mmm mmm v.nice
not worth the extra debt tho fella, would rape you on petrol + tyres, let alone services
Perhaps I can enlighten you to the joys of Porsche ownership.
Take two cars...a well tweaked S3 and a standard C4S.
I had my S3 3 1/2 years from new.
I did 13500 miles in it, in that time.
In that time, with me driving and my driving style, it had wrecked 2 sets of standard front discs (one standard, one grooved), 2 sets of pads (standard and uprated) and the best of both the discs and pads of the Brembo GT Jr kit I fitted were used.
In that time it had worn out the standard 17" wheels, the remainder of a half worn set of 225/40/18 Pirreli P Zeros and a full set of 225/40/18 Avon ZZR2s (or some such thing)
It had failed it's first MOT on 1 worn out bottom ball joint and needed 3 x suspension bushes changing - all to pass it's first MOT.
Average fuel consumption was 25-27 MPG.
The clutch was iffy at best...and the gearbox 2nd to 3rd synchro was well past it's best.
I had my 996 C4S 3 1/2 years from new.
I've done 13500 miles in it, in that time.
In that time, with me driving and my driving style, it has used 1 pair of rear tyres (which to be fair, suffered 3000 miles round Europe at high speed and 18 laps of the 'ring)
Fronts are just below half down.
It's had a full set of discs and pads front and rear - pads all worn out, front discs worn out and rears half worn and corroded (the 'ring didn't help here)
It passed first MOT with no sign of any bush wear (I was laughed at when I asked if any of the bushes were worn..."Its a less than 10 year old Porsche. I don't think so" was the reply)
Average fuel consumption was 20-25 MPG.
The clutch is perfect.
Servicing costs are about the same...Audi vs Porsche.
The Porsche holds more oil...the S3 wore more stuff out.
So...you do the maths.
My C4S, even with the worse fuel economy, costs no more to run than a tweaked S3 when driven the same way, on the same roads by the same driver.
Which would I rather drive (or have parked on the driveway)?
It's not the S3.
Damian, this whole credit crunch is ********...
It only bothers people who could barely afford things in the first place.
If you can afford it, remember this:
Used cars are worth very little...you may get a good chunk off the C4S.
Nobody's buying at the moment...which makes a deal on finance likely.
You may get a great car with money off and the remainder at a decent rate, just by brass necking it.
If you want it...and can afford it...now seems like a great time to buy up expensice metal. There are deals to be had..
Don't let the running costs put you off...modern Porsches are reasonable to run, all things considered.
) running costs are (relatively) reasonable. For most people a car like that is only ever a pipe dream, so if you are genuinely in a position to do it then do it! You only live once, and even if you only keep it a few months, you will never regret it I'm sure.
