Service Costs

[Derbylad]

Hi
Sorry if this has been asked many times before, but i'm looking to get a porsche next year and am trying to work out which model will suit me best. How much does a annual service cost on a Boxster S, 993 or a early 996. Either OPC or a good independent. Were's the nearest independent to Derby.

[domster]

I wouldn't worry about servicing costs - they are not a big part of the ownership experience or a high percentage of the purchase cost with these models, and costs will be about the same (older 993 may be a more sorted design but have the odd age related problem). Budget around 250-350 for an interim service (12k miles), 400-550 for a major one (24k miles). Other expenses mean that most Porsches cost about 2k a year to run.

Main thing is to test drive the cars and see what you would prefer. The 993s may all vary in character from model to model as well, so watch out for that.

[Derbylad]

domster
You say other expenses mean that most Porsches cost about 2k a year to run, what are these. I'm trying to workout a budget.

[GregE240]

Our Boxster S cost a mite over a monkey to service last time (2 weeks ago).

And it was serviced by a monkey as well....grrrr

2K is for the old air cooled tackle, before they learnt to build proper, easy to maintain, reliable engines. JOKE!!

[domster]

Derbylad said:

domster You say other expenses mean that most Porsches cost about 2k a year to run, what are these. I'm trying to workout a budget.

OK, normally there will be the odd bit of fettling at service time. This may be between 100-500 per service. Starter motors have a habit of being crap, for example.

You will have at least one set of rear tyres in that time, up to 500 GBP for the pair. Maybe even two, and some fronts.

Brake pads and discs may need doing.

Plus there'll be a bit of oil consumption and a few other sundries, like wiper blades or bulbs.

Overall, I think the cheapest Porsche I ran was a 944 S2 Cabriolet, which probably cost about a grand to run in the year (excluding insurance, fuel and depreciation). I expect my 964RS to come in at 2-3k, possibly more if I track it more than once or twice.

The cars you are looking at have a realistic running budget, in my opinion, of 2k per year. I think this is very reasonable (my Lotus Carlton cost me 7k in a year) and quite realistic. There are more consumables on a car than you think, and they tend to cost a little more on a fat tyred Porsche.

Hope this helps
Domster

[Pork Girl]

Just had a 3 year service on my 2.7 Boxster. Service, new brake pads and MOT came to a smidge over £700.00.

Basically that's all the car's cost us in maintenance for the whole year we've owned it!

[domster]

That's really good, but four new tyres will double it.

You may get away with a grand this year, but when the clutch or tyres need replacing you have to get the wallet out for a grand in one hit.

I would never advise anyone to purchase a Porsche if they were relying on it to cost no more than a grand a year. I did that once with the 9442 and got away with it... just. I thought it needed a new gearbox at one stage (about 2 grand for me to replace at the time) which would have bankrupted me. It didn't, it was just the linkage... phew!

Anyway, you can't count on luck when running a car.

Cheers
Dom