Niggles - am I alone?

[marcusLondon]

Just thought I'd canvass a few opinions on how "perfect" the experience of the combined ownership of the 987s has been on this forum. My list of minor problems, in 5 months, is as follows:

• on the drive home from my handover at only about 10 miles the PASM failed in Sport mode [error reported on the computer - I think it actually jammed in sport, the way my teeth were rattling]. After a telephone call back to OPC Guildford, killing the ignition and restarting "solved" the problem. It recurred the following day (at 80 miles) but the on-off routine failed to solve the problem. A trip back to the OPC and, surprise surprise it was fine when I tested with the service manager. Next morning it was still fine and the problem has never reappeared
• about 3 months ago the in-dash CD player refused to play any CDs, though radio was ok. My gf suggested the Porsche had better taste in music than I did.... Fault persisted for 2 days then.. Bingo. Never reappeared.
• Month or so ago, engine cut out at traffic lights. Everything dead on the car. Restarted a while later. Not reappeared
• Passenger window mysteriously fully down when I've come back to the car. Happened twice now. No idea what the cause, but I'm confident that I'd have noticed if I'd parked up and left it down as it was mid-winter and I like the warmth (unless I put the hood down on purpose!)
• After the track day last Saturday the car has developed a "clunk". Only on tight right-hand bends. Sounds like something rolling across the floor of the boot and hitting the end directly behind the driver. Going to the OPC to sort this one - and I will mention the rest of this list!

Cheers,
Marcus

 

[jedders62]

Hi Marcus

Do you feel as churlish as me for listing these niggles? Here goes
After 2 months the handbrake jammed & the car had to be recovered to my opc.The result was they wanted to keep the car for 2 wks while they waited for parts.After 2 days I finally persuaded the opc to cannibalise a showroom car as a temporary measure.
Since day 1 my car has suffered with the 2000 rpm rattle caused by the oil pressure release valve.Fingers crossed its in next week for the fix after a VERY long period of denial by my opc.I managed to resolve this problem after directing my opc to this forum only last week.
The inside of the windows gets very wet in the slightest downpour.Again after advice on this forum I will be asking them to check window seals when its with them next week.
I have also had the windows down routine but I'm not as confident in my memory as you are!
So,there you go.A cathartic experience for me but none of the above should leave you in any doubt that I LOVE MY BOXSTER.

 

[Guest]

The mysterious opening of the window happened to me once. I believe it was caused by the locking button on the key being pressed in my pocket. If you hold the button in when the car is locked, it unlocks the car and opens both door windows.

 

[David White]

I share your annoyance with all of these Porsche niggles. I haven't had yours but a similar set of annoying quality issues that should NOT be there on a so-called quality car and certainly not on cars costing so much!

 

[critch]

I also share your experience of the windows opening by themselves. Only last weekend while mowing the lawn, I had the car keys in my pocket and the almost continuous opening and closing of the windows and the clicking of the locks caused the family great amusement! It's less funny, however, when you get up in the morning after a stormy night to find the windows half open and your seats soaked. I now put the keys safely in a drawer as soon as I get home. This is something that Porsche should be made aware of and change the design of the key fob so that this can't happen.

Back to your more general point about other niggles, I've had my new 987S manual since 1st March and with 3000 miles now on the clock I am happy to report that I've not had one single problem - it is perfect! I think Porsche have got everything just right with this car. It's brilliant and easy to see why it is generally considered to be the best roadster you can buy. The only very minor thing I think I might take up with the OPC when I'm next passing is that the key fobs don't seem to operate the seat memory when unlocking the car as stated in the manual. Maybe I'm doing something wrong though, or it could just require a change of setting in the car's computer.

When I first collected the car, I did think the engine/transmission was a bit 'whiney' at low road speeds and I posted something about it on this forum. I've come to the conclusion now that this is just a characteristic of the overall engine noise and I don't notice it any more. All other 987's and 986's I've driven seem to be the same.

Critch

 

[Andrew Killington]

have you tried a medium[][]

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Since day 1 my car has suffered with the 2000 rpm rattle caused by the oil pressure release valve.Fingers crossed its in next week for the fix after a VERY long period of denial by my opc.I managed to resolve this problem after directing my opc to this forum only last week.

Guys can someone tell me about this 2000 rpm rattle issue? and other threads

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Try
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=138279
as a start

 

[marcusLondon]

Thanks for the various thoughts - the windows thing is confusing. I'm far from convinced that it's a case of the button getting pressed in my pocket but it is weird. My car was in my underground carpark to my flats on one of the occasions so it seems unlikely.
Glad to hear that all is not gloom - I'm far from disappointed in the car and I think that these niggles don't detract from a wonderful, everyday useable rocket.

 

[Rob Edwards]

Hi Marcus / Tommy

The 'window drop' phenomenon can also be the control module in the Passenger door (I think). My old 986S would have it's windows both dropped completely open on my return to it on occasion.

I did post a thread some time ago on this subject, and although this fault is rare, it does occur from time to time to some unlucky owners.

If it's definitely not the key-fob, then I would consider this as a course of investigation.

Your OPC should know about this, and when they replaced the control module (under warranty), all was fine again.

I did wonder if the car was possessed and even asked my wife in case my eyes suddenly bulged, my head starting spinning around and I started spewing forth vile remarks - to which she replied that I was fine in the car, but when I saw Clarkson on tv or a Ferrari, then that was a different matter..............![]
Regards
Rob

 

[Brian Halling]

I bet only those owners with niggles post to this thread, leaving the impression that the 987 is unreliable.

How about some positive feedback?

My 987 - 9K miles in 14 months - never been back to my OPC - faultless! []

 

[gdavison]

over the last 6 years .... 3 * 986's and currently on a 987 ... ignoring the coloured wheel crests failing off on number 3 and the recalls (which actually were never a problem) .....no probs .. Will be ordering number 5 soon ..

 

[critch]

Brian,

I think my post was positive enough! But you are right, most forums of this type only seem to invite posts from people who are suffering from, or who have suffered from, problems of some kind from the very minor to the serious and who are seeking advice and reassurance. That's just the nature of any owner's club bulletin board, regardless of the make of car supported.

There is also the fact that a car such as the Boxster is very expensive (mine cost 48k new) and therefore owner expectations are, justifiably, very high.

Critch

 

[Bazgillie]

Hi Gordon,

This has been reported on the forum in the past if you can find it. I have an 05 boxster S which developed this rattle at around 2000 rpm when the car was typically at between 20-40 degs C. I took it back to my OPC in Tonbridge and had to convince them that something did not sound right. They kept the car over night and checked it the next day and confirmed that the noise did occur at which point they said they would require some new parts from Porsche which believe it or not were yet to be made as Porsche were trying to engineer the problem out. The noise was to do with an oil pressure relief rattling. The parts took3 months to arrive and since the repair I have not heard the sound since.

Regards,
Gary

 

[jedders62]

Brian

I for one would never want to give the impression that the 987 is unreliable, but until I found these forums(fora?)then as far as I was concerned these problems were unique to me & my dealings with my OPC reflected this.Since joining this forum I have discovered that my problems,although minor,are not in fact unique but widespread enough to give those suffering from them additional leverage with OPC's. If it were not for myself & others voicing our concerns through forums such as this it would be far easier for OPC's to fob us off with excuses instead of dealing with customer complaints quickly & honestly.ALL of my concerns with my car have now been addressed & rectified & I for one am bloody grateful to PCGB for their assistance.Incidentally,as I said right off the bat, I LOVE MY BOXSTER.

Jeremy

 

[Rob Edwards]

I agree with Jedders on this point - knowledge is power, and can make all the difference in reaching a satisfactory outcome with OPC's.
On several occasions, I was actually more informed (due to this forum) than the OPC representatives and sales staff![]
Needless to say, being fobbed off was not an issue, as I could always check the validity or otherwise of their remarks here, and they knew that.
It was also helpful in informing the OPC of some of the solutions to minor problems posted here, and the sales staff were actually quite grateful on occasion, as it saved them a lot of digging around and enquiries to find the solution.
Personally, I find the forums a mine of interesting info, be it good feedback or otherwise, and I hope it continues this way.[]
Cheers
Rob