sad farewell

[lbear]

I have owned my current 997 Gen2 for about 2 years, and during that time I have been worried about the quality of this model. I wonder if I was just lucky with my earlier 996 which I ran for 3 years. I have now sold this car, but I doubt if I will ever find another car that generates so much passion and driving pleasure for its owner.
However I do feel sad that current problems many owners are experiencing are not being addressed by Porsche and most have been long standing. They seem to expect the customer to repair these at their own expense for the pleasure of owning a Porsche.
I notice several other owners have felt the same, and perhaps Porsche should listen to many of the valid comments seen on your forum.
I have enjoyed visiting the forum as a guest, and for your helpful advice and wit!!
Thank you very much for that privilege.
Lee Bear.

 

[garyw]

I unfortunately agree with you on the comments.
Sadly you're not the first nor the last, it somewhat reminds me of Mercedes a while back where numbers became more important than quality... They seem to of sorted themselves out as I hope Porsche do..

Also be aware that many owners have great experiences with their cars where those who don't shout loudest.

garyw

 

[geoff lane]

Lee

Sorry you feel that way about your car but felt I had to add to Gary's point, I had always aspired to own a Porsche for as long as I can remember (never a Ferrari or Lambo) and when I eventually bought my first Boxster I felt that I had actually arrived and the whole experience became addictive a secondhand Boxster was followed by a new Boxster and then a 911 Cab and now a 997Turbo each one better than the last I still find the whole ownership experience once behind the wheel exciting. You should have joined us on some of the register outings when we get the opportunity to get the best out of our cars with like minded enthusiasts.
Hopefully you will return to the fold if the quality of the new model is up there with the Audi's now we are all under the same umbrella.

Geoff

 

[pwebb]

Lee

Gary's point is well made, people's experience varies with opcs. I've had the privilege of owning 911s since 964 days and have never (touch wood) had anything more dramatic than regular servicing bills and lots of tyres. Any niggles have been dealt with (from memory) efficiently by the dealers. I think I had one RMS in the 996 but was never officially told that, just that a minor oil leak needed a seal when it was in for a service (this before they were a well known problem). Enjoyed plenty of invites to official launches, open days, track days and Silverstone Centre over the years too.

I'm missing mine badly, and hope to be back in the fold next year.

Good luck with whatever you choose next, though.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: lbear

However I do feel sad that current problems many owners are experiencing are not being addressed by Porsche and most have been long standing.

I am just a little curious as to what these "current problems" are and how many is "many"? I don't recall endless threads of Gen 2 problems being posted here? However, sorry that you are leaving Porsche ownership. Maybe after you have owned some other make for a while you will hopefully realise that it wasn't as bad, in comparison, as you presently feel! Good luck.[]

 

[yan]

Porsche could bury (or not) such uncertainty by publishing a list of how many world-wide / GB warranty claims they have had vs. accepted and in what category, e.g. engine, electrical faults, fittings etc. That said there are still the faults which the dealerships kick into the long grass with the old "can't replicate it "" come back if it happens again"¦" "" I believe these also contribute to loss of faith in the product.

An example of an endemic, long-standing, fault which springs to mind is the in-built telephone module: certainly on the 996 and if not mistaken the 997 reception rendered the system unusable for a random selection of vehicles. Was this ever remedied to everyone's satisfaction? How did Porsche treat customers "" was it an immediate money back situation "" didn't PClubGB ask Porsche to take action to no avail? Personally I have not been haunted by this one so no axe to grind"¦

 

[Oggy]

Hi Lee,

Really sorry you have sold your car due to reliablity issues.

Just to give you some hope and add another voice to the "quietly satisfied" brigade, I have also had several new & used Porsches over past 12 years (Boxster 2.5, S from new and then used 997S & Turbo) and only really had 2 cases where they let me down :-

1) Due to lack of use over many months (so not the cars fault), battery failed in the Boxster S and then you couldn't open the electrically operated boot lid to charge the battery (he he !!). This design feature solved many yrs ago of course as my car was a yr 2000 model.

2) Small coolant leak on my Turbo from one of the pipes under car leading to front rads...fixed under warrenty and no problems since.

Although.....

First Boxster started to drip oil on my garage floor and I also suspect was RMS leak. But, was not a major problem at the time and exactly as Geoff described, was fixed on the QT under warrenty and reported as "just an oil seal".....I sold it soon after due to problem with my driving license (not with the car) [&:]

Apart from that....nothing apart from consumables (touch-wood !).

Just seen the other thread on the 991 prototype fire today []....never heard of anything like this before from Porsche ?? So it seems perhaps buying a used GT3 / Turbo (with Mezger engine) might be a safer and cheaper option than waiting for the newer model []

Anyway, best of luck with your next purchase and hope to see you back on here in the future,

All the best,

Doug.

 

[n8ony]

Lee

Also sorry to see you feel you have to sell your car. I also share your concerns. I currently own a 3.2 and recently enjoyed a 993 for the summer last year, with my logical progression now being a 996 or early 997.

However, I refuse to pay for a premium product which any modern Porsche should be, and then be told I must be mad not to have an expensive warranty or face the potential meltdown of the engine at any time, or to have to replace all 3 radiators at just 3 years old as almost a regular service item. This sort of unrelibaility and admormal cost is unacceptable for a premium product, particularly one that over the years has prided itself on the quality of its engineering.

This is not the case with other quality manufacturers and I am afraid I will flirt with their products until Porsche sorts out its act.

 

[mnk303]

All I would like to add is that after owning 7 Porsches and Two Ferraris and 1 Aston, that while Ferrari support is as good as Porsche, their cars need it, especially if you use the Farrari a lot. I have found Porsche to be nick picky and far too Germanic (having lived in Germany and worked with Porsche) I expect this, but they need to realise they sell more cars outside Germany, they certainly need to lengthen the warranty very short in this day and age. But generally compared to Audi, Merc, BMW, LR and Ferrari, I have found them to be better and while a bit slow at times very professional. I do however feel they need to up their game, the amount of effort required to get action from P GB is dam hardwork. After all they are very privileged to have such a high net worth client base, we expect rightfully so the best!