996 Turbo - clutch life expectancy?
996 Turbo - clutch life expectancy?
Author
Discussion

mrobbie

Original Poster:

46 posts

233 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Hi

I'm looking at getting a 996 Turbo. I've found one from the local Porsche centre, 2002, manual, 38k miles.

The car is still on the original clutch. Dealer says the car passed all checks including clutch inspection prior to being offered as a Porsche Approved car.

However, I have a couple of questions...

1) What is the average life (in miles) of a clutch on a 996 Turbo?
2) Is a clutch covered by the Porsche Approved car warranty, or is it a 'consumable'?
3) What is the typical cost (incl labour) to replace a clutch on the car? Although I am going to be in Dubai, UK price is fine to work with (unless someone has UAE price info?)

Anything else to look for on the car before comitting?

Cheers
Mike

sportsandclassic

3,774 posts

249 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Hi

1)average life expectancy....this is difficult to say as everyone drives differently but from my experiece i am changing clutches at around the 30k miles mark.
2)Is the clutch covered under the warranty....no! unless pressure plate explodes and is a mechanical failure.
3)Average cost of clutch replacement £1400-00

Hope this helps

Mike

sports and classic ltd

USS Bozeman

1,084 posts

253 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Mine is still going very strong at 35k miles, friend of mine had replaced his only once in 60k miles.
I have had the car the majority of its life and never do full bore starts or ride the clutch or slip the clutch, so I do look after it which I am sure helps.

rich1231

17,340 posts

291 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Mine went at 24k miles I think..

And I thrashed the car.. alot

BLKROKT

755 posts

238 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Mine is just going now at 27k. I launch it a lot.

egbert

449 posts

252 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Tell them to put a new clutch in it and you'll buy it. Otherwise you'll be doing it yourself within 6 months.


Silver993tt

9,064 posts

270 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
mine (well, a 993 turbo) still had loads of wear left in it when I changed to the LWF a few weeks ago. I bought the car with 33k and now has 53k. Mechanic said that it was probably still the original from the factory, so I reckon I would have got at least 70k out of it based on how much was left and how many miles I had already put on it smile

dazren

22,612 posts

292 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Mines still going strong on the original clutch at 35k miles. No traffic light grandprix starts but the car is driven quickly.

Ballcock

3,855 posts

250 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
dazren said:
Mines still going strong on the original clutch at 35k miles. No traffic light grandprix starts but the car is driven quicklyyes.
Good grief , I'm surprised you're not on clutch no. 3 at least wink

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

244 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
I was amazed when my old c2 went in for an rms change that the clutch didnt require replacement despite 55k and it being a 51 plate

i find i am very easy on the turbo clutch. being 4wd there are never going to be any wheel spin antics and there is so much power to harness that it is much better to get the power down once traction has been established.

horses for courses though. a car you drive gingerly may not have had such a nice time at the hands of its previous owner.

the first turbo i test drove was a 52 plate from an opc with 55k on the clock. after the dealer had given me the usual and expected anal px shafting, we got down to the business of discussing the car

i indicated that i would only ever be prepared to buy the car if it had a new clutch and new disks and pads all round.

they declined suggesting "the car undergoes a through check. anything that needs doing is done" yeah right. they refused and i walked away.

bluesatin

3,115 posts

303 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
I think mine is on original clutch at 39,000. I drive much slower than Daz!

dunnred7

274 posts

262 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
my old car had done 76k on one cutch 'twas abit heavy tbh, but still worked just fine !!

mrobbie

Original Poster:

46 posts

233 months

Tuesday 12th June 2007
quotequote all
The car is at the dealer in Dubai, as I am moving there shortly. From speaking to a friend there, 39k miles will be tough due to the traffic - you end up crawling most places. This must be why there are so many tip cars over there!

They won't replace the clutch as they have inspected it and say it is mechanically fine. But yes, I feel I will be replacing it within a year of purchase. And with it getting close to the 48k service, that would be an expensive 1st year, even assuming everything else went ok.

Think I may keep the eyes peeled for others, poss/prob even a Tip model... For similar money, I can get a 997 C2S which may be a sounder, but slightly slower, idea.

Thanks for the advice so far.

M

thegoose

8,077 posts

241 months

Tuesday 12th June 2007
quotequote all
In case you didn't know, the turbo clutch is servo assisted, so should always be very light (and hence lighter than a C2/C4). If it feels at all heavy then it will only get worse.