Carrera GT - feasibility of ownership
Discussion
Having made some good ground recently, I am looking into the feasibility of buying a Carrera GT in the next 18 months or so. It's something I have set my sights on - a target to work towards if you like.
Given the somewhat specialist nature of the car and the capital that would be tied up in it, I do not intend to keep it forever, perhaps as little as 12 months, just for the ownership experience and pride I would take in having achieved my goal.
Is it feasible to purchase and use one of these cars as a sunday special - in a similar manner that I do now with my RS500...? What are ownership costs like based on a few thousand milesa a year...? I would expect depreciation and values to have stabilised a little by the time I have saved enough (just over half way there at the moment).
Any experiences appreciated...
Roop
PS : No, the RS500 isn't being sold
Yes, I will have a FIAT Panda as my daily driver. That's the tradeoff...
Given the somewhat specialist nature of the car and the capital that would be tied up in it, I do not intend to keep it forever, perhaps as little as 12 months, just for the ownership experience and pride I would take in having achieved my goal.
Is it feasible to purchase and use one of these cars as a sunday special - in a similar manner that I do now with my RS500...? What are ownership costs like based on a few thousand milesa a year...? I would expect depreciation and values to have stabilised a little by the time I have saved enough (just over half way there at the moment).
Any experiences appreciated...
Roop
PS : No, the RS500 isn't being sold
Yes, I will have a FIAT Panda as my daily driver. That's the tradeoff...roop said:
Having made some good ground recently, I am looking into the feasibility of buying a Carrera GT in the next 18 months or so. It's something I have set my sights on - a target to work towards if you like.
Given the somewhat specialist nature of the car and the capital that would be tied up in it, I do not intend to keep it forever, perhaps as little as 12 months, just for the ownership experience and pride I would take in having achieved my goal.
Is it feasible to purchase and use one of these cars as a sunday special, yes but why tie up that amount of money and not enjoy it- in a similar manner that I do now with my RS500...? What are ownership costs like based on a few thousand milesa a year, minor I would suspect, oil change annually except 4 year/30k mile valve clearance check which involves engine out if they need adjusting...? - and of course the clutch! I would expect depreciation and values to have stabilised a little by the time I have saved enough (just over half way there at the moment). No idea!
Any experiences appreciated...
Roop
PS : No, the RS500 isn't being sold Yes, I will have a FIAT Panda as my daily driver. That's the tradeoff...
Given the somewhat specialist nature of the car and the capital that would be tied up in it, I do not intend to keep it forever, perhaps as little as 12 months, just for the ownership experience and pride I would take in having achieved my goal.
Is it feasible to purchase and use one of these cars as a sunday special, yes but why tie up that amount of money and not enjoy it- in a similar manner that I do now with my RS500...? What are ownership costs like based on a few thousand milesa a year, minor I would suspect, oil change annually except 4 year/30k mile valve clearance check which involves engine out if they need adjusting...? - and of course the clutch! I would expect depreciation and values to have stabilised a little by the time I have saved enough (just over half way there at the moment). No idea!
Any experiences appreciated...
Roop
PS : No, the RS500 isn't being sold
Yes, I will have a FIAT Panda as my daily driver. That's the tradeoff...In my opinion it's a waste of time to have a car as usable on the road as a CGT and not enjoy it. I've used my for everything from track days to popping to the shops for a paper and everthing in between.
993rsr said:
In my opinion it's a waste of time to have a car as usable on the road as a CGT and not enjoy it. I've used my for everything from track days to popping to the shops for a paper and everthing in between.
I see your point, and I do agree to a certain extent, but for me it has to remain special. The problem I have is that if I used such a car as a daily driver (which I cannot afford to do, I might add) then it becomes a regular ocurrence to drive and loses some of the sparkle that a car used only once a month has, due to it being 'normal'.
The RS500 is used in a similar manner at the moment and I'm more than happy using it in this way. Every time I get in it, it feels so very different to the cars I drive every day and it's somewhat magical because of that.
I guess your point of view is representative of the fact that you have the car because you love to drive it and explore it's performance. For me, it's more pride of ownership.
roop said:
993rsr said:
In my opinion it's a waste of time to have a car as usable on the road as a CGT and not enjoy it. I've used mine for everything from track days to popping to the shops for a paper and everthing in between.
I see your point, and I do agree to a certain extent, but for me it has to remain special. The problem I have is that if I used such a car as a daily driver (which I cannot afford to do, I might add) then it becomes a regular ocurrence to drive and loses some of the sparkle that a car used only once a month has, due to it being 'normal'.
I don't use mine everyday I have something mundane for that. It wouldn't matter if you did use it everday, driving it is such a magnificent experience the lustre would never tarnish!
The RS500 is used in a similar manner at the moment and I'm more than happy using it in this way. Every time I get in it, it feels so very different to the cars I drive every day and it's somewhat magical because of that.
I guess your point of view is representative of the fact that you have the car because you love to drive it and explore it's performance. For me, it's more pride of ownership.
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 12:57
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
993rsr said:
I don't use mine everyday I have something mundane for that. It wouldn't matter if you did use it everday, driving it is such a magnificent experience the lustre would never tarnish!
In that case, I guess we're on the same page. Sure, I'd use it to pop to the shops and with the Nurburgring not too far away then I am sure there'll be a few trips up there. Don't get me wrong, it will be used and where appropriate, given some stick, but it'll likely not be a weekly ocurrence, that's all.
What I need to know is whether what I am suggesting is feasible in terms of effort and costs to keep the car for a short time and not used much vs a car that is used a lot. Do CGTs dislike sitting for a month unused...? Can all Porsche dealers service such a car or does it require specialist attention a la 959...?
Edited by roop on Friday 4th May 13:11
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Interesting view - I can't imagine them falling to £100k, even in 18 months time, but you never know. The warranty is something that is worrying and something that is prominent in my mind when I was planning this. What concerns me is will there be enough expertise around to look after the car.
The Ford GT is a great proposition, although it doesn't 'do it' for me like the CGT - that from a big Ford fan as well...
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
I take it you've never driven a CGT. 18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Seriously to compare the two in the same sentance is plain daft!
roop said:
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Interesting view - I can't imagine them falling to £100k, even in 18 months time, but you never know. The warranty is something that is worrying and something that is prominent in my mind when I was planning this. What concerns me is will there be enough expertise around to look after the car.For oil changes and other items mine go's to Fearnsport at Silverstone. I have all the workshop manuals allowing a suitable mechanic (that's you Fearns!) to
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
The Ford GT is a great proposition, although it doesn't 'do it' for me like the CGT - that from a big Ford fan as well...
993rsr said:
For oil changes and other items mine go's to Fearnsport at Silverstone. I have all the workshop manuals allowing a suitable mechanic (that's you Fearns!) to
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
I don't intend to run the car on a minimal budget - it'll have whatever it needs to keep it right, but if it's going to cost silly money just to have the car sat there and barely unused then I might have to re-think my plans. I fully expect running costs to be fairly high if the car is used, but if it's going to cost me £10k a year to service it for 1,500 miles of use then it's not feasible, if that makes sense...
roop said:
993rsr said:
For oil changes and other items mine go's to Fearnsport at Silverstone. I have all the workshop manuals allowing a suitable mechanic (that's you Fearns!) to
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
I don't intend to run the car on a minimal budget - it'll have whatever it needs to keep it right, but if it's going to cost silly money just to have the car sat there and barely unused then I might have to re-think my plans. I fully expect running costs to be fairly high if the car is used, but if it's going to cost me £10k a year to service it for 1,500 miles of use then it's not feasible, if that makes sense...
I was not trying to suggest you were attempting to run it on a minimal budget, merely trying to explain that potentially it could be run on a modest budget, but potentially it could cost lots!!
My cost's ignoring items that were non-essential in the last 3k miles have been:
Fuel
Insurance
Pair of rear tyres
Set of brake pads
10 coil packs - due to CEL problems
10 spark plugs - due to faulty coil packs
It will be due nothing more than an oil change at Reading this year, but will be in for the 4 year/30k mile
valve clearance check towards the end of next year.
If the car's have been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers schedule when you are planning to buy
the majority will have passed the four year mark when this potentially expensive service is due.
In terms of the clutch, I've had mine inspected this week and after 10k miles it's at nominal and a long way off
needing replacing. I'd get this done(via a removable access panel beneath the carbon undertray) before you bought
a CGT to ensure there is no undue wear.
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 13:41
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 13:44
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 13:44
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 13:45
Edited by 993rsr on Friday 4th May 13:45
993rsr said:
I was not trying to suggest you were attempting to run it on a minimal budget, merely trying to explain that potentially it will cost next to nothing, but potentially it could cost lots!!
My cost's ignoring items that were non-essential in the last 3k miles have been:
Fuel
Insurance
Pair of rear tyres
Set of brake pads
10 coil packs - due to CEL problems
10 spark plugs - due to faulty coil packs
2 oil changes - my choice not required by the service schedule
3 inspections/undertray's off etc after track days
It will be due nothing more than an oil change at Reading this year, but will be in for the 4 year/40k mile
valve clearance check towards the end of next year.
If the car's have been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers schedule when you are planning to buy
the majority will have passed the four year mark when this potentially expensive service is due.
In terms of the clutch, I've had mine inspected this week and after 10k miles it's at nominal and a long way off
needing replacing. I'd get this done(via a removable access panel beneath the carbon undertray) before you bought
a CGT to ensure there is no undue wear.
My cost's ignoring items that were non-essential in the last 3k miles have been:
Fuel
Insurance
Pair of rear tyres
Set of brake pads
10 coil packs - due to CEL problems
10 spark plugs - due to faulty coil packs
2 oil changes - my choice not required by the service schedule
3 inspections/undertray's off etc after track days
It will be due nothing more than an oil change at Reading this year, but will be in for the 4 year/40k mile
valve clearance check towards the end of next year.
If the car's have been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers schedule when you are planning to buy
the majority will have passed the four year mark when this potentially expensive service is due.
In terms of the clutch, I've had mine inspected this week and after 10k miles it's at nominal and a long way off
needing replacing. I'd get this done(via a removable access panel beneath the carbon undertray) before you bought
a CGT to ensure there is no undue wear.
All the costs seem consistent with use, which is fine with me and what I really wanted to hear. I'll be keeping tabs on the cars availability and news from owners with cars having a few miles / years under their belts just to see how they are standing up...
993rsr said:
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
I take it you've never driven a CGT. 18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Seriously to compare the two in the same sentance is plain daft!
993RSR,
(Innocent question) Is your CGT a yellow one, and was you driving it near the A41/M25 on Weds afternoon?.
police state said:
993rsr said:
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
I take it you've never driven a CGT. 18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Seriously to compare the two in the same sentance is plain daft!
993RSR,
(Innocent question) Is your CGT a yellow one, and was you driving it near the A41/M25 on Weds afternoon?.
roop said:
993rsr said:
For oil changes and other items mine go's to Fearnsport at Silverstone. I have all the workshop manuals allowing a suitable mechanic (that's you Fearns!) to
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
work on the car without a problem. It will be going to Reading once a year to keep the booked stamped.
I don't think it's a car that can be bought and run on a minimal budget. For instance a clutch kit if around £4.3k plus VAT and fitting. Some items that are 996 derived are cheap, coil packs spring to mind.
I don't intend to run the car on a minimal budget - it'll have whatever it needs to keep it right, but if it's going to cost silly money just to have the car sat there and barely unused then I might have to re-think my plans. I fully expect running costs to be fairly high if the car is used, but if it's going to cost me £10k a year to service it for 1,500 miles of use then it's not feasible, if that makes sense...
I see what you’re trying to do,
You’re going to buy the car, which you’ve coveted for a while and if it doesn’t cost you too much overall from purchase to sale you’ll have “ticked another one off list”. Ownership of CGT is enticing idea for lots of Porsche 911 and Boxster owners.
I’d have to do it a similar way, but it would be nice to drive the car as Porsche intended without the worry of a massive financial loss.
Good luck
993rsr said:
police state said:
993rsr said:
Mogulboy said:
Sounds like a great goal to work towards! I'd love one too.
18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
I take it you've never driven a CGT. 18 months is a fair way ahead though by which time all CGT's will be out of warranty and it will be interesting to see what stories emerge as these cars get more 'affordable' and potentially accumulate higher milages. A lot
of them are out of warranty and it doesn't seem to be affective prices.
In 18 months time, it would be very interesting to compare the relative merits of a used CGT versus a Ford GT!
Poles apart sir, poles apart.
While I aspire to owning such a car myself one day, it's hard to imagine shelling out 100 large minimum on what is effectively a toy. Every time I see an Ultima I cant help thinking that it gets you 90% of the way there for 25% of the cost!
Seriously to compare the two in the same sentance is plain daft!
993RSR,
(Innocent question) Is your CGT a yellow one, and was you driving it near the A41/M25 on Weds afternoon?.
I was curious because I was behind it (knees trembling with excitment...) as it made it's sonorous way down some nice empty driving roads. Some people have commented that the clutch is hard work, but this one's gear changes sounded so sweet and precise. The most memorable bit was sitting at the lights beneath an M25 flyover bridge and an M5 with two blokes (they were either stalking CGT or his mates), the M5 driver decided to signal his presence with a deep foot on the loud pedal (sounded like thunder) only for CGT man to bury his foot even further; treating all and sundry to an aural Crescendo transformed the concrete walls into living sound. A memory that I shall remember for quite some time. Pure Bliss.
Don't worry about the potential costs/losses just get one 
The way things are going I'm not sure Porsche will ever be able to produce anything like the CGT again, owning one would be an amazing experience, if I was even close to being able to do it I would. Saw a red one on Sloane Street last Sunday and it looked awesome.
The way things are going I'm not sure Porsche will ever be able to produce anything like the CGT again, owning one would be an amazing experience, if I was even close to being able to do it I would. Saw a red one on Sloane Street last Sunday and it looked awesome. i've been thinking about it and done a bit of research. remember this isnt a supercar like a murcy or 599, this is hypercar league up there with enzo's and zondas. part costs are astronomical. whilst you might get away running one for a year with just servicing, if its being used as god intended, its only a matter of time before you get a bill you could have bought a 996 with... have concluded i can buy one but i can't afford to run one 
Just bought one of these so I'll let you know too! Only had it a couple of weeks, and still a bit scared of it to be honest. What I can say though is that driving it is an intoxicating experience- it's very obviously a race car with a veneer of respectability. The closest things to it that I have driven before are the JP1 and FPA track cars. Unusually for a car like this, you can also see where the money has gone- build quality is just magnificent. The exhaust note is something special too, though not quite loud enough so we shall have to do something about that.
Kev, I'm sure Manu can sort you out. Be careful though; the straight through pipes sound horrendous compared to standard factory exhaust, so louder doesn't mean more harmonic. It really does sound magnificent as it left the factory.
I am praying for you not to need too many things with P980. part numbers as well
I am praying for you not to need too many things with P980. part numbers as well
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