Thanks for your time and service my cousin served 2 terms in IRAC and is now injured and going through similar issues. i wish you the best of luck

you wont regret getting the car fixed as ive owned alot of fast cars and these cars give u such an amazing feel to drive and own.

you have some mechanical issues your ironing out, but you got the car at a really good deal for purchase price. 20k less then im paying and its got RUF equipment so behappy u got 25k in upgrades and its likely already a 500horse car (crank)

William

 

That is the thing, the car doesn't feel slow or sluggush at all, it will still sit you back in your seat and the day I had it between the dealer and body shop, I raced at carrera (something I only saw it from the side, but it was not the off-the line carrera). We were at a stop light and it was the perfect movie scence set up. I had my wife, big hair and all he has his girl big hair and all. We were on out way to the Angelika film center by SMU, I didn't think it was a race until the light turned green and he stomped on the gas and left a good second and a half before I did and I caught him and passed him like his e-brake was on. But by this time my wife was yelling at me to stop and my point was proven to him so the exhibition was over.

I did get some video of the engine bay open and from underneath the car, but I am not sure how much you can tell from it. My sone was under the car and when I revved it up to make the sound louder he bailed out scared he was going to die (sissy). I will get it posted here in a little bit. Thanks for your help and support.

 

The dealer has isolated it to the right cam bank but to go further wil require cracking it open. When first started up it is quite, then when it is warm it starts the rattle/knock it and it is LOUD, RUF does recognize the car. It was done before they had their shop open stateside and it is either the RTURBO 520 of the next one up it is hard to tell they have to get on the horn with germany and have them check their records to verify what system wsa done,

When you run the AC it is a little louder and it is more quite when the AC is off. This was definately some body's track car and they ran the crap out of it, then when the noise started most likely sold it off and forgot about it.

The mechanic the bank had look it over is not a Porsche mechanic he specializes in BMW and Mercedes so the problem started with him telling the bank the car was good to go, it was a used car and had rattles and "just little thing that needed to be fixed, he told the bank the rear spoiler was only a little sensor switch, the dealer says the whole spoiler assembly is screwed and needs to be replaced. The bottom line is the mechanic said it was good to go and it wasn't, it needed another 15-20 in repairs to be good to go. We have already spent almost 10k so we are half way there.

I hope the bank will step up and do the right thing, if they don't I might be forced to go covert on them and bring pressure from unexpected sources that are not conventional.

The ultimate blame still is on my shoulders though, I bought the car thinking I was getting a good deal and took the word of a mechanic I did not know, before I took it to a qualified Porsce mechanic. I should have had someone with me who could have helped in regards to my brain injury and who was looking out for me, not the car. My wife was busy with school and doesn't know anything about cars as well, she was just trying to make me happy and fulfill the promise she made to me and was happy to do it. She was just happy I was alive and walking again, can't fault her for being loyal and loving her husband. It was my fault this whole thing went down like this.

Like a freind said this is "a hobby" and not my primary means of transportation, so thank you to that freind who helped give me a reality check. I will most likely have to take out a mortgage on the house to get it fixed and do any other preventive type stuff that needs to be done while the engine is out, and then finally have the promise my wife fulfilled to me, with a semi-happy ending and a Porsche that runs like a scalded banshee, the dream I never thought I could have. I will keep everyone posted when RUF calls me to tell me what they think the problem is and how much it will be to get it done, hopefully in time for the MILE????????????

I made a mistake I can learn from, and hopefully help out someone who needs it in the future.

 

Hopefully the bank really steps up. Now that you know that the exhaust wasn't the issue, you should bring back the Ruf exhaust for them to put back onto the car. Since you found out it's a Ruf tuned car, it'll be a little more efficient and you'll get more out of the tune with the Ruf exhaust since it's less restrictive than the stocker. Hang in there, I know this is probably a very disheartening event, but once the wrinkles are all ironed out, this should be heck of a car. For what you paid for it, and finding out what you thought was a stock 996TT and turns out to be an RTurbo 520 or 550...Let's just say you found a diamond in the RUF even if it means you have to pay a little more to have it fixed, it'll probably bring you to total cost of what you'd have paid for a normal stock K16 car, but instead you've got a RUF!!!

 

sorry to hear about the motor-Good luck w/ it & thank you for putting your life on the line for our country

 

You are absolutely correct, I was a newbie knowing abolutely nothing about Porsche or RUF, the deeper I dug the more I discovered. Here I was talking with JOETWINT about mild upgrades to my car and it was already a monster. What would have happened if I test drove a new Porsche and compared them? I would have been dissapointed with at least the power part, not the rest though. The bank doesn't know about it either. The right thing to do is inform them about it. It would also be the right thing for them to at least split the repair bill with me. The money we have spent of this so far was going to go towards a proper wedding ceremony, my wife and I haven't had one yet. When I was injured the military would not let her have any say so in my care because we were not married, so we did the quickie type wedding on paper so she could handle the finances and my care. So that is where we were going to spend the almost 10 grand we have spent so far. It will take us some time, but we will get the engine fixed and the rear spoiler and then hopefully drive off into the sunset in our new found treasure. She will have her new diamond and I will have mine......

 

Sorry to hear about all your problems with the car.

As far as driving off into the sunset, just remember that the driving part is what matters most. You have been down before and worked hard to get through it and I know you can overcome this obstacle as well. I just returned from Iraq and AF (went as a contractor) I have to say that I really enjoyed supporting you guys on the front lines. It is a huge difference when you see first hand what you guys go through and makes you appreciate it so much more. When I was in AF, I stayed in Kandahar for 3 days and in the three days I was there, I watched 3 ramp ceremonies. For those of you that don't know what this is, it is when a military member is KIA and they are put on the back of a plane and sent home. There is nothing more eerie than standing out on a flight line while a comrade, friend, husband, and father is put on a plane in a box. Just keep remembering what you have gotten through and how far you made it. That will help you get through anything in life.

If you are ever up near STL, let me know. You and your wife will always be welcome in my home.

 

What happened with this guy's car?

 

I'm curious too. Has RUF dug into the engine to figure out what is going on?

 

Good question, I too am interested. Hopefully things aren't as bad as it may have sounded.

 

Wow, just read through all 7 pages and now I too am very curious as to what has gone on.

Also wanted to extend a Thank You, to you Jacob. When others idolize celebrities or athletes, I idolize people just like yourself! I also pray to my lucky stars that I someday will have a wife as loving and caring as yours (so far i am on the right track with the current GF )!

 

To let everyone know what is going on.

The Noise came from the intermediate Shaft and Thrust Bearing, they (RUF) found a lot of wear, Timing Chains were worn - also we replace the Bottom End, Bearings etc. The engine was thrashed on pretty hard. When it gets back in the car I will have a brand new engine. They at this point have it out and are in the process of putting it back together and should be done with it and have it back in the car in the next couple of weeks. I don't know how much the bill will be yet, but it looks like over 6 grand but not over 8 grand. I just want it back to enjoy it, as long as they do a good job on it and I don't have any follow on problems with it in the future that are tied associated with this I am fine with it. If I have any more problems with it, it will be hard to deal with. At least I am still alive to be able to deal with any problems at all. When I get the car back I will take some more pictures and some videos of me enjoying it and scaring the heck out of my wife....

 

what a bummer that this is going to cost between 6-8K But at least you'll have a good buttoned up Ruf built car!!! Keep us posted and continued success on your rehab.

 

Very nice to see the forum come together and help each other out

 

To get everyone up to date on this story; here is what has happened to thid point. I have had the car back for a couple of weeks, finally. Part of the delay was the time it took RUF to make sure the car was done correctly, they did a great job, and did everything they could to save me money. They went out of their way to help me, especially in a time like the recession we are in right now, this is huge. The rest of the time, I was in DC working. I finally broke out of DC to get to TX to pick up my car and WOW, was it worth the wait.

I did an autocross the day after I picked it up and it was a blast. That is more car than I could handle that day, I really need to get to a driving school so I can learn how to drive it properly. I love that car. I am so lucky to have it, and so lucky to have been blessed with a RUF 550 Turbo package installed in it when I bought it. I have had it up to 150 on the intestate between Dallas and El Paso, but no faster.

I have a drag race lined up with a Mustang Saleen and a 06 Corvette Z06 that I have to get my camcorder out of storage for. I know I should win, I want to go ahead and see what my car will do in, person. My son and I timed it 0-60, and it was 3.8 seconds, on pump gas, does that sound about right for this engine, or should it be faster?

I posted a few pictures of the autox I ran the day after I picked it up, in my garage section, on my profile page.

It really is true what they say; it really does matter how good a driver is; a slow car car beat a faster car with a better driver. There was a guy there in a four door lexus thrashing faster cars, he was just a better driver.

I will get some video posted of the match-up with the Vette and Stang, nothing everyone hasn't already seen, just video of me finally enjoying my dream car. Thanks to everyone who has had kind words and helped.

Any suggestions on what kind of touch screen satellite radio combo to install, with some 8" subs, in a box on the rear deck, along with switching out the stock speakers, with top of the line speakers in the stock locations? I am not looking for extreme bass or volume, just clear, precise and classy sound.

Thanks again to everyone who help with words of encouragement, advice and everything else.