the car that save Porsche Co.

The problems inherit in the Boxter and 996 is confirmed with a similar era 911's 74-77 Porsche has never really acknowledged the flaws in the M96 engines, and has never disclosed the type and percentages of failures. Engine failures alone were not the sole reason for profit no doubt. For the unfortunate few who bought a used 911 or Boxter for $20-40k and had to dish out $10-15k for a new engine thats bad news. No Porsche did not offer goodwill repair neither.

http://www.devwebsphere.com/porsche/2006/08/engine_failed.html

Porsche did admit to RMS lol
http://www.rennteam.com/forum/thread/199157/RMS_Issue__does_Porsche_finally_agree/page1.html

Concern: Crankcases and bearing housing use for repairs/replacement parts.

Information:The parts department will be supplying modified crankcases and bearing housing. During repairs, if the crankcase is damaged, the crankcase and the bearing housing must be replaced together.

Reason:
Due to the crankcase modifications, the previously installed bearing housing can no longer be used. This applies for all engines in the model year 99 (X) up to following engine numbers:
M96/01 66 X 11005 or M96/02 68 X 05167

TSB Number 11A/0 of august 2003 "Engine - Modified Crankcase/Bearing Housing Usage"
http://www.porscheenginefailure.com/

Your GT3 is a different motor from the 996 NA as is the case with the Turbos. Now we are hearing of 997 failures ah oh...number-six cylinder bore failing

http://www.total911.com/news/466/

 

Boxsters rock! SpecBoxster is probably the fastest growing race class in the country right now. Oh, and notice they are ahead of the 911s in the pic.
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The car that "saved" Porsche was, is, and will always be the 911.
The 914, 924, 944, Boxster, Cayman will always be bottom of the Porsche offerings that will pull Porsche through hard times but the 911, archaic as it is, will always be the foundation. Savior.

 

I think the 911s are about to lap the Chicksters.....

 

As the driver of the third car in line, I can assure you that is not the case.

 

Whether it saved Porsche or not, I love my Boxster!

 

Rob, what are your thoughts on the running costs of Spec Boxster v. Spec Miata?

Dale

 

I think SpecBoxster is a fantastically economical way to race a Porsche, but its still a Porsche. Parts costs will still be more than many other makes. I have a lot of friends that race Spec Miata and to hear about tranmissions sourced from junk yards, brakes rotors for $50, etc. does make me a little envious with regards to operating costs. The one cost advantage the Boxster may have is in body damage. Running in PCA or NASA, the expectation is there is no rubbing. In Spec Miata bump drafting and leaning on each other is far more common.

Spec Miata is the best thing to race if you care more about racing than the car you are racing with. SpecBoxster is a great way to go racing and still really enjoy the vehicle as well as the competition.

 

Thanks. Well said. Do you know what the weight/horsepower difference is between the two?

Dale

 

SpecBoxster weighs 2650 and rwhp in Texas has us all coming in around 190. Other states seems to dyno lower than us, can't explain why.

Not sure what the Spec Miata weighs but I have heard of dyno pulls from 105 and all the way up to 125-130 at the wheels. With the Miatas, you can certainly buy horsepower and stay within the rules. Not so with SpecBoxster, at least not yet.

At MSR-Cresson on the 1.7 mile track a SB can turn in the low 1:22s while the SM are in the high 1:24s, given a talented driver in each.

 

I agree and have read that head of VW will do just that.

 

Incorrect. The 964 quality wasn't an issue by 91-94, the price was. Between the recession at the time and the high cost of production they had to charge a lot for the car (my cab is pretty much a base C2 and had a sticker of $78,000 in 1993 dollars!) Outside consultants (I believe Japaneese) were brought in and the first thing they tackled was the rear suspension of the 993 and some other things that allowed the 993 to be cheaper than the 964 to make, and allowed a reduction in retail price. The performance was not that much of an issue- a little smoother riding, a 6th gear and a little bit more power that's all.

The results of the consultation lead to a re-vamping of how the cars were made that really kicked in beginning with the boxster and 996, which is why the plastic content and thinner sheet metal were used. The cars were cheaper and performed better (including in emissions since no more air-cooled motors), but for many of us they became sports car appliances losing some/most/all of the porsche character...the market shows this in the lower resale of a comparable condition/mileage 1998 911 and 1999 911 for instance.

I had a cayenne S and was happy with it- we had to sell it however due to the need for a bigger car. I will say this- as much as I liked it, there was nothing more special about it than a V8 X5 BMW....I woudn't say there was another car similar to my 911s.

Finally, regarding the original question about which car saved Porshce the answer is.....NONE. Porsche is being digested by VW. It did not survive and was not saved.

 

I guess that would be the final answer.

I think it was only a matter of time, as all the other small independent marques (Aston, Jag, Ferrari, Lambo, Lotus, Alfa, Bentley, Rolls, Land Rover) were absorbed into large corporations some time ago.

 

Thanks!