The Porsche community is one of the biggest and most active in the automotive world. Millions of fans and owners all over the globe race their cars, tune them, enter the classic car events, use them for daily commutes, or just drive them for the sheer pleasure of operating a precision driving machine with unparalleled performance and feel. But, what is the one thing that connects all those enthusiasts, other than love for the brand from Zuffenhausen? You're right, it's the constant concern over the maintenance, parts, and repair costs.
Does this mean that Porsche models are prone to breaking? Quite the contrary, Porsches are widely considered to be very dependable cars with quality ratings well above the competitors and one of the very few sports cars that can achieve trouble-free high mileage. However, due to the specific technical layout, numerous unique parts, flat-six engines and tight packaging, Porsche maintenance was always somewhat of a challenge. To properly maintain these advanced machines, you must first thoroughly understand them mechanically and then approach them with precision and respect for the engineering. That is why there are so many horror stories involving inexperienced Porsche mechanics, and every self-respecting Porsche owner is looking for a trustworthy and skilled mechanic to take care of their treasure.
Are Porsches Expensive To Maintain?
The topic of Porsche maintenance is also essential for future Porsche owners who are looking to get into Porsche ownership. Most of them have heard stories about extremely expensive repairs, factory recalls, discontinued parts that are costly to source or mechanics that make mistakes. People who browse the classified ads and find cars that are almost too good to be true need to know that the old saying "the most expensive Porsche is the cheap one" is probably true. Neglected or poorly maintained cars might be affordable, but getting them in decent shape is always very expensive and demanding.
That being said, it is obvious that Porsche maintenance, parts supply and quality are probably the most crucial topics amongst the Porsche fans. It is equally important for current and future owners as well as for those who restore or sell them. There are several approaches to Porsche maintenance. Over the next few paragraphs, we'll give you the general guidelines and advice and help you find the best way to keep your Porsche in top mechanical condition.
How Much Will Cost To Maintain A New Porsche?
When you buy a brand-new Porsche in the UK, you are covered with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. This will cover the complete vehicle, drive train components and electrical systems. Interestingly, if you have any genuine Porsche accessories installed after the purchase, they are covered by a 2-year warranty after installation. For current models, Porsche suggests maintenance intervals of 20,000 miles (12,000 miles for high-performance, GT models). After the first 20,000 miles, the Porsche recommends an oil change, tyre rotation, brake pads, and basic inspection. The oil change prices can vary from £200-350 (GBP) depending on the exact model you own, what kind of oil you need, and the labour time. After you have covered 40,000 miles, another oil change and brake pads are recommended. The exact interval for replacement of the brake pads depends on how you drive, whether you track the car and what kind of brakes you have. The overall cost for this maintenance item can vary from £400-700 (GBP) (parts and labour, depending on the model).
However, at 40,000 miles, Porsche suggests an extensive maintenance list, which includes oil change, brake fluid, fresh engine coolant, transmission fluid, new air and fuel filter, and a new set of spark plugs. The majority of these are not expensive or complicated to swap, but spark plug replacement will be costly if you own a 911 or 718/Cayman. Extensive labour time is required to access and replace the spark plugs on the flat-six (or flat-four) engine layout. A complete 40,000-mile service could be north of £2000 (GBP). At the 40,000-mile mark, you could also be getting ready for your third or fourth set of tyres (depending upon how you enjoy the cars performance!). After the first three years of ownership, with average and sensible usage, maintenance calculators show that the yearly maintenance cost can be a little over £1000 (GBP), which is still acceptable considering Porsche cars' performance, technology, and prestige.
Maintaining An Older Porsche
When talking about the maintenance costs for older Porsche models, we are going to define the 996 and 997-generation 911s, 986 and 987-generation Boxsters, Caymans, and early Cayenne or Panamera models as falling into this category.
From an owner's perspective, there are three directions which you can take to maintain these. You can take them to a Porsche dealer or independent local Porsche specialist, or you can even try the DIY approach.
Maintenance cost and prices will vary greatly, regardless of the choice. Obviously, the official Porsche dealers will be the most expensive, with an independent Porsche specialists being a much more sensible choice. DIY will be the cheapest as you will only be paying for parts and all labour costs are completely removed.
Our advice is to consider the independent Porsche specialist, not just because they are cheaper than the dealers, but they're also brand specialists, experienced in maintaining a your specific model and will use OE or OEM parts. Often their expertise is as good as the official Porsche Technician, in some cases even better. If you've found a busy independent garage with dozens of Porsches parked outside, that are changing on a daily basis, then you can be confident that your Porsche will be well looked after.
Are Older Porsche Models Expensive To Run?
Using a base 997 generation Porsche 911 as an example, let's review the servicing costs and give you an idea of just how affordable an independent Porsche specialist could be.
For a major services, which will include oil and filter change, air and pollen filter, and thorough check and testing, an independent specialist will charge typically you around £450 (GBP). New spark plugs will set you back around £200 (GBP), and the drive belt will be around £120 (GBP). A brake fluid change will be less than £100 (GBP). Front disks and pads will cost £525 (GBP), and rear disks and pads will set you back another £470 (GBP). An air con service will be just over £100 (GBP). One of the best things about independent garages is that they'll competently tackle all maintenance, repairing items quickly, cheaply and generally invoicing you in accordance to their fixed price Porsche servicing plan. A common problem with older 911s can be IMS and rear main seal failure. Replacing the stock IMS with a more durable aftermarket unit will be less, around £800 (GBP). Your independent garage should advise you that further labour charges can be saved if the IMS and rear main seal replacements are combined with a clutch change. A knowledgeable independent Porsche specialist can also suggest quality aftermarket parts and components which will bring your Porsche maintenance costs down further. Some even offer to check for bore scoring (another serious Porsche issue) and perform a pre-purchase inspection for around £375 (GBP) - a small price to pay to avoid much more expensive repairs later. They can even remap fuel injection systems and offer suspension, brake or exhaust upgrades.
How Much The DIY Porsche Maintenance Will Cost?
Although Porsche is not the most DIY-friendly brand in the world, with the right tools and time, the enthusiast owner can perform most basic maintenance procedures. This is the most affordable way to maintain your Porsche; your only concern is sourcing the spare parts. Thankfully, we at FrazerPart are dedicated to offering only the best OEM Porsche parts and components at affordable prices. DIY owners have our full support.
Amongst the maintenance you can do yourself in your driveway are oil changes, brake pad replacement, wiper blade replacement, air and pollen filter replacement, brake rotor replacement and so on. You can even change the spark plugs if you have enough time. For example, if you own a 996-gen 911, the set of 3.4L OEM spark plugs will set you back less than £50 (GBP), while the matching 996 Beru branded ignition coils (set of 6) will cost just over £130 (GBP). Front brake pads cost £50 (GBP), while the rears are £26 (GBP). The oil, air and cabin filters are typically around £10-12 (GBP) each for quality OEM examples.
If you are mechanically inclined and you have some experience, there is no reason why you can't maintain your Porsche yourself.
Of course, despite being tempting, fun, and affordable, the DIY approach has some downsides. Some of the more challenging procedures, such as removing the engine completely, replacing the IMS and rear main seal, major suspension repairs, and changing the clutch or exhaust, does require serious space, plenty of time and some specialist tools.
Why Maintaining A Classic Porsche Is So Expensive?
When it comes to classic Porsche models, the official Porsche dealers are unlikely to have all the necessary expertise to maintain your car. Often, their technicians are not trained or sufficiently specialized to be able to work on the classic machines (air-cooled 911, 928 and 944 models). In most cases, the main dealer technician wasn't even born when the classics were in production in Stuttgart!
In this instance, a reputable independent specialist is the best choice, especially those who are experienced in maintaining and restoring such cars. The car's value plays a major role in choosing the maintenance approach. Valuable air-cooled 911s, rare 928 S4s and similar models will be expensive since they require rare parts and knowledgeable mechanics. On the other hand, anybody can repair the simpler 924 and 944s.
Professional maintenance for sought-after classic Porsches is expensive, but those cars are rarely driven as far and as often as a modern example. They're generally always stored in near ideal conditions too, so a 12,000-mile service for 928 GTS, costing £600 GBP, will last for years! Replacement front and rear discs and pads for this model will cost over £1300 pounds, but, since such a prized possession will see a few (very careful) miles annually they may last a lifetime.
Naturally, if you are confident in your mechanical and electrical skills, you can perform the maintenance on your classic Porsche. These cars are straightforward in their layout, rewarding and more accessible to work on. You can remain reassured, that FrazerPart are here to support you with all the parts and spares you'll need.
Conclusions
Proper maintenance is the key to happy ownership, not just in the case of the Porsche models but in any vehicle. Due to specific technical concepts, unique parts, and service procedures, Porsche gained a reputation for being expensive and tricky to maintain, which is not completely true. When you opt for smart maintenance plans, reputable specialists and trustworthy parts suppliers like FrazerPart, you will see that maintaining a Porsche is not that scary. It goes without saying that neglected and poorly maintained models will always be a money pit, and they are the reason for such a reputation. Let that be advice for all future and current Porsche owners. If you want to have a trouble-free Porsche ownership experience, always look for cars with complete service history that were maintained properly. If you are a Porsche owner and want to increase or keep the value of your vehicle on a certain level, meticulous maintenance is the best way to do it.
