I've been tracking prices for awhile and trying to decide whether I should get a new M3 or a nice Porsche Certified 996TT. My heart is screaming 996TT, but my brain is saying be careful.

The 2nd gear "pop-out" issues are really starting to bother me. It seems there isn't a clear fix for the problem. Any advice on that? Also what other issues should I be aware of? I'm definitely planning on buying a lower mileage Porsche Approved Certified Preowned. I have a great relationship at the Porsche dealer here, so I feel very comfortable in that regard.

I really don't want to do any upgrades to the engine. The only thing I'd consider is an exhaust, and some suspension work + some cosmetic changes.

Just so you know, I'm planning on this being a long term deal, I'd like to get it and keep it for 10 years or more.

I've read a few posts on buying advice, but any additional thoughts any of you have would be greatly appreciated. Especially the 2nd gear issue. I've owned a couple of Porsches in the past, and I know they require some $ over time which is fine. I just don't want a money pit. Thanks.

 

Read the sticky on 2nd gear pop out issues. It will tell you everything you ever want to know about this problem. The TT is a solid car. Have a good PPI done and you're gold.

 

I guarantee you once you get exhaust, and some suspension work + some cosmetic changes you'll keep on going... That's the money pit!! You remind me of someone I met 4-years ago..... ME!!!

 

I just did the tranny.

There is a fix...but if you are in there, you have already spent the money.... Read the thread. Erik@carquip can educate you. I think some have issues and would have even if they were Walter Rohrl (perfect shifting) and others never have issues...is is a luck of the draw thing....

Had I not done elective stuff, my net liability was 100 deductibel and 65$ for some machining. I changed all of the other stuff out because the main labor was done.

Warranty for me was peace of mind. It is now paid for x 2...just my 2c. Now the car is with all new internals in that tranny and it shifts like the one they would have given Walter to test drive ...perfectly.

Great car. Even if you paid out of pocket, the prices on these cars allows for one "gotcha a year" and you're still ahead. Ferrari's.... BMW/MB's all have gotchas. RS6: trannys and suspensions....all of these cars have their dirtly laundry if you look into things. Part of the price you pay. In the big picture, the 996TT (and 997TT) are gems of solidity.

(Universal Warranty Corp., must be bought by you at purchase of a used car...cannot be added later....owned by GMAC..so as secure as these things go...be careful, there is another company with the same name in trouble).

JB

 

porsche replaced my trans three days. no probs.

 

I wouldnt be scared off by a small percentage of people who've had expensive problems with their tt's. I've owned mine since July 01, 32k miles and the only things I've ever had to replace/fix is the crappy stock battery($200), the ignition switch($300) and 5 sets of tires. I've been running the GIAC flash, fabspeed exhaust for 20k miles, and I've never had a single problem.

This is my 2nd pcar, and Im still of the belief that they're one of the most bulletproof motors out there.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I need to go read the whole sticky on the 2nd gear issue.

Do we know what % of the cars are affected by it? And does a Certified Preowned Warranty cover the cost to repair it? I know, I know, go read the 16 pages of posts.

 

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT A SURE THING.

You really need to educate yourself on this concept of a "Certified" car. This is really not as much protection as people think. From your initial post I felt your equate an M3 with a new car warranty to a 996TT with a cpo warranty. WRONG.

First, specifically with the 2nd gear: If they decide there was physical evidence of abuse it will not be covered. To add insult to injury, a porsche dealer will be charging you 150% of book time to take the tranny apart, inspect it, then fix it if PCNA decides anyone in the past abused the car! (Note that even if you bring it in the day after the selling porsche dealer CPOs the car and they find the pop out was due to abuse, PCNA will not cover it.)

Second, the cpo coverage by Porsche is light. Much lighter than BMWs CPOs, and far lighter than a new car warranty. Don't fall for the 'peace of mind' BS.

THird, with a CPO you are requried to bring it to a Porsche dealer- these bstds will bend you over with HIGHER than book time to dignose problems- then you are stuck with having to use them to fix it once - surpirse!- CPO doesnt cover it.

fourth, DO NOT think there is any value or protection in the actual 'certification' process. Do your own PPI. A CPO exists solely to help dealers make money- people pay $5-10k over private party, then people are forced to use Porsche dealers' service centers for all 'exploratory' work. Nothing make a dealer happier than having your car in pieces in the shop, and PCNA declines to repair it: instead of getting paid 50% of book time/labor rates by Porsche the dealer gets to charge you whatever they want. Can you say grab your ankles?

I love my TT and recommned it highly- reliable and trouble free for me, although I've only had it for a year.

Good Luck

A

 

Maxwell: You've got 32K miles on your car and have run thru FIVE SETS of tires? You must be tracking....surely that's not from just using it as a DD?? FIVE sets? If you bought the car new, that's a set every 6K miles? I don't ***** foot driving around, but I got about 9K out of one set of Michelin PS....what brand are you running?

 

Chuck, let me restate, I'm on my sixth set of rears. The Continentals that I used to run had very little tread to start with on the inside of the rear tires. Due to the aggressive camber/toe the tt has in the rear, the rears would wear out on the inside edge in 5k miles or so. I've switched to PS2's, so we'll see how they last.

Also, for a while, I had only lowering springs, which made the wear on the inside even worse. The Pss9's have corrected that. I also lost a few to nails/screws etc.

 

Now CPO covers bumper to bumper- exactly the same as a new car warranty. I believe this started at the start of Sept. It was done to help dealers move out cars in this economy. Unfortunately, it is not retro-active.

http://luxvelocity.typepad.com/luxve...e-enhance.html

 

Then, CPO is better than aftermarket.....prior to the change, I don't think it was.

My aftermarket covered things like nav/electric seats....

Go with a new CPO if the new thing is BtB...wish it was retroactive for all of the guys on this forum with CPO.

JB

 

Thanks for posting this. As of Aug 1.

Any new CPO will have that warranty.

I will reiterate, however, that a second gear pop out will still NOT be covered if they take the tranny apart and discover signs THEY CALL "abuse'. (THere is a detailed TSB with pictures, etc, on what they look for to make this 'we pay or you pay' call.) People need to remember that if a dealer CPOs the car today, and the pop-out issue happens tomorrow, Porsche America may still find 'old abuse'. The dealers' inspection is not a clean bill of health....

Otherwise I will agree that the CPO is now every bit as good as the best aftermarket warranty- since it is backed by PCNA.

A

 

The above is true, but a lot of people also have had their 2nd gear pop out replaced under warranty. My car (prior to my ownership) was covered under warranty and had the complete transmission replaced for pop out problem.

If you have a good relationship with the service department, it probably helps what can get covered.

 

fyi,
there is no place in san antonio to have performance/aftermarket work done to your car.
you will need to take the car to houston or austin. feel free to PM me if you are interested in my opinion. good luck