996 Turbo v C4S running costs comparison
Discussion
I thought it would be interesting to compare how much (or how little) extra a Turbo would cost to run(assume comparing a manual 2003 model with 72k) - where I've pit question marks is where I'm seeking others' knowledge
Purchase price: about £6-£7k more
Insurance: +10-20% ???
mpg: Turbo perhaps 1mpg worse???
Servicing: +10-20% ???
Tyres: same size but Turbo wears 10-20% quicker
Risk of major engine failure: [see other threads]
Brakes: same
Clutch: same???
RMS/IMS: same???
Suspension parts: same
Rads: frequency same, 20% more cost???
Parts not model specific: same
What else would cost more to repair on a Turbo as a result of more expensive/additional parts or reduced lifespan ???
Purchase price: about £6-£7k more
Insurance: +10-20% ???
mpg: Turbo perhaps 1mpg worse???
Servicing: +10-20% ???
Tyres: same size but Turbo wears 10-20% quicker
Risk of major engine failure: [see other threads]
Brakes: same
Clutch: same???
RMS/IMS: same???
Suspension parts: same
Rads: frequency same, 20% more cost???
Parts not model specific: same
What else would cost more to repair on a Turbo as a result of more expensive/additional parts or reduced lifespan ???
m3evo321 said:
Why is there all this paranoia regarding 996 and 997 gen1 engine failure?
Yes some do fail, yes more fail than we would like but look how many thousand were produced- they are great cars .
Nothing lasts for ever
Missing the point somewhat. Nothing lasts for ever, but something that is well maintained should not suddenly and without warning self destruct and reduce it's value to near zero, without concern for mileage, either.Yes some do fail, yes more fail than we would like but look how many thousand were produced- they are great cars .
Nothing lasts for ever
It's just a lottery where you hope your numbers never come up.
Re running costs - I have spent some ££ on my Turbo, but the only thing that has been Turbo specific was replacing Turbo studs/nuts and bumper heat shields, gaskets, and an oil feed pipe. The total in parts cost was appx £200. So in reality no biggie, everything else I replaced is shared with the C4S. Rads are the same too, FYI.
In my mind any additional costs are nothing compared to the free engine insurance you get.
Budweiser said:
dank said:
Buy turbo
Drive turbo
Enjoy turbo
Smile lots
End.
I do that with my C4S. In the real world, unless you drive like a total tDrive turbo
Enjoy turbo
Smile lots
End.
t the NA car is every bit as good. Heavier, yes, slower, yes, less fun on the road, not really. Track is a different, I'd take the turbo...I bought a turbo, because I wanted to own a turbo. The C4S is very nice (probably the best looking 996), but it delivers it does have the engine reliability concern and for that reason alone the turbo makes more sense to me. I don't drive like a t**t but it's nice knowing when I want to overtake I've got that extra acceleration.
For track it would be a GT3 or probably a Caterham R400 (as they're easier on consumerables).
Didn't suggest you do. A to B in real world driving the turbo wouldn't cover the ground much quicker than a C4S or most other Porsche's or other modern vehicles for that matter. Good forward planning would, in most cases, make overtaking in either quick and enjoyable. Plus I prefer the sound of the NA engine with the PSE....
The turbo is a great car but so is the C4S for different reasons...
The turbo is a great car but so is the C4S for different reasons...
Dave Thornton said:
Hoping just to discuss the difference in costs here, not the 90bhp difference.
I also wonder if C4S values will continue to be +10% on a C4 (and slowly decline) but the Turbo will bottom out at £25k for a very good example?
The difference in values of the C4S and Turbo has widened in the Turbos favour in the last 18 months or so.I also wonder if C4S values will continue to be +10% on a C4 (and slowly decline) but the Turbo will bottom out at £25k for a very good example?
This will continue. I am very confident of that.
996TT02 said:
Re running costs - I have spent some ££ on my Turbo, but the only thing that has been Turbo specific was replacing Turbo studs/nuts and bumper heat shields, gaskets, and an oil feed pipe. The total in parts cost was appx £200. So in reality no biggie, everything else I replaced is shared with the C4S. Rads are the same too, FYI.
In my mind any additional costs are nothing compared to the free engine insurance you get.
The above pretty much sums it up.In my mind any additional costs are nothing compared to the free engine insurance you get.
Other than the actual Turbo's, the two cars are pretty similar. Same suspension, brakes, hydraulic and cooling piping,alternator, pumps etc.
The big extra costs on the Turbo as mentioned above, is around the exhaust bolting. If you have a problem with the turbo casting during removal and one of them cracks, that's new Turbo time.....Ask me how I know
You've also got the oil pipe work, actuators etc.
Just about everything else is as per the 4S.
If you can, go for the TUrbo. I came from just over 4 years of very happy Carrera motoring into a Turbo. The Turbo does absolutley everything the Carrera does, but when you want the extra bit of oomph, it's there.
Dave Thornton said:
Hoping just to discuss the difference in costs here, not the 90bhp difference.
I also wonder if C4S values will continue to be +10% on a C4 (and slowly decline) but the Turbo will bottom out at £25k for a very good example?
No experience with the NA 996 but my Turbo has been a bit of a money pit.I also wonder if C4S values will continue to be +10% on a C4 (and slowly decline) but the Turbo will bottom out at £25k for a very good example?
Since coming out of a 2 year CPO warranty back in June of 2011 with around 60K miles on the car I have had to have the power steering tank replaced (to quiet a very noisy valve that squealed): $1000+; new spoiler: $2000+; RMS: $1700+; water pump/t-stat, radiator fan motor, front diff axle flange seals: $3000+.
At around the 110K mile mark, when the transmission was out of the car for the RMS the tech (and I) inspected the clutch. The friction disc had no measurable wear. That is I measured the dimension from the friction disc surface to the flanged rivet and measured 1.7mm which is the new disc dimension. The disc is considered ready to replace when this measurement is 0.3mm. The only clutch related hardware the tech replaced were the 2 small needle roller bearings that support the clutch control shaft.
Tire life is very good. One set of rear tires: I can't recall now if they were Bridgestone or Continental; had just about 23K miles on them when one picked up a nail and forced me to replace them. The one with a nail had 3mm of tread left and thus qualified to be replaced free of charge courtesy of the road hazard coverage I bought when the tires were installed new.
I do not track the car but do drive it rather spiritedly though not all the time. I do keep the car properly aligned which isn't hard and doesn't require constant fiddling with the alignment though I am careful when parking the car to avoid even bumping the curb stone with the tires. (The real low air dam at the front keeps me stopping well back of curbstone. The front air dam costs around $400 and one encounter with a curbstone or even a dip in a driveway entrance can take it out.)
Gas mileage is lousy around town, dropping into the 'teens say 15mpg or a bit lower on occasion when the car spends a lot of time in town ferrying one of my elderly parents to the doctor, medical lab, pharmacy, etc.
I bought the car for long distance driving and on the open road with a delicate right foot it can deliver 26mpg for tank after tank while cruising at 75mph or faster.
Oil/filter get changed every 5K miles. The rest of the consumables get taken care of on schedule or a bit sooner. I've already had the transmission/diffs fluids changed twice and the engine is on its 3rd set of spark plugs.
The car is a blast to drive and it is hard to not use it every day. The car is very comfortable though its ride is a bit harsher than than that of the Boxster. (18" wheels vs. 17" wheels.)
I have my Boxster to drive but the view out the Turbo is better and the power of the Turbo is rather intoxicating. I mean I keep the thing in check but on the highway passing is a breeze. Just dip the right foot and the car is around slower traffic in no time with no drama. 'course if I want the drama it is just another inch of gas pedal travel away.
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