2001 Porsche 911 996 Twin Turbo from UK and Ireland - Comments

Ran out fuel due to faulty computer software causing wrong readouts on the on-board trip computer - it has been re-programmed, but still not very accurate.

Both rads behind the front air in-takes rusted through within 12 months due to the build up of damp leaves. Replaced under warranty.

Major water leak into driver's foot well.

The metal Porsche logo center caps on 3 wheels came off due to wrong spec glue (replaced under warranty).

Problem with the cam shaft bearings which was fixed at the first service under warranty.

The car is just the doggies danglies and the performance is just stunning. It's happy to potter along at at 20-30MPH or it will take you to 120 MPH in a heart beat. It returned 33.5 mpg on a 180 mile run (driving at UK speed limits) and gives me 23.5 mpg during normal every day driving. However the car cost me just short of £95k (inc options) and I'm disappointed to have endured the problems outlined above... but I guess that it hasn't put me off as my order is already in for its replacement due in 2005.

You obviously have far too much money.

If I had any faults whatsoever with a car that cost TWICE as much as my house I'd return it.

I know they're only silly faults, but for that money I'd expect gold plated instrumentation not to mention complete trouble-free motoring.

I know the 911 is said to be one of the best handling modern sports cars, but, after your experience, I'd be sniffing around the latest MG or Jaguar variant.

You could use the left over cash for the hefty insurance bill or buy a small dwelling up north, like Staffordshire!

I believe that that your Porshe is a fantastic car. I've been a Porsche fanatic for years, and I'm especially interested in the turbo-charged ones. It'd be great if you continued your review with some 0-60 times and a description of what its like to drive!

I can't wait for the day when I drive a Carrera GT2...sigh.

Have to agree with the first comment.

On a £100,000 motor I'd be hopping mad at finding my foot-well full of water and the front radiators rusting into nothing - let alone all the other stuff that went wrong! Running out of fuel on a turbocharged car can be seriously bad news for the mechanics, and when it's not your fault...

And another thing. While it's fast, it's hardly the most exclusive car on the planet, and while I'd agree you're not going to be looking a lot at the interior it remains dark and dingy. For that money I'd want something a little more individual and a little less, well, plonkerish. Sadly, Porsche don't have the best image.

I have read all the comments associated with this 911. As one who is a few steps away from purchasing one, I am not put off at all. I do feel it necessary to let all know that as a Ferrari enthusiast and owning the same, I have found that my Ferrari is the prancing horse with impeccable style and grace. My Porsche (I have had six going on seven) is my "workhorse". I feel that the Porsche is the most reliable sports car ever. I am considering the 911 turbo for it's longevity and circumference of assets. If you've never had one get one. If you cannot afford one go test drive one. You will then see what I mean by "workhorse". You will also start making provisions to get one of your own.

Lem.

I can't say I've experienced any of the reliability problems that the 1st article refers to with my 996TT- in fact mine has been 100 % reliable with nothing more than an 2 oil changes in 14 k miles. The oil consumption seem a bit on the high side and I've noticed a fair amount of oil occasionally being burnt off on start up after the car has been sitting overnight - apparently normal according to my dealer and others in PCGB. Yes the performance is just stunning -it dispatches everything on any type of road in any conditions, quickly and with a no sense of drama -and puts a huge smile on my face - the only danger is the numpties who don't use their rear view!!! The fuel economy is surprisingly good and gives me 23-24 mpg in between tank-fulls in normal day to day driving. Only downside I've experienced is that it attracts the Max Power lot who have a annoying habit of sitting on my tail pipes until I've I've had enough of the little cretins and leave them in my dust.

Gotta love 996tt or GT2 with 750hp upgrade by autothority specs on 1 with 650hp 0-60 2.9secs w/o going to a diff gear ratio.

Have you read the review on the 2004 E55 on this web site?

What do you think?

The 996 911 Turbo did not have Porsche logo centre caps for the alloy wheels, it had "Turbo" ones...

In response to the previous post, I can assure you that my 996TT HAS Porsche enamel shield logo centre caps. They are an upgrade option from new versus the plastic painted Turbo logo center caps which are standard fitment.

As a Porsche ex tech (I'm now at BMW) I can tell you that the flooding and rad problems will be due to you parking the car under a tree. The badges on the coloured crests always fall off and Cam shaft bearings? It doesn't have any as such and I have never heard of them being a fault. Was it a rear main seal?

I don't understand the above comment.

If a car has a camshaft (and all 4-stroke engines do) then it will have camshaft bearings. Yes? No?

On the comment of houses, I find people who drive such machines usually have substantial property assets as well.

Some feedback to author of the 12 March comment:

Did you get fired from the Porsche dealership then?

Let me educate you - The 996TT engine does not suffer from the rear main seal problem associated with the normally aspirated 996's..and the the camshfts DO have bearings.

Fortunately I don't own a BMW - i'd hate to think what would happen if you got your hands on it.

Car for £100,000??? That's ludicrous! Where has all this money come from? Here in Russia we live for about £120 a month => £1,500 year, that would take about 90 years of my life to earn enough money to buy one. There is something terribly wrong with this world.

The 911 turbo is an "EXTREMLY" fast car. But someone who owns a "Skoda Fabia VRS" seems to think his car is "FASTER" than the 911 turbo from 30-80mph!!!

I cannot understand how this so called joker actually beleives this!

I myself own an Evo VIII, yes its fast, but "NOWHERE NEAR" 911 turbo fast, as I found out while test driving a friends.

Just a quick reply to the russian gentleman, all that money comes from free enterprise, its possible for anyone to get rich in a country that lets them. Not that I'm rich, but if someone is, fair play.