It is really too bad that she has gone through this with her Porsche. Like I said on my original post, I have been very lucky so far with my car and I told her that when she decided to start looking for one like mine (sorry Sue). She has had a very positive attitude during all of these battles with the car. I think recently, and after reading all of the posts here, she realizes that she has in fact been screwed (by the seller and then Autobahn Autocar Group). Because of that, she is now getting more aggressive with her efforts to get the dealer to make things right with her. She is pissed and I don't think anybody could blame her.

 

Here is the original eBay auction flyer.

 

No offense, but in reading the ad it's clear that these people probably bought the car at an auction. They are not Porsche people, and don't claim to have done any real mechanical inspection. In fact, by their wording, they basically just walked around the car and drove it around the block. "Yep, lights work, car drives fine, there you go."

I see no reason to carry a resentment towards the seller. She should have gotten a PPI.

The dealer is another story, and she should pursue all avenues with that, including getting PNA involved.

I would suggest taking it to RUF immediately. Let someone who knows WTF they are doing look at it. Plus w/ their reputation, a written diagnosis would help her position w/ the dealer as well as in court.

IF it needs a new engine, I would throw out another option. That she just walk away from the car. Sell it "as is", cut her losses, and move on. She paid what, $22k for it? If a new engine is close to $15k, she's only $7k away from another 911 (PPI this time). I'm sure she could get at least $10-12k for the car as is.

I hope she doesn't hate the car for this. At the end of the day, these ARE high end, expensive sportscars. The reward is high when you drive one, but they are costly to maintain (compared to a Honda), and when something goes wrong it goes expensively wrong. That's why few people are lucky enough to ever own one of these cars. If you think you're going to pick up a "cheap" porsche, think again.

If it's any consolation, she could have bought a new one and lost $20 grand in depreciation in the first 2 years.

 

The dealer isn't offering your girlfriend squat to help ease her woes. No offense to Rennlist legal eagles, but you never know how that course of action will turn out. The suggestion of using Ruf or other reputable Porsche facilities will only cost you girl more $ that she may not have at this point to spend, but are good recomendations if she can. Otherwise, she could sell her car and forget about Porsche ownership and chalk this up to a bad experience.GL

and forget about Porsche ownership
.

 

Update please. Curious minds and all that stuff....

 

Update:

As recommended, the car was brought to another shop (indy).

I just got off the phone with Joseph at Loeffler's in North Richland Hills, TX and he is saying this:

The head is not cracked as Autobahn Motorcar Group suggested but the "bottom of the engine" has problems...intermix everywhere including radiator, heater core, etc. All hoses bulging and all orifices polluted with intermix. I tried to press him for more specifics other than "bottom of the engine". German is his first language so maybe it was a language barrier.

He is recommending trying to sell the car as-is and not put another penny into it. He did not recommend putting in a reman or ANY other engine as in his opinion, ALL 996 (and many 997) engines have inherent problems and will fail at low mileage. From reading here, I don't know if that is necessarily true. Admittedly there are issues with some 996 engines but all? Says he has talked to people in his circles and nobody wants this car because 1)color - Arena Red 2) 996 engine issues.

Thoughts?

 

Non-running due to engine faults 996 or Boxsters only have value if someone actually wants to buy them off the current owner. Engine replacement, plus all the other parts it is likely to need often exceeds the value of the vehicle.

So some options: sell "as is", take the loss and buy something else or install a Porsche re-man engine (and all the other stuff: clutch, DMF, if not a tip car, coolant tank update etc) and drive the car.

Both the 996 and Boxster are not rare cars and in the current economy, people are averse to buying "projects" or venturing into what is basically an unknown future on a car that every other car lot has one for sale already running......

 

I will give you $50 for it .....

GEEZ....!

I agree, no one wants it, but the owner might! and that ALL 996's have issues, yea, FYI - ALL CARS HAVE ISSUES... I suggest shipping me the car, my indy will rebuild the motor with Jake Raby's newest block and have a beautiful Arena Red Porsche back home in no time... N.D. seems like a bad place to find a Porsche mechanic (BTW my parents are both from there and my mom still lives this side of Fargo 30 miles)

 

ivangene - the car and both shops are in TX, not ND.

 

Seriouosly, find someone who has been thru LM Engineerings M96 rebuild class and talk with them. I know it isnt cheap to do (and I would not want to be in that possition) but there ARE options and for someone to say its not worth anything, no one wants it and it's not worth fixing is rediculous. IMO

 

he's got a point... the 996 engines weren't that great... the m96/7 started getting better in 2006 when the "updates" were introduced... making them more reliable... but still not bullet proof...

if you get a re-man make sure its made on 2006 or later.. as it will be a brand new motor with the updates... and its true what he's saying about low mileage... about 60K miles before you have an incident.... of course if your going to track it... and you don't address oil changes and don't have a 3rd radiator... RIP sooner than later is a guarantee...

don't know how much the reman's are but its worth considering... or one of Jake Raby's engines.. this way you still get to keep your car and don't lose any $$$ on selling a car without an engine....

 

You might think the car is worth money, but I will repeat, it is only worth something:
IF someone offers to buy it should it go for sale, followed by the discussion about "how much?" starts.
OR you are keeping it and prepared to put the money into it. Which may be for many reasons.

Evryone has differing values on their possessions and whether they want to keep them or not.

 

the way I look at it is.... if I sell this car the way it is... how much more $$$ do I have to spend to get back on the track...?? usually this is a lot more than just fixing....

and when your looking at it from this vantage point.... if your car is already setup and ready to go... buying an engine is your cheapest way out... and you get 2 year warranty (or Jake's motor)

 

I agree to a point, IF I owned the car free and clear (no liens etc) and I liked it, there were no other upcoming issues then IF I was doing the work my self, it's maybe worth it.
There are a lot of "if and maybes " though.....

 

What a sad ending. Even sadder that his tech told him to give up.... That kinda pisses me off. StrekStrekStrekStrek him, its a nice car is you take the proper steps to ensure its well being. What a jerkoff. Tell him to go home