MORE Turbo musings ..
Discussion
Apologies firstly , to all who groaned when they saw the title .. For the record , I almost groaned myself as I was writing it ...
Right then .. onto the meaty stuff!! .. I'm now into my second year of 911 ownership .. HOOORAW!, and I can safely say , there has been very little else in my life that has gotten this far under my skin . I wake up in the middle of the night , and punctuate my waking hours , with boyish thoughts of all things Porsche .. Am I alone here??? . Somehow , I think not.
Then from time to time , a thought strikes me , and becomes an itch , a niggle , that won't go away til I've exorcised it here with you guys .. And so to the latest , that's been rattling around my brain for the last week or so ...
Could I get 15 years daily drive from a 993/996 tt??
My reasoning ...
.... What a car to have for the next 15 years..
.... My mileage is approx 7000 per annum , so if a got a low mileage one , I'd be asking it to do 150k .. Unreasonable?
.... It would be completely by-passing all questions of residuals/depreciation , being in essence a car for the rest of my working life...
.... My boyish type brain would love the romantic idea of getting a low mileage brilliantly built car and then making it my own , looking after it's needs and feeling it's a part of me , and most of all knowing that even at high mileage , it's MY mileage and it's been well looked after.
The questions ....
.. Would you run a 996 tt without a warranty and expect to come up smiling after 15 years service?
.. Is the 993 really all that better built that it would shine all the better after said 15 years?
.. Could I expect to have major expenditure as the car ages , and if so where would you expect the major expenditure pitfalls to be (I know this is real crystal-ball stuff .. But humour me!!)
.. Am I completely hatstand??
The last question is rhetorical in nature.
Right then .. onto the meaty stuff!! .. I'm now into my second year of 911 ownership .. HOOORAW!, and I can safely say , there has been very little else in my life that has gotten this far under my skin . I wake up in the middle of the night , and punctuate my waking hours , with boyish thoughts of all things Porsche .. Am I alone here??? . Somehow , I think not.
Then from time to time , a thought strikes me , and becomes an itch , a niggle , that won't go away til I've exorcised it here with you guys .. And so to the latest , that's been rattling around my brain for the last week or so ...
Could I get 15 years daily drive from a 993/996 tt??
My reasoning ...
.... What a car to have for the next 15 years..
.... My mileage is approx 7000 per annum , so if a got a low mileage one , I'd be asking it to do 150k .. Unreasonable?
.... It would be completely by-passing all questions of residuals/depreciation , being in essence a car for the rest of my working life...
.... My boyish type brain would love the romantic idea of getting a low mileage brilliantly built car and then making it my own , looking after it's needs and feeling it's a part of me , and most of all knowing that even at high mileage , it's MY mileage and it's been well looked after.
The questions ....
.. Would you run a 996 tt without a warranty and expect to come up smiling after 15 years service?
.. Is the 993 really all that better built that it would shine all the better after said 15 years?
.. Could I expect to have major expenditure as the car ages , and if so where would you expect the major expenditure pitfalls to be (I know this is real crystal-ball stuff .. But humour me!!)
.. Am I completely hatstand??
The last question is rhetorical in nature.
Oh Bally I cant believe you have let yourself listen to the lil devil on your shoulders to do it.
I have enertained the exact same thought. even justified it to mrs wipe.
"it will be my last car...." "......once i have this i will never need another...."
you know the story cos, by now, you have already said these things out loud.
The 996tt would suit you perfectly, and there is no reason whatsoever to assume it will all go wrong 30 seconds after the last warranty year has expired.
HOWEVER (and you know there is always an however) after approximately 18 months of pure orgasmic driving your eye will start to wander. the kids will be bigger so they wont fit in the back, so there is no need for rear seats, so you will think "ive always fancied a GT2/3"
then you will start coverting the 997 turbo. "they are looking good value now" you will say to yourself.
all of a sudden, the car of your dreams appears inadequate (its not of course but you will tell yourself that) and the itch will need to be scratched again.
we are sad petrolheads who cannot adhere to automovite monogamy. you will have that affair in your head and your relationship with your tt will be over.
i can just see you talking to mrs ballcock "i know i said the last purchase was going to be the last but this one REALLY will be it......"
she, of course, will merely sit there, roll her eyes and say "of course it will be dear"
I have enertained the exact same thought. even justified it to mrs wipe.
"it will be my last car...." "......once i have this i will never need another...."
you know the story cos, by now, you have already said these things out loud.
The 996tt would suit you perfectly, and there is no reason whatsoever to assume it will all go wrong 30 seconds after the last warranty year has expired.
HOWEVER (and you know there is always an however) after approximately 18 months of pure orgasmic driving your eye will start to wander. the kids will be bigger so they wont fit in the back, so there is no need for rear seats, so you will think "ive always fancied a GT2/3"
then you will start coverting the 997 turbo. "they are looking good value now" you will say to yourself.
all of a sudden, the car of your dreams appears inadequate (its not of course but you will tell yourself that) and the itch will need to be scratched again.
we are sad petrolheads who cannot adhere to automovite monogamy. you will have that affair in your head and your relationship with your tt will be over.
i can just see you talking to mrs ballcock "i know i said the last purchase was going to be the last but this one REALLY will be it......"
she, of course, will merely sit there, roll her eyes and say "of course it will be dear"
Plenty of 100k 15-20 year air-cooled Turbo's still around, so that should answer your question re: the 993.
Only the passage of time will tell with the water-cooled 996, but plenty of other German water-cooled engines have gone on to galactic mileage and I'm sure Porsche build just as good a engines as BM or Merc.
Good game plan ... IF you won't get a niggle for something else that comes along
Only the passage of time will tell with the water-cooled 996, but plenty of other German water-cooled engines have gone on to galactic mileage and I'm sure Porsche build just as good a engines as BM or Merc.
Good game plan ... IF you won't get a niggle for something else that comes along
burr and WP .. I can see exactly what you're saying .. Mine are the musings of an incurable romantic .. But bare with me if you will , and pretend that one can be happy with his lot
A friend of mine re-built a mark one GTI 20 years ago .. He retired this year having used one car for the vast majority of his career..
More thoughts from those who have done some tt running.??
Would you really want to be sat behind the same desk at work for 15 years?
Don't you enjoy the newer stuff?
My Dad's had a 308 GTS for about 19 years, and I went in it for the first time in probably about 10 years last week.
I was shocked, it was slow, noisy, the interior seemed like a joke. Still a very beautiful car, but things have moved on, and I'd destroyed my memories of it. He still really enjoys driving it, and had taken it in preference to a newer Ferrari he has on that day.
Not sure I could live with a car that long...
Don't you enjoy the newer stuff?
My Dad's had a 308 GTS for about 19 years, and I went in it for the first time in probably about 10 years last week.
I was shocked, it was slow, noisy, the interior seemed like a joke. Still a very beautiful car, but things have moved on, and I'd destroyed my memories of it. He still really enjoys driving it, and had taken it in preference to a newer Ferrari he has on that day.
Not sure I could live with a car that long...
You know you want to... It will make you look adult and sophisticated... Your wife will believe you when you explain carefully that this really IS the last car you'll buy... Seriously, I'll be watching the replies to this one with great personal interest, as I have the same itch that needs scratching. However, mine will have to have both the PSE AND a full Savannah leather interior
markomah said:
You know you want to... It will make you look adult and sophisticated... Your wife will believe you when you explain carefully that this really IS the last car you'll buy... Seriously, I'll be watching the replies to this one with great personal interest, as I have the same itch that needs scratching. However, mine will have to have both the PSE AND a full Savannah leather interior
bloody hell what is it with Dubliners and savannah interiors!!!
ballcock said:
.. Could I expect to have major expenditure as the car ages , and if so where would you expect the major expenditure pitfalls to be.....
Inevitably there might be some big bills. Other than the usual consumables, you'd probably need at least one clutch job (unless it's just been done and you drive it very tenderly) and maybe a set of turbos that seem to do around 100 kmiles (some more, some less, depends on allowing cool down period, use of good oil, etc).
Apart from that, other big bills are in the hands of the gods (who won't be paying them unfortunately!). Engine is supposed to be very solid, but who is to say whether the top end (valves and guides) won't need freshening up? Gearbox, again solid, but have read on Rennlist forums of people needing new transmissions (ususally due to abuse - full-bore starts and 4 WD are hard on the box).
But I don't think you'd regret it.....
guyvert1 said:
ballcock said:
The questions ....
.. Would you run a 996 tt without a warranty and expect to come up smiling after 15 years service?
.. Would you run a 996 tt without a warranty and expect to come up smiling after 15 years service?
Why would you want to? Such little cost for such big piece of mind?
I'd like to keep the warranty going after10 years..Unforunately Porsche wouldn't see it from my perspective..
nel said:
ballcock said:
.. Could I expect to have major expenditure as the car ages , and if so where would you expect the major expenditure pitfalls to be.....
Inevitably there might be some big bills. Other than the usual consumables, you'd probably need at least one clutch job (unless it's just been done and you drive it very tenderly) and maybe a set of turbos that seem to do around 100 kmiles (some more, some less, depends on allowing cool down period, use of good oil, etc).
Apart from that, other big bills are in the hands of the gods (who won't be paying them unfortunately!). Engine is supposed to be very solid, but who is to say whether the top end (valves and guides) won't need freshening up? Gearbox, again solid, but have read on Rennlist forums of people needing new transmissions (ususally due to abuse - full-bore starts and 4 WD are hard on the box).
But I don't think you'd regret it.....
Good solid advice .. Thanks.
markomah said:
You know you want to... It will make you look adult and sophisticated... Your wife will believe you when you explain carefully that this really IS the last car you'll buy... Seriously, I'll be watching the replies to this one with great personal interest, as I have the same itch that needs scratching. However, mine will have to have both the PSE AND a full Savannah leather interior
Oh Sir Ball of Cock.
You KLNOW full well that in two years the same itch will return, and I don't mean the one in your trousers.
You will start wanting a GT2. And sure enough you will succumb.
Life is too short. But don't kid yourself it'll be the last car you ever buy....!!
verysideways said:
One guy on rennlist bought a new 993tt and used it every day for his 230mile round trip commute (California). Last time i checked (ages ago now) he was on 170,000 miles and still on original clutch and turbos...
Blimey - he was doing well, but then motorway miles are kind to a car. But then a set of turbos needing replacement could be seen as an excellent opportunity to combine essential maintenance with a power hike...
Have a look at some of the threads on Rennlist there's a few 100K mile turbos there that seem happy and then there's Pierre in Switzerland with something around 260,000 Kms (160,000+ miles) but he has had a few issues more recently!
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums
I reckon they're pretty bomb proof, I'll be hanging onto mine for a while longer!
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums
I reckon they're pretty bomb proof, I'll be hanging onto mine for a while longer!
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