Pre-purchase walkaround
2015 Porsche 911 (991.1)
10,000 miles · asking $110,000
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$18,400
The 991.1 is the first electric-steering 911, a fast and comfortable everyday sports car with strong parts availability. Money goes to the usual Porsche wear items (tires, brakes, clutch/PDK service) plus a few known engine and electronics gremlins that are expensive if they hit.
The roadmap
10k → 70k mi · 12k a yearYear 1Brakes and consumables.~$3,173
Year 2The quiet year.~$3,042
Yrs 3-5Tires and the ordinary rhythm. · Brakes and consumables.~$12,135
Five years, all in~$18,400
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 10,000 miles.
Electric steering rack/column faults$760-$2,100 if not done
0typical window 20k-80k · this car: 10k, ahead of it150k mi
The 991.1 introduced electromechanical steering and some early units logged faults or needed software/module attention. Steering warning light, heavy or inconsistent assist.
PDK mechatronic and clutch wear$2,310-$6,990 if not done
0typical window 40k-100k · this car: 10k, ahead of it150k mi
PDK is reliable but the mechatronic unit and clutch packs are costly, and skipped fluid services accelerate wear. Harsh shifts, hesitation, or fault codes on the dual-clutch box.
Cylinder bore scoringpriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. Ticking or knocking noise, oil consumption, smoke on cold start.
windows from 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data · · profile researched with cited sources, review pending
1 recall + 468 service bulletins →
Recalls (verify completion by VIN)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · 14V698000
Service bulletins by area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (99) · EQUIPMENT (98) · UNKNOWN OR OTHER (87) · ENGINE (59)
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Cold-start the engine and listen for ticking or knocking from the rear before it warms up (bore scoring).
02Pull a spark plug or send an oil sample if scoring is suspected, and check oil consumption history.
03Confirm PDK fluid service history and drive through full shift range for harshness or hesitation.
04Inspect front AC condensers for debris packing, corrosion, and refrigerant leaks; verify AC holds cold in traffic.
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →