996tt big power reliability ?

Keith Calder · Feb 8, 2009

Ive been looking at some 996tt s , a couple have had 550bhp or 580bhp upgrades, just wondering how reliable these cars would be, i hope to keep the car for about 10,000 miles and dont want the engine to explode on me! best one is 55000 mile car with gt2 turbos and intercoolers ,upgraded 5000 miles ago, or should i just stick to standard car ?

John Sims · Feb 8, 2009

If you are only keeping the car for a short period I would steer away from a modified car. The market for breathed on cars is much more limited and insurance can be a right pain. Many brokers won't even quote on tweaked cars.

Most people who are interested in modifications would rather start with a standard car and sort the mods themselves. That way they know what they have. If you are unfamiliar with the nature of the modifications, and full specification, I would leave well alone. Turbo engines particularly can be encouraged to produce some spectacular power figures - for how long is very much subject to the nature of the modifications.

If the mods are one of Porsches own packages then no worries. The insurers wont recognise them as a modification and Porsche will not have carried out a mod liable to compromise longevity.

Keith Calder · Feb 11, 2009

pretty much what i was thinking , sticking with a standard car but those with £10,000 worth of upgrades were tempting........

zeb · Feb 11, 2009

To be honest keith, unless youre planning to move from sunny birkenhead to the nurburgring, youre never, ever, going to need it...[

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phil993 · Feb 22, 2009

Begging to differ - the turbo engine is superbly strong as it is based on the GT3 block which is much stronger than the normally aspirated 996 unit. I have never heard of one blowing up - has anyone else on the forum? My independent service people have never had a problem caused by remaps etc. My own is X50 which incorporates the uprated clutch, cooling, ecu etc and with gentle remap and sports exhaust gives 525 bhp and 550 lb ft on the dyno. I bought it as is and did not know it had been remapped until DMS had a go at it and told me it had already been done!

I do agree that you do not need the extra power, but once you have it it's addictive...

sawood12 · Feb 22, 2009

I guess as long as the upgrade kits are reputable and well known ones and installed properly by well known specialists then there is no reason to steer clear. I know that there are plenty of well known mod kits for the 944 turbo that would be very desirable.