Owning a 996 without a garage...

As I consider whether or not to get a p-car. I am left with the fact that I live downtown and don't have a parking garage or any place secure to park my car. In my building, we just have an open parking lot. I've been reading alot about cars getting keyed and dented and it has me concerned. Previously I had a BMW and didn't treat it any differently then normal. Things happen, but I never got keyed or anything peculiar. I'm a little more worried about a 996 because its not common around here. Are my concerns about parking a 996 out in the open justified or am I just paranoid?

Where are you?

Downtown Little Rock. Yeah, its not a big city like Detroit or something but we do have high crime rate in the area.

I would try and rent a garage. Leaving a 911 on the street all the time is asking for trouble, I think.

I couldnt sleep at night personally- I actually waited to buy my first p-car until I had a 3rd stall to put it in as my wife wouldnt give one up for my "toy"

I live in downtown Chicago, and I park my car outside, overnight sometimes. If you see nice, clean cars parked on the street outside, then you shouldn't have to worry. That said, if you really want a Porsche and don't want to worry about getting keyed, make sure you have good insurance coverage and then just don't worry about it. Weigh the extra insurance costs against renting a garage. Nothing is worth losing sleep over, however...

I live in a nice neighbourhood with virtually no crime and I wouldn't park it or my Jeep outside, even here. But I have OCD I think :>

I don't blame you. I don't have OCD yet, because I'm young, but I've been working on it BTW, I prefer to keep mine in the garage as well, not to mention not letting any valet guys drive it. If had to choose between owning a Porsche parked outside or not owning one at all, I'd choose to own one.

Depends on the area so use your best judgement. If it's a area where spots are tight and the Porsche might get dinged/scratched or bumped into, I'd avoid it.

buy a cheap 996 with lots of dings, scratches.

The car should be safe now that the Clintons are living in NY. Unless Gore comes through on his campaign trail and decides your 996 is a threat to the environment.

I park my 996 and my Cayenne outside (see my avatar!) No issues. Would I prefer a garage? Of course. Do I lose any sleep? No. Let's remember its just a car. Someone damages it, don't care so long as my family is safe.

Yikes, my car never sits outside. You should be shot.

Seems to me like your car is sitting outside in your avatar picture!

The points he earns for daily driving his car is offset by the abuse. Hey, it's a good thing these things are reliable enough to leave them outside, right? We don't need no sissy cars that have to be parked in the living room.

Don't worry about it. Drive it and enjoy it.

Well, let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to buy a Porsche that didn't live in a garage. You can usually tell an un-garaged car by how discolored the black is UNDER the wipers. You have to ask yourself, would you buy a $70k to $90k and up car without a garage? I wouldn't. Cause that's most-likely what the car was worth only a few years ago..

owning a Porsche without a garage is kind of letting your kids sleep in the street!! I don't know why but I can't let my P sit outside at night! While my X5 sits outside every night and I live in SOCAL...so the worst that can happen is a little bit of rain..... Remember Porsche is a german everyday driver and I don't think that it really matters much.....

R U CRAZY. No Garage, No 911

what this man said you guys treat your cars like they are the only thing that matters. i mean i do to to a certain extent, but at the end of the day, its still a car. a 90k car that depreciates everyday!!!!

You saw what happened to my car sitting outside!! Yikes.

Just get full coverage. And dont get too attached. I know the last part is a stretch.

Look, I really do agree with you. If I bought a $90k new car, you'd better believe that I would not only keep it in the garage, I would use a diaper to dust it daily, not to mention keep every single receipt and perform all maintenance on time or early. And I would never redline it until if was FULLY warmed up. But even if I do all that, my $90k car just lost $10k the fist 5,000 miles I drove it. After 5 years, it would have dropped to 1/2 value. Leaving a car outside, with all the receipts and records present would not drop the value down much below a garaged car, if at all! These Porsche bodies are some of the best made cars. Just visit the 911 forum where I hang out, and you'll see pictures of these 20 to 30-year-old cars with original paint jobs that looks amazing. Further, many people on Rennlist are buying used Porsches, which, if left outside would drop in value far slower than any new car purchased, weather it be a Honda or Porsche. I bought my car for $16,900. It is 20 years old and has 122,000 miles. I daily drive it, even when there is salt on the road. I know, that is wrong to do to a Porsche, but I will not lose more than $1000 when/if I sell it. That is a small price to pay for the purpose of the car: to enjoy it. And how can you enjoy it if you don't buy one due to lack of garage? Defeats the purpose, IMO.

There is an ideal way to get attached, IMO. I try to attach myself to the Porsche brand, the Porsche people, the Porsche philosophy, the Porsche design, not the car itself. That way, I have all the fun, and if some ******* pulls out in front of me and wrecks my car, I can always just get another one Hopefully, there will always be a Porsche around for us to drive

As long as no one driving buy can associate your car to your home...that is worse. Last thing you want is being perceived as rich, and getting burglarized while being home. I'm a fan of "get insurance and not get too attached to it". Better way to live IMO . thanks, Amir

The only thing that makes me hesitant to tell you to not worry about the car is the fact that you are worried about what may happen. Door dings and other occasional bumps and bruises will happen. They happen even when you have a garage. They are a product of normal use. Count the cost. If you cannot live with these realities I say get a beater or find a garage to park her. Personally, I think, in time you will worry less and except the very very occasional booboo as a part of life. I know I have. My fiance regularly drives my 911 to work when I need the SUV and I don't even think about it...I did when the car was a pup though! I say get it, drive the Shizza out of it and park it where ever. It will take a lot of door dings before you regret the purchase....plus you can pull most of those babies out!

well put

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My car had a garage until it got pushed outside by my friends Z06 (tupperware POS), then he got a M3 and this was a lot more liveable with me. My car is holding up quite well staying outside for almost 2 years, it looks the same as the day I got it. If you think about it, if you daily drive the 996 and park at work uncovered, it is almost exposed to the elements as much as a garaged car. (Sunlight wise, snow and ice is different) I bought the car while living with friends not thinking about "do I have a garage to put it in", I couldnt help it, I had to get it no matter what at the time. FWIW, knock on wood but I dont lock my car and all I have had stolen was a leather jacket, I figured if they want in, they will get in through the window by breaking it.

Interesting philosophy, kinda makes sense. In Chicago, the best advice I've ever gotten was, "don't leave anything in the car, not even a penny." I learned that after my friend's window was smashed. He left a really old pair of shoes in the back seat, and $0.43 in the exposed ash tray. Now, I won't even leave a tissue box in my car.

in chicago also, and have learned my lesson also! not gonna say what i lost but it pretty much hurt the bank account. not in 911, older cars.......

[QUOTE= not gonna say what i lost but it pretty much hurt the bank account. .......[/QUOTE] Pictures?????

Well, it looks like the problem for me is solved! I bought a house this weekend!! Now I can't afford a p-car because of the 20% downpayment and closing costs. But I will have a garage. I guess I can't win

You still might be able to afford one. The 996 can run into the $30,000 range, but an older 911 can be in the $17,000-$25,000, while a 944 can be $5,000-$15,000. For these older cars, figure on $1000-$2000 per year in maintenance costs.

944 can be from 1k(parts car)-15k(low miles garage queen, S2 or Turbo)

I edited my above post to include the 944 price range from $5,000-$15,000. I hope that's more accurate.