This forum is scaring me away from a 997.1
03-06-2018, 11:38 AM
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This forum is scaring me away from a 997.1
This forum is scaring me away from a 997.1 Hopefully I am overreacting. I joined to become and educated consumer, but I feel there is too much of a chance I can drop $44k on a nice, low mileage 997.1 and 2 years later spend $7k on a clutch and $25k on an engine. say it aint so. I think I need to talk to humans instead of reading all the horror stories.
03-06-2018, 11:46 AM
#2
Rocky Mountain High
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You shouldn’t be scared away, but you should understand the risks involved when purchasing a performance car that’s ten years old. Things wear, things age, things break. This isn’t unique to Porsche. If a clutch replacement is $7,000 for you, then you need a new mechanic. That isn’t a realistic estimate of the cost. I don’t know how many 997.1 cars have a catastrophic engine failure, but it’s quite low. You can lower your risk by purchasing a newer car or a warranty.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
03-06-2018, 11:51 AM
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You shouldn’t be scared away, but you should understand the risks involved when purchasing a performance car that’s ten years old. Things wear, things age, things break. This isn’t unique to Porsche. If a clutch replacement is $7,000 for you, then you need a new mechanic. That isn’t a realistic estimate of the cost. I don’t know how many 997.1 cars have a catastrophic engine failure, but it’s quite low. You can lower your risk by purchasing a newer car or a warranty.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
03-06-2018, 11:52 AM
#4
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oh boy..... this is going to be entertaining. I had two engines fail in my 2000 Boxster S, one failure was unknown and definitely not the IMS, the first, the tech said he "didn't think it was the IMS" ... unknown. No way was I buying that engine design again. So I got a 997.2.
As Dennis said, know the risks.. they vary from year to year.... plenty on these forums from real techs like Jake Raby and Bazhart. I could never look a young guy, who is stretching to buy his first Porsche, in the eyes and tell him a 997.1 OK.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
As Dennis said, know the risks.. they vary from year to year.... plenty on these forums from real techs like Jake Raby and Bazhart. I could never look a young guy, who is stretching to buy his first Porsche, in the eyes and tell him a 997.1 OK.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
03-06-2018, 12:04 PM
#5
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For 44k I would buy a 997.2 with higher mileage over a 997.1 any day. There is more than the engine when it comes to the improvements. I think in the long run, what it costs to fix the dot one later, you would end up with the dot 2. I would buy a 987.2 over a 997.1 if the same price. My point is, I would never go back to a m96/m97 car again.
03-06-2018, 12:11 PM
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You shouldn’t be scared away, but you should understand the risks involved when purchasing a performance car that’s ten years old. Things wear, things age, things break. This isn’t unique to Porsche. If a clutch replacement is $7,000 for you, then you need a new mechanic. That isn’t a realistic estimate of the cost. I don’t know how many 997.1 cars have a catastrophic engine failure, but it’s quite low. You can lower your risk by purchasing a newer car or a warranty.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
My advice is to do your homework, be careful when selecting a car, and try your best to minimize your risk by purchasing a good car with a good history. Then just drive it and don’t worry about everything you read here.
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03-06-2018, 12:12 PM
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For 44k I would buy a 997.2 with higher mileage over a 997.1 any day. There is more than the engine when it comes to the improvements. I think in the long run, what it costs to fix the dot one later, you would end up with the dot 2. I would buy a 987.2 over a 997.1 if the same price. My point is, I would never go back to a m96/m97 car again.
03-06-2018, 12:13 PM
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oh boy..... this is going to be entertaining. I had two engines fail in my 2000 Boxster S, one failure was unknown and definitely not the IMS, the first, the tech said he "didn't think it was the IMS" ... unknown. No way was I buying that engine design again. So I got a 997.2.
As Dennis said, know the risks.. they vary from year to year.... plenty on these forums from real techs like Jake Raby and Bazhart. I could never look a young guy, who is stretching to buy his first Porsche, in the eyes and tell him a 997.1 OK.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
As Dennis said, know the risks.. they vary from year to year.... plenty on these forums from real techs like Jake Raby and Bazhart. I could never look a young guy, who is stretching to buy his first Porsche, in the eyes and tell him a 997.1 OK.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
03-06-2018, 12:16 PM
#10
My local porsche specialist (+30 years of experience) told me that the solution to stop being scared about 997.1's is to stop reading the forums 
He has had 2 or 3 cases of bore scoring and no post-2005 IMS issues since the 997 was launched almost 14 years ago. We're talking hundreds of 997's here...
Valid reasons to go for the .2 would be more power, PDK, newer audio/comms system, better interior and slightly updated looks, but reliability should not be one of them.
Points in favour of the .1: engine sound & affordability.
There are no wrong choices here
He has had 2 or 3 cases of bore scoring and no post-2005 IMS issues since the 997 was launched almost 14 years ago. We're talking hundreds of 997's here...
Valid reasons to go for the .2 would be more power, PDK, newer audio/comms system, better interior and slightly updated looks, but reliability should not be one of them.
Points in favour of the .1: engine sound & affordability.
There are no wrong choices here
03-06-2018, 12:18 PM
#11
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My local porsche specialist (+30 years of experience) told me that the solution to stop being scared about 997.1's is to stop reading the forums
He has had 2 or 3 cases of bore scoring and no post-2005 IMS issues since the 997 was launched almost 14 years ago. We're talking hundreds of 997's here...
Valid reasons to go for the .2 would be more power, PDK, newer audio/comms system, better interior and slightly updated looks, but reliability should not be one of them.
Points in favour of the .1: engine sound & affordability.
There are no wrong choices here
He has had 2 or 3 cases of bore scoring and no post-2005 IMS issues since the 997 was launched almost 14 years ago. We're talking hundreds of 997's here...
Valid reasons to go for the .2 would be more power, PDK, newer audio/comms system, better interior and slightly updated looks, but reliability should not be one of them.
Points in favour of the .1: engine sound & affordability.
There are no wrong choices here
03-06-2018, 12:20 PM
#12
Just another point of view. IMS after 2006 in non existant. And when I had my 996 engine rebuilt the mech said only the 3.8 had scoring issues. So I would not be afraid of a base carrera. (Says the guy who bought a 997.2)
03-06-2018, 12:38 PM
#14
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Also keep in mind that this is a forum where many people post to learn or share knowledge about specific issues concerning a particular brand of car. It is designed and intended to primarily discuss the problems. Few people come onto this forum (or any other) to simply say how lovely it all is. Also, the number of people on the forum is a tiny sample of the total population driving around and having a ball with their 997s or whatever.
In short, keep this information in perspective. Follow the good advice about the ppi, and what to look for, then move on it. You can't live scared or led around by the group think of a small population. Rennlist is a great resource - the best car forum I have ever interacted with, but it would not stop me from buying what I want. It would educate me to buy the best of what I want.
In short, keep this information in perspective. Follow the good advice about the ppi, and what to look for, then move on it. You can't live scared or led around by the group think of a small population. Rennlist is a great resource - the best car forum I have ever interacted with, but it would not stop me from buying what I want. It would educate me to buy the best of what I want.
03-06-2018, 12:40 PM
#15
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GPGolden, don’t be scared away. There are some really awesome people on this forum. I drive my 05 911S hard every time. I enjoy rowing thru the gears & hearing the sounds of the engine & the exhaust. Road Scholars replaced my clutch & rear main seal for just over 3K. Can’t remember exactly. I’ve had to have my cable that goes from the battery to the alternator done for $350. My water pump for $900. Road Scholars did not recommend that I replace my IMS it did not show any concerns of replacement even tho I fall into that category. My car runs great with no concerns. Be glad that there are people on this forum that can help along the way.