So seven months and one day later here is the cost...

All costs are at The Auto Gallery in Woodland Hills, CA, except the wheel alignment. $1055 for brake fluid flush, new spark plugs and serpentine belt. $440 for front tires, $998 for engine mounts and a new oil pressure sending unit. $868 for a new key and programming and an oil change. $180 for alignment. $352 for another oil change 4,500 miles later. $200 for all new lug nuts. $600 (guestimate because I can't find the receipt) for the passanger side window regulator. Total: $4,693.00 - Being the 4th owner of a twelve year old car, I have absolutely no complaints. I celebrated seven months by giving it a good wash. ps - I did take a drive in a 95 993 just to see if I could ever live with a Tiptronic. I can't. However I had to face the fact that I love the lines and size of the 993 better than the 996...or any other model.

350$ for an oil change?

woof, some of those are pretty inflated. If you are ok with that kinda repair cost in 7 months, more power to ya.

The good news about the money that you've spent in the last seven months is that you won't have repair or replace many of those items again for many more miles. Tires and brakes are consumables... you gotta pay if you wanna play... I also believe that the 993 is one of the best looking 911s ever produced.

Mr. Ireland: You made me feel better! I just spent about $90 on an ebay window regulator and it took me almost 3 hours to install. I will do a brake fluid flush in the upcoming weeks, $20 for ATE gold. I spent $40 on a key and $153 on the fob, will get it programmed for probably another $100. My oil changes cost about $100 each for materials. But I think I have spent another $3K on upgrades.....so we'll call it even! I love my car too!

Mr Ireland, the prices are crazy high... But if you love your car, Money is insignificant. Enjoy her! Paul, I got one of them Black Lable Power Brake flushing thingamabobs if you want to try it out... Its fantastic!

Joe: Already have a Motive Power Bleeder....but thanks!

I had a new AOS, waterpump, low temp thermostat, IMSB, new cam chain tensioners, spark plugs, spin on filter, magnetic drain plug and filter, and an oil change, for about the same price. Woodland Hills is very expensive. If you drove to Vegas you could have got all that done and had a couple of thousand in your pocket to throw away at a casino with the chance of going home in a NEW FERRARI. The bottom line is your car is nice and you are happy, someone will always think they got a better deal.

The prices are not really high once you factor in everything that is included in that (example) $350 oil charge. The Auto Gallery sits on a very very large piece of land, in a very large and modern building that encompasses shows rooms, storage lots, service facilities, offices, bathrooms, the parts department, customer areas, all linked by telephones and computers, with modern lighting and air conditioning and it has janitorial needs and building maintanence needs, and yes...landscaping costs. The building loan has payments. The utilities cost money. There are state property taxes and city business taxes and hazardous waste taxes and unemployment insurance and liability insurance and fire insurance and earthquake insurance and health insurance, and of course there are salaries (for lot boys and mechanics and secretaries and finance people and service advisors and the folks in the parts department and sales staff...and management), and there is the interest payments on the revolving credit loans that purchase the cars from Porsche, and purchase the parts from Porsche, and then there are the payments on the principal, and because this is a business, there are legal fees...even if nobody sues them. And I'm sure I forgot some things but last but not least..they need to make a PROFIT...because to grow one must make a profit and reinvest some of it into enlarging the business. So I'm not really just paying for an oil change. I'm paying to have all of this company standing there available to me the moment I decide I want an oil change...or anyone of the other services they've performed. Indie shops have the same thing to a lesser scale...but they need to pay their mortgage and buy their kids shoes and save money for a rainy day and invest in the tools that will give their customers even better reasons to return. Even though I am not the DIY type I take the maintanence of my car very seriously. Some people invest hours on their back lying under the car...I invest money in making sure that my car is exactly as I want it to be. Alfa Romeo (and a lot of other companies) failed in the US because when you walked into their dealers you had no sense of the tradition they represented. When I take my car to The Auto Gallery I feel that this is a company who takes their business seriously, and that they reflect the attitudes and pride of the company that makes Porsche cars. And that is why I paid $350 for an oil change...and instead of lying on my back under the car, I sat on my *** in the client area and flirted with the hot Barista who fixed me multiple expressos. And damn I wish I was that young again.

John, you could probably justify a BUTLER, he will have a family to support and need proper butler clothes, not levis, and you can just sit around until your meals are ready. When he leaves to do errands for you he will look and talk like a butler and will keep the butler tradition alive and well. A butler, consider it!

As everyone else has said, it is your money and you should spend it how you please. For example, you can get a decent 16 ounce ribeye with all of the side dishes at a chain restaurant for $25. Or, you can go to a nice upscale steakhouse and pay $45 for the same steak a la carte. The steak is basically the same, but the experience is completely different. I bristle every time a server asks me if I'm "still workin' on it" when referring to me eating my meal, and then brings me the check 5 minutes after serving the entree. So, although I more often eat at the chain restaurant, I get why people spend the extra $$ to go upscale.

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Geez. Really? You can justify it anyway you want to, but $350 for an oil change plus another $500 for a key is a rip off. Some people like to brag about the money they save. Some like to brag about the money they spend.

If you paid that much for all that service, pm me I have some beachfront property in Idaho I think you would be interested in.

Money doesn't come with instructions.

... and an RND engine for you, Sir? Absolutely!

While the Auto Gallery does good work , they are very very expensive. A local independent , that you recommended to me John , charges half that for an oil change. Alan

But how well pruned are the lillies?

Didn't see any lillies , but I did see a few prunes Alan

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Yes...and his overhead is half as much. I'm not saying the Auto Gallery isn't expensive, I'm say they have a higher overhead based on their business model...and for now I am willing to pay for that...at least during the first year I own the car.

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I'm actually replying to more than one post here. Same price for a key from VW. The next time someone tells you about modern technology reducing costs...remember when door locks were mechanical and lasted for years and years and years and years. And replacing a key was a couple of bucks. Looking at the Auto Gallery facility I would guess that their mark up is 100%...and their profit margin is 10 to 15 percent. Yes an Indie can do the job for half as much...but that Indie doesn't also sell and warranty a 2015 991. I am paying for a fully authorized factory service center to work on my car. As for $25 steaks vs $45 steaks...I pay $25 for the $45 steak and I cook it at home. But my $25 steak is not the same steak you get at Outback for $25. As for RND engines...here's hoping I don't have to cross that bridge (and I see there seems to be some price confusion in the discussions) but if I own my car then it is paid for and its value is whatever I chose to value it at until I sell it and a buyer becomes part of the determination. If I really like the car and want to keep it, I will find the best engine I can afford and install it. If I really don't like the car, I'd be getting rid of it long before the engine blew.

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Umm...you don't have a 991. Nice of you help support those poor bastards.

Agree with Gonzo, John. You don't have a 991, And why in God's name would you pay someone's higher overhead. That's their problem, not yours. I'm surprised you don't go to the dealer in Beverly Hills, as I'm sure he has an even higher overhead , and could use your help. I'll pay my own higher overhead ,thank you. Alan

My experience with the dealer was not as great as John's. When my car was still under warranty (factory + extended), when they repaired something on my car, I ALWAYS have to bring it back to re-do something. One time they forgot to re-plug in my SAI pump and that tripped the CEL. I read the code, plugged the SAI pump back and all was good. One time they changed the clutch helper spring and put the retaining clip on wrong, almost destroying the spring hosing. A few more similar stories which I forgot. Later I found out most of time it's the trainees that work on your car at the dealership. So if you're thinking the head mechanic is changing your oil, that's unlikely the case.

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Sadly that's also been my experience with the dealer as of late. In the beginning with the car under CPO warranty AND a rather mature service advisor it wasn't so. I distinctly remember seeing them pull my front bumper during an oil change and I assumed they found something wrong. When I asked the service advisor he simply said nothing wrong, just cleaning the debris from your radiators, after all it is an oil change SERVICE, not a drain and fill. That is no longer true and these days I change my own oil at a cost of about $70.00 and 30 minutes of my time. Currently you can tell the techs are being pushed to turn the cars through the bays and in their haste they either miss things or screw something up. True the dealer is apologetic and makes it right, but they seem to miss the inconvenience of needing return visits. I am now turning to an independent. Met him at his shop and chatted for over an hour and like the idea that it is just him and his son so going to give him some work next month. Sounds like John is willing to spend for the exclusive experience and that's his call. Had a Lexus and our local dealer was like that. Personally I could care less about their Barista, Biscotti's and heated massage chairs. Just wanted my car serviced properly at a fair price and they failed on those counts.

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I chuckled when I read this justification. This was the exact argument the Comcast customer retention agent gave me when I shut off cable for a much less expensive service. I explained to him that their inability to develop a competitive operating model was't my concern, and went ahead with the shutoff. But I agree, it is fine to pay for convenience and the atmosphere, I do the same in certain situations. But I don't pay extra simply because an organization has high overhead, there is no inherent value there. I'm sure I'll have some work done at a dealer at some point - if I find something that a very reliable indy, or I, can't be trusted to do.

I had just bought my 996 with an extended warranty. 2 weeks in the top was having trouble closing. I took it to the Dealer the day before a week vacation. A few days later I get an email. $1200 for a new cab motor, plus a bunch of other fixes that were not warranted items. Total...around $3,800. I told them to change the oil ($175 btw...in Scottsdale), and I'd see them in a few days. Took it to my (now) Indy and they fixed everything for $800. Oh yeah, the top needed $12 in hydraulic fluid and I never had a problem with it for the next 3 years. A trusted Indy is invaluable, especially with older models. Bottom line is there are good Indy's and bad dealers and vice versa. I just don't think anyone needs to support a dealer's high service prices, and justify doing so just so they can "stay in business". That's just ludicrous thinking bordering...on asinine.

Except for the oil changes the prices seem OK. A little high, sure. But not crazy. I use the dealer for some stuff. The big advantage to me is that they come get the car, bring a loaner, and return the car when done. The time/value ratio sometimes is just not worth it to DIY.

Much like his infamous "What do you wear when riding in your 996" thread, where he slid in the Rolexes he owns, I think the whole point of his post was to slide in the fact that he patronizes the vaunted Auto Gallery. This becomes evident in the condescending response to the guy who only said what we were all thinking, "$350 for an oil change!?!?"

We're talking about a 25k car here....

I wasn't aware that that the quality of a dealer's service is proportionate to their overhead. Guess it's time to stop taking my car to my indy and start looking for the dealer sitting on the most expensive piece of real estate with the nicest light fixtures. That will ensure that I get a better programming job for that new key I need, right?

I might be the only one, but I'm sensing a trend in these posts.

Why the conflict, nasty comments, just because he share how much money he spent on his car maintenance???? This is just to inform others, some of you had several Porsches through your lifetime and feel comfortable DIY or have past experiences with other brands. I wish I have time to do some DIY something as simple as change the oil and filter. Some of us either we don't have time or we do not feel comfortable working in our cars, if you trust your indy shop instead of the dealer is Your car and your decision only, if you think is worth to spend $350 for an oil change, kudos to you, is not about the procedure. You're paying also quality service and been comfortable while you're waiting for your car.

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulletin/500x372/kid_take_my_money_e3f9ebb7154455e9a9a79f74156746692e527184.gif

^lol

The bottom line is John is happy. We didn't pay his bill and some of us are more upset about it than John is.

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My 7 year old daughter is literally rolling around on the floor laughing over this right now!

I find John Irelands posts quite interesting, if not thought provoking and have no problem with how he determines to have his 996 serviced it's money, you can't take it with you when go I have my own variety of interests and doing the work that I can on my own car is one of them I meant no offense, only to entertain

it is question of value not economy percieved value is real - if playing golf at your muni is enough great but alot of people want to play at their private golf club that costs them $120k before they even play one hole. money is well spent if it improves the quility of your life Some times I stay at the four season but I always get the best rate I can and I ask if i can get a free upgarde. just had the oil changes at my Indy and it was about $220 but no esspresso and no hot barista

Champagne wishes and cav errr I mean beef jerky dreams. Is a swatch watch considered a classic?

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I did flush with Pentosin dot4 $12, $12 for new ignition switch from Napa auto 2x 5qt jugs of mobil 1 from wallymart $52 plus hengst filter $12 from pelican Yep - you can really drive those costs down with a bit of fairly simple dIY

Auto Gallery is VERY customer-centric, and it's a great place to get serviced! You pay dearly for that, but it's a good experience with peace of mind! And hey - they wash your car and give you cool cars on free loan! So John - what kind of awesome rides did you get??

Actually I prefer to wait for my car. If it was all day or overnite I'd take a loaner but so far that hasn't been necessary. I take my laptop my newspaper and a book. I stretch my legs and kick the tires and slam the doors in the showroom and on the lot. And I introduce myself to the staff when we interact, try to remember their names, etc. My 996 is acknowledged among some of the mechanics as a really nice example...996s don't show up there very often these days and I think they enjoy seeing the earlier cars that are well cared for. I tracked almost all my Alfas and so I had a lot more contact with Indies...maybe that will be my future with the 996 as I get to know the car better. My DIY stuff was mostly setting tire pressures, tech inspecting the car and jetting the carbs (vintage race cars), using tail pipe and spark plug color and seat of pants and lap times to tell me how close I was. But the bottom line is that I'm a driver. The time a car is in the shop is agony to me.

Well, John is fine with paying dealer prices. For a lot of 996 owners (not on rennlist), this is MO. Dealer cost of 996 or any other aging super-car servicing is high, is this a surprise to anyone? No, 996 can't be ran on the Toyota budget. John is unapologetic about his taste and financial habits, for that alone it is entertaining to read his posts and his perspective. He is the complete opposite of a lot of 996 DIYers here.

I track my '99, so don't take it to Auto Gallery - just too expensive for all the work we do. They say they do race tuning (but they really don't). Have a '14 Cayman S. I take it in for warranty and ....some...stuff...so not much - but they always treat me great! (And I DO go for the loaner!!!

I spent a lot of my life doing all of the work on all of my cars by myself; I no longer have the time or the inclination and can find more fulfilling things to do with my spare moments. To be honest, the Dealers and good Indys over here are not a whole lot different in pricing, and the real reason I started going to Indys was because there was a 3 week lead for a minor service booking. I have used 2 very good Indys due, in the most part, to moving house from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. The service I receive from the Indys which I have frequented is far more personalised and much more on demand. It will always remain up to the individual how he chooses to spend his money ...and that's a good thing!

Enough of this class warfare! Some can afford and prefer the high end and enjoy the "benefits". Others focus on achieving value, or at least their perceptions of value, which usually means lower costs. The reality is that such differences have very little to do with economics. relinuca

It raises an interesting point though. Just how much extra are you willing to pay for the so-called "luxury experience". yeah, I'd prefer not to have my car sold from or serviced in a shanty, but do I really need a barista and a digital tech center or whatever bull**** they put into these dealers nowadays. Maybe its just me, but I'll take a less fancy dealer building that services my car correctly and at a good price (I diy almost everything, but if I were taking it in). In fact, I feel this new "all dealers must look the same" corporate directive is lame and needlessly raises costs. Mercedes is really bad about it.

I have Mercedes/AMG as well (x3), but never go to the dealer. Neither does my 996, I have a good factory trained indie for both. I enjoy doing the things I can do myself, but will use my guy if I don't have time or if it's outside my skill set. It's not a money issue, just what makes sense for me. I don't feel like I get superior service at the dealership. If I did, I 'd take them there.

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You forgot the 7 figure salaries for the managers and the 6 figure salaries for the sales guys They have a cost of doing business that is THEIR choosing. You want to pay inflated prices so some slick haired owner can drive his Bugatti, feel free. Me, I'd rather save my $$ for me

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Can't wait to hear about the epoxy coating on Johnny's garage floor. You know...the garage attached to the house. The house in Malibu. The one overlooking the Pacific....

The only epoxy coating is on my wife. The garage floor belongs to the condo HOA and they don't allow working on cars on the premises...or even washing them. So 9 times out of 10 I take it to the DIY car wash. I thought four grand was a lot of money...but not really for doing deferred maintanence on a 12 year old high performance car. Everything costs more these days...except maybe flat screen tvs. The cost of a new Porsche 911 compared to a 1975 model shows the same level of inflation that housing does. My wife's family bought a house in 1963 for $33,000 and it is now on the market for 3 million. My mom smoked Camels when I was a kid...23 cents a pack...you put a quarter in the machine and each pack had two pennies under the celephane. First class postage was about 5 cents...movies were 75 cents... gas was about 23 cents. My brother-in-law bought his used 356 B Roadster for $1,400 in 1970. He'll sell it this year for about $180,000...maybe a little more. I doubt the Auto Gallery is any more expensive than Rusnak or McKenna or Walters or any of the other dealers in Southern California. If I was really rich and wanted to **** away money I'd be paying retail for a new GT3.

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This just made my day, great line!

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Post of the Week!! I am pissing myself laughing at that!

I am in 7 weeks., later here is the cost... $ 930 registration / sales tax $ 135 oil change $ 1.30 light bulb engine $ 200 misc: jack w/ jack stands - repair manual

I am about 7 months in as well, but my car had no deferred maintenance - part of why I bought it! Let's see - my costs: $900 - used 997 wheels and tires $300 - stereo w/ BT, Infiniti dash speakers $260 - GT3 shifter handle and boot $70 - oil change $100 - misc parts needed to repair oil filler tube found cracked $0.10 - prorated cost of electrical tape and silicon compound used to fix cracked vacuum tube hiding behind air box (found when replacing oil filler tube) $2.00 - brass fitting to replace terrible plastic union design for AOS coolant feed (broke while replacing oil filler tube) $10 - coolant $25 - fuel filter $20 - air filter I think that's it. roughly $1700 Car doesn't really need anything currently. Plugs were done not long ago, transmission fluid, pretty much just drive it at this point. 105K miles. Clutch and IMS done at 90K. '99 C2

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Hey, if they can still do that and stay in business; they are living the American dream! ...as are their customers.

I have had mine maybe 3-4 weeks - so far only the iSimple bluetooth thing installed $100. Works great. Plan on doing all i can, myself.

Wow, $350 for oil change is astronomical! Have had mine since June and I'm in it for about $4K. Done: IMS, RMS, clutch, PSS tires, oil pressure sending unit, plugs, 3 oil changes, cooling fan resistor. Pending Preventive: Convertible top hydrolic oil replenish, water Pump, serpentine belt, tensioners, AOS, coolant tank/reservoir. (What about chain guides? Should I think about them? How much?), and at some point shocks and brakes. Pending Upgrades: Gundo Hack

I bet they use Mobil one 0w-40 as well, What is the labor rate 250/hour or something?

Was at the Houston Porsche dealer last Friday and overheard one of the service managers quote $350 for an oil change. So much for the location driving a premium on the expense.... I have owned the car for about two months and still smile everytime I walk up to the car and open the door. I did change the oil (about $150 for a case of DT40, new Mahle filter, and an LN drain plug), engine and cabin filiters, and replaced the front tires - about $500 so far. The wife hasn't started to complain...yet.

Hey, I found a picture of Auto Gallery's barista:

This is me!

...an' he's smilin' 'coz that's not his money!

I'm gonna be out that way in July on "holiday" with the family visiting some of the higher brow regional attractions. I think I have to add Auto Gallery to the list to partake of some of this finery and have one of those fancy coffees. Does anybody know if they're close to Knott's Berry Farm or that Ripley's place or that wax museum they got out there? Do you think they can change the oil on my rental minivan? Do they have a kid's play area?

This forum cracks me up... every single day!!

Richest man in the world goes hard, and he got the red button too. A.M.G. - "Go Hard Like Vladimir Putin" с переводом [Made by K1TV] - YouTube

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Many places in L.A. do in fact have a "ball pit," but I suggest you evaluate this in person before leaving any children behind.

I year cost of ownership 12500 miles driven list of Mods, PM and regular maintenance items Straighten 2 wheels $250 4 tires $1000 new key $325 complete audio system $3500 Custom exhaust $1000 Plugs, filters, IMSB, AOS, RMS, Coils, brake fluid flush & clutch $4200, Expel clear Bra $750, o2 sensor $250 3 oil changes $550 most of the $$ spent was unnecessary or anticipated when I purchased the car.

That key is pretty cheap...is it new or pre-owned?

New at the dealer - I will look at the receipt- it might have been a bit more

..

I have occasionally used the dealer for repairs. This is how I envision the service manager sees me when I pull into the service drive.

^Gator, that's how everybody sees you. Whatever happened with the Panamera?

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Sounds about right - I paid $361 for new key and programming at dealer. I wouldn't call that cheap, but it is less expensive than in your neck of the woods. Just so you can compare, and I get that money is not the issue here, but since you questioned the price of a key..... OEM motor mounts $340.00 for the pair OEM oil pressure sending switch $61.25 Total time to swap mounts and switch if done at the same time about 1.5 hours, with time for coffee. Not Judging - I'm guilty of spending stupid money all on my own on things other than cars.

Dude you got fleeced!!!

...like daddy said money don't spend itself.

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Yeah, Imo bought an entire running 996 for not much more than what Johnny spent on a couple of oil changes and a spare key. Seriously - I remember it from a couple of years ago. And if I remember correctly, his brother got a similar deal a few months later. Hey Imo, you still workin' on that steak? You are? OK, then I'll be right back with your check.

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WOT? 100bux for an oil change?

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Hi...I also chased other things...vintage watches and cameras and fine art. I was joking about the key price. As for Dealer hourly rates vs DIY I think it is apples and oranges. The nearest VW dealer's shop rate is $200 an hour so I'm betting the Porsche dealer is between that and $250. Some people seem to assume I'm wealthy. The fact is that in 2002 my wife and I decided it was time to organize our lives for the second sixty years. For a multitude of reasons both our jobs/careers were winding down and future options were not on the horizon. It was time to down size. We sold our home, paid off all debt, bought the condo for cash, and settled into a tasteful but common sense life-style. At the age of 72 some extra cash floated in the window. I missed my earlier car days. The choices were keep my daily driver and pick up a second car as a toy...or buy a car that would be both in one. The 996 fit the bill. I am far from wealthy...but I am very fortunate. Now another question...there is a stunning looking black on black 02 turbo (62k miles) on ebay with a buy it now price of $36995. Greater Chicago Motors is the seller. Would love to hear your thoughts on it.

I really do not understand why the majority of responses to J's thread are blasting his spending. Let the homie do his thing. John's big pimpin' and he wants us to know this...keep doing your thing player! We know you have the cheese for it! BTW, I'll again be taking the 996 for a spirited drive up the HWY to wal-mart soon for 2 of those 5qt M1 0w40 @ $25/ea. I'll take those in to my indie's race shop and he will charge me $100 labor and include a full inspection (about 2x a year). Once I visited the dealer (aka "sdealer") and they were at $179 labor in addition to my oil. My indie doesn't have a dime a$$ barista but they have some sick GT3 seats that are modified to be used as a waiting chair. No WIFI, but some cool race parts that I'll never get tired to look at. I'll take that waiting room over the espresso's..but that's just me. Keep that money going John...and do keep us posted!

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Well, the one we were looking out was great but it just wasn't the right color. We are still searching for a white one with the right options. Of course Mrs. Gator has now been in the new Range Rover Sport and is eyeing that. I must agree...it is pretty damned nice.

For what it's worth...I bought my first 996 from Greater Chicago Motors. They are simply brokers and have no interest in helping you with a PPI. It was like pulling teeth getting them to take the car to Midwest Performance. But the sales guy was great at buying me free lunch and shots at a local whiskey bar! Ireland is at a different point in his life which is why he chooses to spend his money the way he does. No offense John, but at your age there isn't time for bull****, it's get it done while you can. I get it and if spending a little money gets you there faster, then do it! Beware of forum trolls!

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I can't imagine why? In my experience the only people who go out of their way to let you know what they have, either have very little...or used to have a lot. I'm not saying this is your situation, but like DT said several posts ago, there is a common theme in your threads. I do have to give you props though. Your threads usually turn out to be epic and they are a great Sub Forum for the GWIT996 Thread. Carry on

Johnny good boy, you should keep your car a long time and write a memoir about it. Not just about the car but everything around it like the dealership experiences and all these wonderful colorful characters here. That would be a great read some day.

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He's the closest thing to a Kardashian that we have in here.

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...but we like Johnny, don't we?

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Johnny, Hurdi, KK and others - we love 'em all. It would be very boring in here without them. Plus, I think that's what sets this forum apart from the others - we can poke fun at each other without getting butthurt. Johnny's a great sport - how many of us would take the ribbing he has and come back for more? When you start taking yourself too seriously, that's when you end up with a forum like the 996TT forum. There are a couple of tools on there that just ruin it - way too serious and confrontational. By the way, I just learned that anything over 50,000 miles is HIGH mileage for a 996TT. Not average. High. SMH. When I buy my ~100k mile turbo, do you think I'll be an "accepted" member of that group?

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I will accept you but you better hurry and buy prices are on the rise. 50k is broken in and ready to run.

Seriously? 50k is high milage on a 996tt? Is that just because of what dealers will pay to buy it? I can't imagine any modern engine, Porsche included, not to be more than able to turn 100k without issues...and 150k should be more like it. Certainly track time creates more stress/wear on a motor but that should be well within the ability of a modern Porsche engine. In my Ferrari Club days I was always shocked at how people didn't drive their cars out of fear of adding miles...instead they would just walk around the car with a glass of wine and talk about it. But to actually drive the car was like having sex with an ex-wife.

Thanks Atrox. Obviously you aren't one of the two I'm talking about over there. As a guy who doesn't even have a 996 of any type at the moment (much less a TT), I'm mainly just lurking because I don't have an informed opinion. I'm betting on the come that the prices will come back down when we get out of spring fever and into the fall, although I'm not against buying something if the right car comes along now. Would just like to get something in guards red or speed yellow and will take one with around 100k miles if it's got a great maintenance history with stuff already fixed. My theory is get a high-miles one in the low $30s with a bunch of the inevitable repairs already done as opposed to buying a low-mileage one (check that, an "average" miles one, you know, like with a whopping 25,000 miles) in the mid-$40s that will need that stuff fixed in the near future. Plus I don't have odometer stress when I rack up a bunch of miles on it.

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Recently bought an '02 with 74k miles for those very reasons. Mechanically solid, couple scratches that indicated to me that someone actually drove the car, and a whole lot of life ahead. My 40th was fun til I killed it, but the TT is amazing.

How about this guy on Vancouver Island who bought his 1st Porsche (black TT Tip) in 2011 with 9k Kms. Four yrs later, he has over 150k kms and still loves driving it up and down the island, rain or shine. Saw the car 3 wks ago at a PCA meet, it looks good, well cared for and used exactly as Ferdinand expected it. Now that impresses me!

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For that sort of money I would expect them to know my name vs you trying to remember theirs! With this one and the "what do you wear in your Porsche" your definitely looking for it. I totally get that not everyone likes DIY, but $350 for an oil change on a car of this value and age defies belief.

I'm just going to say that people make choices based on what is a priority in their life and their life circumstances. There are those that rather be a grease monkey rather than pay a dime for labor, those that are sort of in the middle, and those that want to wear a white shirt and dorp off the car and pick it up when it's ready. Why? That's up to them. Maybe they enjoy a little bit of elbow grease. Maybe they don't have the patience to fiddle around with things on their car. Maybe they get paid more to work during that time than the labor rate at the dealer. Maybe it's women. And maybe it's health and wellness. Hmmm... sex vs. grease monkey. I'll take sex. I'm a sort of a middle kind of a guy. I say to each his own. What we should realize is that to John, something else is much more valuable than spending an extra $250 on oil change, irrespective of whether that's tangible or not; that's admirable IMO.

I don't think anyone is arguing DIY vs paying, it was more that $350 for an oil change is alot

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FYP

I drove my 67 GTB4 FERRARI from Nutley New Jersey to Los Angeles the day I bought it. The guy said he thought it would make it so I left. This was about 1982. I just turned 40. Had a bag of coke to help enhance the trip. It was a great trip. I had the car restored the following year, rarely ever drove it again, to nice and worth to much. Ended up selling it mainly because of a huge profit and it wasn't fun anymore. If you just look at em it sucks. The 996 is a better car for me. Mine is nice but it aint worth much. It looks great and it's fun to drive and thats what I do with it whenever I feel like it. I don't picture getting rid of it. I learned a lesson from the Ferrari and don't want any more cars that are worth so much it makes driving them seem crazy or that you gotta be rich to keep em running.

I have done sand to sell you

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I don't think anyone including me has said it isn't a lot of money. That is the rate at any Porsche dealer in Los Angeles. I could certainly have spent less doing it myself or having an indie do the job. For right now I want a by the book factory dealer service history on the car. And I am willing to pay the additional money for that. No different with wrist watches. Have a Patek Philippe serviced by the factory it will easily take up to (and sometimes more than) a year and can cost two or three thousand and more depending on parts needed. If you sold the watch there are people who would pay a premium for that service history. And for others it makes the watch even more keepable. And no I don't own a Patek. And yes (unless a 993 at the right price turns up) I am planning on keeping the car. Just driving to a local restaurant for dinner tonight I kept smiling at how good the car feels and sounds. You don't even have to be driving fast. Just feed the throttle and let it wind out, drop down a gear as you take the familiar turns leading home.

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Sometimes people talk about things because they are enthusiasts and enjoy sharing these things with other people. If you love machines, watches and cameras and cars have a lot in common.