Can you work on your Porsche? Maybe the real question is, can the average car enthusiast do it? Can a muscle car guy or gal figure it out? It will come as no surprise to some of you that yes, you can work on your Porsche. However, the potential cost of parts and perceived difficulty to repair always burst my bubble when I fantasized about owning a Porsche.
Why Did a “Muscle Car Guy” Want a Porsche?
As a card-carrying member of the “no replacement for displacement” club, the thought of buying a mid-engine car with no ground clearance that requires the use of metric tools was anxiety-inducing. The engine is in the middle? How does that work? And you can’t roll under it on a creeper? If you bought one, how do you work on it? Maybe you should just stick to your front engine carbureted V8s, muscle car guy. Nevertheless, the more time I spent at cars and coffee and with friends who owned European cars, the more I wanted to try the mid-engine German car experience. Still, I’d wonder, can you really work on a Porsche?
Why I Need to Work on My Porsche
While I do thoroughly enjoy the experience of working on my cars, it is also the linchpin that holds my car collection together. I can afford to own multiple cars because I perform as much of the maintenance and repairs as I can myself. Having to pay someone else to work on my old vehicles would take a bite out of the budget I have for acquiring them. That would be unacceptable. Over the past year or two I had been seriously considering buying a Porsche. However, it seemed like every time I decided to start looking, I would come across an article or social media post about the cost of Porsche ownership that would scare me away.
I Finally Made Up My Mind
After a several months of rumination and some helpful advice from friends, I decided to start looking for a 986 Boxster. It was right at the intersection of “affordable” and “old enough I can work on it.” After a few weeks of looking, I found one in Virginia. A low mileage, 1997 arena red 986 Boxster. It had 3 pedals and a matching hardtop. My dad drove me down on a Friday and followed me back after I finalized the deal.
So, I had finally scratched that mid-engine, Porsche itch. However, I still had to attempt to work on it. The first test was an oil change. I did a little research online. Ordered a few things from Pelican Parts and Suncoast. Purchased a set of ramps. Then I made some time one evening to attempt a Porsche oil change. I have to admit, as much preparation as I had done in advance, I still had to run to the local auto parts store for a 3/8 drive 8mm Allen socket when I realized I didn’t have one.
In the end, working on a Porsche wasn’t that bad and I really enjoyed it! I had to buy a few tools I didn’t previously have. Backing the car on to ramps seemed a little sketchy at first, but it worked fine. Changing the oil in the Boxter did take a little longer than it takes me to change the oil in my Chevelle. However, some of the extra time needed was for recording a silly video. So, a muscle car guy changed the oil in a mid-engine German car and survived to tell the story. Can you work on your Porsche? Yes, with a little preparation and the right tools, I’m sure you too can learn to work on your Porsche.
