Should 996 ownership be this tedious?
Discussion
I have owned a 996tt for 7 months now, bought from an OPC with 25k on the clock. The heat sheilds have been replaced, the alternator has gone, rust has been repaired on the door sill, two air hoses had to be replaced and now the brakes have developed a serious judder only 150 miles of driving after coming out of the OPC garage.
Overall bill £2,100 and yet to find out what is wrong with the brakes.
Miles covered - 2,500 (mostly with a young child and mother in car - so not aggresive).
The OPC has met the costs for all these items, but I have got to the point where I don't want to drive the car for fear of something breaking. Is this normal?
I am considering selling this flimsy motor and getting a 993tt or 4s. Porsche used to mean build quality. What does it mean now?
Overall bill £2,100 and yet to find out what is wrong with the brakes.
Miles covered - 2,500 (mostly with a young child and mother in car - so not aggresive).
The OPC has met the costs for all these items, but I have got to the point where I don't want to drive the car for fear of something breaking. Is this normal?
I am considering selling this flimsy motor and getting a 993tt or 4s. Porsche used to mean build quality. What does it mean now?
micky g said:
Buy a Cerbera mate - more performance, more style, rear wheel drive handling and less costs on maintenance. (Last comment tongue stuck firmly in cheek)!
Couldn't live with a TVR. Great sound, performance etc. But they smell like a boatyard (fibreglass) and bits fall off in high winds.
andrew medway said:
I have owned a 996tt for 7 months now, bought from an OPC with 25k on the clock. The heat sheilds have been replaced, the alternator has gone, rust has been repaired on the door sill, two air hoses had to be replaced and now the brakes have developed a serious judder only 150 miles of driving after coming out of the OPC garage.
Andrew, had a similar problem with the GT3 brakes mainly on the front, one track day & much harder braking than normal & it was sorted, been fine ever since. If you've not been driving it hard, as you suggest, could be you's needs the same "fix" mine needed!
Ive had a 996tt for a year now with a minor(now cured )misfire the only problem so i think you have been a little unlucky.I have also had a variety of Porsches,993 c2s,996 4s,and a Gt3....and to be fair going to a 993 after a 996 apart from the usual "better quality,air cooled..blah blah" it is a serious step back.I think you should be giving the OPc a serious amount of grief regarding your problems and once again i would advocate buying second hand cars privately as imo, cherished,immaculately maintained cars rarely end up on second hand forecourts as a proud owner doesnt just dump his car to a crap dealer/independent bid.Check out the state of a lot of p/ex cars pre-preperation at a dealer as an example...they are unsellable privately coz they are so badly looked after,a few days with a dealer and a bit of 'tarting',posh showroom etc and you buy what you think is a perfect car.My point is maybe the dealer prepared and presented car wasnt quite what it should have been?
IMO kayc is right about buying privately, I bought my 993 last year having looked at a number of cars for about six months, some private sellers fall into the tight wad catagory but this is easily spotted, I travelled down from n yorks to london to view my car and after a few minutes of chatting to the owner and seeing the car in the metal i new this was the one i had been searching for, the moral of the story for me was not to rush into buying the first thing you see because when the right car does come along you will know in a nano second 
I'd say it's a bit unfortunate, but these are sophisticated, complex machines with extraordinary capabilities.
No one else builds a car that compares that is as usable and reliable.
Just try a Ferrari
All cars go wrong, or need attention at some point. But, for peace of mind, just keep renewing the Warranty.
No one else builds a car that compares that is as usable and reliable.
Just try a Ferrari
All cars go wrong, or need attention at some point. But, for peace of mind, just keep renewing the Warranty.
andrew medway said:
I have owned a 996tt for 7 months now, bought from an OPC with 25k on the clock. The heat sheilds have been replaced, the alternator has gone, rust has been repaired on the door sill, two air hoses had to be replaced and now the brakes have developed a serious judder only 150 miles of driving after coming out of the OPC garage.
Overall bill £2,100 and yet to find out what is wrong with the brakes.
Miles covered - 2,500 (mostly with a young child and mother in car - so not aggresive).
The OPC has met the costs for all these items, but I have got to the point where I don't want to drive the car for fear of something breaking. Is this normal?
I am considering selling this flimsy motor and getting a 993tt or 4s. Porsche used to mean build quality. What does it mean now?
Surely this would all be fixed on the OPC warranty??
If u r thinking of sellin, im in the market for a 996tt at the moment. What is the spec?
Andrew, no, 996 turbo ownership should not be this tedious. Sounds like the OPC have fixed everything they should have fixed, better late than never. When were the brake discs/pads last replaced? Have you tried giving them a few hammerings from high speed, just to clear the surfaces?
I know what it's like when you're waiting for the next thing to break, but the only advice I can give is to get out there and drive the car.
DAZ
(4+ years of running costs etc in my profile)
I know what it's like when you're waiting for the next thing to break, but the only advice I can give is to get out there and drive the car.
DAZ
(4+ years of running costs etc in my profile)
andrew medway said:
Chris,
How do you get on with your motor in terms of repairs etc? Whats your milage and the history of the car? Am I forgetting that 993 ownership is as difficult, or was my previous motor more fun to live with?
Andrew - I've had my 993 around 4 years now, I drive it every day and frankly don't worry too much about the mileage it racks up. It had done 55k when I got it and it's now done 122k. The only major costly problem I've had was the door check straps, but Porsche coughed up for 50 percent of that. It's basically bog standard apart from the RSR exhausts and chrome tips.
I've taken it to Spain, Italy, and (touching large amount of wood) it's never let me down.
I've driven 996's (never a turbo or GT3 though) and they don't do it for me. One day when I have the cash to change mine I'll re-evaluate the situation, but that won't be for a while yet. Meanwhile I'll just keep on enjoying mine
Chris
Adam B said:
Surely this would all be fixed on the OPC warranty??
if you re-read the thread it was
newbie01 said:
If u r thinking of sellin, im in the market for a 996tt at the moment. What is the spec?
made me laugh - "my car is a dog and keeps going wrong" "can I buy it?"
I don't think the car is a dog. And, as said, all matters fixed under warrenty and none major. The brakes, for example, probably need a good thrash as have done only 2500 miles from new.
My problem is I have a 6 month old son and a wife who drive almost everywhere with me, so maybee theres just a rust patch on a disc thats not being burnt off.
Like everyone says, the warranty means I havn't spent a penny yet, so I shouldn't complain. However, my frustration is that the cars in the garage alot recently and so I don't get to drive it.
Maybee I just don't need a car this powerful. Or I should track it to get the fun it could really give me.
[quote=newbie01[/quote]
If u r thinking of sellin, im in the market for a 996tt at the moment. What is the spec?[/quote]
The spec on mine is: 996TT, Basalt black, just under 28k miles standard turbo brakes, suspension etc, bose sound,etc. The other bits, aluminium trim with exterior paint finish on the interior (nice option), alacantra leather lining, climate control, auto dim mirrors, rain sensors, sunroof, bi xenon lights and probably a load of other bits i havn't noticed.
Important extras: new brakes and discs, new heatshields throughout (after a lot of threats to the OPC) recent major srvice and a new alternator.
Sorry to put this on here everyone, but theres no e-mail on your details newbie.
If u r thinking of sellin, im in the market for a 996tt at the moment. What is the spec?[/quote]
The spec on mine is: 996TT, Basalt black, just under 28k miles standard turbo brakes, suspension etc, bose sound,etc. The other bits, aluminium trim with exterior paint finish on the interior (nice option), alacantra leather lining, climate control, auto dim mirrors, rain sensors, sunroof, bi xenon lights and probably a load of other bits i havn't noticed.
Important extras: new brakes and discs, new heatshields throughout (after a lot of threats to the OPC) recent major srvice and a new alternator.
Sorry to put this on here everyone, but theres no e-mail on your details newbie.
Geneve said:
I'd say it's a bit unfortunate, but these are sophisticated, complex machines with extraordinary capabilities.
No one else builds a car that compares that is as usable and reliable.
Just try a Ferrari
All cars go wrong, or need attention at some point. But, for peace of mind, just keep renewing the Warranty.
I've had 100% reliability from my F430 in eight months and 5000 miles.
And the only car I've ever had break down on a test drive is a 911 from an OPC.
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