Hi Everyone,
My name is Rob and I am the new owner of a 2012 Porsche Turbo S Cabriolet. It is my first Porsche and I can't begin to tell you how much I love this car. My previous cars have been several Gen 4 Vipers, Gen 2 Viper GTS, several Corvettes, Gt500KR Shelby, 80s Mustang Gts, and several 60s GTOs. I was looking for something different and special when looking for my "next" car. I drove quite a few cars to get here: Audi V10 Spyder R8, the New 991S, Nissan GT-R, Corvette ZR1, etc...All fine cars. The Turbo S had something different: a ferocious launch that absolutely blew my mind. I have never gone that fast, gripped the road better, and yet, still felt completely in control. It handles so beautifully, completely controlled in what I can only describe as being an engineering marvel. I love this car!

Are there any special considerations/instructions for breaking in the engine? I already know that the engine must be up to temperature prior to "getting on it". Any instructions for keeping the rpms at/below 2500rpms for the first 200 miles, 2500rpms for the second 200 miles, 3500rpms for the third 200 miles etc...? Also, when is the first oil change required? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, in advance.
Rob

 

Congrats on your first 911 Turbo!

I am sure there are many schools of thought on this. Some drive like hell when its brand new and others really baby it. For mine, I simply tried to stay away from keeping the same rpm for extended periods, tried to stay away from real short drives (like a few minutes) and didn't get on it too hard. After a few thousand miles I took her to the track and drove it like I stole it.

 

Congrats Rob! I love mine for sure and was sold on it for the same reasons you've listed. There's also nothing like the thrill of a cab when the weather is nice!

I'd take it easy on the throttle for the first 1200 miles or so, keeping it under 3500 RPMs. You really don't need to worry too much, but just drive it like you normally would in the city with plenty of stop and go to vary the engine speed.

As far as the oil change, mine is still under 5000 miles, so I haven't worried about it. My thoughts were to just wait for the maintenance light to come on.. anyone else here with suggestions?

 

Congrats Rob!!!
TurboS.Cab is on the ball. Don't worry too much about it but in general keep it to city type driving. Start stops are great, especially for a new clutch. Breaking/Breaks you don't have to worry about them at all, unlike many aftermarket ones where a serious bedding process must follow a new set of rotors/pads.

 

You'll certainly get a range of opinions about this..

From the owner's manual:

Break in hints for the first 2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers

Do not participate in motor racing events, sports driving schools, etc. during the first 2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.

Despite the most modern, high-precision manufacturing methods, the moving parts must still wear in with each other. This wearing-in occurs mainly in the first 2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.

Therefore:

f Make a habit of checking engine oil with every refueling, add if necessary.
f Preferably take longer trips.
f Avoid frequent cold starts with short-distance
driving whenever possible.
f Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
f Do not exceed maximum engine speed of 4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
f Do not run a cold engine at high rpm either in Neutral or in gear.
f Break in new tires by driving at moderate speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles/100 to 200 km. Longer braking distances must be an- ticipated.
f Do not let the engine labor, especially when driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in time (use the most favorable rpm range).
f Never lug the engine in high gear at low speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just during the break-in period.

If you are planning on keeping the car for an extended period, I'd more or less adhere to Porsche's suggestions. I'm used to M engines, which always require a 1200 break-in oil change. It doesn't seem that Porsche requires this, but I'd have a hard time not having the oil changed at 2000 miles.

Congratulations!

 

There's definitely a middle "happy ground" for break-in. If you're too gentle, you're not going to polish the cylinder walls and seat the rings correctly. If you're too rough, that might not be so great either. Based on what I've heard from all the Porsche techs I've talked to, I don't think exceeding 4200 for a long period is a good idea, but passing briefly above before a shift is a good chance to run through the rev range. As others have said, variation is the most important thing, and I'd add that a good amount of cylinder pressure is important as well, so gently laying on the throttle up through the revs helps too. Just don't go on the freeway on cruise control holding the same RPM for 20 minutes. And, always, don't lug (low rpms, high power)!

 

Drive the car as you wish, as long as the engine rev doesn't exceed 5000 rpm!

Congrats ..enjoy the ride!!

 

I just got a 2012 turbo S as well and decided to go the first 1k miles at under 4000k but made sure there was some spirited driving and varying rev-ranges. Now I open her up to around 5800 or so and shift. Car seems to be breaking in just fine.

 

I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to write me with your suggestions. This car is a whole new experience for me and I must say...I am loving every single minute of it. The Turbo S is just a dream come true for me after many years of hardwork. This car is a whole new level of performance and control, very different from the cars I have owned in the past. Wow, is it ever fun:-)
I am having a clear bra applied at the end of the week and I was wondering if any of you have opted for the paint sealer that many of the high end dealerships are pushing these days? It makes the finish super smooth, as though it just got clayed. I was just curious as to what the consensus is out there?

 

Clear bra is up to you, but I think paint sealants are a bit of a scam.