I'm trying to get an idea of the reliability of 911 car. This is probably too small of a sample size plus the idea of reliability is very subjective. But are you happy with your model years reliability. I'm only interested in 2001-4 since those are the years I'm looking at. However...I can expand that if others want other years included.

 

Reliability is NOT subjective unless of course you are asking people's interpretation of reliability like happy/ not happy. Reliability is actually an objective measure that can be quantified. Further, it's not that your sample will be too small but that you will have a biased sample that has not been randomly selected from the Porsche population.

If you are just wanting to get an idea of how "some" people on Rennlist feel about their car totally self-report by choice, then so be it but know that you will ONLY get info that people want to voice and it's generally not going to be what you were looking for in the first place nor will it give you a valid toolset to make an important decision with.

 

I believe reliability is subjective because it depends on what you expected from the car. Someone who expected Honda-like reliability is most likely not going to think the 911 is reliable. I own a E46 BMW and have been extremely happy with its reliability. However, I know some people think they are unreliable. I'm imagining my 911 will be less reliable and more expensive to maintain. Here's hoping I'm wrong! I'm open to any suggestions you have on a better way to figure out which model years to focus on when it comes to buying. Compared to the lack of information I have now, I do feel anything will be helpful I agree that an internet poll is not a great way to get this information.

For example, I previously thought that any 2002-4 would be a good choice but then I was told that Consumer Reports (a fairly reliable publication) says that the 2004 is very reliable but the 2003 is not. I was blown away that two years could be so different !

 

Only the measure you create to measure reliability is subjective. The process of computing reliability is objective. What is your operational definition of reliable? That is where you need to start. I am sure there is empirical data that you can pour through that already lists cars from 1 to n as to their level of reliability (# of repairs, cost to own, etc).

Rather than go this way, I would rec'd reading a "buyers guide" to buying a 996. This will be more informative that what you are trying to do here. I seem to recall Chad (Chads996) posted a buying guide type of thread. There is also sonme nice buying guide reports in Excellence.

 

I agree with Dell, reliablity is quantifiable. Your logic in the post above is something like this...

...I expect my 911 to be unreliable. Then if it is unreliable and thus has met my expectations, it is therefore reliable.

Huh???

 

I hate the word relaible in the auto industry. To the magazines, it means if anything has broken, it is unreliable.

BS. I don't agree

Reliability is, does the car ever strand you?

Many European cars have little things break because other cars simply do not have these systems. Do European cars strand you over other makes? Not really. Yet a BMW will be considered less reliable than a Chevy Cavalier?!?!?! Psst!!!! A Bimmer can easily make 300k miles, a Cavalier, lucky to see 150k miles.

So, to answer your question, my old 996 NEVER left me stranded from the time I owned it. 55k-102k miles.

 

My '99 C2 did have to be towed twice. I would say it was reliable, but other then my Alfa Romeo which caught fire and burned up, I have never had to tow in any of my many Hondas, Jeeps, or even Audis. They all had problems but would always manage to limp into for service. The Porsche had two failures that left me sitting along the road until the tow truck showed up.

But I would still have said I thought it to be a reliable car- although an expensive one to maintain.

 

I am happy with my 02 C2, it has been great since they replaced the engine, the transmision and a few other things I guess I am even happier that it was under warranty...

 

This has to be the 9 millionth thread on this topic, can we close before another war breaks out on here?

 

i think reliablity mean how many times in a year you take it to the Dealer/Indy Shop for Repairs... now my car goes in atleast once a month or every other month... but i sure am loving the car... so i am not unhappy