Maintenance Costs Insane? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

FirstPorscheAt18 · 08-01-2012, 05:12 PM

I've had my 02 boxster for less than a year so far and I've had to spend ridiculous amounts of money repairing it/fixing it up. Some were cosmetic choices and some were necessary but I've spent like, half the worth of the actual vehicle on this.

Every time I bring it in for a repair, I say to myself: "I've already put so much time money and effort into this car, it's probably fine for a while now" but then a couple of months later something goes wrong. Not to mention it's impractical as my daily driver in many situations. I drive a lot of miles and this car is relatively expensive to maintain.

At this point I'm considering selling it. What are your experiences with maintenance, is it worth it or should I sell it? Though I love my Boxster, it's a major source of stress in my life.

Topless · 08-01-2012, 05:25 PM

A ton of threads already on this. Plan to spend $2k/yr on general maintenance, plus any mods or major work:
986 Forum - for Porsche Boxster Owners and Others - Search Results

A Porsche is not for everyone.

FirstPorscheAt18 · 08-01-2012, 05:32 PM

2k would be absolutely acceptable compared to what I've spent this year. Did I just get unlucky, or...?

Eric G · 08-01-2012, 05:50 PM

I have close to 10K in parts already on a rebuild...but the reason I own the car is because it is a passion. If you own a Porsche, you buy into a process and that process is up keep. There is the old saying, you have to pay to play and this car is one of those toys that you can piece meal or just bite the bullet and fix it all.

Good luck on what ever you decide!

Topless · 08-01-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstPorscheAt18

2k would be absolutely acceptable compared to what I've spent this year. Did I just get unlucky, or...?

Sheesh,
I spend $2k just on brakes every year. Another $3-4k on tires but my car is a little "different". I am looking forward to spending $1500 this week for a sweet new top with glass window to replace my 14 yr old top with worn out plastic window. Last year I did full suspension, replacement trans, IMS, clutch, FW, water pump, tstat, wheel bearings... About $9k for all. My wife says spending money on my car beats chasing loose women. I agree.

MConte05 · 08-01-2012, 06:09 PM

How much did you spend on labor?

I imagine if I paid someone else to do the work I've done to my car I'd be out half the money I paid for the car in the first place. But instead I am only out about $1000 in parts I have bought and installed/replaced.

tonycarreon · 08-01-2012, 06:13 PM

$6,400 in 3 years / 37k miles (purchased at 65k miles). includes 1 set of tires. brakes and GAHH top.

major items were the alternator, water pump, engine mount, cv boots, strut mount, lower control arm, AOS, reservoir tank.

tnoice · 08-01-2012, 06:19 PM

Factor in depreciation, and it is even more depressing.

However, if one is able to do most of the maintance themselves, the Boxster has been no more expensive than our Fj Cruiser or Acura Tl.

ekam · 08-01-2012, 07:15 PM

$2k is nothing when big items like IMS retrofit, clutch, tires come into play...

I paid $800 for 2 tires just last week and I change the oil myself.

ekam · 08-01-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstPorscheAt18

but I've spent like, half the worth of the actual vehicle on this.

People need to realize that the value of the vehicle has no correlation to the cost of repairs...

Old BMW 7-series or Benz S-class cost next to nothing to buy compare to when they were brand new... why do you think they're so cheap to buy used??

recycledsixtie · 08-01-2012, 10:35 PM

You did not say how many miles on it. If you said 100k miles then I would understand that parts wear out and need to be replaced. If it did have this kind of mileage then u should have got the Boxster cheap?
It depends as the above poster says about how passionate u are about this car. If you are passionate about it like I am I am prepared to put around $2k a year into it . So far in one year had cv joints done, oil change but this car is making me more resourceful and I am looking at doing more work myself - see Wayne of Pelican fame 101 Jobs on the Porsche Boxster u can do yourself. If I took my Box to my indy garage and said what do I need - they would have a hayday. I don't do that unless there is something serious that I can't handle. Anyway get advice, get 2nd opinions on major work to be done.

recycledsixtie · 08-01-2012, 10:50 PM

One more thing to add. The more miles u drive the more wear u get on the car and its components = more $$. If it is a major stress in your life as regards high maintenance costs, then u most do something to reduce the stress. See my other post. Hope this helps!

Ghostrider 310 · 08-01-2012, 10:59 PM

Another thing to remember is that all cars are expensive to repair, sure the Boxster is higher but domestics are not cheap to fix either, nothing is.

Bruce Wayne · 08-02-2012, 12:59 AM

the question i have to ask, is what kind of failures / repairs have you undertaken?

it's worthwhile for anybody when looking for a boxster (or any car) to look at the maintenance of the vehicle..

a good well maintained example will, or should be, in the upper ends of value, however, there are many other sellers who one box for sale and thing that theirs is worth the same or more.

a friend o fmine was recently looking for a boxster, he saw mine, i took him for a drive and he was sold on getting a 3.2.. he send me loads of examples being advertised and from the pictures alone could start to discount cars that were applicable to him.. some had hacked about interiors after market speaker pods in the doors, shredded no-make tyres, run out brakes, chopped about roofs, unkempt cars that sellers were asking 'top dollar' for..

A car that has had the money spent on it and been looked after meticulously is worth more than one that has not, but you will get sellers trying to push a car that needs money spent on it for 'top dollar'.

as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a cheap porsche.

but back to the orginial question, what kind of failures/repairs have you had? there are many good porsche minds on this forum that will likely be able to determine if you should change it for another one, keep it and stick with it, change your driving style or change your spanner turner..

truegearhead · 08-02-2012, 04:12 AM

I've spent around $4,000 on mine this year, with the BMW's I've had I normally spend about $1,000/year. The thing about these cars is when they need maintenance its normally because they're broken down or will very soon. With BMWs its mostly "I really need to get around to replacing that" repairs if that makes since.

Johnny Danger · 08-02-2012, 05:20 AM

What year, mileage, condition ect ...?

jb92563 · 08-02-2012, 06:48 AM

I think that owning a Porsche is more like a hobby for enthusiasts and as such you are willing to spend more to get the enjoyment out of it.

I also fly aircraft as a hobby and if you think Porsche parts are expensive then take a look at aircraft parts....yikes! I pay $39 each for aircraft spark plugs that go into what is essentially a VW engine rebranded with a few upgrades.

Wrenching on the car yourself can probably save you 50% off the costs since labor usually costs as much or more than the part. Enthusiasts enjoy working on their cars and hence no complaints there.

If its your second car then working on it in the garage for as long as it takes is not a problem so you fix it at your own pace and as you budget can afford.

I have observed there are 3 types of Porsche owners;

Those that just want to drive a nice prestigious car and appreciate the features of a Porsche but let the shop take care of problems. They need to be a little more affluent to afford the shop rates.

There are the Hobbyists/Enthusiasts that just love the car and enjoy doing some if not all work on it themselves and its typically a second car for them. Its the lowest cost way of owning/maintaining a Porsche but they tend to compensate by constant tinkering and "Improvements" which usually cost $$$.

There are the Racers who either work on the car themselves or have mechanics at their disposal that know how to tune for racing. Its the most expensive way to own a Porsche and its accepted as the price to race.

You will find a lot of Hobby and Racing Enthusiasts on these forums and they will typically help each other out and like socializing.

Now ask yourself what is your motivation of owning a Porsche and as you can see there are cheaper and more expensive ways of owning a Porsche, so perhaps you need to learn how to wrench on your car yourself or get a higher paying job.

It does sound like you have had an inordinately high amount of repairs though and I would think that it should taper off as many things get replaced.
Learning to wrench on your own car also equips you to determine whether your mechanic is simply draining your wallet or doing essential repairs.

I learned with aircraft maintenance that there are those repairs that contribute to the reliability of essential systems and some that are nice to do but will take money away from the really critical areas. You learn to pick and choose your maintenance items and acceptable tolerances accordingly.

mikefocke · 08-02-2012, 07:03 AM

I owned a Boxster (2 of them) over 6 years and aside from the expense of the tires (going highest priced was my choice and not necessary) my expenses were much less than owning a Hoda and an Acura over the same period. It was my daily driver for all but the snow days (and I did sneak out on some of them..I recall scraping 8 inches of snow off the car cover just so I could take it out as soon as the roads were ice free).

Others have had less happy experiences.

I attribute mine to several items: good luck buying and a good PPI. A great mechanic who took care of all the potential issues via a 60k service plus I had at about 42k just after I bought it. And thereafter, I did some of my own work, did some via cheaper mechanics (O2 sensor change at a muffler shop, for example...oil changes at a quick change place with me bringing the parts and oil), used original equipment parts and independent mechanics where needed (and it wasn't needed even once a year on average).

stephen wilson · 08-02-2012, 08:39 AM

In looking at your older posts, it seems that most of your expenses were self-inflicted.

The Radium King · 08-02-2012, 08:39 AM

i've found a new way that the mechanics get you as well. i needed to replace the oil filler tube. very simple job - two spring clamps; 1/2 hour work max. unfortunately, one of these clamps is completely unaccessible to pliers or normal spring clamp tools; a special cable-operated spring clamp tool is needed. i didn't have this tool, none of the local parts suppliers had this tool, and ordering one would not have got it to me in a timely manner. so, quick trip to the local indie mechanic. confirm - does he have the tool - yes. right on, have at 'er.

job complete 3 hours later!!! why? because the porsche maintenance manual that he was using stated that, to change the fill tube, the entire oil fill/coolant tank apparatus had to be removed from the rear trunk. instead of reaching in and releasing the clamp, he disassembled half my car. what can i say - he was following the manual. these guys are porsche specialists, but obviously not m96/97 specialists. all my fault, i understand that, but will never use european specialty in nanaimo again regardless.

lesson - do it yourself. it will cost you as much or more initially because you have to buy all the tools needed, but at least you get to keep the tools when you are done.