How many other ridiculous prices?

[pwd72s]

John Walker's post on the $500 fuel line inspired me to wonder...how many other "original" parts, still available, do we consider to be priced into the stratosphere? With me, it's the MFI fuel filter at $65 or so...a part that needs to be replaced on a regular basis. Only available through dealers these days. AND to really frost me, the one I ordered from Stoddards came without a gasket. I've called to complain. Twice. Got platitudes, and a promise, but I've never seen the gasket. I've heard that Chuck Stoddard is no longer the owner...is this true?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Targa tops.

Targa seals.

And I live in fear of the day my dashboard develops a crack.

[89Targa]

O2 sensors at triple the price for any other car...

[Kurt B]

02 sensors for triple the price? That's all? Consider that a deal. Everytime I looked, it was more like quintuple!

[Doug E]

Paul -

Not sure about the ownership thing with Chuck but I can attest to his being a friendly vintage P-car owner. At Rennsport last year I casually struck up a conversation with someone as we where standing in front of a white 917. Come to find out he was the owner of the 917 and the 907LH parked next to it. At the end of the conversation he introduced himself as Chuck Stoddard. Obviously the dealership business has been good to him!

[Wayne 962]

Our price on the previously mentioned fuel line is $299. Still high, but less than most everyone else...

-Wayne

[rstoll]

$53.00 relays. Crossed the last one I needed in the Bosch book at local parts dealer. $12.00.

[CamB]

Aluminium S calipers - Wayne's got them for just $2700 each (I bought a pair in good useable, rebuilt condition for a 10th of that, fortunately).

RSR cap and rotor at whatever it costs is pretty bad too (not from Porsche though, I think they are NOS).

There is other stuff - not such big $$$, but it is a relativity thing (like the relay example)... I have got a Bosch oil pressure sender which is about 1/2 price of Porsche/Bosch one.

Or a new 911S badge - a bargain at $40 (and twice the price of a T one). Muffler straps - 40 each... And those Targa seals are one of the many reasons I am glad I don't have a targa...

Cam

[john_colasante]

Apparently 959 parts are in another universe.

[Jim Sims]

Would as many vintage parts be available if Porsche wasn't making good money by selling them? Think how expensive they'd be if you had to custom order them. Porsche isn't the only one making a killing: price a rear view mirror assembly (you can't get individual parts - you must buy the entire assembly) for a Ford Explorer lately?, new headlights for Dodge Intrepid?, rear bearing and hub assembly for a Pontiac Gran Prix? Jim

[ChrisBennet]

This was so outrageous I even question my own memory but..
A couple of years ago I called the dealer about plug wires for my '86 911. The guy looked them up and said approx $400 - for one side! Apparently they are sold as as left and right. $800 for a set of plug wires. I didn't ask how much for the coil wire...
-Chris

[Swank911]

MFI E piston and cylinders at $3500

[Wayne 962]

Well, that's the price for owning a Porsche. Just be glad that a whole bunch of this stuff is still available! How many 911S emblems do you think Porsche sells in a year. Five, ten, maybe 20. It costs a lot of money to stock and keep a SKU, I'm continually surprised at how much they have in stock. It's getting tough to find new parts for my 1988 Nissan Pathfinder!

And despite what you may think, it's not us parts retailers getting rich off of these markups either. Markups in this business are rediculously low when compared to others (consumer electronics or even clothing - 450% markup!!!).

There's a price to be paid when you're amongst the priveledged few. If you want to pay pennies for parts, then maybe you should restore a VW bug instead...



-Wayne

[pwd72s]

Wayne, you're of course right...that IS the Porsche tax. At least part of it...parts and service prices. So, guess we all have to decide if it's worth it, on an individual basis. Believe me though...more often than I care to, I do think about it. Buy a new mid range priced Detroit whatever, buy another when warranty expires...no hassles. Then weigh that against the "fun" of Porsche ownership.... The "price" of Porsche ownership if you will. Also tossing in today's traffic, big brother getting bigger, all the other factors? Admittedly, parts prices are only part of the thinking process...but they are a part.

[Reg]

I'm not in that market , but I think the markup on home electronics is very low , say comepared to clothing or home furnishings.

I priced a set of plug wires for my car from a Porsche dealer and it was almost $700 CDN, about $450 USD,

[Sean Hamilton]

I went into Porsche custodianship with my eyes wide open, but I'm constantly delighted that the *part* is actually still available, albeit at a price. I guess that comes from having to *make do* with parts for my TR4 - US $250.00 for a genuine bonnet badge, for one example.

Still, I'll need to sell some stock for Targa seals and as for the engine heater blower fan $$ - I gutted it for no $$. Can I do the same for the steering rack?

[k9handler]

the dash has it! Mine has a nice crack just about dead center...and it will be there for quite a while $$$. I am thinking of the $100 pastic molded cover...or stay with telling myself it adds character.

[CamB]

Don't get me wrong - I am ecstatic (sp?) about being able to buy parts! There aren't too many non-mass-produced marques where you can still specify years for replacement bits...

However, I still stand by the 911S badge being a rort. 911L is half the price, 911E is about 80% - I know they made less of those cars than 911S's. Oh, and Wayne - I don't blame Pelican!

What I really don't like is the tendency for the price to creep up as the item approaches NLA. I know it is simple economics - pricing to the marginal buyer (ie smart!) - but it still pisses me off

[Two Oh]

Quit complaining!

Your'e driving the coolest car ever made.

Who said it would be cheap.



If you can't pay to play......don't play

[steve911]

how about $36.50 for a valet key blank - the one without the light??? thankfully, I said no AND it looks like our host has them for much less!