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YOUR RESEARCHEarly 996 Reliability...What am I missing?
Leading reported evidence
Repair under warrenty at 6000 miles
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The only real problem worth mentioning was a RMS leak repaired under warrenty at 6000 miles.
Leading evidence: 'Repair under warrenty at 6000 miles' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair under warrenty at 6000 miles' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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9 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T133652Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hello all -
The lease is beginning to wind down on my 2002 CLK55 AMG. I am a big fan of the 997, but am not in the market to buy a new one optioned the way I like. My car search has led me to the 996 - I was intrigued by the values of the early (1999, 2000, 2001) models.
However, I have been scanning through this forum and am amazed at the horror stories surrounding these first few years (e.g. seized engines, blown transmissions, etc). My only Porsche experiences were with an '86 951 followed by the base 944. Both of these cars were virtually bullet proof. I still own the latter. Although it hasn't been my daily driver for several years I am still amazed at the quality and reliability after 150,000 enjoyable miles.
Was the quality and reliability of these years as bad as it sounds, or am I missing something?
Thanks,
Jeff
It's nowhere near as bad as it may sound when you scan through these forums. Almost everyone of us would buy another Porsche in a heartbeat and in fact, many of us are repeat buyers. They have a few issues that are annoying and in some, but rare instances, are worse than annoying. Find a good one with some warranty and buy extended warranty if possible and you'll love every minute of it.
not to mention that this is a techincal forum so people that do have problems big or small are going to post about them on here and that is going to be a lot of what you read.
What are you missing????
Like 10's of thousands of happy owners of the 996's that don't ever voice their expereiences on boards like this. They are fine cars and the vast majority are trouble free.
Thanks everyone - I appreciate the input! I understand the techinical nature of this board can, at times, bring out the worst in our cars. Dating back to Porschephiles this board sure helped me on several occasions.....
I will continue the search contingent to a PPI.
Thanks again!
I have a 99 since new. The only real problem worth mentioning was a RMS leak repaired under warrenty at 6000 miles. All 996's no matter the year and also 997's now have been subject to RMS leaks. What percentange is not clear but probably over 5% maybe 10% to as high as 30%. Only Porsche knows for sure and they are not talking.
I think if you are asking the question Jeff, then you have some doubts. People here can only give you their opinion whether it be good or bad. Ultimately you are the only one that will have to deal with any problems if they occur and the cost of those problems. I agree with others get the warranty and get the extended warranty.
RMS leaks never worried me.....a simple repair that occurs on many high end sport cars. What does worry me is the engine replacement as a consequence of continuos leakage. And that for me is the frightening part............that kind of problem SHOULD NOT be happening to these vehicles. Not for the price that you pay for these cars. I don't care if it happens to one driver or a thousand drivers. Does it make it better if it only happens to one person? What if that one person was you?
It should just not be happening ..............PERIOD!!!. My 2 cents.
Cheers and safe driving.
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