I have a hard time believing this. I don't doubt your account, but they replaced a whole faulty engine based on it's failure - and now they point at YOU about the clutch issue at 2500 - cars aren't even broken in at 2500 miles. How on earth ?!?!?!?

I'd be calling Porsche NA and talking to the powers that be saying "So Porsche, the engine failure is your problem, but the clutch is mine? How do you figure? Seems like you have a HUGE failure track record when it comes to my car - how about a little consideration here. Common sense dictates clutches DO NOT fail at 2500miles even at drivers education schools!"

 

It's obviously just because clutches are listed on the warranty exclusions as consumables and engines aren't. We've seen some Porsche dealers get pretty tacky about enforcing the fine print of the warranty exclusions (eg. mods or track time that can't possibly have caused the fault are still cited as reasons to deny claims)

Pretty bad behavior by the dealer though, there's no way bad driving can wreck a clutch in 2500 miles. If that was possible every single car that kids learn to drive stick on would be toast immediately.

 

Two points:

1 - A 997 clutch can last over 100k miles if you know how to use it.

2 - A 997 clutch can be decimated in 2500 miles (or even less) if you do not know how to use it.

I have seen many 997 owners fit point No. 2 even though they think they know how to operate a manual tranny.

 

I tell you, you have lemon ...Tell them you want new car mybe they will work some think with you or talk the lawyer...

 

It depends on the car. If you put a learner in a 997 it is very possible to have him destroy the clutch, perhaps the tranny, and axles in less than 2500 miles. A 997 is a performance car and its parts are optimized for performance and reliability under proper use, but not if abused. The clutch/flywheel/axles are not as robust as Toyota's, because they are lightened for performance sake.

Yes, people can destroy a 997 due to bad driving habits. I have seen it. I have driven pre-owned 996/997 with signs of abuse. If you know what to look for, you can spot it on the dealer's lot, by just slowly launching the car. it takes experience under your belt to feel that.

I sold a manual car recently. The car had the original clutch which was working perfectly. The buyer told me he knew how to drive stick. When he test drove the car I immediately concluded (and told him) that he would destroy the clutch in no time. He thanked me, vowed to take lessons and drove the car away.

 

I have 35K on my clutch with no issues. Your clutch is barely broken in. I'd get a second opinion at a reputable indie service shop. It’s sometimes better to get a second pair of eyes to look at the same problem.

 

I would try another dealer or call Porsche. I bought my car CPO from NJ with 19k miles and after a few thousand miles found that the clutch had a weird engaging issue but it didn't feel just like regular slipping. I took it in to my local dealer and they at first said the plate was just at the end of its life and I would have to pay for it. When I took it back few months later to have it replaced they found that the slave cylinder was actually shot. They replaced both the slave and clutch but the slave cylinder and labor was under warranty so I only had to pay for the clutch parts. Works great now.

 

Suppose I drop all the conditionals and don't question your driving.
Suppose I accept your view of the car as -- "a nightmare" .

1st --It's not commonly observed but not impossible ---
on every auto forum there will always be post examples of people who bought cars and faced problems right out of the gate.

If that's your current position --then ...

2) My advice would be to trade the car in immediately because every mile you drive --even if it's fixed --will remind you of the snags you faced with this particular "dream" car.

I do NOT believe that you will get a second Porsche like this one.

The dealership who sold you the car ought to work with you to hedge some of the cost . They have the time and ability to fix the car you currently have . It will cost you some money but cutting the loss asap sounds a lot better than having a continuous drone of headache, expense, inconvenience, and stress .
Every mile you drive on that car it is depreciating and it does not sound like you are enjoying any of this.

 

I could not posibly believe your second piont. I have owned standards forever. You would have to actually work at it to beat up a working and proper clutch. By work at it I mean have grandma drive it for the first time. Half down shift into turns, keep the clutch half engaged, and rev the crap (spinning the flywheel) out of it. You would have to sit for four hours balancing your car on the worst hill in SF and then open up your clutch and pour **** on it.

No offence, but even a bad driver cant ruin a clutch that quickly... And I am not a bad driver.

 

I did not say that you are a bad stick driver. I just said that there are plenty around who eat clutches for breakfast. And I assure you to toast a clutch does not take much.

 

my car has 50K miles on it, still stock clutch, there is some vibration on clutch pedal when i depress it but clutch is fine and regularly takes a hell lot of abuse as I auto-x and start car drag-racing style at 4K-6K rpm there.

so dealer sells you BS my friend. fight it, take second opinion or escalate to PCNA.

 

This is absurd. You have a bad clutch OR P is spec'ing the clutches such that they are functionally short lived. I have lived in SF, driven a manual there, and know exactly what ALL those hills are like. Yes, it is a consumable item but the question is was it you who did the "consuming"? You should make them tell you what the "normal" life expectancy of the clutch is (the consumption rate) and show that the install out of the factory was within manufacturing tolerance on the throwout bearing or whatever it is called these days (manufacturing defect). Of course they won't do either. Unless you can find a more reasonable dealer you are faced with negotiating a buy down on the replacement, swapping the car out, asking the regional tech to get involved (which would be my recommendation), or lawyering up (which isn't worth it and they know that).

 

I bought my car with 25k on it. Much to my surprise the clutch went at 31k. I freaked out thinking either:
A) the PO didn't know how to drive.
or even worse...
B) I didn't know how to drive.

I contacted the local PCA and got the local DE instructor to do a ride along with me. I had driven manual cars for years and got incredible longevity from clutches. But, I also knew this car has a lot more power than I've ever had and perhaps I was doing something wrong. I wasn't, the DE instructor assured me that there was no way I burned out a clutch in that amount of time.

Maybe you should take the car to a second dealership. We're lucky in the bay area to have several to choose from. Sell it if you're not happy. Every time I drive my car I come home and say "Honey, I love that car!" with a stupid grin on my face. Isn't that why you bought it.

 

Also, whats the deal w/ the bad cylinder issue. Could taking off from a start with diminished power not lead to extra wear on a clutch? More strain to take off to compensate for the loss in power? Just wondering if the two aren't connected?

 

I don't think the problem is the original poster's driving .
This car has other problems beyond the clutch .

No matter what --this car is not a fun thing for him .
Even if it wrre fixed ... the car will always leave doubts surrounding it.

I have never experienced this with a Porshe 997 but I have had a bad VW and one bad BMW. Trading in the car is not cheap .. but it is quite liberating .

Keeping the car and sitting in denial only adds more loss and headache onto the current situation .

In my opinion the best way out is trading up ... (like a Turbo ). He not only replaces the car but even upgrades ... but that's just my opinion.

It also gives him huge leverage with the dealership to make this work out for both of them. Of course .. this may not be possible financially so he has to work withinj his boundaries.