Encouragment needed please
Discussion
Hello All
I was the very happy owner of a 98 996 and am now better described as a terrrified owner of a 996.
Ive owned it for over a year and have tracked it in that time and did LM 06 in it all with a big grin on my face. And on the way home from LM we took the twistys and it made a good account of itself against the tivs and other exotica in my group with a non practised driver at the wheel.
However since reading all the talk about cracked heads, engine replacements and other, every time I have driven it recently I have a nag in the back of my mind saying is this the time its going to go? Is this justified or am I over reacting? I have owned a number of different types of sports car TVR etc and settled on a 911 one because of its iconic background but also because of build quality etc.
I have got my car almost up to the point where it is of a standard that Im happy with, only the body work still needs a bit of touching up here and there but otherwise is good and everything works and all rattles and squeeks are gone brake hoses are done torsion bar in the front has made improved the feel(its a cab) and one will go in the back soon. So not insignificant expense or thought. I have the warranty that was supplied with the car by Cridfords and dont see the point with the Proker warranty as ill only be able to have it for a year before its too old so will be making the time to drive my car from Surrey to Bolton to get it onto the Hartech warranty plan (which can be considered by some as crazy after all its only a car).
My question is this? Am I worrying for no reason? or am I justified in not really enjoying my car anymore because it is in fact a disaster waiting to happen? Should I act now and lose the 911 and go back to trevordom where yes it breaks but its worth that compared to how it goes?
Or do I just need some encouragement from my fellow porker owners and some good stories to read rather than bad ones?
Many thanks for your help in advance
P.S. its now been in the garage for 3 weeks as Im really that put off from driving it!
I was the very happy owner of a 98 996 and am now better described as a terrrified owner of a 996.
Ive owned it for over a year and have tracked it in that time and did LM 06 in it all with a big grin on my face. And on the way home from LM we took the twistys and it made a good account of itself against the tivs and other exotica in my group with a non practised driver at the wheel.
However since reading all the talk about cracked heads, engine replacements and other, every time I have driven it recently I have a nag in the back of my mind saying is this the time its going to go? Is this justified or am I over reacting? I have owned a number of different types of sports car TVR etc and settled on a 911 one because of its iconic background but also because of build quality etc.
I have got my car almost up to the point where it is of a standard that Im happy with, only the body work still needs a bit of touching up here and there but otherwise is good and everything works and all rattles and squeeks are gone brake hoses are done torsion bar in the front has made improved the feel(its a cab) and one will go in the back soon. So not insignificant expense or thought. I have the warranty that was supplied with the car by Cridfords and dont see the point with the Proker warranty as ill only be able to have it for a year before its too old so will be making the time to drive my car from Surrey to Bolton to get it onto the Hartech warranty plan (which can be considered by some as crazy after all its only a car).
My question is this? Am I worrying for no reason? or am I justified in not really enjoying my car anymore because it is in fact a disaster waiting to happen? Should I act now and lose the 911 and go back to trevordom where yes it breaks but its worth that compared to how it goes?
Or do I just need some encouragement from my fellow porker owners and some good stories to read rather than bad ones?
Many thanks for your help in advance
P.S. its now been in the garage for 3 weeks as Im really that put off from driving it!
look at it like this...
When you go to bed on a night - can you not sleep because your worried the roof will fall on your head?
Some engines break, its what happens when they rely on tiny explosions to make things happen, and with all the complexity, not to mention force, every engine will have something break EVENTUALLY.
Should this stop you enjoying it? no, of course not.
The Internet is an evil place - you always can find horror stories, things that have gone wrong, but rarely do you find "everythings fine thankyou".
When you go to bed on a night - can you not sleep because your worried the roof will fall on your head?
Some engines break, its what happens when they rely on tiny explosions to make things happen, and with all the complexity, not to mention force, every engine will have something break EVENTUALLY.
Should this stop you enjoying it? no, of course not.
The Internet is an evil place - you always can find horror stories, things that have gone wrong, but rarely do you find "everythings fine thankyou".
Does this help? www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=48&t=322726
I'm convinced it's mostly internet hysteria. Until a regular poster comes along with major problems, I'll continue to believe that.
Yes, there's going to be the odd problem, but they need putting into perspective against the numbers manufactured.
You're doing the car harm by not using it, go get in it and drive it (hard).
I went thru this phase as well Radron .. And I emphasise PHASE ... It sounds like you've prepared for the worst (ie , warranty , plus going to use the Hartech plan) , you've covered the bases , now get on with enjoying the car again.
Try using the car as your primary drive for a few weeks (if you can) and re-discover the joys of 996 ownership. Think how many scrotes out there would give their left whatsit
to have a car like yours.
It's difficult to use the search engine on PH to find the up-beat 996 threads , but there's plenty of them out there.
There's also a dutch guy who posts here from time to time with a boxster that's done something like 235,000 kms . He reckons treat it like a lady. Be gentle when it's cool and give it a good thrashing when it's hot!!..
NOW GET OUT THERE!!
Try using the car as your primary drive for a few weeks (if you can) and re-discover the joys of 996 ownership. Think how many scrotes out there would give their left whatsit
to have a car like yours. It's difficult to use the search engine on PH to find the up-beat 996 threads , but there's plenty of them out there.
There's also a dutch guy who posts here from time to time with a boxster that's done something like 235,000 kms . He reckons treat it like a lady. Be gentle when it's cool and give it a good thrashing when it's hot!!..
NOW GET OUT THERE!!
I'm feeling the same about my '03 986 S. I've had 5 months of niggling problems, mostly with the gearbox 2nd gear issue which at the moment is in the garage again to try and finally recify the problem. I've even been told that Porsche deny all knowledge of ANY problems with ANY 986 or 996 transmissions. Which I know for a fact is a complete lie. So now I'm left feeling a little deflated about owning what in my mind has become a ticking time bomb of potential bank busting problems. Even IF they manage to solve my gear selection problems...
Sorry, not much encouragement there!
Still, you could sell and get a more reliable car like maybe a TVR!
Sorry, not much encouragement there!
Still, you could sell and get a more reliable car like maybe a TVR!
Thanks all
its working...
Ballcock, Ill have a chat with the wife about the dutchmans strategy. :-)
I have three trevor owning friends, two tuscans and one t350. In three years the tuscans have had 5 new engines between them, an array of new clutches and various bits most recently followers and another rebuild. The T350 interestingly has had no problems at all.
its working...
Ballcock, Ill have a chat with the wife about the dutchmans strategy. :-)
I have three trevor owning friends, two tuscans and one t350. In three years the tuscans have had 5 new engines between them, an array of new clutches and various bits most recently followers and another rebuild. The T350 interestingly has had no problems at all.
Edited by radron on Wednesday 29th November 12:02
radron said:
I have three trevor owning friends, two tuscans and one t350. In three years the tuscans have had 5 new engines between them, an array of new clutches and various bits most recently followers and another rebuild.
... Ahhh Hah!! .. I see where your problem lies .. You've just been keeping bad company!!
.. .. Seriously , it really is doing the car no good holed up in your garage.
My compliments to your memsaab!!
Glad it is not just me feeling like this. Only had the car 4 weeks. Couple of issues which the dealer has been quick to rectify. The thought keeps popping up though, what if something big happens once the warranty runs out? Also not heartened by the stories of Porsche saying '...sorry sir, it's not covered by the warranty...'.
So do I get shot of her this early and lose a few grand or hang in there. Still undecided.
So do I get shot of her this early and lose a few grand or hang in there. Still undecided.
Boo !
sorry did that scare you?
Its a car. Cars breakdown & need maintence no matter if its a Porsche or TVR or anything..
Get a warranty and put money aside to pay for repairs, dont get a warrenty and put a bit more money aside.
sorry did that scare you?
Its a car. Cars breakdown & need maintence no matter if its a Porsche or TVR or anything..
Get a warranty and put money aside to pay for repairs, dont get a warrenty and put a bit more money aside.
Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 29th November 13:38
Wise advice - get that warranty - enjoy the car - it may well break one day - but you will never know when or if until it does or does not.
All Porsche's are similar - this new design of engine gives higher performance - partly becasue parts are lighter and could be afforded by you and partly because of new technology and manufacturing techniques that render it a little more difficult/expensive to fix if it does go wrong - its the price you pay for the product you want.
OK some older models will cost less to maintain overall - but some are similar and you didn't want an older Porsche - did you!
That Porsche warranty makes a lot of sense though!
Baz Hartech
All Porsche's are similar - this new design of engine gives higher performance - partly becasue parts are lighter and could be afforded by you and partly because of new technology and manufacturing techniques that render it a little more difficult/expensive to fix if it does go wrong - its the price you pay for the product you want.
OK some older models will cost less to maintain overall - but some are similar and you didn't want an older Porsche - did you!
That Porsche warranty makes a lot of sense though!
Baz Hartech
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