Why Porsche Cars Tend To Be Extra Expensive To Maintain

Porsche has a reputation for being expensive. The luxury brand has many models that cost well over six figures, but the true cost of ownership includes maintenance and repairs as well. A recent study from Consumer Reports found that Porsche is one of the most expensive cars to own, costing an average of $4,950 in the first five years and $12,950 the next five — a total of $17,900 over 10 years. Why is Porsche ownership so expensive? It's largely due to expensive parts, complicated layouts, and longer repairs. 

Replacement body parts for the Porsche can cost significantly more than other brands. Porsche uses more advanced and expensive materials for its parts, including the 918 Spyder's thermoplastic composite brake pedal and the Panamera's disc brake rotor, which can cost more than $5,000. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS has tons of carbon fiber components, which can cost up to $100 per kilogram. "We do notice that domestic automakers tend to have cheaper parts when repairs are necessary. And these savings translate to these upscale brands, as well," Consumer Reports' Steven Elek noted.

Another reason that Porsche is pricier to maintain is the complexity of the engine, largely due to the flat-six configuration and rear-mounted placement. The boxer engine is lightweight and flat, perfect for sports cars that need a lower center of gravity for more dynamic and spirited driving. However, the boxer engine requires double the camshafts and exhaust plumbing compared to an inline engine, as well as more suspension additions to ensure the rear-mounted placement is secure.

That rear-mounted placement can also make repairs more difficult, since it can often get in the way of other components that need looking at. Removing an engine can take four to five hours, which can add a lot to your repair bill since the average cost of labor at a mechanic is $120 and $159 per hour. Your Porsche could be at the shop even longer depending on what needs to be repaired once everything is out of the way — a transmission rebuild can take up to five days. 

Some Porsche models are better off going to a specialist even for oil changes, which could run you $200 to $600 a year on average. Tires are a common complaint, with the replacement often costing $1,000 to over $3,000 depending on the model. 

However, you can save money on Porsche repairs by using third-party parts rather than the expensive OEM parts or finding a trusted mechanic rather than a dealership or specialist.