Is the Speed 6 that bad after all?
Is the Speed 6 that bad after all?
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Hairy Cornflake

Original Poster:

644 posts

281 months

Wednesday 13th December 2006
quotequote all
An excerpt form the Telegraph 28/10/06

"Rich man, Porsche man

Last year, I wanted to buy a TVR, but was persuaded to buy a Porsche Boxster on the grounds of better safety and reliability. I wish I hadn't. The engine of my January 2000 Boxster S Tiptronic blew about two weeks ago. It has a full main dealer service history and had only 33,000 miles on the clock. In the year I've owned it, I've done everything I can to make sure it is well maintained. My first mechanical problem arose when huge plumes of white smoke came out of the exhaust as I accelerated away from a set of traffic lights. Up until that point, the engine temperature was normal and the oil level was fine.

I took it to a Porsche franchise, which replaced the air mass sensor (for £450) and said this would sort it out. It didn't. When I took it for its two-year service in February, I complained about the same repetitive problem. I told them that it wasn't merely a puff of smoke coming out but plumes, and I was also having to fill up the coolant tank much more often than I thought should be necessary. They told me the crankcase was cracked (I'm not sure what that really means) and subsequently charged about £1,500 for repairs, service and an MoT. The next day, I looked in the coolant tank and could still see a strange congealed substance, so I called to see if it had been checked. I was told it had and took their word that all was fine. The engine subsequently blew during a track day, during which I hadn't been pushing all that hard.

The Porsche franchise tells me it will cost £11,500 to rebuild or £13,000 to replace. Almost every Porsche specialist I've spoken to suspects the car already had either a porous or cracked head gasket. Why did the franchise not pick that up? I am not going to pay Porsche to fix it, so my other options are to have it rebuilt (for about £6,000 at a Porsche specialist) or to get hold of a secondhand engine and have it fitted for about £5,000. What would you do?"

Should have bought the TVR!!!!

HC

johnbear

1,568 posts

265 months

Wednesday 13th December 2006
quotequote all
Well a secondhand engine could have all manner of problems, the rebuilt at £6K seems the least painful. yikes

Once fixed would you keep it or does the current issue indicate poor maintenance?

I have heard that there is a problem with 2nd gear on boxsters that can really cost as well.

I'd post on the Porker threads.

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Wednesday 13th December 2006
quotequote all
johnbear said:
Well a secondhand engine could have all manner of problems, the rebuilt at £6K seems the least painful. yikes

Once fixed would you keep it or does the current issue indicate poor maintenance?

I have heard that there is a problem with 2nd gear on boxsters that can really cost as well.

I'd post on the Porker threads.


think he isnt asking for porsche advice !!! He is posting the example of a porsche that is worse than a TVR.