PV997

Yep, keep in mind that probably every 996 and 997.1 engine that was replaced under warranty went back to Porsche and was dissected. They knew all about the IMSB and bore scoring when developing the 9A1, way before the general public had figured it out. They may not have fully understood the cause, but they knew failures were happening at higher rate than they should have been. Porsche completely designed out the intermediate shaft despite the fact it was a mainstay in their boxer engines for decades. There was nothing wrong with the IMS concept itself, but they must have realized that the negative publicity around the bearing was so bad that they just got rid of the whole thing in response.

When looking at bore scoring you see the same thing. Comparing the 9A1 to the M96/97 it looks like Porsche pretty much threw the kitchen sink at it:
.

• Changed the case material to more expensive monolithic Alusil rather than using Lokasil liners - improves cylinder wall durability
• Changed piston skirt coating from a soft printed material (Ferroprint) to a hard plated material (Ferrotec) - coating doesn't flake off
• Changed from an open deck cylinder to a closed deck design - better cylinder stability
• Increased the conn rod to stroke ratio - reduces piston side force on the cylinder wall

Everyone one of these changes (in theory at least) would lessen the chance of bore scoring. These types of changes are expensive and aren't taken lightly as they potentially introduce other problems that aren't known or understood. Yet Porsche did all this back in the mid-2000's when no one was talking about bore scoring. They almost certainly knew about it from warranty engine replacements. It sure looks like they took steps to correct it in the new engine design but never admitted the problem to the public.

Bruce In Philly

They did ship my 2000 Boxster S engine back... the tech said they bottle an oil sample, place it on a crate, and back to Germany it went. No feedback at all to the dealerships. However, a few years later they stopped shipping them back... I don't remember exactly when that was. Maybe they sent some oddballs back, but a tech told me they stopped doing it. As you point out, they knew what they had on their hands. No sense clogging up the Atlantic shipping lanes with boat anchors eh?

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now in Atlanta)

Epicben

even with the purchase price of my used 06S and a FSI 4.0 stage 2 with all the upgrades (major scoring at 50K miles) it was still less than half the cost of my 17 Targa new. For the money the 997 with a rebuild is still amazing value. Not to mention a way better drivers car.

sandwedge

Maybe all these changes led to the story I read where the 9A1 engine was referred to as "over engineered" compared to the M96/97. The IMS issue tarnished the brand to some extent eventually leading to a class action lawsuit. So I don't think it's too hard to imagine that Porsche recognized that it wasn't a good idea to continue selling newer versions of the 911 that triggered class action lawsuits due to a poorly designed engine.

Bruce In Philly

Whoever is running Porsche marketing deserves a Nobel Prize in the Psychological sciences. For a small maker to have such bad press for 11 years and then .... well me for example who had two engines blow... have the public go ahead and buy another one... is just amazing. The power of this brand is astonishing. GM, for example, still has reputation issues that resonate today for the crap they built in the '70s (at least with folks my age). I still remember this quite well.... stories of GM assembly and engineering issues back then could fill a book... er um a land fill. Porsche seems to just soar unscathed.

Edit: Sorry, I did not mean to put Porsche at the same level as GM... they are not.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

Petza914

Yeah, who has bought Firestone tires after that disaster a few years ago and the failure rate was probably similar.

RABjr

For what's it's worth - I love the 911 but am not a purist that believes it the flat six is worth heaven and earth to preserve. The chassis is what makes the 911 IMHO.

If my motor ever goes, LS swap is probably the way to go...http://renegadehybrids.com/

TRINITONY

another... https://www.facebook.com/chavisperformanceengineering

sandwedge

No argument. Amazingly powerful brand and their marketing is up there with the very best. That said, I hate cliches but they get a lot of help from the "there's no substitute" cliche. Not necessarily from the cliche itself but for many, once you've owned a 911 it's hard to find something else that is as satisfying.

So despite the issues over the years, once a 911 owner you're likely to continue to be one. So I'm not even sure they need a marketing department. Maybe a small one but I think they would do just fine with enough dealerships with enough of a variety of cars...new and used to choose from. Those who want a 911 don't need a commercial or online ad to convince them as I see it.

GTSpure

A Porsche 911 without a Porsche 911 engine is not a Porsche 911 and does not have the heart and sound of a 911 - which is so unique to a Porsche 911

Fullyield

Absolutely agree PV 997. The engineering changes made to the 9A1 engine you state are all discussed in Porsche: Excellence Was Expected, Book 4, Chapter 5 “ 2009-2011-New Engine and PDK” by Karl Ludvigsen. He reportedly had full access to Porsche archives and engineers while writing his 4 volume set. Porsche made a conscientious decision to not market the engineering changes made in the 9A1 to address bore scoring and the IMSB. Why? As stated by Karl, considering the class action lawsuit involving the IMSB, “it behooved Porsche to soft-pedal the profound newness of the 9A1 six, incriminating as it was of the failings of its predecessor. Legal issues also lurked at the periphery. Excessive boasting about the advantages of the new [9A1] design would attract contingency lawyers eager to exploit such bragging as evidence of flaws in the M96 that Porsche should have avoided. Thus, the new [9A1] engine…made its way cautiously into the world, not over-eagerly flaunting it’s radical differences from the M96.”

Bruce- I think the 9A1 video that replicates Nurburing that you mention was also a part of this. I think it was marketed to quietly address the oiling deficiencies of the M96 engine caused by lateral forces on the track. The 9A1 had a newly designed electromechanical oil pump to fix that problem too. I think the video was partially meant to advertise the new improved oil system design without admitting or highlighting the failures of the oil system design in the M96.

997Pilot

Did you feel any major loss of power? My S has close to 85k now and seems just as strong as it was when I bought it with 40k miles but I do see some black around exhaust tips

Hella-Buggin'

Watch this before going down this route. Nothing is easy.

RABjr

Interesting position - the air cooled Porsche purists said the same thing..."water cooled will never be a true 911..."

jamesinger

swap it to an aircooled engine and make everyone freak out.