Hey autobonrun -- that is so cool you have had that sc for 24 years. I take it that was your first and you love that friggin car like a child. Is owning a p-car as satisfying as I have imagined since I was 8?

Absolutely love the car, the look, the sound and the unique smell; a very satisfying car to own and drive. The SC was my first Porsche. I've thought about selling it but at this point I might as well keep it for my kids. I know I should not get attached to a car but it's easy to do with the older ones.

Just take your time looking and find the right one that's been well taken care of. I don't think you can go wrong with a SC or a Carrera. Use the internet to gather all the information you can and get a car with complete maintenance records, preferably from an enthusiast. You have one big advantage I didn't, the Internet. I basically knew which end the engine was in when I bought it; the rest was on blind faith, although I did have it inspected by a Porsche mechanic.

Because I really wanted to keep my SC, I delayed buying a 993 for nearly 2 years until I could modify my garage to store it. So now she rests most of the time. I've gone from 25k to 30k miles a year when I was free and single to about 1k miles a year now. Looking at the maintenance records, I can see the miles driven drop when I got married, again when the first kid came, and even more when the second came along. Guess I grew up with the car.

By the way, enjoy your search for the perfect one. It's a big part of the total ownership experience. Nothing like that first drive home once you pick it up. Here's my SC resting on top.


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Stuff happens. If you use a good shop for maintenance/upgrades it will cost about $1500 to $2000 a year. I have an '88 targa and that is what its been running since I bought it.

Then again, I have a ten year old Saab and it probably costs about $1000 - $1500 in annual upkeep also.

Have fun - its worth it

WOW -- Autobonrun your garage is my dream. Gorgeous 911 collection. That sc looks as nice as the 993. And you have an 03 M3 to boot? Great set of cars my friend.

I have studied, driven (other peoples') and dreamed of owning a p-car for like 20 years. I will soon be the proud owner of my fist 911, with luck an 87-89 Carrera. The drive home will be a an absolute dream come true for me. Such great cars! Someday maybe a lift with 2 in my garage!!

It's all about condition.

Once you get everything fixed up, it should be pretty low.

I bought an 88 Targa at the beginning of the month and knew that it needed a new clutch soon (TRE has quoted about $2K). Had TRE perform a major service, alignment and replace certain oil lines for about another $2K, but wanted to start off knowing that there were no pending mechanical issues with the car. I considered these items to be maintenance and not repairs given the age of the car. Hoping that the initial year will be the anomaly and that the yearly costs will go down.

I plan on driving the car between 5-7K miles a year.

Got an 83, it qualifies... This year cost = Zero (Ok so we're in January).
Last year: $1500, 90% of which was voluntary (ride height, heat backdate, tuneup, brakes work, cooling work)...

I don't look at it quite that way. At 24 y old and 170000 miles, that car will be worth exactly the same in 3 years as it is worth now. It's almost free to drive save for gas and oil... My more modern cars on the other hand, will depreciate like rocks ;-)

luck of the draw. You could spend a couple hundred in a year or $10K. Depends what goes wrong.

Here's my advice: just get divorced now and buy an already prepped track car. That saves time and headache...

These cars are very expensive. They are not objects of reason but of passion and should be filed away as such. Once you get one, reason and logic often cease to apply to anything having to do with it. I have a low milage, ex-concourse '88 Carrera which I have found to be relatively affordable to buy (compared to new Porsches) but has been very expensive to keep (think $13,000 top end rebuild). These cars are old, and as such, require maintenance and refurbishment. Unless you plan on keeping your new car in some state of disrepair...

Again, these cars are expensive. I happen to think the expense is worth it, as I have had many new and very fast cars but none have been as rewarding to drive. Just know what you are getting into before you do.

And again. I think the high cost is worth it.

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Take the price you pay , hold it for 5-10 years- sell it for the same or near , it will cost you less per month than to lease an Accord , even with some major work along the way

I have found over the years that I couldn't afford not to buy good quality cars that hold their value . Buy it, keep it, maintain it , enjoy it , hand it off when you are ready!!

gee.. avg. yearly cost for my 911 sc this year... $0 My engine is torn down to the studs and its been off insurance for 18 months...

well... perhaps I need to re-phrase: it has been incredibly emotionally expensive every time I go to the garage and get lonely for a nice drive!

Seriously, as stated by others, it depends on starting condition and your driving style / bad habits. In general, my 911 cost less to maintain than my '98 Passat did, when it (911) was running. Damn VW parts are quite expensive and I did most of the work myself...

Best regards,

Michael

Are you saying you spent 13K for a top end???

Yup. I did the motor to correct for premature valve guide wear. Though it didn't go back together exactly stock. I figured, as many have, if I'm going into the motor anyway... I'll be damned if I leave that thing stock. I like the looks and feel of the old 3.2 Carreras so I figured what could be more cool than a super cherry, stock looking 911 hiding a hot ass race motor.

The car went to S Car Go Racing in San Rafael, CA. Need I say more?

"These cars are very expensive."

Compared to a Neon, maybe.

Do your own work and you won't have huge bills if the car is in good shape to begin with.

This is like asking how much it costs to maintain a house.

The answer: depends upon the house. The 911 is not a fighter jet - it doesn't need constant maintenance. Get one that has been recently maintained with updates like:

- valve guides
- carpet kit
- A/C components renewed
- suspension bushings replaced

and the car will last a long time without too many hassles.

-Wayne

For this year, my 80SC costs me:

$87 registration
$600 insurance (going up next year)
$85 to rebuild the starter

That is for 4000 miles driven. Did not even change the oil or do valve adjustment this year.

The M3 costs $1000 for a Vanos unit (first major repair in 110K miles so no complaints).

Next year, it is going to cost me $2000 for a 4 post lift, $300 for nice torque wrenches, $200 for a Sears jack. Damn, the indirect cost is killing me.

What he said.

I would pay a little more and get as low mileage, babied Carrera I could find. They are definitely out there. My 964 had only 22k miles and looked/smelled like new. The po had clearly taken pride in it and preserved it. That's what you're looking for. Under those circumstances, the Carrera could hold up very well and cost you little to run.