gilly

Hello fellow forum members.

I am in the process of selling a Ferrari 348 to get into a 996tt so I could have a sports car without the maintenance. An all season sports car that can carry a baby seat in the back and also drive in the snow if need be. The thought of reliable German engineering vs. the hit and miss Italian reliability really intrigues me. However, from the looks of it, the Porsche isn't as problem free as one would suspect. I am deeply concerned about posts from dpj and the problems he encountered with Beverly Hills Porsche. These have to be isolated cases aren't they? Not all tt's exhibit these problems or do the majority of them have these problems?

I test drove a 2001 996tt and what I felt was one awesome car. The steering had a slight vibration and the brakes squeeked but I was too caught up with the cars awesome acceleration. The whole test drive I was laughing like a hyena. The next time I'll really be observant.

Give me better news or I guess I'll stick with something Italian. BTW, anyone have service experience with service from Dave Strongs Porsche in Salt Lake City?

Thanks!

dpj

Gilly,

I hate to burst your bubble, I have been speaking with a number of owners of this subject, the response is pretty unanimous. Awesome cars, that appear to be under developed, thus causing all these issues, with a horrible and unregulated dealer network. My TT will be the only Porsche I ever own. I'll be waiting for the next generation NSX to trade the TT in on.

Sun Ra

djp,

don't judge porsche from your used car purchase; from the problems you listed from 3,000 miles
you shouldn't have bought it, it sounds heavily abused and damaged by the seller. i've owned 19 porsches and '90 was the only real bummer year and the factory took care of it.

dpj

Please, did the previous owner run it at Le Mans!! I had the car checked by the local dealer, including checking the computer for over revving etc. It was fine.

You guys don't get it, five actually six now trips the dealer to fix minor problems and then I get shouted at!

emorgan

I have owned 5 porsches. 95 c-2, 97 c4s, 00 c2, 02 TT, 03 GT 2. I have never had any problems to speak of with the cars. The turbo had a problem with the spoiler( fixed easily) and an airbag sensor light came on ( fixed easily). I do not drive my cars daily so I enjoy a little bit of the roughness the Porsche provides.

When buying a used turbo, I would keep in mind two things. The first being they are powerful sports cars and someone who had one for a short while and sold or traded probably drove it pretty hard which is o.k. because the car is designed to be driven hard. But there is a difference between driving hard and abuse. I would personally want to talk the the previous owner of a car I was purchasing when $ 100,000.00 is involved. The cars have a 50,000 mile warranty. Take it to a good dealer and have the problems fixed. Number 2: Consider buying a new 03 or 02 with few options. Dealers are discounting these cars.

Finally if your expectations are unrealistic as to the durability of your car you will always be dissapointed. Cars are cars. Crude machines, some better than others. One thing you can't replace on any car is miles.

Good luck.

Jack

Reliability and dealer service on my Turbo have been great -- comparable to my experience with all my past Porsches, going back to 1978 with my first, a 911SC. I could be the exception to the rule, or perhaps my expectation level is real low.

Pete.

[quote]Originally posted by dpj:
<strong>Please, did the previous owner run it at Le Mans!! I had the car checked by the local dealer, including checking the computer for over revving etc. It was fine.

You guys don't get it, five actually six now trips the dealer to fix minor problems and then I get shouted at!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Based upon my experience, and the experiences of numerous Turbo owners that I have met at the track, your experience is the exception, rather than the rule.

Some of the early '01s had a tranny problem (popping out in 2nd) but Porsche replaced the entire tranny.

Pete

27,500 miles, one loose sway bar bolt in the rear, PSM/ABS fault (caused by low brake fluid...my fault), check engine light (caused by fried cats in Fabspeed exhaust).

Oak

[quote]Originally posted by Jack:
<strong>or perhaps my expectation level is real low. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Or maybe some owmers expectations are too high?

It's a Porsche, these are little quirks that all of them have to a certain degree.

They are not for everyone.

Konrad 996tt

I have had a grand total of 8 porsches, 5 of which were turbos, 2 of which I bought new. I take the Turbos to the track regularly (where some would argue I drive them hard), and I am obsessive about preventive maintenance. I have never had major problems with any of my cars, and any minor problems were promptly resolved by the dealer. I have also owned a few Ferraris and Mercedes Benzs (none of which ever saw track time), and I must say that in my recollection, the Porsches in aggregate have been the most trouble free car of the bunch. Maybe I have been lucky, but I would tend to agree with Pete (dpj's experience sounds like the exception, not the rule).

Just the opinion of a fan of the marque (repeated trips to the shop does not a fan make!)

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samyunick

My TT ...a 2001 tip,,,totally problem free with the exception of a fuel guage problem and some wind noise on driver side..both fixed.

I also have an Acura NSX... love that car tooo,,,much more service issues though..

just my .02

topdaytrader

[quote]Originally posted by dpj:
<strong>Gilly,

I hate to burst your bubble, I have been speaking with a number of owners of this subject, the response is pretty unanimous. Awesome cars, that appear to be under developed, thus causing all these issues, with a horrible and unregulated dealer network. My TT will be the only Porsche I ever own. I'll be waiting for the next generation NSX to trade the TT in on.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I plan to trade-in my TT to the net gen NSX too. But Acura told me that they're not going to make a next gen NSX. Well, at least not within 5 years.

Pete.

[quote]Originally posted by topdaytrader:
<strong>

I plan to trade-in my TT to the net gen NSX too. But Acura told me that they're not going to make a next gen NSX. Well, at least not within 5 years.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How do you "trade in" a car that you're leasing?

Isn't that "turning in"?

Greg Fishman

All leased cars have a "payoff" figure, same as a loan. You can also just turn it back to the leasing company but expect to get bent over 6 different ways if you do that. A lease is nothing more than a baloon loan with a guaranteed value at the end, with the bank taking the risk for the market value of the car.

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Pete:
<strong>How do you "trade in" a car that you're leasing?</strong><hr></blockquote>

The dealer pays off the car with the leasing company and takes it in as a trade. The payoff amount and the trade may or may not be the same. Most of the time, the dealer will give you less than the payoff but it also depends on whether or not the lessor had placed a capital reduction at the time he/she leased the car. With cap reduction, the payoff is less than without.

Pete.

[quote]Originally posted by Greg Fishman:
<strong>You can also just turn it back to the leasing company but expect to get bent over 6 different ways if you do that.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, that was my point...