Sorry to hear about this. Be patient and take her to a Porsche specialist. It may not be as bad as you think.

C.

 

No extended warranty . I really hope it isn't a cracked cylinder wall as, I hate to admit it, I can't afford a new engine.

But, if the motor comes out then is there anything I can do to it to make it not so damn slow? How about cams, porting, boring? Are there higher stress components I can put in to prevent this happening again (I'm not going to deny that I can be pretty hard on cars)?

 

This is confusing. The engine shouldnt die out on its own if the head gasket is KO'd or a slight crack in the cylinder wall. If it leaks enough coolant in to cause a misfire, it still should run, just rough. If the head gasket or cylinder wall failed, the smell of coolant would be strong if you had plumes of smoke coming out. Are you sure it was white smoke and smelled of coolant?

 

Positive it was white smoke and there is also white residue in the driver's side tail pipe. Smelled like coolant to me but I'm no expert.

 

"But, if the motor comes out then is there anything I can do to it to make it not so damn slow?"

Buy one with a decent engine! No 996 I have ever driven has ever been "damn slow", suggesting the failure to start and smoke was the end of an ongoing problem (and possibly why the previous owner decided to sell it).

 

my p is also...so damn slow...NOT!!......0-60 in what??? 5 secs!!!! how is this slow???
maybe you don't know how to drive a p...or you bought a lemon!!

 

I didn't buy the first 996 I saw; I test drove others and mine was no slower than the others. They're not fast cars IMHO.

 

I love my 996, but will not argue that it's the fastest car on the road. It's the overall driving experience that i dearly love.
Just be careful, UFO996. Whatever you do to get more speed inversely affects the reliability of your daily driver.

 

Come on guys, UFO may be taking his frustrations out because of the car. Perception could possibly be off a little from this incident, dont you think?

 

Not at all: I'm just used to faster cars. You'll all jump on me if I mention that I don't think the handling of the car is amazing either? I knew the car was slow going into the purchase but still wanted one, so that should tell you something.

 

I have a 2002, 4 cylinder, Highlander, with about 210,000KM on it, if your intersted...it's certainly not as fast as my 911, but it may be right for you.

p.s. I just got an oil change today, so you would be good for another 6,000KM.

 

Let me get this straight: you bought a MY01 996 with 75k miles and can't afford a new engine, but you're somehow used to "faster" cars? Which cars are these? Sure, I suppose you can find faster cars for a little less than the price of a 996, but you'd probably be giving up a lot in terms of driving dynamics.

That said, the only thing that comes to mind are GM F-body cars and modified Mustangs, muscle cars that really don't deserve to be mentioned in the same post as the 996.

Care to help me out with what faster vehicles you've been driving?

 

1/4 mile wise, the 996 and the F-bodies are on par to each other, the Mustang doesnt have much of a chance. I did a 13.14 @ 109 in my '02 Z28, pretty much what these cars run. Handling, not even in the same ballpark!

Now that I think about it, the only cars that are more powerful are the Z06's and Cobra's that are cheaper than the 996.

 

Yeah, sorry I don't have the spare $20K lying around that I've been quoted for a new engine install. Let's be honest here: if I was a baller like yourself then I wouldn't be buying a 7 year old car with 75K on it now, would I?

I've driven many different cars from Catherhams to blown Mustangs to Mitsubishi Lancers. My current Lancer goes round the track faster and goes faster in a straight line too. Giving up a lot in driving dynamics? Maybe so, but I never suggested otherwise.

 

For $20k, I hope they are using enough lube when they screw you.....

I had an engine go after having it for 6 months. Replacement was 14k.