Boxster/Cayman 718 GPF - ticking timebomb?
Discussion
I've been to see an OPC Approved Used Boxster 718 today, lovely car, good spec and in great condition so I've placed a deposit on it. It's an 2.0 base, early 2019 car that's done 24k miles and has a GPF fitted. Everything checked out but crucially, in the car's service history it mentioned 'GPF Blocked, repaired'. Mileage at the time was ~16k miles.
I didn't question it much at the time as the car was exemplary, but curiosity got the better of me now I'm home and it seems there's a few horror stories on the internet about these blocking up and then not being covered by the Porsche Warranty, throwing new owners a £6-7k bill.
These GPF equipped cars have now been on sale for 5 years now as the change over to GPFs happened in early 2019. I can't find a great deal about it but research indicates it could be due to the solely off boost usage (which wouldn't affect me) or the wrong oil but this is anecdotal at best and it's happened to OPC serviced cars where you would expect the correct oil has been used.
Is this something to be concerned about buying a used 718?
I didn't question it much at the time as the car was exemplary, but curiosity got the better of me now I'm home and it seems there's a few horror stories on the internet about these blocking up and then not being covered by the Porsche Warranty, throwing new owners a £6-7k bill.
These GPF equipped cars have now been on sale for 5 years now as the change over to GPFs happened in early 2019. I can't find a great deal about it but research indicates it could be due to the solely off boost usage (which wouldn't affect me) or the wrong oil but this is anecdotal at best and it's happened to OPC serviced cars where you would expect the correct oil has been used.
Is this something to be concerned about buying a used 718?
If it concerns you take it up with the OPC you are buying it from and get assurances in writing ..as its a used car it will come with a 2yr warranty does the warranty cover it.
I am not a fan of the 718 personally prefer the 981 6cyl model and no idea what your car is costing you would a 981 GTS be in your budget
I am not a fan of the 718 personally prefer the 981 6cyl model and no idea what your car is costing you would a 981 GTS be in your budget
I will take it up with the OPC on Monday yes. Unfortunately they're shut tomorrow, so in the meantime I wanted to see what PH thought.
981 GTS is a bit out of budget. I've test driven both 981 and 718 and as I'll be using it as a daily, I preferred the 718. The 981 GTS are lovely cars though.
981 GTS is a bit out of budget. I've test driven both 981 and 718 and as I'll be using it as a daily, I preferred the 718. The 981 GTS are lovely cars though.
There is a long thread on this on PCGB: https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/cayman...
In short, the starter of the thread had an issue with the GPF and Porsche refused the claim stating it was a filter which was not covered under warranty. The reason the GPF is so expensive is that it's a combined GPF and Cat and the part alone is c. £2500.
It's an ongoing argument that the GPF 'should' last the lifetime of the car but it seems that Porsche are not interested.
The only suggestion I can give is speak to your OPC and if you do decide to buy it give it an 'Italian tune' every month.
In short, the starter of the thread had an issue with the GPF and Porsche refused the claim stating it was a filter which was not covered under warranty. The reason the GPF is so expensive is that it's a combined GPF and Cat and the part alone is c. £2500.
It's an ongoing argument that the GPF 'should' last the lifetime of the car but it seems that Porsche are not interested.
The only suggestion I can give is speak to your OPC and if you do decide to buy it give it an 'Italian tune' every month.
Thanks both.
I had already read the thread on PCGB as well as all the other threads on the subject. It's difficult to separate out the facts of the matter and if they're isolated incidents or not. It's disappointing that Porsche GB won't cover it under the warranty, if they did I'd be happy to take it on risk. A potential £7k bill on a new to me OPC car with a warranty isn't something I'm happy with however.
I will speak to the OPC in the morning, I need more detail on whether the GPF was repaired or replaced, but I'm inclined to get my deposit back and look for a 2018 car with no GPF.
I had already read the thread on PCGB as well as all the other threads on the subject. It's difficult to separate out the facts of the matter and if they're isolated incidents or not. It's disappointing that Porsche GB won't cover it under the warranty, if they did I'd be happy to take it on risk. A potential £7k bill on a new to me OPC car with a warranty isn't something I'm happy with however.
I will speak to the OPC in the morning, I need more detail on whether the GPF was repaired or replaced, but I'm inclined to get my deposit back and look for a 2018 car with no GPF.
Armitage.Shanks said:
The 981 v 718 debate rolls on 
Everything about the 981 is dated compared to the 718 but as ever it will divide opinon
Ooh, bit harsh, surely? What’s dated on the 982 compared with the 981? Everything about the 981 is dated compared to the 718 but as ever it will divide opinonOutside is a bit, different, inside is almost the same. Engine is very different but, as you say, that’s been done to death already. :-)
The speculation is that if you get any other failure such as an oil separator issue which contaminates the filter, then it may clog in a way which cannot be cleared by either the driver or the car ...
Where the particulate filter is combined with a catalytic converter as it is on the 2.0 4 cylinder car, this can cost £7000 which is not currently covered by the OPC warranty.
It remains to be seen how serious an issue this may become ... either way I had the choice of choosing a car without the GPF (2018 supplied car) or with (2019 supplied car) ... and I chose the earlier car.
Where the particulate filter is combined with a catalytic converter as it is on the 2.0 4 cylinder car, this can cost £7000 which is not currently covered by the OPC warranty.
It remains to be seen how serious an issue this may become ... either way I had the choice of choosing a car without the GPF (2018 supplied car) or with (2019 supplied car) ... and I chose the earlier car.
Maxym said:
Armitage.Shanks said:
The 981 v 718 debate rolls on Everything about the 981 is dated compared to the 718 but as ever it will divide opinon
Ooh, bit harsh, surely? What’s dated on the 982 compared with the 981? Everything about the 981 is dated compared to the 718 but as ever it will divide opinonOutside is a bit, different, inside is almost the same. Engine is very different but, as you say, that’s been done to death already. :-)
https://newsroom.porsche.com/dam/jcr:86a2a46d-fa29...
981s will be coming up to ten years old now, I do remember the steering being very sluggish on that early EPAS version, thankfully they fixed it on the 982s. Can't believe 981s had the PDK gearing the wrong way around (push gear selector forward to change up wtf) and those awful steering wheel buttons rather than paddles if you didn't opt for the GT sport design steering wheel.
Back to the 982s and I think it is ridiculous if they are trying to sting people for GPFs despite the cars being under warranty. CRA 2015 might have something to say if you're left with a seven grand bill on a nearly new car, "not fit for purpose" would be my thinking but presume these 'settlements' would be subject to NDAs? Irrespective, rather underhanded either way.
Safest option for me would be be a pre 2019 pre GPF car also without sports chrono so no dynamic engine mounts to replace every six months...
trumpton7291 said:
There were a number of improvements over the old 981 model:
https://newsroom.porsche.com/dam/jcr:86a2a46d-fa29...
981s will be coming up to ten years old now, I do remember the steering being very sluggish on that early EPAS version, thankfully they fixed it on the 982s. Can't believe 981s had the PDK gearing the wrong way around (push gear selector forward to change up wtf) and those awful steering wheel buttons rather than paddles if you didn't opt for the GT sport design steering wheel.
Back to the 982s and I think it is ridiculous if they are trying to sting people for GPFs despite the cars being under warranty. CRA 2015 might have something to say if you're left with a seven grand bill on a nearly new car, "not fit for purpose" would be my thinking but presume these 'settlements' would be subject to NDAs? Irrespective, rather underhanded either way.
Safest option for me would be be a pre 2019 pre GPF car also without sports chrono so no dynamic engine mounts to replace every six months...
Umm well I have had 2 cars with the sports chrono pack both of them for longer than 6 months never had an issuehttps://newsroom.porsche.com/dam/jcr:86a2a46d-fa29...
981s will be coming up to ten years old now, I do remember the steering being very sluggish on that early EPAS version, thankfully they fixed it on the 982s. Can't believe 981s had the PDK gearing the wrong way around (push gear selector forward to change up wtf) and those awful steering wheel buttons rather than paddles if you didn't opt for the GT sport design steering wheel.
Back to the 982s and I think it is ridiculous if they are trying to sting people for GPFs despite the cars being under warranty. CRA 2015 might have something to say if you're left with a seven grand bill on a nearly new car, "not fit for purpose" would be my thinking but presume these 'settlements' would be subject to NDAs? Irrespective, rather underhanded either way.
Safest option for me would be be a pre 2019 pre GPF car also without sports chrono so no dynamic engine mounts to replace every six months...
Thanks all, my main concern is that it's simply not well known how/why the GPFs are blocking. The crucial point here is that should it block, the warranty doesn't cover it.
Without getting in to the 981 vs 718 debate, my deposit is being refunded by the OPC who were understanding and didn't argue, so I'll be looking for a 2018 pre GPF car.
Without getting in to the 981 vs 718 debate, my deposit is being refunded by the OPC who were understanding and didn't argue, so I'll be looking for a 2018 pre GPF car.
Edited by AndrewGP on Monday 29th January 13:36
AndrewGP said:
Thanks all, my main concern is that it's simply not well known how/why the GPFs are blocking. The crucial point here is that should it block, the warranty doesn't cover it.
Without getting in to the 981 vs 718 debate, my deposit is being refunded by the OPC who were understanding and didn't argue, so I'll be looking for a 2018 pre GPF car.
If you’re not happy you’ve done the right thing walking away! Good luck in your search . Without getting in to the 981 vs 718 debate, my deposit is being refunded by the OPC who were understanding and didn't argue, so I'll be looking for a 2018 pre GPF car.
Edited by AndrewGP on Monday 29th January 13:36
Be interesting to know how many cars on the forum have had the issue - to get an idea of the % cars that are having the problem?
trumpton7291 said:
Can't believe 981s had the PDK gearing the wrong way around (push gear selector forward to change up wtf)...
Same with the cruise control stalk... push forward to go forward faster, pull back to go slower.Very unintuitive, eh?
Oh, hang on, that actually sounds correct? Push the gear lever to go faster (change up), pull to go slower (change down).
Who knew! The Germans actually thought logically and "changed it up."
DJMC said:
Same with the cruise control stalk... push forward to go forward faster, pull back to go slower.
Very unintuitive, eh?
Oh, hang on, that actually sounds correct? Push the gear lever to go faster (change up), pull to go slower (change down).
Who knew! The Germans actually thought logically and "changed it up."
If you're slowing down, and therefore changing down, weight shifts forward - it's unintuitive to pull the lever back as everything else is going forward.Very unintuitive, eh?
Oh, hang on, that actually sounds correct? Push the gear lever to go faster (change up), pull to go slower (change down).
Who knew! The Germans actually thought logically and "changed it up."
The opposite for acceleration - weight transfers back, makes sense to pull the lever back to match.
john_1983 said:
If you're slowing down, and therefore changing down, weight shifts forward - it's unintuitive to pull the lever back as everything else is going forward.
The opposite for acceleration - weight transfers back, makes sense to pull the lever back to match.
Using the lever as opposed to the paddles makes no sense at all in either direction, you either have a manual car with a gear lever or a PDK with paddles.The opposite for acceleration - weight transfers back, makes sense to pull the lever back to match.
No idea who thought of those awful buttons on the wheel some cars have though.
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