Is the porsche 996 turbo a reliable car?
So i want to know if the Porsche 996 turbo is a reliable car for example if i were to buy a 2003 porsche 911 turbo with 50k miles, and the car has NEVER been in an accident, no damage nothing would it last me a good while? I heard that porsches are reliable but i want to know how reliable.
Also do you think a porsche 996 turbo with 80k miles but is in mint condition still has all 415 bhp? And the same acceleration or is it a bit slower.
Thanks
Comments
As any car's engine wears, the fit of the rings gets looser and more blow-by occurs. All engines lose some power with age. A turbocharged car can be adjusted to compensate for this somewhat. No, a 2003 996 Turbo will likely not have all 415 HP it had when new. The difference will be small though, and the engine will also have less friction to overcome because main bearings, etc. are fully worn in. All automobile engines have a mileage lifetime; without major rebuilds they will die.
Porsches are extremely reliable cars. I've owned two 911s over the last 7-1/2 years. The Porsche 911 Turbo engine is not the same engine as fitted in the 911 Carrera. Data for the Carrera does not necessarily carryover to the Turbo.
I bought a 1996 normally aspirated 911 Carrera coupe (a 993, the last air-cooled car) in 2002. I took it from 11,100 miles to 40,050 miles. I sold it early in 2008. In that time I spent $166 on repairs. That's all. I now drive a 2005 (996) Turb S coupe. I bought it in 2008. I have taken it from 13,300 miles to 28,000 miles. So far, no repair costs at all - ZERO. By the way, I ran/ have run both of these cars on the longest road course in North America and saw/have seen (so far) 150 mph in each.
You should demand full documentation for an expensive car like a Porsche 911. Complete records of oil changes, factory recommended maintenance, any repairs, etc. should exist and become yours when you buy. No records at all -- walk away. Do all of the standard things you would for any used car: drive it, paying careful attention to brakes, steering, etc., including at speed on the freeway; get the Car Fax (but don't rely entirely on it); and, when you think you've found The One, pop the couple of hundred dollars for a Pre Purchase Inspection by a certified Porsche mechanic (not where you're buying the car). Know the condition of tires, brakes, hoses, belts, battery, etc. before you enter final price negotiations.
Porsche 911s are often low mileage used vehicles. 6,000 to 8,000 miles average per year is quite common. A 2003 with 50,000 miles on the odometer is a good number, by Porsche standards.
According to the 2010 Consumer Reports Best Cars SUVs and Trucks issue sitting on my lap, the 2003 Porsche 911 has "Average" reliability. For comparison, the 2003 Infinity G35 is "Better than Average", and the 2003 Lexus SC Convertible is "Much Better than Average" in predicted reliability.
The new 911 is "Much Better than Average". For a European sports car, I think "Average" for the 911 is pretty decent actually. 50k is pretty low for a 2003, and if it looks, drives and smells like new, it was probably maintained well and cared for.
For more comparison, the 2003 Porsche Cayenne rates "Below Average". So do many other European sports cars, like the BMW 135, and the Audi TT.
With 80k miles, even a well-maintained engine will suffer some power loss. I have a car with a 315HP V8, with 70k, it is not as smooth or effortless as when new. But still plenty fast and lots of fun! I would expect that 415HP engine will definitely still manage to put a smile on your face.
2003 Porsche 996 Turbo
depends on the guy driving it!