Porsche 911 carrera s cabriolet problems

Common Porsche 911 carrera s cabriolet problems

The Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, like any other car, has its fair share of common problems that owners have reported over the years. Here are some of the issues that have been identified:

• Exhaust Rattle Under Acceleration: Many older 911 models, including the Cabriolet, can experience failure of their catalytic converters and mufflers. The main exhaust header pipe leading to the cat converter can crack and fail, causing a rattle under acceleration. This can lead to partial blockages in the exhaust, which can cause the engine to not run or cause immense heat buildup, potentially leading to a car fire. The replacement parts from Porsche can be ridiculously expensive or not available, so an aftermarket exhaust may be a more sensible solution.

• IMS Bearing Failure: The IMS (Intermediate Shaft) bearing failure is a well-known issue in the Porsche community, affecting the early models of the 997 generation, including the Carrera S Cabriolet. This issue can result in a failed engine, which can cost up to £8,000 or more for a new unit. Warning signs include a blackened exhaust tip or a ticking sound at idle.

• Engine Abuse: Engine abuse can be a problem in Porsche 911s, particularly in the Gen 1 997 models. A decent specialist can check how many times the engine has been over-revved, as well as trace the cause of any misfires. Failed engines can result in a bill of £8,000 or more for a new unit. Gen 2 cars with direct injection engines are proving to be more reliable, but it's still important to check the condition of the radiators and air-conditioning condensers behind the front bumper, as they are vulnerable to damage and costly to replace.

• Cabriolet Top Malfunction: All cabriolet tops can experience issues at one time or another. These can vary from the degrading of the rear window to the unbalanced or lopsided opening and closing. The window is easy to replace, but the other issues usually require replacing the entire drive system or the bushings on some of the support arms, which can fail over time.

It's important to note that Porsche itself finished 15th out of the 32 manufacturers included in the What Car? Reliability Survey, putting it behind Audi but ahead of BMW and Jaguar. However, for a car of its performance and pedigree, the 911 Cabriolet is proving to be reliable, particularly in Gen 2 guise with its direct injection engines, or as a Gen 1 or Gen 2 Turbo. That's not to say that faults can't emerge, and it is important to understand that costs for parts and labor can be high due to the car’s specialist nature.

Is the Porsche 911 Carrera S reliable?

There are some issues with the Porsche 911, as with any vehicle. However, it's a generally dependable sports car choice, and some years are even better than classic cars like the Honda Civic.

Do Porsche 911 Carrera S hold their value?

The Porsche 911 doesn't depreciate like others

Owners can expect their 911 to lose only 9.3% of its original value after a five-year depreciation. The MSRP of a 911 base model is $114,400, which only increases based on options.

Are Porsche 911 high maintenance?

Yes, Porsches are expensive to maintain compared to most automakers' vehicles. Estimates from RepairPal show maintaining a Porsche costs an average of about 83% more than the industry average.

What is the life expectancy of a Porsche 911 engine?

Under the best circumstances, a Porsche could last you for 150,000 miles or around 10 years. With special care, many drivers can get even more than that out of their cars, even surpassing the 250,000-mile mark. Popular models that have been known to last 250,000 miles, include the Cayenne and the Porsche 911.