we're all in that same leaking boat. But lets keep them alive and kicking! 🤗🏎💨
This channel should have 20x views and subscribers.
Great video. Its good to get a sense of reality owning these... but you get a lot of fun out of them as well. That can be priceless. 😀
Great video Lee, hang on to it as you know the 996's are really starting to get the recognition they deserve now, and prices are on the rise each year.
I've had my 1999 996 for about a year now. Had a lot of deferred maintenance when I got it, and even then I've only spent about 3,300 USD getting it back into shape. Engine mounts, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filters, oil and oil filter, crank position sensor, and new light bulbs all around. Also replaced rusted lug bolts and got a new key made. Of those items, the only that really needed to be done (ie not preventative maintenance) were the oil, all the filters, and the crank sensor.
I've had my 996 C4S for three months now, it's in with a specialist garage for an IMS bearing upgrade and some other bits worth doing whilst the engine is out (Tiptronic so engine and gearbox out job) but the specialist has found it had a "monumental" power steering leak. It looks like the bill is going to be close to £4000 now, but, that should mean relatively trouble free motoring for a while (touch wood). The previous owner had spent close to £5000 in early 2021, so the car is now essentially Trigger's broom.
Haha the reference to triggers broom lool!
I think I’ve seen your car with the bits out …will be fab …good luck
Just bought a 996 that’s exactly the Low spec original I wanted with no rear window wiper , no Sunroof , manual , and ocean blue . In the shop specialist shop here in Spain getting the ims rms and a full service done which I factored into the price over a totally sorted one and I’m loving this project .
Great video, Lee. I can identify with much of this….I have spent about £10k on mine in the past year through a combination of maintenance, improvement and bad luck….which of course happens on 20+ year old cars….some paint, replacement for PSE ended up with new headers (Topgear) and Milltek Cup Exhaust, low temp stat with the service etc. Then the steering rack went and in the course of the geo afterwards, I had to fork out for a load of Porsche suspension parts. But, it’s driving and sounding fantastic, has appreciated in value a bit, and like Lee, it’s my hobby and my dream car. I wouldn’t blink at spending the same again….just maybe a bit of a wince as I did it 😀.
Thanks Lee for all your great vids. You were a valuable source of info & inspiration for me buying my 99 C4. (now my personalised plate) - I couldn't be happier with my purchase, my heart was set on a 996.1, a totally gorgeous pen from Pinky Lai.
Little Irish is a gem, the right amount of personalisation and upgrades without destroying the flavour of a 996, so congrats on achieving such a superb result.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from NZ.
That thing is gorgeous, love the green. Tint the windows and call it a day.
If it’s any consolation, I spent $8k USD on mine this past year, including an engine out service with water pump, chain guides, AOS+lines…and then it still went boom. The tedious and financially straining process of a 3.8 rebuild begins in the spring.
Wa it the IMS?
@@DarkstarDarth looking like a cracked head so far. Intermix in the oil and it was pissing coolant when it died.
@@justinmckeown9029 …Ouch!
@@DarkstarDarth yeah, pretty unideal timing, as I’d just gotten married a month before, too. I’m staying positive and excited to build it into a 3.8 with head work, IMS solution, Carrillo rods, ARP hardware, etc. Gonna be a fun project!
@@justinmckeown9029 What do you figure the total cost will be, and how much of it are you doing yourself?
Another great video Lee! I know when I look at how much to spend on any particular affair whether it be planned maintenance/upgrades or corrective work I balance out the "high end" against the Low end" pricing for parts and also what I may want to do myself or have done at a service shop. I know I saved a lot of money in labor by doing much work myself. I have the luxury of a decent sized garage and a pretty fair shake of tools, and of course the internet and various Porsche based forums have been a huge help to me! I have also been sort of tracking my outlay against the rise in value as well as a potential (hopeful?) continued rise in value and think my 996 hasn't been so bad for to me run and as a daily driver, well, that's the real pay off!
Again, a great video Lee. I owend my 1999 C2 for just over 5 years now and have virtually done the same type of work to mine. But I will say one thing, apart from the Suspension upgrades, the Gundo Hack was my favourite upgrade and Bang for your buck! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Lee!
Worth every penny. Have you and Mat Watson gotten together to compare 996’s?
Great video lee as always i cant believe how much its cost to keep your car on the road i just hope i can save enough money to keep mine on the road its going to be hard with what i earn but i am going to work an extra day a week just to try keep this car because i love it but it is alot more expensive than a I thought running theses cars crazy really just hope nothing major goes anytime soon or i will have to sell and take a big loss so fingers crossed i still have it to come to one of your next meets
They are without doubt a labour of love, with my reservation being they can go boom at any point like you say Lee, IMS/Bore score, so as long as you have large pockets they are great cars and will be a classic in time. Enjoyed the video thanks.
This makes me feel much better about the few thousand I’ve spent on ours this year - including a reasonably large bill for my Boxster yesterday but at least it’s sorted for another year! They can’t be run on a shoestring and keep right however they do reward you massively!
I've had my 996 for 9 years and in that time I reckon I've spent about £400-£500 per year on maintenance, and insurance is about £280/yr. The car isn't neglected, I'm an engineer and the car wants for nothing mechanically, it gets an oil change every 3000 miles and all the suspension and brake components have been replaced at least once. The real cost for the owners who are not handy with the spanners is labour rather than parts. Specialists are not cheap, and OPC labour rates are astonishing.
Another great, open, honest video Lee. Hang in there mate your run of bad luck with Little Irish will change soon. Maybe the spreadsheet needs to be dated from the start of ownership and a new video / spreadsheet update at this time each year to give a true pound / cost average. I guess most of us watching & owning these do not daily drive them so will be in similar positions. I reckon if lucky enough to have picked up a good one with most of the usual work done then £2k / annum would be about right for maintenance and general running cost (not including fuel). 3.5yrs in with mine and I've averaged just under £2k including some fun upgrades.... (maybe I have some bills coming my way!).
Anyway, best wishes & good luck for next year, keep the faith and if Little Irish doesn't cost so much you might be able to afford a new comb for the barnet 😆😉
I'm about the same as you this year - 2 oil changes (~$120 or so per for parts), new slotted discs, pads, SS lines and brake flush (Porsche Brake Kit - Ferodo Racing/Sebro $1,500), Elephant Racing GT3 adjustable Lower Control and Camber Arms front and rear ($3,880). My big savings was the labor - easily $2,500 that I pocketed by doing the work myself. Plus, I had to change my X-Pipe back to stock for my California smog (like your MOT) and back, probably another $500 saved. These cars are fairly straight forward to work on, though I'm a lifetime bike mechanic and have many of the basic tools to do the work.
Really honest and thorough video. As an 06 c4s x51 driver running 115k+ miles and five previous owners, I’m about £8k deep on maintenance in the first 18 months. Now due an engine rebuild due to scoring in two of the cylinders.
The more people realise how much these cost to run, the more people will invest into them, keep them for a long time, invest the money needed while ignoring they’re in negative equity for a few years. Then eventually, the used values will catch up because any unsalvageable examples will have been eliminated from the market, and ultimately I wouldn’t sell it for less than its cost me, I would sooner keep it. I would imagine you’re of the same mindset with the 996?
Excellent video content 👍
I paid my local specialist to give mine a thorough inspection and they came up with a list. We talked it through and prioritised and categorised. I now know what needs to be done, what is going to need to be done in 'X' time frame and what is a nice / preventative to do.
I can now roughly work out what I am going to do over the next 3-5 years and save monthly for it. If the engine sh1ts itself then I know what I can put off to alleviate some of the eye watering rebuild costs.
This year have spent £2k (most of that was on new front drive shafts 996.1 C4 and a major service). Next year prediction £2.5k but that includes discs and pads which are consumables in my book...
Another great video, mny thanks for that. I've just bought by first 911 (a 1999 996 C4) which has had a lot of work done by the previous owner so I'm hoping the first year won't be too bad for additional expenses but I agree it's wise to have a contingency fund if you run any performance car. Looking forward to hearing more about the 'Gundo Hack' as I've pretty much decided that will be one of the first things I get done. Also, where did you get your wheels from please?
Well said Lee I also spend more than I thought on a new alternator draining the battery in 10 hrs and search for the problems 1500 Euro in total waiking you up during the holidays at 6 am at hotel. :(.. but I learned a lot of 996s now.
I always love these breakdowns. I bought a 996 Turbo 6 years ago at auction and had to cover some deferred maintenance issues right out the gate - and had a few component failures in the next couple years. Welded the coolant lines as a preemptive measure, new intake plenum, but it's otherwise mechanically stock. At this point, I'm probably averaging $5k/year in maintenance and parts over those 6 years. Would I have bought the car if I knew ahead of time actual the cost of ownership? Maybe not, but I'm still glad I did.
Thanks Lee, feel less sad about the money I have spent rebuilding my 2.7 air-cooled motor this year after I sold my 996.2 to buy the old 911.
I dread to think what I have spent this year!! (full brake overhaul, and gear cables) I had the engine rebuilt last year, so that is done!! I still have a list of jobs but its starting to get onto the nice jobs(paint front end, powder coat some parts and poss a PCCM).
God Bless you Lee! Completely honest! Your summary at the end was the best piece of self justification and logic I’ve seen or heard - the most important thing is though, have you had £6k(£3k if you count capital appreciation - which should be classed as a bonus!) worth of enjoyment from the car? If the answer is ‘yes’ - (and I suspect it is, otherwise, why would we do it?) then it was all completely worth it, money well spent.
Nothing. It costs nothing to run. Coming from a multiple AMG owner and a 2000 carrera 4 being my first venture into the Porsche world I can truly say, that at 126,000 miles this is one of the finer vehicles I have purchased. Mechanical Perfection my only issues are headlight switch, passenger window actuator, and convertible top switch. These are more electrical nuisances than actual mechanical issues. Mechanically the car has not a single issue. When cold there is a Notch going from 1st gear into second I think it likes being in the rpms when shifting. Otherwise I cant find any faults to the car. I compare it on my channel to my 04 SL55 which is a technological marvel in comparison to the rather simple 911. That simplicity Makes it so damn good and so damn reliable. It really is a must own; the perfect sports car for the Tesla guys out there that dont want to fiddle with complex amg’s etc but just want a damn good, reliable, simple, sports car.
Great feature Lee. A very appropriate sweatshirt too. Ive got to start putting all my expenditure into an Excel document. Ssh, don't jinx it
Excellent video Lee, I feel your pain, but sure, Little Irish is worth it!
It’s always An eye opener when I read about other owners costs and experiences Lee , sometimes glad I keep the garage Queen locked away most of the year , but I suppose I’m lucky being a technician by trade and do the majority of my cars maintenance myself. I think if I wasn’t so fortunate I dare say I might not be able to have the such luxuries 👍
I spent amidst exactly the same this year but a big chunk of that was due to rust where the front subframe joins the chassis.
I am coming up to 6 years of ownership in February and my total spend on just parts and Labour is over £20,000 plus insurance, tax and fuel ontop of that,
I went skiing today with my daughter and it was amazing. Going to go again tomorrow. I am going to do an engine out service on my 2001 C4 in the spring which will be about the same amount as you spent this year. I still think you are out the $6K. You would have to sell it to get the $3K back and your not going to do that. Even if you did sell it you would likely buy something else that also now more expensive then it used to be. Still cheaper then kids though!
I know how you feel Lee. Definitely need cash in reserve with these cars. Some good years, some painful ones. It’s all part of the ownership experience. I’ve gundo’d my Dansk sports. Major difference and bargain for the money. So at least you’ve got a major sound upgrade 😀
Well, everyone should budget for upkeep each year, and some years will be heavier on the budget and some will be lighter. You can't expect to repeat this next year as much of that spend is towards investment. To give a fully accurate picture you could include the RUclips payments and ecommerce referral fees.
The way I look at it Lee normal car tank with depreciation. Where cost you in other area. I am looking at a suspension refresh in a couple of months.
I have had my 996 Targa for about 6 months, I am frightened to say this but no expense yet, the previous owner did spend 11 grand on Engine and gearbox , all photo documented and invoices to prove , I have been running it in very cautiously this summer. The Targa does need to work more smoothly so I am sure I won’t be so smug when that gets done. When all said and done you really can’t beat a 911 for a regular classic drive.
Hello, could you tell me more about your Targa experience please?
@@ianeverley9839
The Targa is a lovely classic, you don’t see to many around, if your thinking of buying one , apart from checking all the usual things on a Porsche 911, check the targa operates smoothly backwards and forwards, it’s a 4 grand major job to re build it, you will see various tips on line how to get the roof to slide better but it’s not a proper fix and like I said the targa if it’s working correctly will slide freely.
Why oh why didn’t I pick one up last year! 😕
Amen...
I wonder if the alternator had actually failed or was it just the regulator? Mine had this last year, & the regulator is a much cheaper fix...
Interesting but you should have had totals for each section as the tuning for example isn't mandatory but the other two are.
How many miles did you do?
And add petrol + appreciation + maintenance and then divide by miles.
It is really not that expensive car to run. Most new cars cost more by depreciation!
Not said was how many miles you drove how intensively you used the car. Daily driver? Long trips? Track?
What an expensive privilege to appear rich, £6k is an investable amount to build a more sustainable portfolio, you are very generous to classify your lovely Irish as an asset, however I must concede that Porsche ownership can bring in some income at the point of sale mainly rare sought after models. I must thank you for posting this helpful content, I aspire to own a Porsche when I accumulate sufficient dividends, for now delayed gratification is my mantra. The affluent can afford to run a Porsche not mare mortals like me but I will die trying 🤓
In the end Porsches are a hobby and hobbies cost money. To compare owning a "classic" Porsche to running a bland modern car misses the point. They're a labour of love and shouldn't be judged solely through money-tinted glasses.
Love love
Registration comes back as a 1998 which would make it 23 years old not 25 years old…
After watching and lusting after a 911
I’m wondering wether Porsche owners love to drive them or just spend huge amounts of money on them 🤷🏼♂️
Hope your wife doesn’t see this 😂
That was painful. For that money you can buy a newer Porsche model...
An in the and its just a stupid Car