dpj

I recently purchased a used 2001 996 TT with 3000 miles, upon driving it home from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, I noticed a few minor problems. That was a fun drive....Salt Lake to Vegas 420 miles, 3 hours and 45 minutes!

Vibration @ 80mph plus, it pulled to the right, one major and several minor rattles, an air leak on the passenger side window, FM/AM awful radio performance, excessive oil consumption, a broken door stop and squeaking brakes.

The service advisor's started out with questions like "was this your first Porsche? "is this your first sports car?" and statements like "this isn't a Mercedes you know!". His contempt for me daring to complain about problems with my Porsche was very thinly veiled. FYI, I've also own an 99 Acura NSX. Prior to that among other cars, I have had a 98 BMW M3, a 92 VW Corrado and an 83 Audi UR Quattro, so I think I know my sports cars.

Well they couldn't find the air leak or the rattles....apparently they are deaf. They couldn't find the vibration either, however they noted the pull to the right and adjusted the tire pressures. For the radio, they said "Becker radios suck" ...buy XM, which I did and its awesome. However I found it hard to belive that a $120,000 car doesn't have a radio that works. The brembo's squeak and using a quart of oil every 500 miles is normal in the beginning....apparently. However it now uses even more oil!

So I brought the car back four more times to fix the remaining issues. During that time, they broke my XM radio, the rear seats were removed and not replaced properly. They tore a rear seat belt. On another trip the rear of the car had white (what looked like shoe polish) marks all over the rear of the interior and the hazard warning button was missing on the dash. That trip they had the car for 7 days! You know just to MAKE sure everything was going to be perfect....NOT! The driveline vibration required three trips to the dealer including one where I was charged $90.00 (that was a bargain!) for wheel balancing that turned out to be not the problem. Ultimately it was resolved by replacing the Pirellis for Continentals only after I got Corbett Head, the regional corporate Porsche rep involved. However they chipped three of the rims while changing the tires.

So on the final trip to the dealer (or so I thought...how naive I am ) the service manager, asked to go on a test drive with me. Most of the rattles were gone, however the air leak and oil consumption issue remained. He asked me not to say anything when the JD Powers and Associates called to do a survey. Naturally feeling pressured I said yes and forgot about it. Maybe a week later, I got the call from the J.D. Powers & Assoc, I asked them if the survey was confidential, they said yes. So I was quite candid about the inferior service level at Beverly Hills Porsche. A week or so later I received a phone call from the service manager at Porsche of BH. He was quite rude, stating that I had broken our "agreement" and that I had gotten service writer into a lot of trouble. Quite frankly I was lost for words, I have never been treated this badly. I then stated "What agreement?" He replied "I had asked you not to say anything to corporate survey people when we went on the final test drive." He even admitted in that conversation that the service writer could be abrasive, stating that I should deal directly with him in future on service issues. Who are these cowboys?

This type of behavior speaks volumes to how this service department really handles customers, they don't listen to the issues, do not check their work and then try to sweep their awful service under the carpet. I will never take my car back to this dealership and quite frankly I am seriously considering selling the vehicle at this point. I brought this up with Dave Martin and Corbett Head, all they could manage were either apologetic emails or brief phone calls. Nothing appears to have changed. No explanation of how a confidential survey, suddenly wasn't. I left several messages for Geoff Emory, one of the partners at BH Porsche, he has yet to return a call....he obviously cares!

I was at a Porsche event recently and brought this issue up with another owner who I met there. He then shared with me his own BH Porsche horror story, referring to them and I quoting here as "criminals, f..king criminals!" It appears Porsche NA either won't or can't change the culture of these dealers.

I am now taking my car to a different dealer, Downtown LA Porsche, currently I have 16 outstanding issues with the vehicle.....

1. Squeaking brakes
2. Both front wheels and passenger rear wheel are flaking paint
3. Passenger side air intake on rear fender is loose
4. Rear spoiler doesn't quite lower all the way
5. Windscreen wipers chirp very loudly, even when very wet
6. Clutch pedal squeaks
7. Passenger side air leak at 80 mph +
8. Passenger side window mechanism is leaving a one inch wide vertical streak on the inside of the window
9. Turbo badge behind rear seats is falling off
10. Driver's side rear seat belt is torn
11. Gas cap does not stay open, plastic clip on locking rod is broken
12. Oil consumption seems very high - less than 500 miles per quart
13. Blue smoke briefly emitted when car is started
14. When idling, there is a mechanical rattling noise
15. Rattles at base of both A pillars, rattle from rear
16. The vibration through the steering wheel has reappeared at 80 mph.

Does anybody know if these guys are any better?

And so the story goes.......I'll keep you informed if there is a happy ending. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

Oak

Wow! Sounds pretty normal to me! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

dpj

you're kidding I hope <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> ......Actually I ran into another 1999 996 owner at the new dealership, he seemed to have series of minor, frustrating and apparently unsolvable problems as well. There was also a 2002 996 turbo with a blown motor there....ouch!

Oak

dpj, I wish it was a joke. Your problems are not that uncommon! I try and resolve most of the small stuff personally. Only at the last resort do I take it to the dealership. Seems as if I leave with another problem when the dealership works on my cars.

1. Squeaking brakes (common if driven hard, helps to keep the brakes clean)

2. Both front wheels and passenger rear wheel are flaking paint (not uncommon dealer should repaint, but could happen again. Powder paint is much more durable)

3. Passenger side air intake on rear fender is loose (This is easily fixed)

4. Rear spoiler doesn't quite lower all the way ( This is shy I opted for the fact Aerokit, there were problems with the rear spoiler switch/hydralics)

5. Windscreen wipers chirp very loudly, even when very wet (easily fixed, wipe/clean the blade and use some rubber cleaner/conditioner, or check to see if they are tightened down on the shaft)

6. Clutch pedal squeaks (easily fixed)

7. Passenger side air leak at 80 mph + (easily fixed)

8. Passenger side window mechanism is leaving a one inch wide vertical streak on the inside of the window (easy fix, common mine does this also)

9. Turbo badge behind rear seats is falling off (I don't think this is factory should be an easy fix)

10. Driver's side rear seat belt is torn (dealer should replace)

11. Gas cap does not stay open, plastic clip on locking rod is broken (dealer should repair)

12. Oil consumption seems very high - 500 miles per quart (this is normal, it will get less as you get more miles. but the turbos like oil)

13. Blue smoke briefly emitted when car is started (common occurance, normal)

14. When idling, there is a mechanical rattling noise (common, vario cam chain noises)

15. Rattles at base of both A pillars, rattle from rear (someone mentioned that the dealer sprayed some type of foam insulation and it resolved the noises but has been a common problem on 01, 02 has been upgraded with a beefier pillar that is thicker and more stiffened and continues through to the roof and rear pillar section. Part of the 20% stiffer chassis improvements on the 02's)

16. The vibration through the steering wheel has reappeared at 80 mph. (this is common, due to the tires, someone mentioned that it had to do with the inner cord shifting or some other problem inherent in the tires)

Maybe other owners can chime in.

jessejames

Corbett Heads and PCNA could give a rats *** about about the 'customer commitment' they profess. Check my post about Chambers Porsche in Boston.

I have yet to hear within 5 business days of 10-11-02.

"Porsche...there is no warranty" should be their slogan.

0396

Oak,

Thanks for the great review and info.

I always seem to get an education on this board.

Knowledge is 'KEY'. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Oak

0396, thanks for the nice replies. Most of these problems have been mentioned before. I just didn't want dpj to think his turbo was singled out with these "common" annoyances.

dpj, I think that your front wheels could have been repaired previously. From a possible repainting of the factory finish. If it was repaired, the vibrations that you are experiencing could be from your wheels being out of round. Or have the tires and wheels checked out on the "Hunter" machine. Read this thread about <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000730&p=" target="_blank">tire vibrations</a>

dpj

Thanks for the tip, I was the one that started that thread....Wow you are quite the Macgyver.....BTW, I have tried to fix a number of the problems myself, there were a lot more. For example the air leak, that's at least a five hour job...you've got to remove the door panel, air bags etc, then figure out how top adjust the window guides, then put it all back together...no offense that's not simple. More importantly, I guess I don't quite see it that way, I expect the dealer to fix the problems, I mean the car only cost north of $100k, and Porsche only happens to be the MOST profitable car company in the world. While admittedly most of the problems are minor, that why I bought a 2001 car with a warranty and NOT an older turbo...

And another thing, this is funny (well not really). Guess what they gave me as a replacement car. A chevy impala with oil stained seats that stinks of cigarette smoke....nice. The interior looks like it was designed by LEGO.

My biggest problem is not that they can't (or should I say, can't be bothered to) fix the vehicle. It was the dealership's total f/u attitude about it. Plus they had the nerve to bitch me out when I complained to corporate!

I also own a 2001 Infiniti QX4, it cost me $34k, I have never had a single problem with it. When I bring it in for service they take care of it, the first time....go figure

WHY CAN'T PORSCHE DO THAT....MAYBE BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO FOCUSED ON THE BOTTOM LINE.

I am considering slapping a set of brembo's and a comptech supercharger on my NSX and selling the Porsche at this point. Apart from braking and acceleration (fixed by those aforementioned upgrades) the NSX can give a 996 TT a run for its money. For those that care, the NSX is an extremely reliable, no compromises supercar....oh and it was designed over a decade ago. In stock form it will crush a 964 or a 993.

trumperZ06

For the $$$ PRICE $$$ Porsche charges for their cars,the service seems to be lousy. Being a low production automoble, you would expect better Quality from the factory.

<img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" /> Our $50,000 Corvettes are delivered in better condition than that, and Chevy's service isn't any worst than what your reporting.

Sun Ra

BH Porsche service is actually the best in the country, but i guess you have to do bus. with Trevor the service mgr. They understand my time, rentals or loaners show up on the spot; trevor himself gives me rides.

That turbo sounds pretty used, but clearly something went wrong is your interaction with them. The best mechanic in LA is Mike Schatz at Ruznak TO, but you have to deal with their service mgt. to get to him , and they are sluggish and inept compared to Trevor at BH.

Given a choice in LA, I would always go to BH for service.
watt

dpj

Your response is frightening, the car isn't that used, the original Pirellis though square were almost unused. Plus I had it checked out by the local dealer including a look at the computer for over revving.

This is the worst dealership I've ever dealt with. Trevor was the one that bitched me out! yeah real nice guy...Man do you guys have low expectations or what... <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

Chris in NY

This comment pertains to both this post and DPJ's reliability post. To preface, I have an 02 TT x50 with approx. 5000 miles and have had good luck in terms of service issues. Sure, I have had it in the shop, but the two main issues i have had with the car havely largely been the product of the poor surface I frequently drive on (i live in manhattan).

As it relates to Porsche reliability, these cars are neither honda accords, nor are they italians. They lie in middle in a very real sense. Clearly, logic suggests that reliability will be an issue with cars that are so high performance (in an absolute sense, versus all competition), that are priced very competitively at MSRP for the given driving experience, AND that garner the highest margins in the industry for its. Porsche has decided to focus its energy (and your dollars) on the engine, and the relative lack of sophistication or quality of other components/systems is where we lose value/quality. We as consumers should all expect excellent quality for $120k, but we should also expect that Porsche (a large marketing driven company that is attempting to expand &lt;&lt;see Cayenne&gt;&gt will do what is best for it. I think where Porsche is suffering, and where they dont realize they have erred, is that, by not updating the total quality of the parts that make up the car, the period until which these parts fail under the stress that the well-funded engine can perform is compressing. This problem, I believe, is massively amplified by the habits of the driver.

In DPJ's case, who knows? Was it the previous driver, a lemon, or just par for the course? Its tough to say, because we are all very demanding owners and probably expect a level of consistency from this product that Porsche never meant to maintain.

Anyhow, enough rambling. I think the experience w/the BH dealership is just another case of porsche's targeted funding or QC leading to inconsistent product quality...only this time to service.

Dan87951

WOW they just don't build them like they use too! Really is a freaking shame! Even I was disappointed when I hopped into a new 996 and closed the door. All I heard was a rattle when I closed it, and saw lots of cheap plastic parts used in the interior. I don't think this should be tolerated on a 75k+ 996, just my opnion. They are so worried about maintaining that "highest profit per car" ratio instead of quality and service which made Porsche a very popular alternative to Ferrari and such.

topdaytrader

I won't recommand ppl to go Pacific for service. The mechnics there are not bad, but the service guy is an a$$. Anyways, long story. I'll recommand ppl to go Walters at Riverside. Ppl there are all very nice, but their 15k service cost a little more than Pacific (not by much, around $60). Trust me, its worth it. They're still cheaper than Mckenna, Newport & Rusnak. Oil change is only $165.50 there.

ZAMIRZ

Have you considered The Auto Gallery (formerly Ogner motorcars) in the Valley? I go there at least once a week (I live down the street and it's on my way to work) to take a look at some of the cars they have and the people there are always nice and answer my questions very nicely while I'm salivating over the cars.

later,

amir