Here is something you need to know about a couple of specific Porsche models. The intermediate shaft bearing (IMS) is a weak point and much has been written about this lurking danger. Rust is a problem for older Porsches and a serious concern for all cars up to 1989, despite galvanizing. Among the spots that need to be checked are sunroof drains and windshield pillars, the trunk floor up front, floorpans in the rear, the battery tray, and just below the windows. Other trouble spots exist, so it is important to be thorough, especially on more dilapidated project cars. In a recent report from the U.K., at least one website placed Porsche dead last in reliability ratings, and RepairPal currently gives the brand a two out of five rating.
For others, it may be a mechanical obsession that results in buying a classic Porsche to restore and personalize a piece of history. Regardless of the reason for buying one key differences between machine learning and generative ai in marketing of these coveted cars, a bit of forethought should go into any decision. The late ’80s and early ’90s were a difficult time for Mercedes, too, as new competition in the personal luxury segment became international. In 1990, Lexus released the LS 400 and, on its first try, made all other luxury cars of the time look antiquated and tired. Powered by a silky-smooth V8 and equipped with groundbreaking luxury features, the LS 400 became such a threat to the E-Class that Mercedes decided to introduce a new V8 model of its own to fight back.
Power and Consumer Reports place Porsche among the most reliable vehicles overall. Given that these are established and respected automotive research firms, their ratings should carry some weight. Although the roots of Porsche lie in Germany, the sports car fascination can be experienced throughout the world.
911 GTS models provide a middle ground on price point and performance between the base and top-end models. The average cost of an oil change is around $500 and is recommended every 10,000 miles. Porsche recommends replacing the PDK transmission oil at 120,000 miles, but the service cost is $1,500 or more. Tires can cost up to $500 for the high-performance options required on some models, and they do not last very long. Lastly, service rates at the dealer range from around $150 to $200 or more per hour, so any repair can rapidly become costly.
Turbo 50 Years
The What to invest in with 10k cost for these may be more, depending on how you plan to drive the car, and the only way to get a decent estimate is to simply call and find out. The lineup will be far less complex than the outgoing Panamera to start. Buyers can select between rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the base Panamera with a 2.9-liter V6. The Turbo E-Hybird will pack a 4.0-liter V8 hybrid that pumps out 670 horsepower and rockets the Panamera from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. Once known just for its sports cars, Porsche now produces a wide variety of coupes, convertibles, SUVs and sedans.
Opel Zafira A
Cayennes, Panameras, and Macans will see depreciation typical of most luxury cars, although the 911 sees something different. New Porsche 911 models are seeing only about a 15% drop in value over the first five years of ownership versus 45% for a Panamera. The used car market is in flux, so values across the board are fluctuating, but 911s have been relatively consistent. Right now, models that are about 20 years old have fallen to the lowest levels, which means they can be picked up for around $20,000 or less. However, the values of the slightly older 993 models are skyrocketing, with sales history on Bring a Trailer showing many cars selling for well over $100,000.
Volkswagen Beetle
Upgrades include a new digital cockpit and more power to every engine variant, with the Cayenne S getting a V8, a new exterior and an upgraded chassis and suspension setup. The Taycan earned low numbers in EPA range testing, hovering around 200 miles. However, real-world testing performance places the Porsche far closer to the Tesla Model S than the EPA numbers would suggest. As with anything, online reviews will be your friend in this endeavor, but you may want to seek out owner clubs in your area and get some personal recommendations. To find an independent shop near you, PCarShops.com is a specialized resource dedicated to finding repair shops for Porsches, and all you need to do is enter your city to get a list of qualified service providers. While you might be more likely to find a Porsche owner in Teton County than in West Texas, access to the dealer is a serious consideration for anyone away from the city.
As the brand expanded production and switched from hand-built cars to serial production using mass manufacturing, its cultural cache grew as well, turning Porsche cars into something beyond mere transportation. Over the years, Porsche has produced some of the most iconic vehicles in the industry and packed in innovation from bumper to bumper. Classics from the 356 Speedster to the technological marvel that is the 959 are coveted prizes worth handsome sums — but there are plenty of other models that are far more attainable. “Turbo” versions shoot for all-out supercar performance with the Turbo S packing 640 hp and accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. The GT3 is more of a 911 purist’s model, with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter boxer-six and a manual transmission.
However, Mercedes’ development division was stretched working on the new S-Class, so the team outsourced the project — to Porsche. The 1970s weren’t a bad period for Porsche exclusively, it was a difficult time for German car manufacturers in general due to the 1973 fuel crisis, which had an unsurprisingly negative impact on European sports car sales. While Porsche looked for collaboration opportunities within Germany in the decades to come, the brand took a more international approach in the 1970s. Porsche owners tend to relish the experience of driving and are less likely to leave these expensive vehicles on a (metaphorical) pedestal in the garage.
Furthermore, Porsche supports its classic vehicles with official parts for cars long out of production, with tens of thousands of parts available. For extremely rare and special vintage models, such as the infamous 959, Porsche even offers the ability to 3D print replacement parts from the original designs. For classic Porsches, independent shop labor rates may be slightly less than a dealer, but not by 3 revolutionary top stocks to buy now much. They will also require the same oil changes and tire replacements but also need a biannual tune-up to the tune of $1,500. Further, the mechanical fuel injection used on all Porsche models from the late ’60 to the ’80s is a complex system requiring precise adjustments performed by a skilled technician.
In a contemporary context, the Porsche name is synonymous with outright performance, with models like the 911, 956, and 917 becoming icons on both the road and the racetrack. However, when Ferdinand Porsche established the company in 1931 he had no intention of building his own cars, instead taking on projects from other companies and clients. Alongside designing race cars for teams like Auto Union, Porsche’s other projects ranged from creating a mass-production car for the German people to designing military vehicles for Nazi Germany. Depending on the model of Porsche you might be interested in or capable of purchasing, its engine may be able to produce more than 500 horsepower.
- Here is something you need to know about a couple of specific Porsche models.
- New Taycan GTS models slot between the base models and high-performance Turbo models.
- Still, American cities are sprawling places, and a Porsche service center can be miles away from where you live.
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Porsche was also responsible for chassis tuning, providing a bespoke suspension setup for the project. The RS2 perfectly merged the best elements of Audi and Porsche, with the car wearing the collaboration on its sleeve. Enthusiasts might even recognize that the RS2 features components taken directly from the 911, including its brakes, side mirrors, and wheels. This business model helped Porsche in periods of financial difficulty, especially during the oil crisis of the 1970s, and after Porsche’s sales fell by 72 percent between 1986 and 1993. Over the years, Porsche accepted contract opportunities from manufacturers ranging from Mercedes to Lada, with certain collaborations leading to some of the world’s most popular vehicles.
No matter what anecdotes exist about reliability or what statistics are compiled by a research group, if you maintain your car well and take care of it, it should last. Most importantly, there is nothing like a Porsche, so you should probably forego any of that and get one anyway.
Even in a place like Texas, where much wealth comes from oil and ranching well outside the metro areas, the closest Porsche dealer can be hours away. Still, American cities are sprawling places, and a Porsche service center can be miles away from where you live. If you want an older car and have the skills to do your own work or plan to restore something as a project, you will get along fine without regular access to a dealer, except for some occasional parts. For any model more than about 10 years old, you will need to find a classic car insurer. They can write policies that account for the possible scarcity of parts and the need for specialists to do repair work. They can also make independent assessments of value more accurately than a book formula.
Nevertheless, in the late 1980s, as Porsche again faced financial difficulties, an opportunity arose from an unlikely source — long-standing rival, Mercedes Benz. The IMS Bearing is a geared shaft that runs through the engine and is turned by the crankshaft to drive the camshafts of the engine. Therefore, it is a crucial component and something that has been in Porsche boxer engines for decades.
