Author | Discussion |
bordseye
696 posts
29 months | Friday 10th July 2009 
I reckon there are two real problems with Porker engine reliability. The first is that we expect mass produced car engines (and Porkers are mass produced) to go to 100k miles with no serious problems - same thing with jap motorbikes which are more highly tuned than any Porker. So a 10% or even 3% failure rate is simply poor.
The second problem is that we have increasing numbers of people on average incomes buying what was an expensive car when new and which still has expensive repair costs when second hand. A 5k engine repair bill on a 70k new car when the vehicle is company owned is one thing - its a bit different when an enthusiast has taken out a bank loan to buy it second hand for 30k.
No shame in that. It's the reason why I didnt buy a Porker but got a Lotus instead. Got the cash to buy the Porker but not the income to ba able to shrug off repair costs.
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tedwheelup
1 posts
14 months | Wednesday 22nd July 2009
Bordseye
I agree with you're point.
I myself have owned a 1998 996 c2 for nearly 3 years cost me 23.5k and have spent at least 12k in 3 years!!!
I do not have a huge income but make personal sacrifices to own and maintain a car i should not really be able to afford!!!
Unlike the people i work with who have holidays abroad and sky tv i do without. My choice!!!!
I have had a few problems with my 996 but to date no catastrophic engine issues yet (crossed fingers).
All to often people purchase a car without thinking of the running costs.
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GT2Dan
49 posts
83 months | Thursday 23rd July 2009
1 x C4S. 2003. owned for 6 months. no issues.
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M@verick
223 posts
48 months | Monday 27th July 2009
51 reg (2002 MY) 996 C4 3.6
Owned for 3.5 years, no engine problems whatsoever. RMS was "weeping" for a bit, so had it replaced for peace of mind (and not much cash if memory serves) by the good people at Camtune when they did the clutch. To my knowledge this is the second RMS replacement my car has had in her life.
Other than that its cost less to maintain and been off the road less than the S2000 i previously ran. (but then the engine never exploded on that either, so its not really very meaningful data i suppose).
R.
(editted because i cnat sepll)
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Brown.815
48 posts
17 months | Tuesday 28th July 2009
just got my 996TT back from the garage after having the air con condensors replaced and oil seepage investigated. I was told I had 3 or 4 very small seal leaks which could be done by a rebuild. (£4,500 worth!!!!) I spoke to the engineer and he said its not a big problem as long as i dont burn/loose more than a litre of oil per 1k miles and i can stand the drips on the garage floor! its intermittent so im not massively concerned at the moment, any advice?
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mmalbon
34 posts
92 months | Monday 3rd August 2009
bordseye said:
The second problem is that we have increasing numbers of people on average incomes buying what was an expensive car when new and which still has expensive repair costs when second hand. A 5k engine repair bill on a 70k new car when the vehicle is company owned is one thing - its a bit different when an enthusiast has taken out a bank loan to buy it second hand for 30k. I know what you're saying but don't entirely agree. Engine rebuild isn't really a normal running cost, it's a bit of an exception and would be expensive on a Nissan Micra. I recon running costs such as servicing, insurance, spares prices, on 996s aren't that bad, even for a 20k car. Also, service costs for a 996 should be about the same as a Boxster as they're mostly the same (especially engine-wise) and Boxsters are a 30-odd K car when new, similar to a Lotus in price.
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G3M
3 posts
13 months |  Friday 28th August 2009
Hi all - I have a 2003 996 C2 (bought 2nd hand from a Porsche dealer 18 months ago). I have been reading your comments on the engine reliability. Mine has just gone with the same bearing problem that has plagued so many others. I have been quoted by Porsche 10.5K for a new engine and they won't consider a goodwill payment towards the costs as they feel that at 6 years old with 88,000 miles I have had fair use of the car (and I should have bought an extended warranty.) I find this unacceptable especially as my most of my household appliances are older and still working! This is not wear and tear and certainly 6 years use is not what I would deem "fit for purpose" as stated in the Sale of Goods Act 1979. I have spoken to 3 Porsche specialists who say this is a common fault and one of them has 5 waiting for the engines to be rebuilt.
So do you think I am being unrealistic in expecting my Porsche to outlast my fridge? Porsche should pay out.
Or do you think tough luck, 6 years is more use than you got? I should just pay up and shut up.
Your feed back is appreciated.
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ScienceTeacher
44 posts
22 months | Monday 31st August 2009
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Dave 500
1334 posts
79 months | Monday 31st August 2009
G3M said:
Hi all - I have a 2003 996 C2 (bought 2nd hand from a Porsche dealer 18 months ago). I have been reading your comments on the engine reliability. Mine has just gone with the same bearing problem that has plagued so many others. I have been quoted by Porsche 10.5K for a new engine and they won't consider a goodwill payment towards the costs as they feel that at 6 years old with 88,000 miles I have had fair use of the car (and I should have bought an extended warranty.) I find this unacceptable especially as my most of my household appliances are older and still working! This is not wear and tear and certainly 6 years use is not what I would deem "fit for purpose" as stated in the Sale of Goods Act 1979. I have spoken to 3 Porsche specialists who say this is a common fault and one of them has 5 waiting for the engines to be rebuilt.
So do you think I am being unrealistic in expecting my Porsche to outlast my fridge? Porsche should pay out.
Or do you think tough luck, 6 years is more use than you got? I should just pay up and shut up.
Your feed back is appreciated. I don't think you will get very far tbh the only thing that might go in your favour is if its had full Porsche service history. Also if you can't get the full amount see about a contribution towards the bill. Good Luck
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G3M
3 posts
13 months | Tuesday 1st September 2009
Have spoken to Porsche specialists who are quoting @ 5K for rebuild, much better BUT why should I have to pay? Thanks Dave my car does have full service history and I did speak to them about a goodwill payment but they said it was outside the 6 year period to be considered for it and I should have bought an extended warranty. Its only 4 months outside the 6 yr period and who expects the engine to go because of a known fault! Anyway I now have a bee in my bonnet and called a lawyer who says that if I can prove this is an inherent fault (Which it is) then Porsche could be in breach of contract. i.e. car must be fit for purpose.
Watch this space.......
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fastfreddy
2872 posts
74 months | Tuesday 1st September 2009
G3M said:
Have spoken to Porsche specialists who are quoting @ 5K for rebuild, much better BUT why should I have to pay? Thanks Dave my car does have full service history and I did speak to them about a goodwill payment but they said it was outside the 6 year period to be considered for it and I should have bought an extended warranty. Its only 4 months outside the 6 yr period and who expects the engine to go because of a known fault! Anyway I now have a bee in my bonnet and called a lawyer who says that if I can prove this is an inherent fault (Which it is) then Porsche could be in breach of contract. i.e. car must be fit for purpose.
Watch this space....... If you decide to go the legal route, it will be a long and potentially very expensive exercise. Porsche will not admit anything is wrong with their products and you're going to find it very difficult to prove they knowingly sold you a car which was unfit for purpose, based on a component in the engine failing after 6 years. I'm not saying this to put you off, but think carefully before you decide on this way of handling the problem. What might be better to do at this stage is employ an independent engineer to inspect the engine and parts and produce a full report on what they find. This will cost you a few hundred quid and it's money well spent. You'll have to do this anyway if you decide to send the lawyers in and it may show up something which strengthens your argument early on in the process. HTH
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G3M
3 posts
13 months | Tuesday 1st September 2009
Hey Fast Freddy, thanks for the response. I agree that Porsche are not going to accept this however they have made goodwill payments in the past for this which implies it is a fault they are aware of. Also I have legal cover with my insurance so costs will be covered by that IF I can prove there is a defect. Next stage is getting the fault in writing from someone somewhere....does anyone know of a publication or garage they know that can provide this?
I will also get a report on the actual damage.
Cheers
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fastfreddy
2872 posts
74 months | Wednesday 2nd September 2009
G3M said:
Hey Fast Freddy, thanks for the response. I agree that Porsche are not going to accept this however they have made goodwill payments in the past for this which implies it is a fault they are aware of. Also I have legal cover with my insurance so costs will be covered by that IF I can prove there is a defect. Next stage is getting the fault in writing from someone somewhere....does anyone know of a publication or garage they know that can provide this?
I will also get a report on the actual damage.
Cheers PM sent!
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nellyandruby
41 posts
14 months | Wednesday 2nd September 2009
fastfreddy said:
G3M said:
Have spoken to Porsche specialists who are quoting @ 5K for rebuild, much better BUT why should I have to pay? Thanks Dave my car does have full service history and I did speak to them about a goodwill payment but they said it was outside the 6 year period to be considered for it and I should have bought an extended warranty. Its only 4 months outside the 6 yr period and who expects the engine to go because of a known fault! Anyway I now have a bee in my bonnet and called a lawyer who says that if I can prove this is an inherent fault (Which it is) then Porsche could be in breach of contract. i.e. car must be fit for purpose.
Watch this space....... If you decide to go the legal route, it will be a long and potentially very expensive exercise. Porsche will not admit anything is wrong with their products and you're going to find it very difficult to prove they knowingly sold you a car which was unfit for purpose, based on a component in the engine failing after 6 years. I'm not saying this to put you off, but think carefully before you decide on this way of handling the problem. What might be better to do at this stage is employ an independent engineer to inspect the engine and parts and produce a full report on what they find. This will cost you a few hundred quid and it's money well spent. You'll have to do this anyway if you decide to send the lawyers in and it may show up something which strengthens your argument early on in the process. HTH if ur going the legal route....could we pass the hat round?
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585bhp
26 posts
40 months | Wednesday 9th September 2009
Can I just say that after following this thread for almost two years now and taking all the advice and being an inquisitive 996C4 owner, (currently for sale on PH due to garageless London) i can now say that my experience of this car has been the best automotive experience of my automobile owning life. and that my two penneth is.... look after it.... roll on 997....when i get a garage.... thanks chaps
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Rayman1
1 posts
12 months | Saturday 19th September 2009
My 2004 996 with 20,000 miles (used for short commute to work, no racing or track time) experienced the dreaded intermediated shaft failure. Porsche has agreed to pay for the remanufactured replacement engine and is asking me to pay the labor + fluids ~$2,600. I am disappointed there was no recall or service bulletin when the problem was first identified. I believe Porsche should cover the entire cost.
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nellyandruby
41 posts
14 months | Sunday 20th September 2009
Rayman1 said:
My 2004 996 with 20,000 miles (used for short commute to work, no racing or track time) experienced the dreaded intermediated shaft failure. Porsche has agreed to pay for the remanufactured replacement engine and is asking me to pay the labor + fluids ~$2,600. I am disappointed there was no recall or service bulletin when the problem was first identified. I believe Porsche should cover the entire cost. has anyone challenged them in a court of any kind over this issue....?
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BertieB
16 posts
40 months | Tuesday 22nd September 2009
I've been running a 996 c2 cab for nearly 3 years as my daily runner covering nearly 20k. Not a single problem have I encountered along the way. I had Porsche Warranty for the first year but haven't renewed it...having read this thread it now makes me wonder if I should in case my luck runs out? Car is now approaching it's 10th birthday so will need to act soon!
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dom9
1438 posts
46 months | Wednesday 23rd September 2009
BertieB said:
I've been running a 996 c2 cab for nearly 3 years as my daily runner covering nearly 20k. Not a single problem have I encountered along the way. I had Porsche Warranty for the first year but haven't renewed it...having read this thread it now makes me wonder if I should in case my luck runs out? Car is now approaching it's 10th birthday so will need to act soon! Thought you could only renew upto its 9th birthday...? You may be too late there! However, it sounds like your car is a goodun, so don't worry unduly! I still think these failures are a very small minority! IMVHO
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Windymiller
1296 posts
77 months | Tuesday 29th September 2009
tedwheelup said:
Bordseye
I myself have owned a 1998 996 c2 for nearly 3 years cost me 23.5k and have spent at least 12k in 3 years!!! Be interested to hear what you spent it on if you don't mind sharing? Considering chopping the M in for a 996.
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