New car...what to get?
 

I've been pondering a dilemma for some time, and I'd like to get some opinions here.

My current car is an 86 Cab. I use it on my job in outside sales and put a ton of miles on it, mostly highway in a North LA up to Visalia/Paseo Robles territory.

I bought the car on a good deal for $17K in 03 with 64K miles on it and it now has about 120K. I put about 3K miles on it per month. The car looks and drives fantastic. It has been completely reliable mechnically except for a failed DME relay and a dead alternator, both of which left me stranded.

Lately though, little repairs have creeped up and I find that I am spending a good deal of cash on minor repairs and upgrades. Ive probably sunk $8K into the car since I bought it, on everything from a new clutch to two sets of tires, Bilsteins, oil lines etc. etc.

Anyway, money is good right now and Im in the market for a new car. Due to the high mileage that Im going to put on it....Id like a newer model with a warranty of some kind. I considered the 997 and 996s but those may not represent the best value due to the mileage issue taking down the resale very quickly.... I also considered the 993, but after much research on the 993 board, Ive learned that simple DIY things like Oil changes and plug changes are extreme PITAs. I do those things quite frequently right now with the 86 due to the mileage.

So, Im leaning towards a new Boxster S....I guess im asking for opinions, especially on the depreciation that this $60K car will take over the next few years. I will put about 30-40K on per year... thanks.

I have to admit that Im spoiled on Porsche now, and a normal daily driver pretty much is out of the question...I drive so much that the car must be enjoyable and must have the ability to go top down. Im open to other makes/models though that you may suggest.

Does it have to be a car? Personally, if money's good (can I get a job working with you ;) ), I'd go for a practical, but fun machine. Cayenne, perhaps.

Repeat with a 92-95 C2. You can get low mileage ones for a reasonable price. Valve job wil be necessary at 120k.

Cobra with 350.

Your situation begs for a super low mileage used car that's several years old. The premium you'll pay for the low miles will be worth it. You can put a bunch of miles on it, and the mileage will look "normal" when you go to sell it, if you don't keep it too long.

Thanks, thats an interesting take on the situation. I really want to stay Porsche...

Re: New car...what to get?
 

I'm in outside sales too and I drive about the same amount per year as yourself. I don't have a choice in vehicles though as the company provides a Dodge Grand Caravan. If I had the freedom to choose and wanted to stay Porsche, I'd get a 2003 Boxster or Boxster S. It should still be under warranty but purchase the extended warranty anyway, just in case.

I'm not too sure about your belief that a Boxster S will be an easier car to DIY than a 993??? Wouldn't they be pretty much equivalent?

Your welcome. 19 years in the car business gives a little perspective. And low low mileage Porsches are not uncommon. All you do is put the miles on that should have been there already on the cheap, and sell it before it's a miler.

I sold a 5.5 year old 911 Targa for a friend's dad that had 7,700 miles on it! He was an anal PITA and he got it for his wife. She was so scared to damage it, she didn't drive it...

ubitquity.... no that's not what I meant. A new Box would be under warranty and would be dealer serviced... a 993 would pretty much require me to do the work myself like I do with the 86. The 86 is pretty easy to work on...but the 993s are not from what I have read. I am not a big fan of indy P-car garages to do the work...at least I have found very few that Id trust and those cost an arm and a leg...

cantdrv55... my company offers an Altima V6 as a company car. I passed and took the car allowance. Gas is paid too. The Altima is a big boat and not very enjoyable to drive imo.

Lucky you!

I know man...I have the greatest outside sales position known to man...

There is no way I would suggest buying a new car in your situation. I'd go a couple years old, at least. You could do as Steve mentioned, which is good advice. But I would NOT pay the premium for low miles, in fact, I'd buy one with higher miles. All cars need the same basic things at about 40K (tires, brakes, tune) so why not buy one with those things just done and be good for another 40? Or one where it was just done for the second time at 80?

The supply of four year old Porsches is also greater. They're just getting off lease, and they're just getting out of warranty. Cheapest purchase point?

If it's a Porsche, then the hit for miles is a STEEP curve. The spread between one with 10K and 80K can be $10000 plus on a 4 year old car. I can fix a lot for $10K, or better yet, buy one hell of an extended warranty and have $$ for repairs. The irony is that a 4 yr old Porsche with 10K may still need some of the same work because it has sat so much. It's already been done on the other car, and gets its excercise. 911's commonly go 200K and people are still willing to buy them (for quite a bit IMO).

So buy your Boxster S as a 2001/2002 with 50-80K and look for a good pedigree. You should be able to pick one up for about $25K like this one on eBay . A 2001 911 Coupe runs only $10K more. Three years from now with 150K, it will still be worth decent money.

Just another take.

E

I agree with kaisen. With a brand new Boxster S any savings you get from having routine maintenance covered by warranty will be offset by depreciation.

Do you need to carry much on the road? Boxsters aren't the most practical in those terms.

I also agree with kaisen, but how long do you intend to keep this "new" car?

Yeah... i know what you mean about depreciation. The Boxster S's 2 trunks have plenty of space for what I need to carry. Im leaning heavily towards a new Boxster S... I test drove one a while back and absolutely loved it. The handling on it is purely incredible and the accelleration is very acceptable. The new interior is pure quality too... I really liked it.

Depreciation will suck, but you only live once... also my company kicks in quite a contribution towards the cars with the allowance and gas card... so Boxster S, it will probably be.

dmoolenar...Im keeping my 86 forever and if/when I get the Boxster S, Id keep that for several years. I figure that if I paid $65 for it (including tax), I could probably still get $15-20K for it in 4 years, even with 100K on the clock. I keep the cars in pretty good condition and the factory warranty on a new one is quite appealing...I know how much DIY work that I do on the 86, to get it back up to new condition as well as just general maintanance...Im probably spending $750-1000 per month on average for the 86 maintanance right now. For example, last month I bought new tires at $550, new alternator, fan shroud and some miscellanous things...all told it was about $2000 just put back into the 86 to keep it running....

thanks for helping me sort this out in my mind. :)

I don't disagree with your choice but, damn, $50k depreciation in 4 years seems hard to swallow. :eek:

Even if I could, I wouldn't.

I gotta ask: if $1000/mo in pure depreciation doesn't phase you, why does occasionally dropping $2000 on a paid-for car get you wrinkled?

E

cause i hate when s--t breaks and I have to tow it home and then be without the 911 for a few days or weeks.

So what's the word on Boxter reliability? Do you really need the extended warranty? You might want to consider picking up a high mile (ex. freeway/commuter) car on the cheap and forgo the warranty entirely. I'd wager that you'll end up slashing that $50K/4 yr depreciation by a substantial amount - especially if you maintain the car as you describe. Good luck.

Your offered a company car and gas and you would rather buy your own car and drive into the ground with depreciation? Doesn't add up. I know Porsche are great cars to drive, but doesn't it suck being stuck in traffic with a 5 speed and crappy AC? My brother is a drug rep and I'm alway envious of his perks of no car payment, insurance, or gas charges. He is driving a 2005 TrailBlazer with XM Radio and a tow package right now. Must be nice. I'd take the company car and buy my ideal Porsche and not one that is a compromised for commuting needs. 993 Twin Turbo!