996 Build quality
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My 996 has just done 142k now. Apart from a few rattles I have to say it doesn't drive like it has done that many miles. Same tiptronic gearbox, same diffs and wheel bearings and No oil leaks now the bellows have been done. You sometimes read the forums and can get quite worried - my only real complaint is the ease by which other people seem to be able to knock my doors whilst at Tesco! So I wonder why spend another 20k for a face lift one - because I can't find a car I like the look of more or the driving more rewarding. She is now up for sale at £23k if anyone is interested - I think I will be buying a facelift one now
The 'poor quality' issue I think could be fuelled by some of the really long posts you see on some (un-named) web sites that go on and on and on and on about, in particular, engines going bang, rms failures and suchlike......[8|]
The press soon pick up on issues such as these and hey presto they have a story. One berk was even going to go to Watchcat or some such televisual extravaganza which would have really put the cat among the pigeons. Then 'poor build quality' could have been front page news.
Now you are all indignant at the car's bad press! Ha
]
Serves us all right![:-]
The paint is hardly Porsche's fault methinks - isn't it something to do with EU legislation of solvents??? Haven't manufacturers gone over to water based evolutions of paint??? Haven't all manufacturers got similar issues???
As for my old 996 I cannot think of a finer car, (apart from my newer 996). Yes it had lots of issues when I bought it but I am sure that was down to the previous owner... After getting all the little bits and pieces fixed the only thing I had give up was the lower suspension bush wotsits. Door slammed shut with a very satisfying thunk in my opinion....
The press soon pick up on issues such as these and hey presto they have a story. One berk was even going to go to Watchcat or some such televisual extravaganza which would have really put the cat among the pigeons. Then 'poor build quality' could have been front page news.
Now you are all indignant at the car's bad press! Ha![
] Serves us all right![:-]
The paint is hardly Porsche's fault methinks - isn't it something to do with EU legislation of solvents??? Haven't manufacturers gone over to water based evolutions of paint??? Haven't all manufacturers got similar issues???
As for my old 996 I cannot think of a finer car, (apart from my newer 996). Yes it had lots of issues when I bought it but I am sure that was down to the previous owner... After getting all the little bits and pieces fixed the only thing I had give up was the lower suspension bush wotsits. Door slammed shut with a very satisfying thunk in my opinion....
Michael Downing
New member
The problem is that this is a question of opinion. Last time I sat in an Audi, I didn't like it. Nothing I could put my finger on, I just didn't. If anything, it felt cheap. Sorry and all that. My 996 is an entirely different matter - that makes me smile even without starting the engine.
I'm glad you like your Audi, though. Maybe we're after different things.
What worries me about build quality issues is if there is something hidden that proves to be substandard. If the cabin is cheap and flimsy then I'll spot that before I buy and change my mind. If the engine has a propensity to blow up without warning and without warranty then I have no opportunity to see that when I decide to spend the cash.
What irritates me is that there seems to be this myth of 996 unreliability that is at variance with what I see in my own car (admittedly not statistically valid!) but which also seems unsupported by the real world experience. It rather reminds me of the absolute hell we went through deciding whether to give our children the MMR vaccine. I suspect that the 996's success is the problem; having sold so many, quite a few have gone to people who are not car buffs and do not look after them, do not watch the garage floor, and do not look into odd symptoms. Combine that with a problem like the RMS and you have a situation with some enthusiasts suffering (hello Bernie) and some non-enthusiasts kicking up a fuss about why their expensive toy has gone bang.
(Fingers crossed that I do not have to eat my words)
I have had several Audis in recent years, and I would agree that they have created the perception of better build quality through their attention to detail and materials used in their interiors. In fact, in this regard, I would rate them above BMW, Mercedes and Porsche.
However, Audi still can't build a decent driver's car.
Michael Downing
New member
Speak for yourself. I've looked at plenty of Audis over the years and it has always been the interior that put me off, to the point where I didn't bother test driving them.
But that is purely a matter of opinion - others may (and do) disagree. And that is no reflection on them (or me). Build quality issues are about hidden defects in the car that we do not choose to accept.
Guest
New member
Actually, the remark was tongue in cheek and intended to be read as a whole in conjunction with the closing comment.
Now that I look at it, I should've joined the two together with dots and maybe added another 'smiley' in amongst it.
I do however remain remorseful, since I realise I have commited a cardinal sin on this board...to concede another marque is better. Sorry.
[&o]
Now that I look at it, I should've joined the two together with dots and maybe added another 'smiley' in amongst it.
I do however remain remorseful, since I realise I have commited a cardinal sin on this board...to concede another marque is better. Sorry.
[&o]
Michael Downing
New member
Sorry - had just returned home, hadn't been driving the 911[:'(], long day[:'(], sense of humour not yet engaged.[:'(]
::[click]::
[]
Any better now?
::[click]::
[
]Any better now?
Hmmm, would that be on the basis of sports car looks, or driveability
Firstly I would point out , I'm happy as a pig in s*$t with my porsche, which I have in preference to an Audi.
However, I have driven my friend's Audi RS6 and believe me it has immense power and stunning road holding. A wolf in sheeps clothing I admit, but where it counts it is very much a decent driver's car. It seems pretty well bolted together as well [
]
Guest
New member
Hi, just got back from Spain.
I guess I should go on and on about my engine and gearbox problems but I won't. Not this time.
My 996 took me 2800 + miles to Spain and back and had to put up with some grueling roads and
it was certainly driven extremely hard. It never once gave me any problems.
Fingers crossed my nightmare problems are over now and I vouch for the 996 being extremely reliable.
I will add though that my previous car, an Audi A6 2.5 quattro was the most reliable car I have ever owned.
I drove it 165,000 miles from new and it never had a squeak out of place.
I guess I should go on and on about my engine and gearbox problems but I won't. Not this time.
My 996 took me 2800 + miles to Spain and back and had to put up with some grueling roads and
it was certainly driven extremely hard. It never once gave me any problems.
Fingers crossed my nightmare problems are over now and I vouch for the 996 being extremely reliable.
I will add though that my previous car, an Audi A6 2.5 quattro was the most reliable car I have ever owned.
I drove it 165,000 miles from new and it never had a squeak out of place.
Michael Downing
New member
Glad to hear you're back with no snags, Berny.
mwadams
New member
Just add my $0.02, I am really not into the interior thing on these cars, to be honest I don't like the 997's interior it looks to ricer for my liking, but I suppose it will grow on me eventually.
Have always been inspired by the looks of the PORSCHE marque to be honest and if I had wanted a more grand interior then I suppose I would have bought BMW, MERC, etc
Not having owned an AUDI or driven one so I can't comment on that subject.
Have always been inspired by the looks of the PORSCHE marque to be honest and if I had wanted a more grand interior then I suppose I would have bought BMW, MERC, etc
Not having owned an AUDI or driven one so I can't comment on that subject.
Guest
New member
Follwing on from my original post, I was just reading the last few pages of my 911 Porsche World mag., feet up, cup of coffee, Hamlet cigar...then...Argghhhh!
'Your Cars' pages - guy's just bought himself a brand new 997, goes on to say how absolutely marvellous it is.
Fine. But then..."while the 997 features no radical departures, it is 80% new - and all the better than its predecessor for it"... (just had to get the dig in, didn't he)[:'(]
"80% new", now where have I heard that before. Ah yes, the 968 was 80% new over the 944. Hard to quantify improvement since it's dimensionless, but I know my 968 was never 80% better than my 944 just because some of the components were modified and therefore deemed to be new.
Just shows to go you how some people can swallow the sales hype hook line and sinker.
Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet - and a 996[]
'Your Cars' pages - guy's just bought himself a brand new 997, goes on to say how absolutely marvellous it is.
Fine. But then..."while the 997 features no radical departures, it is 80% new - and all the better than its predecessor for it"... (just had to get the dig in, didn't he)[:'(]
"80% new", now where have I heard that before. Ah yes, the 968 was 80% new over the 944. Hard to quantify improvement since it's dimensionless, but I know my 968 was never 80% better than my 944 just because some of the components were modified and therefore deemed to be new.
Just shows to go you how some people can swallow the sales hype hook line and sinker.
Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet - and a 996[
]
Hmm you must be reading last months edition......this month that guy is not such a happy bunny. He was just about to trade it in for a Maserati after only 4 months of ownership. Some problem with a spacer between the transmission and engine really got him annoyed, along with being given a KN as a courtesy car!
I remember reading in PP a few months back about a guy who bought a 360 brand new, then after a few months he was so annoyed that the stereo wasn't working and that people kept staring at him, that he took a huge depreciation loss and bought a 911 instead.
It just amazes me how fickle people can be about cars. They spend months on the waiting list, take a big depreciation hit etc but for seemingly silly reasons just get so annnoyed they sell up after only a few months. You want commitment you speak to Berny, h'es had more than enough reasons to buy a Skoda instead of his 911, but he's still hanging in there.....
To be honest If the guy in 911 and PWorld would have traded in a 997 for a Maserati then he clearly doesn't recognise a serious sports car from a disaster zone.
I remember reading in PP a few months back about a guy who bought a 360 brand new, then after a few months he was so annoyed that the stereo wasn't working and that people kept staring at him, that he took a huge depreciation loss and bought a 911 instead.
It just amazes me how fickle people can be about cars. They spend months on the waiting list, take a big depreciation hit etc but for seemingly silly reasons just get so annnoyed they sell up after only a few months. You want commitment you speak to Berny, h'es had more than enough reasons to buy a Skoda instead of his 911, but he's still hanging in there.....
To be honest If the guy in 911 and PWorld would have traded in a 997 for a Maserati then he clearly doesn't recognise a serious sports car from a disaster zone.
Michael Downing
New member
Quite right. The demonstrator I was given had a fault so serious that I had to be warned to look after the gearbox. They hadn't been able to fix it in time for me because they had been waiting for the part from Italy for a week.
Not impressed!
Their other mistake was to let me see the used car stock list. When you see it full of ex demo models at 6 months old and £15-20k off, it doesn't give you much confidence.
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