Potential Downsizing

Ok, this may not make much sense but I am trying to make things work here and save on the super high price per mile costs of the 911. I just set up my new company office in a location that I can no longer commute in a vanpool. Hence, I must do the driving myself and I plan to do so in my old trusted MY 99 C2 Cab. It is about 140 miles daily and I am afraid that the operational costs will make it so that I might need to downsize my P car to maybe a Boxster S of maybe MY00-03. If I was to do this, the budget would allow significantly more spare $$$ to accomplish some mods that I have not been able to do with the 911. I would probably supercharge it so that I wouldnt miss the performance as much, etc... So the question is mostly for the former Boxster owners now driving 911s. Will I be able to save much at all beyond the entry price of the car? Is it worth it? Fun factor I assume is still intact as I have a little time behind the Boxster wheel. Are items like insurance, tire replacement, maintenance roughly the same? I know that this scenario will raise some 911 feathers but we gotta do what ya gotta do.

The Boxster S is an outstanding car, and arguably far more of a sports car than a C2 Cab. The operational costs should be nearly identical. The only money I expect that you will really save is the delta between the costs of the vehicles themselves, although part of that will be eaten up in transaction costs.

The only cost I see being different between the two are tire prices. Highway miles are easy on a car.

Well it sounds that if I am going to go broke then, I may as well do it in a 911!!! The two additional seats also help with a couple of the rugrats occasionally too.

I do about 75 miles per day in a C2. I had to switch to BFG KDW2 for the wear factor. They are definitely longer lasting and fine for commuting. By the time you get out of the 996 and into something else it probably wouldn't be worth it unless you go for the economy car. Something like a VW TDI.

Dude, if you are going to slog through 140 miles a day of god-awful Virginia traffic, buy yourself a nice trusty beater for the job. Do you know how much depreciation you'll get on a porsche with 140,000 miles on it? Buy a cheap older acura for the ride, it'll save you a lot more in the long run.

You can't be serious can you? Life is way too short . . . The guys who put the most miles on their Porsches win. Their miles per dollar of cost -- not to mention overall enjoyment -- is far higher than the owner of a garage queen. Besides, Porsches, unlike many more exotic brands, are actually meant to be driven on a daily basis. If you want a garage queen, go get a Ferrari, a Lambo, etc . . .

Why would the maintenance cost of a Boxster with basically the same motor and transmission be different from a 996?

i am never watching my milage for fear of depreciation. i do, however, try to keep the miles down for wear and tear issues. rebuilds aren't cheap, even top end jobs

I love to drive my Porsche, but in traffic 140miles per day.....maybe not!! I would get myself a nice BMW X5 or a Cayenne...comfy and quiet sitting high up. If it would be 140 miles no traffic....and all highway.....the 911 is the only way to go...but that would only happen in the perfect world!

Well actually, the traffic is going to be thru what today is most back, open, country roads. My thought was that the 911 on great days would be the only choice, using expensive rubber was my biggest concern though. The maintenance for the most part, I enjoy doing. I have had the garage queen P cars before and this is why I wanted this Cab w/Tip I might add. To drive it! On crappy days, I will opt for the 944S and if I do well with the company, the Cayenne is definitely in the future. If anyone operates motorcoach, transit, rail vehicles or even an RV and they want to pimp out their ride with A/V gear, let me know! You can help with the payments! Thanks for all the comments.

TD's got it covered. Ops cost will be about the same, and only difference would be in finding a deal on an S, and pocketing the difference in price. My argument to my wife justifying a move to a 911 (993) was that it "has a back seat". . She really missed the Boxster, and so did I, which necessitated a move to the 996. Much familiarity, with a heck of a lot more oomph! (and bigger backseat )

We used to do 125 miles a day on a 01 996C2... F the miles and depreciation. Now we do it 1-2 days a week, commuting. If you are doing backroads in virginia, i would totally keep the 911 and drive it until it breaks. I am almost envious! Where in va do you drive? I grew up in Vienna, and went to UVa.

I've been putting 100 miles on the 911 for a few months, and it's really becoming, well, expensive ($400 in gas last month, $600 for servicing, insurance, etc.). I see a beater Miata ($2500!) in my future, for work driving... going to use the 911 for everything else.

The drive is from western Spotsylvania County (west of Fredericksburg), to Gainesville. The roads will be two lane, some twisty but mostly roads that are taken at a good rate of speed. No stop and go. As mentioned by Justinmm2, the cost is there it just boils down to how much fun do I want to have why I have to commit to a 70 mile, one way commute. Your comments have convinced me to move forward with the 911. The 944S will be for bad days and if I cant do it (financially), then I will buy a beater pickup or something. Thanks again for all the comments.

I've got one of each. The only things you will really save on are purchase price and fuel. My Boxster gets significantly better gas mileage (makes sense it's lighter and has a smaller motor). Maint. cost are about the same (the 911 is marginally higher). Fun to drive? They both produce tons of smiles!!

thanks to all posters. i think my mechanicanic was having a REALLY bad day, moving his shop into bigger and more expensive quarters the day i called. so, we move forward. any 996'ers moving up and interested selling their nice coupe to a fellow rennlister? if so, please pm me at: [email removed] thanks bob