The last time I looked the Porsche 911 was one of the leaders in initial car quality. Having said that, it doesn't mean that every 911 is a high quality car, so it's possible that what is posted is true. It's extraordinary however that anyone could have all of those problems so quickly on any car much less a Porsche, so I can understand the skepticism.

I've been reading this forum for many months since I have never owned a Porsche and I thought I could learn something from the veteran owners on this Board. Well, after reading this Board for a couple of weeks I learned that it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a used Porshe without having a PPI and carefully investigating the car's maintenance history.

So let me thank all of the regular posters on this Board for sharing their wisdom and making it less likely that I and other newbe Porsche buyers don't have the problems experienced by the starter of this thread.

 

porsche in general are strong cars. but once they have prob, it does cost you an arm and leg to get it right. buying used, you not only should have some due diligence on the car, i would do that to the previous owner as well. someone who never drives the car but wax it 10 times a year isn't doing much good for the health of the car neither is someone who track the crap out of their cars and never bother step up on the maintenance schedule. do your research and you will find nice used cars.

 

I'm sorry but this fellow is in complete denial.All this babble about fire trucks on every street corner in Seattle,coolant fires,a Porsche at a Ford dealer is ok,I've had 20+cars,Porsche didn't tell me it was a dud,the service at Porsche was lousy-ENOUGH!!!- Bob stop blaming others for your stuff up!! Your attempt at sympathy here makes me nauseous to say the least. Even if you present repair documents, what does that proove? Mistakes are one thing-trying to ingratiate yourself by way of slagging off Porsche and their wonderful cars is another. You would elicit much more kudos if you stopped your petulant whining and admitted you've made a monumental mistake.

 

Palting has it right. It's time to dump the car. Personally, I wouldn't have a new engine installed. If it's running at all, I'd take it back to the original place I bought it and TRADE it on something else you can sell. I would consider writing a long anonymous letter which you place in the air cleaner or hide elswehere in the engne compartment, so the next owner knows he is not alone. That way, the only party to have made a profit now has to fritter it away. Alternatively, you could just print this whole thread.
The alternative is to donate the car to charity and claim the total amount you have spent as your deduction- this will probably yield the same economic result of fixing it and selling it. Maybe, give it to the local high school auto shop as a project car, or a school for the blind. Parking it in a rough neighborhood with the keys in it is risky. You might get it back. In my neck of the woods, cars like this disappear into Wolf Lake- a body of water with earthen embankments from which people fish- but a good place for a running start. See, lots of choices. Kind of like the kid's game "you're It" where the last one tagged is "It". Personally, I believe your story. Bad luck or the triumph of hope over judgement, or no blood going to your brain- all maladies that I've experienced. Good Luck. AS

 

Ok, we all agree that this is (assuming it is true) a bad situation, and with a 3rd replacement engine looming it is time to cut bait.

Question for all you know-it-alls out there...let's say YOU had bought this car yourself (and the PPI showed no bad signs, like coolant flowing out the exhaust or bearings floating in the oil tank -- wait a sec do they even check for that?) .

Where along the lines of the chronology that Bob laid out would you have called it quits? When the clutch disintegrated? When the temp guage showed hot? After the first engine fire? I have a hard time with this question because my optimism points me to "got that fixed, now everything is going to be okay now and I'm going to enjoy this car". Isn't it reasonable to believe that a second engine --assuming it is properly installed -- is going to function correctly for the long term?

Many of you guys seem to think Bob should have walk from this car a long time ago - yet in other posts y'all claims how much ya love your cars and the emotional joy of Porsche ownership. So when do you know that the time has come time to take on last financial hit and walk away? How do you know it isn't ever going to get better?

 

Apparently the 2004 9k rebuilt engine after inspection by Barrier Porsche, they indicated that most likely one of the cylinders came out of the cylinder sleeve?

Of course porsche doesn't want to guarantee or warranty it or offer any discount, or even willing to take back the core if this is the situation, even after explaining my situation... basically as said before... "So sad, too bad, now pay us for another engine..."

anyways... as well as the head gasket is leaking coolant... regardless, the dealer indicated, it's just a matter of miles before the oil mixes with coolant another fire starts.. so the engine will need to be replaced... since the internals are most likely screwed up, even the core value is at question...

Has anyone ever heard of a cylinder coming out of the sleeve? I'm not exactly an expert at cars, what would cause this to happen? Anyways, been debating on my options...

Since I live next to Canada, and Oregon without sales tax, to avoid this being a $15,000 engine replacement job if I bring it to the dealership in seattle (since I have no core value) I have been debating on towing it up to canada or down to oregon to not have to pay sales tax and take advantage of cheaper rates? I've found out in Oregon, I would be saving about $3,500 vs doing it here.
Since in Washington they charge tax for labor and parts... and the labor rate is much more expensive here as well...

Does anyone know if the prices in Canada are pretty much comparable to US prices? The dealership here in Seattle wants $150 an hour for labor with tax, and 20% more for part costs than oregon dealerships...

I haven't checked anything in Canada... any canadians ever had an engine replacement or bought any significant parts? More or less looking in the british columbia, vancouver area... would the us exchange rate be a factor in any of this? Any additional assistance would be appreciated.. thanks again for everyone who has assisted..

Any additional negative comments from the individuals that have done so are not needed. You that have done so have already indicated your statements, and if you don't want to believe me, fine.. but please keep it to yourself.. it doesn't help anyone on this board. thanks.

 

The car story is almost like this thread. It's so horrible you can't look, but always end up peeking anyway. I probably would have walked after the first engine fire. One major mishap I can take as bad luck, but if there is a second one so soon after, I can pretty much assume there will be a third one and would have said good bye and good riddance. Waiting for it to get better is like gambling at a casino. Better walk away after you've lost all your pocket money otherwise you will lose your house and home. "The next hand is the winning hand" is a lot more often a false prediction than a true one.

Well, bobporsche, it looks like you want to throw more money at it. Maybe you have more money than most of us. I wouldn't take it to Canada for the new engine, because then you will have to import the whole thing back with the requisite paper work and dues etc. You're just asking for more headaches. Oregon sounds like a no brainer, unless you have to take it back there for any service or warrantees after the work.

Anyway, one thing I think you need to consider is whether you will make back more of your money by simply selling the car as a parts car as-is in non-working condition, or whether you will make more after fixing it and paying for the new engine. I would very strongly suggest you get rid of the car one way or the other. Otherwise, next thing you know, the whole electronics will fry out or the whole front suspension may just fall out on you or the chassis weld seams will just break and you'll be stuck with another big bill. We've all made mistakes, some more expensive than others. The key is to recognize it and move on.

 

the bluebook on the vehicle with all the options I have is about $55,000.. (MSRP was $95k) not to mention all the exterior options i've added ($15k worth with wheels, suspension, body work) so a parts car would REALLY mean a big loss...

I can't sell the car in the condition it's in... when it starts up, coolant starts leaking out the exhaust, which any mechanic will immediately recognize as a serious problem, and even if I did sell it, i'd have to disclose what is clearly wrong with it, otherwise i'm in for a lawsuit myself after the new owner blows the engine after driving it for 50 miles... and if the engine blows up into another fire, and causes an accident, or something... i can smell the lawyers running towards me and taking everything i have... not to mention the concious i'd have by selling it to some happy new porsche owner, that probably can barely afford the car as it is...

..regardless, if I sell it in the condition it's in, the engine will go within 50 miles or so, and i'm sure it can be rest assured I will end up paying alot more than $15,000 in damages and stress, whether civil, criminal, or what... once the new owner gets a lawyer involved... and once they see the service history of the vehicle where it will clearly indicates i have knowledge of what is wrong with it through discovery, etc.. etc.....

Right now I have one useless boat anchor core sitting at the repair shop with a huge hole and cracks in it.. from the rod wanting to bust out of the metal beast... and another useless boat anchor core sitting in the car right now, playing russian roulette everytime it's driven.... what a cylinder out of it's sleeve means, I don't quite understand completely.. but all I know is that none of the porsche shops want anything to do with trying to fix the problem unless I bring them another engine... when they found this out...

so i have two non-refundable boat anchors, and a car valued at $55,000 bluebook... if you were in my situation, and even if I wanted to sell the vehicle, what would you do? Put $12k to $15k into a new engine (which would have a 2 year / 24k warranty) and then sell it and take the extreme loss...? (especially since i've had $10k+ in body work done to make it look like a twin turbo...) or replace the engine, cross your fingers and get an extended warranty?

All I know is porsche is unwilling to help, give me any type of discount of any kind, admit to any faults with the car on their part, or really tell me anything other than.. "write a letter"... so they are pretty much useless to me right now... as they have been in the past....

... either way i'll have to replace the engine at $12k to $15k... since i have no core value.. even after i've already spent $20k+ on the damn nightmare already in the first 1000 miles of having it... the question is what do i do next... after replacing the engine.. i suppose is a decision i'll have to make....

 

Why pay $15K for an engine? There was a 2003 3.6L on e-bay last week for $4K. Check it out!

 

$55k is a pipe dream. my 01 cab ($90k msrp) with 15k miles (still under factory warranty) with a buttload of interior and performance mods is barely worth $55k (with or without the modifications). High $30Ks for a 99 cab with 50k miles is about right on a RETAIL basis. Wholesale is probably closer to low/mid $30Ks.

 

I don't know where you live, but all the 99 cabs around here are selling for $45k+ with this mileage... and no options.. mine has $40k in options.. ($25k in factory options, every factory option for 99 + $15k in upgrades by myself) the dealer trade-in value/wholesale is $44k kbb and a dealer offered $43k trade-in for the vehicle on a new 05 mercedes sl500... and showed me all the auctions in the country for 99 cabs and they all came in at $40-$45k+ with this mileage, most likely most without the $40k in addons...

...when i recently refinanced it, with all the options it has, the excellent condition it "appears" to be in from the outside and inside interior... wells fargo appraised the vehicle at $53k, so, no it isn't a pipe dream.. the vehicle is in excellent condition from looks alone, unfortunately, it's a shallow car, with serious emotional issues on the inside <g>

I would love to see where you found a 99 cab in excellent condition at $30-$35k with 50k miles with $40k in options including a twin turbo body upgrade... i'll go buy it right now...

thanks for the negative criticism though, it was really unnecessary...

 

This is a tough one. You need to get the car in a condition where you can sell it. But you really have to get rid of this one. You should consider selling it as is, with full disclosure. The new owner knowing he or she has to replace the engine and the car is priced accordingly. OR, you can replace the engine with a used or new unit. From where you are right now, what is going to cost you less? Selling the car as is OR spending money on the car for a replacement motor and selling it for a higher price? You need to put those numbers down and keep your (further) losses to a minimum.

One way or the other, get away from this witch before she turns you completely against all Porsche's (which it seems may have happened already). You know you loved the car when you were able to drive it. There are other p-cars out there that won't cause you the pain but will deliver the pleasure and driving experience.

Good luck. Ditch the witch and go shopping for a good one.

chuck

 

-deleted this stuff-

My 2 cents

 

Man it would be horrible to have to part out such a new car, but unfortunately your car is probably worth more in parts than it is as a whole. I suppose the lesson to be learned here is never buy a 996 unless it is Porsche certified.

It is still hard to believe that any one car could develop so many problems so quickly. Didn't the Ford Dealer offer any kind of warranty? Almost any used car sold by a Dealer except a salvaged car comes with at least a one month, one thousand mile warranty.

 

Bob--
Show us your receipts for all the work that you are claiming. Until then, this whole thread is B/S.