2003 C4S 230,000 miles

Is my 2003 996 C4S @ 230,000 miles the highest mileage in the UK for its year and type? Any comments appreciated. Best regards JCR

Must be getting there, if not the most. Would be interesting to know a little more - how long you have had it and any specific mainenance issues you have had. Mines a C2 on a 98 with around 120k on it now.

If I remember correctly, John needed a new engine at 120,000 and a gearbox shortly afterwards :-( Hope he won't need another in 10K miles...

I've had the car since July 2003. Bought it at 3,864 miles from OPC Swindon as an ex-demonstrator. Saw Diesel 130 reply, thanks for that. I had an official Porsche exchange engine at 117,000 miles in February 2007 due to manufacturing defects that were found in the crank cradle of the original engine. There is quite en extensive and detailed thread on that. I had to go to County Court to get compensation using the Sale of Goods Act and I'm pleased to say that I was successful. The Judge ruled that the life expectancy of the original engine should have been 200,000 miles. The gearbox was replaced at 124,121 miles and 134,701 miles, both times under Porsche's extended warranty. Other than that it's been the usual maintenance and wear & tear items. The original suspension lasted until 197,592 miles. I can get 100,000 miles out of a set of brake discs and the petrol pump was replaced last week at 229,000 miles. I've now advertised it for sale in the Members for Sales Section as the rise in fuel costs, VAT and fuel duty are making me seriously consider the economic viability of running it as a business car. Rgds JCR

Wow! That's a result...

Indeed - it would be interesting to know more about it - I found the original thread - http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=242384 - but it ends at the point when "negotiations" were on going, obviously before you have resorted to the courts!

Blimey is that a precedent? Are we saying here that all owners of cars with blown engines can now take Porsche to court and claim the engine should have been good for 200k?

I would have thought not. Chances are, this was a County Court matter and hence not binding. I also think that the OP was perhaps in the fortunate position of having purchased the car from an OPC at a very young age - there was therefore a purchase contract to sue over. I suspect the defendant in the proceedings was the supplying dealer and not Porsche. Would be interesting if the OP is able to clarify this.

I see. Although it may not open the floodgates, would it not point to a good chance of success for other claims (especially for cars that had a FPSH)? I'm sure any plantiff would not be bothered whether the money came from Porsche or the supplying dealer.

Hi Rob, Your're correct. I purchased it from the OPC at 3,864 miles as an ex-demonstrator. Having exhausted all options with Porsche themselves in the UK and Germany, even to the extent of emailing Wendelin Wiedeking himself, the only option I was left with was to take legal action against the supplying OPC under the Sales of Goods Act. Rgds JCR

Hi Mark, I think I posted a new thread on the PCGB forum with the later results and also got some good support and advice from the US web site thread I posted too. It's scary how quickly 4 years and 113,000 miles go by!!! Rgds JCR

Thanks JCR. I had always formed the view that my private purchase effectively gave me no remedy when the engine went pop on my 996 at just 42k miles. The chap I had purchased it from had also purchased it privately from its original owner. I had no contract with Porsche and no trader to pursue. All part of life's rich tapestry! I suspect the number of people who suffer 996 engine issues who bought their car new or nearly new are now fairly rare creatures but all credit to you for pursuing matters.

Thanks Rob. Sorry to see your engine went at such a low mileage. Given that the Sale of Goods Act is active for 6 years from the original sale of the goods in question, I'm not sure how the opportunity to claim would pass between private sellers but an interesting point to consider. Ryes JCR

Good point, I think that was the final nail in the coffin for any plans I had to pursue matters - my car was 6 years and about 3 months old at the time! My logic was that I would have to pursue the chap I bought the car off, he would then have to seek an indemnity from the original purchaser and the original purchaser would then seek an indemnity from the supplying dealer. The supplying dealer may then also have sought an indemnity from Porsche. Given that I knew the first 2 people in the chain and really didn't wish to involve them, the plan was scuppered from the start. The risk of paying up to 5 lots of legal fees if the Judge went against me was also quite off putting!

The car I am using as one of my own cars came is as a cracked liner and had done 153K on the original engine. Now rebuilt the whole car is just like a 70K car - drives beautifully and I am really enjoying it. Is this the highest on an original engine? Baz

Good effort [ ] , but here are a few higher mileage ones: 180,000 996 - http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php/topic/34666-180000-miles-2000-996-tip/page__view__findpost__p__183515 178,000 996 - http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php/topic/14151-high-mile-role-call/page__view__findpost__p__188808 Heresay 200,000+ 986 - http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php/topic/23821-anyone-in-100k-mile-club/page__view__findpost__p__124409 196,000 986 - http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php/topic/23821-anyone-in-100k-mile-club/page__view__findpost__p__175047 215,000 986 - http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php/topic/23821-anyone-in-100k-mile-club/page__view__findpost__p__165280

Errr... but 230,000 miles is higher than those, Richard!

I was responding to Baz, and his feeble 153k on the original engine. [ ]

"in reply to bazhart".. oh yes... so you were... sorry

Photo at 3,864 miles

Photo at 230,621 miles

Another at 3,864

But how many of those did over 153 on their original engines (like mine) or did they have replacements along the way? If not it just goes to show how difficult it is to predict repair mileages and issues with one failing at 6.5K and other running at nearly quarter of a million. Baz

And some were Boxsters (no cylinder cracking issues) Baz

For 230k the car looks mint!

has it been sold yet?

I reply to Diesel130. Hi and thanks for your question. Sorry for the late reply. Car's not sold yet. I've just spent over £1,000 (new rear tyres, discs and handbrake shoes, new fuel pump) to get it through MOT and fix the old fuel and whilts I have had interest, the prices offered leave me too great a cost to change to make it a sensible decision to part with it. Also I did a mpg check on a 300 mile round trip a few days ago and with mainly motorway and A roads, it was returning 28.8 mpg for the whole trip. Rgds JCR

I would but I can't convince the Director of Domestic Operations. [ ] She's planning to get a Boxster next year for about what you're asking and I know which I'd rather have. Sorry, but if it's still available when the time comes, I'll be in touch with any luck. Two 996s could be deemed a bit extravagant by some though..... [ ]

Rubbish! [8|]

Thanks for the reply John. If the petrol prices continue to rise, I may do an "internal transfer" - my wife gets my car and I use her TT for business. This of course would on only be on the basis that she agrees not to kerb all four wheels on mine as she has on hers!!! Rgds John

I thought that was mandatory for women to do that? Lol only joking, but my wife used to be aweful, I'm sure she used to just drive the car all around the ketb. I bought her some new wheels for the mini and was dreading the day she came home with them ripped apart, touch wood though she has done well, they are still mint 8 months later......

Get hold of a set in need of a refurb and put those on with the good ones stashed somewhere safe. [ ]

I've agreed a sale price and received a deposit this week. Current mileage is 235,635. I've just put some items from the car for sale in the Members for Sale section. Rgds John

I know what your saying about a car after all it was once a 78k Porsche but at what stage are we talking about "engine blows" I would say an engine with 1 owner, fully serviced by main dealer, all run in checks done then sure you have every right. But do Porsche even say the engine is good for 200,000 aint that just want someone "assumes" and that word can lead to all sorts of issues.

Car collected by purchaser yesterday. My thanks to everyone who has contributed to my threads and for all the advice and comments. Regards John