Dock:
If you choose not to track your TT, that is your choice, but why would anyone need 450+HP, track suspension, etc. anyway! Anyone who doesn't track their TT is missing out on the true purpose and pure enjoyment of these cars! Unless you want to drive at reckless speeds on the highways. Max legal speed on all public roads is 70MPH. Nobody should need a TT or an X50 package!

One major irony is that one of our dealeships, (JE) was advertising for free pre-track inspections for DE's in the PCA monthly!

 

None of us were riding with Tom, so we don't know if the problem was technique or transmission. I've been in a number of race situations (wheel-to-wheel) when a shift wouldn't go. All you can do is extend the braking area by driving deeper into the corner on the brakes alone, and turning the car when you have slowed enough. It wrecks the lap time but not your car. Ultimately you find a gear and drive out of the corner.
In literally thousands of miles of track driving, I don't think i ever damaged a synchro. My Kurtis lost first gear in its Jericho box after about 4 car mags tested it, but that was due to abuse. (and technically, the Jericho doesn't have synchros) It;s not tracking that wrecks the box, it's rushing or forcing the shift. But, in Tom's case, none of us can know. AS

 

I don't personally have any need to track my Turbo. If I did decide to start doing track events, I'd build a dedicated non-street legal track car, and it wouldn't be a 996 Turbo.

Why do I need a Turbo with power and suspension upgrades? Because I like great acceleration and great cornering. On many mountain roads it doesn't take much speed at all to reach the car's max performance in the corners. And great acceleration performance can be enjoyed without going above the legal speed limit, although I exceed it pretty often.

 

Tracking is not racing. The 996tt should be able to handle track events period.

 

I have been to track events with Tom and had taken a couple of laps in his car. He believes in tracking what you have. There are so many posers that talk so much sh?t about there cars but never drive over 55. (I work with some of them) But Tom will talk the sh?t and be at the track to back it. I think he is just mad about the dealer not warranty the tranny since he feels he did nothing wrong.

 

Tom,

Don't get dicouraged...Tracking is tough on cars, and we always see on TV, the finest race teams, with the finest parts....smoking, cause something blew up....It is just part of the game...Tranny is relatively minor in the big scheme...I have seen too many Porsches at too many events totalled or with motors blown....wishing all they had was a bad tranny.....Good luck.....

 

It seems unreasonable to expect a company (PAG/PCNA in this case) to fully warranty a street legal car no matter how it is used (track time in this matter) when they (PMNA) do not offer the same for a dedicated built race (track) car.

Driving on the track puts stress on a car thermally and mechanically and repeated use is well beyond the designer's intent for wear and longevity.
Yes, the car (996TT) is certainly CAPABLE of doing laps on a track, far better than most cars, but that does not mean it is designed for REPEATED track use.

Tracking a car (street legal or dedicated factory/purpose built) simply means acknowledging the maintenance costs associated with such an activity. I would not expect anyone to cover those costs for me.

 

I don't know how things work in the car business. Maybe someone can explain. I have always wondered why the service dept. did stuff like this.

Why does the dealer care in this situation? If it's under warranty why not make the customer happy and take care of the problem? Does it come out of the dealerships pocket if it was "abuse" ??
Does Porsche or other manufacturers examine the old part to like CSI to determine if it was defective or beat on? Are service managers trained to decline any service not ordinary?
Is the price of the repair more expensive than the cost of losing a customer? WTF? Sorry to hear this Tom.

 

Klein: SO TRUE!
I believe totally in tracking what I have. Especially if it is a $120K+ sports car with the fine racing heritage of a company like Porsche. Come on guys, unless you are total posers, you have to agree that a TT should be able to withstand the rigors of occasional track events. It's not wheel to wheel racing! Why should I spend finances and time on another DE car, AND own a TT? I am foolish enough to think a TT can do both!!!!!!!!!!

 

A warranty repair charge must be approved by PCNA.
It is PCNA who authorizes the dealer to replace x part and covers the expense (part + labor).
If the dealer does not follow the procedure, then the dealer is left liable for the costs incurred.
Yes, it is up to the dealer to represent their customer/client in the best light possible to PCNA, however, PCNA has begun to scrutinize warranty repairs...and BTW, PCNA will return the parts to PAG thru Atlanta for analysis.

 

Please define 'occasional'...therein lies the problem, at least from a legal/product liability/warranty perspective.
There are other reasons to own a 'proper track appliance', but now is not the time to discuss such a matter.

 

Well, I appreciate all the info, responses, insight etc. The trans is being rebuilt by the dealer...5k. I hate to cave in but I admit while never "missing a gear, or forcing a gear" I push the car at the track as hard as I can, I will assume this responsiblity and not hold it against the dealer. I am disappointed with the car and myself however.

thanks for all the support

tom

 

I guess I don't understand how the tranny could be tore up as much as it is with no "missing gears" or "forcing a gear". Also no type 2 over revs....

I have the Ruf undercar SS and know that the first time I drove it I found myself still pushing the shifter even though it was already in gear... It only took a minute to get used to... Is it possible that the in car B&M (Porsche SS kit) was not adjusted properly and contibuted to the problem? I know that if they are not adjusted orrectly they can be very notchy... Is it just coincidence that it was installed days before?

It just does not make sense to me.. Many others on this and other boards track their Turbos and have not posted similar problems.. I only know of one other but it was an issue with forcing into a gear when it would not go...

 

Given where you want to be, and your desired level of track performance, it seems as you need either:-

A GT3,

A GT2,

A Cup Car

However, given the expected level of performance from an X50, it seems as if the Dealer should step up.

"Every dog is entitled to one bite"!

I think you should follow up on the transmission issue, I also thought that the X50 had the steel syncros a la GT2. One more reason not to buy used.

 

Re tracking isn't the same as racing:
If you are able to reach the limits of your car, it sure is. The only difference is that there is no one to rub against you from time to time. Otherwise, turning a fast lap is the same if there is or isn't somebody catching up with you. It is also the same if you are trying to catch up with somebody.
Let's see. When you track, do you accelerate to the limits of the car, brake maximally, reach maximal G's in corners? Do you occasionally overcook it, slide a little, need to correct? Sure you do.
How many laps is a race weekend for wheel to wheel? Maybe 1, 2, or 3 5-lap practice sessions, and 1 race of up to 20 laps. Probably the same as one DE weekend, tho more likely the DE weekend has more track time.
How many races do you go before major components start to go? The lighter and less-powered you are, the longer you go. Heavy plus 450 hp suggests you will use stuff up. Particularly if you aren't expert to begin with- like learning to rev match on downshifts.
Personally, I think it's better to learn to track with a lesser car. You have to learn to carry speed rather than make it up with throttle, and it's easier to feel what the car is doing.
Tom, I wouldn't be disappointed in the car. It first and formost is a street car with track capabilities. It's heavily burdened with safety, convienience, luxury, and safety features which aren't in dedicated track cars. The fact that you could go the number of sessions you did is commendable. Most street cars would be a smoking stinking mess before they got to that point.
I would keep track of the track miles however, since their contribution to wear is probably 10X that of street miles. Good luck with the car. I really love your enthusiasm. AS