Is Porsche 911 is so reliable and simple, why a rep of maintenance nightmare?

[PushingMyLuck]

Is Porsche 911 is so reliable and simple, why a rep of maintenance nightmare? All cars are lumped into the same boat. BMW, Porsche, Audi. People only buy Hondas, and any Euro car is a nightmare to repair. Most people I know will not even go near a BMW. Porsche is on another level altogether.

So, if 911's are so reliable and will "run forever", then how did they get the reputation for always being in the shop and costing an arm and a leg to fix? And this reputation was when these cars were NEW. Now, some are 30 years old, so they must be even worse to maintain than they were in the 70s. Yet on the forum, they are dead simple and reliable bulletproof.

Where does the truth lie?

[RANDY P]

It's because the repair shops make them out to be nightmares. That's how they stay in business. Anything can sound scary coming from a mechanic.

it's all heresay.Any real owner of these air-cooled cars will tell you otherwise. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a high miles 911/ BMW / German that checked out over a high miles Honda.

rjp

PS My current BMW just clicked 150K and it's still like new.

[Noah930]

I think you're confusing things. Or at least confusing the concept of perspective.

This is a DIY site. Most of us are going to be the ones fixing things on our cars. So oil changes cost me the price of oil (likely purchased on sale) and the filter, not $150. Same with a lot of other wear (and age) items on these cars. And I can beat on the car in the canyons or on the track, and still expect it to be able to drive me to work the next day.

But if I had no mechanical aptitude or sympathy and had to pay a shop (or the dealership) to fix everything, things would be different. Or if I wasn't an enthusiast and instead just bought a new 911 because of the image, and were a checkbook mechanic, again I might be disappointed with the cost of ownership.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've never heard that 911s are a maintenance nightmare.

Where did you hear that?

I've heard BMWs are terrible, but only from people that own them.

[wildthing]

Why is this question posted in two different sub forums?

[McLovin]

I don't think the 911 has ever had a rep as a maintenance nightmare.

It's always been a pretty simple, robust car. Particularly from 78-89.

It might have a rep as an *expensive* car. Which would be true.

I've also had no problems with BMWs, which is my "second most owned" cars behind 911s. I've had BMWs ranging from 1973 to 2007, and they have all been pretty reliable. No where near reliable, simple or as well made as a 911, though.

(Although I do all the work on them myself, so that may skew my perception, since I guess over the years I've fixed dozens of things, mostly minor, on my cars and then forgotten about it by the next day. If for every little thing I had to take the car to the dealer or a shop, deal with getting a ride back or a loaner, getting my checkbook raped each time, etc. etc. all the little things might be more "memorable.")

[doug_porsche]

valve adjustment.

[Ferraripete]

I have owned a 911 or 930 since college (I am 47). the 911 is a bulletproof machine and to say they are nightmareish is laughable.

the air cooled machines are the near perfect sports car. sorry the op for being given bad info.

pcb

[RWebb]

the OP is getting info from a thread about buying new cars


yes, us here DIYers ain't go no lectronics in our cars

[Shuie]

They eat money, IMO. Probably because I buy old crappy project cars

[cockerpunk]

reliable, yes. never had a Porsche of any age leave me stranded.

but not inexpensive. and certainly not without things breaking. these cars tend to nickel and dime you to death, as well as the classic "while im in here" repairs ...

[5String43]

My '82 certainly was a nightmare. I spent many thousands getting it reliable but was never sure it was totally reliable. Towed several times, sometimes for major problems that cost thousands to put right, sometimes for minor ones that cost just a single thousand to fix. Having sold it last year, I do miss it, but it's a relief that it's gone. My wife, a smart lady, was so distrustful of the thing that she would not go anywhere in it with me. Its replacement is a new Mini Cooper S, which we both like a lot, which is probably faster, which handles as well, and which gets killer fuel economy. What's not to like? (Disclaimer: Apparently I still have the infection, as I'd dearly love to own a 2002, even though as a newly retired bloke, I don't see how I can afford a hobby car. Some people never learn.)

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'd be curious of your source, I rarely see the 911 referred to as a maintenance nightmare. They take more care than a Honda, but if (big if) properly maintained they will last a long time. I will take a Porsche over any other European make, in my experience they are better made and easier to work on.

Originally Posted by 5String43

My '82 certainly was a nightmare. I spent many thousands getting it reliable but was never sure it was totally reliable. Towed several times, sometimes for major problems that cost thousands to put right, sometimes for minor ones that cost just a single thousand to fix. Having sold it last year, I do miss it, but it's a relief that it's gone. My wife, a smart lady, was so distrustful of the thing that she would not go anywhere in it with me. Its replacement is a new Mini Cooper S, which we both like a lot, which is probably faster, which handles as well, and which gets killer fuel economy. What's not to like? (Disclaimer: Apparently I still have the infection, as I'd dearly love to own a 2002, even though as a newly retired bloke, I don't see how I can afford a hobby car. Some people never learn.)

Sounds like you bought a neglected car, and you should be blaming the previous owners for their lack of care. Good luck with the Mini, I had a 2002 Cooper S that I couldn't sell fast enough. At 80k it was quite literally falling apart, horribly made, and terrible to work on. I had records since new, I was replacing parts for the THIRD time at 80k. I would sell it when the warranty runs out.

[EMJ]

10 years, 199,850 miles. Drives better today than 10 years ago.
Daily driver for 9 years, put almost 100k on it. Engine never opened.
Regular tune-ups, brakes, oil changes; same clutch since I bought it. Starts right up and I take it everywhere.

[berettafan]

Checkwriters who just park it and stare and who have the local 'import' shop do their maintenance are doomed to a poor ownership experience.

[RWebb]

one thing to maintain it

another thing to get it to a state where all you have to do is to maintain it

The worst reliability nightmare is the bottom end on the engine. You rarely hear of one that goes more than 400,000 miles without a rebuild.

[PushingMyLuck]

Originally Posted by 5String43

My '82 certainly was a nightmare. I spent many thousands getting it reliable but was never sure it was totally reliable. Towed several times, sometimes for major problems that cost thousands to put right, sometimes for minor ones that cost just a single thousand to fix. Having sold it last year, I do miss it, but it's a relief that it's gone. My wife, a smart lady, was so distrustful of the thing that she would not go anywhere in it with me.

I think this is what the general population thinks Porsche ownership is (or any Euro Lux model) There's a good reason why people pay $30,000 for a Honda, yet think a used $10,000 BMW is a crazy reckless financial move.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I'd be curious of your source, I rarely see the 911 referred to as a maintenance nightmare. They take more care than a Honda, but if (big if) properly maintained they will last a long time. I will take a Porsche over any other European make, in my experience they are better made and easier to work on.
.

There is no source, per se, but I have never once heard people mention BMW, Porsche, Audi in the list of reliable sensible cars. In fact, the first reaction to those marquees is "Whoa, I hear those things cost like $8000 to fix a transmission" or "I hear you need to remove the engine to change a spark plug"...

[PushingMyLuck]

Originally Posted by Noah930

This is a DIY site. Most of us are going to be the ones fixing things on our cars.

Yes, I am capable of light DIY (brakes, fluids, window regulators, O2 sensors, filters, belts, plugs, radiators....)

But, that's another confusion I have.

On the one hand, these are very simple mechanical cars perfect for DIY..

On the other hand, it seems you need to remove the engine to practically do anything.
IMHO, this rules out a huge chunk of light driveway weekenders.
(And the gratuitous reply of "I rebuilt my entire engine in my gravel driveway with nothing but a socket set" ..........in 3.....2.....1......
really doesn't change the fact that most "weekend tune up" guys are simply not equipped to remove an entire engine.

[gearya]

You need 2 people and a trolley jack. You need the jack anyway.

What's so hard to work on?

[GG Allin]

I drove a 964 with 52,000 miles until it had 70,000. The only thing that car ever needed was a clutch. Drove it pretty hard too.