Porsche, expensive when they fail... - LotusTalk

Darth G-F · 06-19-2009, 01:31 PM

I have a friend with a 997 GT3 that blew his engine a couple weeks ago. Total cost? 65,000$can to have a new engine installed!!!

A guy that does lapping days with me blew the engine on his 987 BoxsterS. I don't know the cost yet. But my guess is in the 10-15000$can.

Porsches are great cars and usually reliable. But man when they fail...

Cars do break and engines do go pop. Yep, even the super reliable Gt3 engines can fail. The Elise is fun and fast and if it does happen to break, a new engine is about 2000$.

Something to consider for any track junkie.

dma550 · 06-19-2009, 01:36 PM

I agree! I had a 2.7L RS spec (less the injection) motor, 210hp, that cost 10K to rebuild at spec. Nothing fancy, no blueprinted parts, all off-the-shelf parts. I was in my early 20's, and the car was worth 12K tops!

I had considered a 2001 Boxster S instead of the Elise, they were a relative bargain in 2005/2006, but as they fell off warranty their prices plummeted for good reason.

larez2 · 06-19-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

I have a friend with a 997 GT3 that blew his engine a couple weeks ago. Total cost? 65,000$can to have a new engine installed!!!

A guy that does lapping days with me blew the engine on his 987 BoxsterS. I don't know the cost yet. But my guess is in the 10-15000$can.

Porsches are great cars and usually reliable. But man when they fail...

Cars do break and engines do go pop. Yep, even the super reliable Gt3 engines can fail. The Elise is fun and fast and if it does happen to break, a new engine is about 2000$.

Something to consider for any track junkie.

$65k CDN, wow that's a lot! As I recall the 997 GT3 engine is still based on the GT1 racecar bottom end, which is quite a bit different and generally considered more reliable than the M96 engine found on the 986 boxsters and 996 911's.

I thought a new Elise engines were running about $10k from the factory - not $2k. I suppose you get get a used one for cheaper, but i wouldn't think that cheap.

Darth G-F · 06-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larez2

$65k CDN, wow that's a lot! As I recall the 997 GT3 engine is still based on the GT1 racecar bottom end, which is quite a bit different and generally considered more reliable than the M96 engine found on the 986 boxsters and 996 911's.

I thought a new Elise engines were running about $10k from the factory - not $2k. I suppose you get get a used one for cheaper, but i wouldn't think that cheap.

You can get a 2zz for 2k$, but probably not from Lotus.

I was offered a used 2zz engine a year ago for 800$. In any case, a LOT cheaper than a GT3 engine.

elise/europa · 06-19-2009, 04:00 PM

Having money to have a Porsche don't seam that you have money to drive it on track. But a GT3 is a very nice car.

The Elise is not expensive to drive with his small tire, small brake, Toyota Tranny.

I wish that your friend have money to drive to broke it, if yes, the GT3 is probably a better car than the Elise.

dfa2100 · 06-19-2009, 04:05 PM

Speaking of Porsche being expensive when they fail...

How Porsche's VW Dream became a Nightmare

James A · 06-21-2009, 07:26 AM

Ah, but with a 7 that has a Ford Zetec a replacement engine is $200 from the wrecking yard, and that is for a good one!
You know those darn Elises are just too expensive to track.

Eclise · 06-21-2009, 07:34 AM

Eh, I just bought a Cayman and it is being delivered today. This post is making me tingle!

James A · 06-21-2009, 08:37 AM

Fear not Eclise, go have some fun! I have had an Elise, and now have the 7 and a GT3 and take them both out for fun all of the time. I have never had an issue with the Elise, 7, or GT3. I do know of one engine replacement on a 996 GT3 and it was just over 1/2 the cost of the case that Darth told us about. (still friggin expensive) And the engine in the 996 and 997 is pretty much the same GT1 based engine.

Inrev · 06-21-2009, 09:19 AM

How can Porsche not cover an 07 with a blown engine?

I'm having the same thoughts with my R8. It's a great performer but with such a high weight it's hard on components. I'm on my 3rd set of rotors after only 5 DE and my tires are taking a helluva beating too. It's a great performer but tracking such an expensive car is beyond my mental tolerance if something like the engine were to break or if God forbid I were to spin into a wall... I'm really thinking of getting a used elise and modding it for the track.

Inrev · 06-21-2009, 09:21 AM

Oh a bit off topic but I notice you're in Montreal/Quebec city and are both FI, who did the work on your cars? I'm in MTL but from QC city originally.

DrJ · 06-21-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inrev

How can Porsche not cover an 07 with a blown engine?

I'm having the same thoughts with my R8. It's a great performer but with such a high weight it's hard on components. I'm on my 3rd set of rotors after only 5 DE and my tires are taking a helluva beating too. It's a great performer but tracking such an expensive car is beyond my mental tolerance if something like the engine were to break or if God forbid I were to spin into a wall... I'm really thinking of getting a used elise and modding it for the track.

If it happened on a track, and was due to operator error then they would not cover it.

I also have a 997GT3 and my worry isn't that I will blow the motor, but that I will introduce it to a wall...

jasper · 06-21-2009, 10:21 AM

I'm having the same thoughts with my R8. It's a great performer but with such a high weight it's hard on components. I'm on my 3rd set of rotors after only 5 DE and my tires are taking a helluva beating too. It's a great performer but tracking such an expensive car is beyond my mental tolerance if something like the engine were to break or if God forbid I were to spin into a wall... I'm really thinking of getting a used elise and modding it for the track.[/quote]

I think a lot of people come to this conclusion - its nice to have a high performance street car, but tracking them takes some intestinal fortitude or deep pockets. The consumables alone are expensive, and god forbid a big off or blown engine. This is what makes the lotus attractive to me - easy on consumables and not that expensive - short of crunching the clam. A miata or Seven is even better in this regard. It comes back to the truism "its more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow" I think an R8 would make a great street car, but I'd be nervous as hell to get one going on the track.

Inrev · 06-21-2009, 01:14 PM

Jasper the R8 is really confidence inspiring, very flat and has tons of grip coming out of corners. It's a lot of fun on the track. That said I'm aiming for a Lotus. I kinda miss the open top fun too.

Darth G-F · 06-22-2009, 04:59 AM

Update:
It seems Porche will be picking up the tab on the 65k$ engine replacement job. Don't know the exact reasoning. But he is not paying. Still, makes me cringe at the thought of buying a used, out of warranty GT3.

The price for a 996 engine is 40,000$can according to my dealer. I don't know if it covers the labor and taxes. I doubt it. The 65k$ engine job was for engine/labor/taxes. The real cost for a new engine.

tomrev · 06-22-2009, 08:56 AM

After breaking rods twice in my 3.0l 914-6, I finally realized I was much closer to a Formula Ford engine wallet, than a Porsche wallet. Fantastic car that always surprised much more powerful cars, ( like an Elise!), but when I had the engine torn down, the whole garage floor was covered with parts, and when the Ford came apart, it could fit in a grocery cart. You need a pretty serious pile of cash to race a Porsche at any level. The pistons were around 1K each, in 1990 $$'s!

06-19-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Darth G-F Liberté! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,430	Porsche, expensive when they fail... I have a friend with a 997 GT3 that blew his engine a couple weeks ago. Total cost? 65,000$can to have a new engine installed!!! A guy that does lapping days with me blew the engine on his 987 BoxsterS. I don't know the cost yet. But my guess is in the 10-15000$can. Porsches are great cars and usually reliable. But man when they fail... Cars do break and engines do go pop. Yep, even the super reliable Gt3 engines can fail. The Elise is fun and fast and if it does happen to break, a new engine is about 2000$. Something to consider for any track junkie. __________________ 2006 Ronin Supercharged Lotus Elise 2008 BMW 328Xi Last edited by Darth G-F : 06-19-2009 at 02:11 PM.

06-19-2009, 01:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
dma550 Yahoo! Got my Rotus! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT, Shoreline area Posts: 1,184	I agree! I had a 2.7L RS spec (less the injection) motor, 210hp, that cost 10K to rebuild at spec. Nothing fancy, no blueprinted parts, all off-the-shelf parts. I was in my early 20's, and the car was worth 12K tops! I had considered a 2001 Boxster S instead of the Elise, they were a relative bargain in 2005/2006, but as they fell off warranty their prices plummeted for good reason. __________________ David Avery 05 Lotus Elise ~ Arctic Silver ~ BWR SC ~ Gray RACs ~ Larini SE 08 BMW 135i Stock visit Spyderclub.com

06-19-2009, 04:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
elise/europa Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: montreal Posts: 345	Having money to have a Porsche don't seam that you have money to drive it on track. But a GT3 is a very nice car. The Elise is not expensive to drive with his small tire, small brake, Toyota Tranny. I wish that your friend have money to drive to broke it, if yes, the GT3 is probably a better car than the Elise. __________________ ____________________________________ Elise 2006, white, Katana Europa 1969, green, H22A, 194 whp, 1550# CONFIGTECH.ca / Solidworks

06-19-2009, 04:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
dfa2100 Mors ab alto Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 1,040	Speaking of Porsche being expensive when they fail... How Porsche's VW Dream became a Nightmare __________________ Nightfall Blue, Biscuit Interior, Hardtop Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...

06-22-2009, 04:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
Darth G-F Liberté! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,430	Update: It seems Porche will be picking up the tab on the 65k$ engine replacement job. Don't know the exact reasoning. But he is not paying. Still, makes me cringe at the thought of buying a used, out of warranty GT3. The price for a 996 engine is 40,000$can according to my dealer. I don't know if it covers the labor and taxes. I doubt it. The 65k$ engine job was for engine/labor/taxes. The real cost for a new engine. __________________ 2006 Ronin Supercharged Lotus Elise 2008 BMW 328Xi

06-21-2009, 07:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
James A Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 1,490 Images: 1	Ah, but with a 7 that has a Ford Zetec a replacement engine is $200 from the wrecking yard, and that is for a good one! You know those darn Elises are just too expensive to track.

06-21-2009, 07:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Eclise Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,206	Eh, I just bought a Cayman and it is being delivered today. This post is making me tingle!

06-21-2009, 08:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
James A Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 1,490 Images: 1	Fear not Eclise, go have some fun! I have had an Elise, and now have the 7 and a GT3 and take them both out for fun all of the time. I have never had an issue with the Elise, 7, or GT3. I do know of one engine replacement on a 996 GT3 and it was just over 1/2 the cost of the case that Darth told us about. (still friggin expensive) And the engine in the 996 and 997 is pretty much the same GT1 based engine.

06-21-2009, 09:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Inrev Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 19	How can Porsche not cover an 07 with a blown engine? I'm having the same thoughts with my R8. It's a great performer but with such a high weight it's hard on components. I'm on my 3rd set of rotors after only 5 DE and my tires are taking a helluva beating too. It's a great performer but tracking such an expensive car is beyond my mental tolerance if something like the engine were to break or if God forbid I were to spin into a wall... I'm really thinking of getting a used elise and modding it for the track.

06-21-2009, 09:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Inrev Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 19	Oh a bit off topic but I notice you're in Montreal/Quebec city and are both FI, who did the work on your cars? I'm in MTL but from QC city originally.

06-21-2009, 10:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
jasper thread killer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 357	I'm having the same thoughts with my R8. It's a great performer but with such a high weight it's hard on components. I'm on my 3rd set of rotors after only 5 DE and my tires are taking a helluva beating too. It's a great performer but tracking such an expensive car is beyond my mental tolerance if something like the engine were to break or if God forbid I were to spin into a wall... I'm really thinking of getting a used elise and modding it for the track.[/quote] I think a lot of people come to this conclusion - its nice to have a high performance street car, but tracking them takes some intestinal fortitude or deep pockets. The consumables alone are expensive, and god forbid a big off or blown engine. This is what makes the lotus attractive to me - easy on consumables and not that expensive - short of crunching the clam. A miata or Seven is even better in this regard. It comes back to the truism "its more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow" I think an R8 would make a great street car, but I'd be nervous as hell to get one going on the track.

06-21-2009, 01:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Inrev Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 19	Jasper the R8 is really confidence inspiring, very flat and has tons of grip coming out of corners. It's a lot of fun on the track. That said I'm aiming for a Lotus. I kinda miss the open top fun too.

06-22-2009, 08:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
tomrev Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Traverse City, Mi. Posts: 87 Images: 10	After breaking rods twice in my 3.0l 914-6, I finally realized I was much closer to a Formula Ford engine wallet, than a Porsche wallet. Fantastic car that always surprised much more powerful cars, ( like an Elise!), but when I had the engine torn down, the whole garage floor was covered with parts, and when the Ford came apart, it could fit in a grocery cart. You need a pretty serious pile of cash to race a Porsche at any level. The pistons were around 1K each, in 1990 $$'s!

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