Twist or Stick?

[roofrack996]

Having one of those annual wobbles about keeping the car that occur when the next bill is imminent and wondered what the body of the church thought? The details are:

1999 3.4l C2 in blue with grey leather interior and turbo wheels - owned for 6 yrs (3rd owner).

Servicing:

28 Oct 00 Yearly minor Carrs Exeter (OEC) 8168 Mi
22 Oct 01 Yearly minor / major “ 16760 Mi
5 Nov 02 Yearly minor “ 24086 Mi
30 Oct 03 Yearly major “ 32425 Mi
31 Oct 04 Yearly minor Motorland Saltash 39867 Mi
30 Oct 05 Yearly major “ 40756 Mi
7 Nov 06 Yearly minor “ 40993 Mi
29 Oct 07 Yearly major Porsche Zentrum Bielefeld 47974 Mi (77377 Km)

Mar 08 Replacement Engine Porsche Zentrum Bielefeld 51543 Mi (83000 km)

13 Jan 09 Yearly minor “ 58284 Mi (93855 km)
8 Feb 10 Yearly major Autofarm 65568 Mi
28 Jan 11 Yearly minor Steve Bull 68375 Mi
2 Feb 12 Yearly major Steve Bull 72585 Mi
28 Jan 13 Yearly minor Steve Bull 75630 Mi

In terms of other costs I have done new discs / pads, a/c rads, clutch, roof respray (rust due to a blocked drain plug), wipers, tyres, coil packs, handbrake cables, front coffin arms and bonnet struts.

Part of me says I have gone this far, why should someone else benefit (and probably complain it is not perfect)? I have taken the hit on depreciation over the last 5 yrs (but nowhere near as much as the first owner) and addressed all issues as they have come up. The newish engine is a bonus for me and the IMS looked good (and upgraded) when Steve Bull did the clutch. The car also has lots of family history (engagement trip to Alps, wedding car, both children brought home from hospital). It is also exactly what I need (decent power, mpg, seats in back, roof rack for bikes).

On the other side the box will need attention soon (pinion bearing and 2nd gear)which is clearly going to cost. There will always be something it seems that needs doing (stone chips, wheel refurb etc)!

Thoughts appreciated.

[Slobberchops]

Whatever you get next will probably need jobs doing and therefore need money spending on it.

[Tydeides]

6 years is a long time to keep a car.

I'm in a similar boat, as my 997 is likely to become a third car shortly, and I am tempted to buy a Ferrari.

I had an Elise for a long time, and I still miss it, but sometimes it's time to try something different. You may find the 997 a step forward.

I've spent a fortune maintaining my car, sometimes I think it would be cheaper to just buy a new one and effectively rent it for 2 years. In finance you can't base your decisions on past expenditure, it has to be future expenditure, so don't be swayed by the running costs spent to date. Porsches are expensive cars to run properly.

I'm sure you've got your man-maths abacus out. So the difficult part of your question is what are you considering in the alternative? Someone on here a while ago said there's something cool about owning a Porsche for a really long time, that's probably the main thing making me keep mine!

[James44]

Sounds like most of the predictable things are done and in theory you could have (relatively) cheap motoring for years to come.

As slobber said, not sure you'll get much more peace of mind with something else unless you go for something very nearly new.

I'm not saying you should keep it, there are many reasons for changing a car, just not sure 'risk' is one of them for you given what you have said.

J

[SEE YA]

Does it still make you smile when you drive it. If it does spend money on the upkeep.

If not sell it and find a car that makes you smile.

[roofrack996]

Thanks for all the comments - the question of what else to get is one that does stump me. Not really in the market to jump up a level (impending house purchase) and do actually really like the car. Z4M springs to mind (bit more heritage about the engine for one) but the lack of rear seats is a killer.

I also like the fact I am learning and fixing as I go (but take the point that there will always be another job to do).

I noticed the comment about keeping a Porsche for a long time as well - something EVO also commented on when they did a back to back with the other usual suspects (TVR, Maser etc)......