After 7 years of 930 ownership, I add up the numbers...
 

I wasn't looking for a 930 in early 2002. I really wanted a nice Carrera, or a very clean SC, for my $20,000 budget. As fate would have it, I just happened to cross paths with an old friend whose dad was "trading-in" his 930 at a local dealer that week (in exchange for a 996TT). Of course, the lowballing dealer was giving him $22,000 for it. Knowing the car was a concours winner (and a well-maintained daily-driver), I offered him $22,001 over the phone (and then I needed to convince my wife why I needed to go 10 percent over budget). I took delivery the following week when she had 120,913 miles on the clock.

Owned by a Porschephile, but not a hands-on type, the car needed some work in the early years. Cosmetically clean, I focused on replacing hoses, shocks, engine mounts, wastegate diaphragms, rebuilding calipers, etc... all of the work was done at home (thanks to help from all of you Pelican members). As you can see, with most of the "wear items" repaired, my recent ownership years have been very inexpensive.

She is mostly stock, with the exception of a Fabspeed dual exhaust (no CAT), K27 turbocharger, cooling upgrades, and some brake upgrades (993 deflectors).

The first couple years I tracked her at various POC and PCA DE events. Then, I realized I was going to keep here forever (I hope) and I wanted her whole. I track the Boxster now. :D

All told, I have owned her for 7 years. My maintenance costs have been $11,529.99 over 18,972 miles. That figure doesn't include fuel or insurance. Her last three tanks of fuel have been consumed at 11.11 MPG, 10.84 MPG, and 12.77 MPG, respectively -- not exactly an economy car, but worth every fire-spewing exhaust-popping mile.

Oh yeah, my 930 has only "broken-down" once. A small frayed wire snapped somewhere, and the engine stopped (I had it towed it to its only shop repair ~$500). Other than that, it is has been amazingly reliable.

Sadly, with the growth of my family and my workload, I haven't been driving it as much as in the past. It spends most of its time covered (under two -- double thick -- car covers!) in my garage. This year, I've made an extra effort to "exercise" her more often.

Here are the years, annual miles driven, maintenance costs, and cost per mile:

Year___Miles___Maintenance___CPM

• 2002___5,021___$2,014.71___$0.40
• 2003___3,445___$3,517.99___$1.02
• 2004___3,213___$1,198.19___$0.37
• 2005___2,858___$2,914.73___$1.02
• 2006___2,523___$1,428.87___$0.57
• 2007___658___$119.21___$0.18
• 2008___786___$269.38___$0.34
• 2009___468___$66.91___$0.14

Yesterday, I took her out for some pictures (current mileage 140,002):


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242402989.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242403008.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242403034.jpg

- Mike

It is beautiful. I have to admit I love Grand Prix white. I think you bought that car at a great price. Now get out there and drive it more!

Thanks, and I will.

I should mention that my A/C sucks (I ripped it out). Long term, I need to put a new system in it. Right now, it's windows down everywhere.

- Mike

Sweet car, a GP white 930 is tough to beat.

Oddly, I think I remember way back when you bought that car, I remember it from the early days on one of the BMW 3 series internet boards.

(There were some really funny bozos on that board).

You are never, ever, supposed to add up the receipts! Didn't they tell you that when you bought a 20 year old German car? (Although, for your car, it looks like you have made out fine).

beautiful. im a big fan of the stone guards on these cars and its especially nice to see you have left the headlights original. being that you live in cali, if i were you, i would drive that car ever day and only that car

Ya, I started adding up my bills after 3-years of ownership. I regained consciousness in the ambulance on the way to hospital. Medics were concerned as all the blood had left my brain and my heart had stopped. They told me in recovery that they've only seen this once before, and that fellow owned a Ferrari.

Lesson learned, burn the receipts!

Ouch! I was toying with the idea of a 930 for awhile, but a look at those mileage figures makes me glad I didn't.

Don't get me wrong - it's a beauty and I'd love to own it, but I'm a one car guy and I drive my car everywhere. I'm in a carpool, but my commute to work is a 123 mile round trip. That would get pretty expensive pretty fast.

My Carrera is returning about 22-23 mpg lately, and I can deal with that...

Again, beautiful car though...

ianc

Don't you just hate when that happens (convince the wife)? Although mine had less miles when I toot delivery, she isn't a daily driver!

Nice car!

Yeah, that was Bimmerfest (I am a mod on that site still). I had a BMW 330i that I sold to buy the 930 (and a base VW Passat). I took the Porsche to a few BMW events when I first got it.

- Mike

you must be a glutton for punishment, lol.

I just sold my 87 Targa, and figured the 8 years maintenance cost at about $800 per year - including a couple of times I had a shop do the work. Not bad at all!

They are all on on big Excel spreadsheet that documents ever single service/cost since the car had 48,000 miles on it (when the second owner bought it on 4/21/93). Keep in mind the previous owner (right before me) took it to the dealer for everything... he was bent over quite often... so, all told, the receipts on the Exel sheet add up to $45,792.18! :eek:

I have it running rich right now, and on stock boost. On the highway it will get 18 mpg at a steady cruise (out of boost).

- Mike