986 Tiptronic - A few questions

[Dave200]

I drove a 2001 tiptronic 3.2S yesterday, and absolutely loved it. I'm just waiting on the service history to be sent over by the last garage before deciding whether to commit to it (£7k, 77k miles, lady owner past decade).

However, as with all car purchases, I've done a good amount of homework and am still filled with a little trepidation regarding IMS/RMS failure. The car in question has never had this repaired/replaced, so that bothers me a smidge immediately - combined with 5yr (major) service intervals (no minor services in the history).

My questions, I suppose, are thus:
- How scared should I be realistically? I am benchmarking against a 3.0 Z4, which appears to be the most trouble-free ownership prospect in all of sportscar-ville.
- Tiptronic is absolutely vital, as I live in Central London. The car felt reasonably quick yesterday on a few full throttle bursts, but the figures suggest that the tiptronic is sapping the life out of what is a fairly high power/weight ratio package. Is the manual/auto performance differential really this high, or are the figures deceptive?
- Given that the 986 2.7 is a more logical comparison for the 3.0 Z4, is there any upside to these in reliability terms over the 3.2?

Thanks in advance.

[TTwiggy]

Can't help re the tip questions I'm afraifd, but as to the rest...

RMS is nothing (well comparitively nothing) to worry about. IMS is something to worry about but you might never have a problem. Get it changed to an uprated version and you won't have to worry any more. Can be done for a modest outlay.

There's no difference in reliability between a theorectically identical 2001 2.7 and a 2001 3.2, but bare in mind that running a 3.2 could cost more as it has a few 911 parts on it (brakes for example), plus additional cooling systems.

[Dave200]

Thanks very much for that. While I'm a dab hand with a bit of Google, are you able to please point me in the direction of IMS replacement specialists, so that I might get an idea of cost.

[billzeebub]

Dave200 said:

Thanks very much for that. While I'm a dab hand with a bit of Google, are you able to please point me in the direction of IMS replacement specialists, so that I might get an idea of cost.

Revolution, Brighouse ( definitely worth the trek north)

[TTwiggy]

billzeebub said:

Dave200 said:

Thanks very much for that. While I'm a dab hand with a bit of Google, are you able to please point me in the direction of IMS replacement specialists, so that I might get an idea of cost.

Revolution, Brighouse ( definitely worth the trek north)

I imagine that Hartech can do it too.

[Dave200]

Jeez - Leeds or Bolton. I'm really spoiled for choice. Is it something that can be done in a day or 24hrs, as I would prefer not to have two long train journeys up there.

[Evangelion]

Dave200 said:

Jeez - Leeds or Bolton. I'm really spoiled for choice. Is it something that can be done in a day or 24hrs, as I would prefer not to have two long train journeys up there.

As I'm planning to:

a) move to Lincolnshire soon,
and
b) buy a 986 when I get there,

I'd also like to know the answer to this one!

[TTwiggy]

Dave200 said:

Jeez - Leeds or Bolton. I'm really spoiled for choice. Is it something that can be done in a day or 24hrs, as I would prefer not to have two long train journeys up there.

It's usually done in conjunction with a clutch change, so yes, it's a quick(ish) job. Not sure if a tip is more complex, but it should still be done in a day I'd imagine.

[jamesogt]

Upgrade is basically a grand. Why no minors?

I have mine looked at every Spring when its MOT falls, not sure why someone wouldn't minor?

I have the same car and love it. Revolution also offer a warranty which covers IMS, could be worth the £90 a month they charge.
http://www.revolution-porsche.co.uk/porsche-premiu...