Jan 2, 2005 6:00:19 AM
- Nuvolari 35
- Newbie
- Loc: Italy
- Posts: 3, Gallery
- Registered on: Jan 2, 2005
GT3 early problems
Dear all,
I am new to this Forum, and I really appreciate the fantastic competence of guys posting here!
Last spring I was delivered my very first Porsche, a brand-new arctic-silver 911 GT3 Mk.II (or "Flatwing") with black interiors, bucket seats, xenon headlamps, central console and black safety belts (red ones were out of stock...). I purchased it from the only official Porsche dealership in Milan (actually owned by Porsche A.G. itself).
I have not yet the chance to drive the "beast" on a track, but I count to do so next season (in the meanwhile I became a member of Porsche Club Italia).
I must also confess, I am getting somehow addicted to my "valkyrie", especially to the engine sound (I usually drive with the driver's window down... even now in winter!) and to the extremely sharp handling... astonishing!
But now let's came to the point. Unfortunately, since the beginning my "P-experience" was somehow affected by some problems, probably marginal, but very annoying in a 100K Euro + car. So, I am mow looking for additional feedback or advice from other GT3-guys within this Forum, to challenge answers I got from Porsche.
Here below I reported problems already FIXED by Porsche dealership:
1. At delivery time, internal plastic covers of the front flares were incorrectly assembled, so that when I completely turned the wheel, either fornt tire got in "soft" touch with the corresponding cover, making a worrying noise (but no damage at all).
2. After one month, horrorific metallic sounds came out of the front axle whenever front wheels encountered a small bump on the road. According to Porsche, the problem (fixed) was due to the incorrect assembly of the front anti-roll bar. (I am wondering, do Stuttgart's people know about quality-checks along production lines? Or should they take a visit at Maranello? - joking...)
Now, problems TO BE FIXED YET or issues Porsche cannot fix at all.
3. Sometimes, the front struts seem to "ping", especially during very slow turns (like when parking). Porsche Service preliminarily told me (at the phone) it may be due to sporty "uniball" suspension joints, which lack rubber found on other 911 models. Probably a marginal problem, but it is being investigated this month by Porsche.
4. Interiors are skweaking and rattling very often. My feelings are that skweaks originate from the central console and from the plastic frames of the seats, while rattles (due to resonances) may come from some dashboard components, from the window seals (both sides), and from the rear glass or even worse, from the rear wing (!) Skweaks occur in coorespondance with (even the smallest) road bumps, while rattles arise at medium speeds (around 80-100 mph), especially with full-open throttle, and tend to fade at higher speeds, regardless of road conditions. My concern is that in the first weeks of my ownership I could hardly notice any noise (indeed, initially I was very well-impressed by built quality, apart from the flare-covers...) I had my car already "visited" once by Porsche on this issue, but on that occasion everything sounded OK (since then, the situation got worse).
5. Brakes tend to skweak after some usage (although braking force seems to keep strong as ever). Porsche said it is a known problem, there are no fixes, but it is not affecting car's performance or reliability.
6. When idling, after a long and fast run, I hear a noise like "stones" rattling around in the cooling piping or in the engine (that's my feeling, not technical guessing!). Porsche said it is a known, non-fixable problem as well, and I was reassured again not to worry about.
7. My car has the bad habit to gather up dried-up leaves, plastic bags and other litter from the road and "store" it inside the front bumper intakes, just before heat exchangers (no protective grid is present - at least on my car). Rarely, such stuff may alternatively "feed" the front brake air ducts placed under car's body. It is very annoying to clean up, and I am wondering if any serious damage can occur if such stuff is not promptly removed.
Finally, a disappointing experience. Two weeks after I became a "Porscher", one of the front tires got a hole thanks to a screw some moron left on the road. I had my car towed to my dealership by the official Porsche Road Assistance, but the guy operating the tow, after having correctly uploaded the car (I attended the operation), downloaded the car in a hurry (I was NOT attending) and caused the "infamous" front plastics spoiler to be torn away... The point is that Porsche did not admitted its indirect fault (actually the tow belongs to a third party Porsche relies on) and so I was charged for a new spoiler replacement (little expense, OK, but I felt a little fooled...).
Anyway, despite the misfortunes above, I am very happy with my car, because it makes me feel as the "king" of the road and provides me with plenty of emotions... Indeed, doctors should prescribe "Porsche" instead of "Prozac": both are antidepressants and both brands start with "P"!
Thank you in advnace for any suggestion/advice/feedback you can provide to me! In the meanwhile, I wish you all a very Performing New Year! Wrooooom!
Bye
I am new to this Forum, and I really appreciate the fantastic competence of guys posting here!
Last spring I was delivered my very first Porsche, a brand-new arctic-silver 911 GT3 Mk.II (or "Flatwing") with black interiors, bucket seats, xenon headlamps, central console and black safety belts (red ones were out of stock...). I purchased it from the only official Porsche dealership in Milan (actually owned by Porsche A.G. itself).
I have not yet the chance to drive the "beast" on a track, but I count to do so next season (in the meanwhile I became a member of Porsche Club Italia).
I must also confess, I am getting somehow addicted to my "valkyrie", especially to the engine sound (I usually drive with the driver's window down... even now in winter!) and to the extremely sharp handling... astonishing!
But now let's came to the point. Unfortunately, since the beginning my "P-experience" was somehow affected by some problems, probably marginal, but very annoying in a 100K Euro + car. So, I am mow looking for additional feedback or advice from other GT3-guys within this Forum, to challenge answers I got from Porsche.
Here below I reported problems already FIXED by Porsche dealership:
1. At delivery time, internal plastic covers of the front flares were incorrectly assembled, so that when I completely turned the wheel, either fornt tire got in "soft" touch with the corresponding cover, making a worrying noise (but no damage at all).
2. After one month, horrorific metallic sounds came out of the front axle whenever front wheels encountered a small bump on the road. According to Porsche, the problem (fixed) was due to the incorrect assembly of the front anti-roll bar. (I am wondering, do Stuttgart's people know about quality-checks along production lines? Or should they take a visit at Maranello? - joking...)
Now, problems TO BE FIXED YET or issues Porsche cannot fix at all.
3. Sometimes, the front struts seem to "ping", especially during very slow turns (like when parking). Porsche Service preliminarily told me (at the phone) it may be due to sporty "uniball" suspension joints, which lack rubber found on other 911 models. Probably a marginal problem, but it is being investigated this month by Porsche.
4. Interiors are skweaking and rattling very often. My feelings are that skweaks originate from the central console and from the plastic frames of the seats, while rattles (due to resonances) may come from some dashboard components, from the window seals (both sides), and from the rear glass or even worse, from the rear wing (!) Skweaks occur in coorespondance with (even the smallest) road bumps, while rattles arise at medium speeds (around 80-100 mph), especially with full-open throttle, and tend to fade at higher speeds, regardless of road conditions. My concern is that in the first weeks of my ownership I could hardly notice any noise (indeed, initially I was very well-impressed by built quality, apart from the flare-covers...) I had my car already "visited" once by Porsche on this issue, but on that occasion everything sounded OK (since then, the situation got worse).
5. Brakes tend to skweak after some usage (although braking force seems to keep strong as ever). Porsche said it is a known problem, there are no fixes, but it is not affecting car's performance or reliability.
6. When idling, after a long and fast run, I hear a noise like "stones" rattling around in the cooling piping or in the engine (that's my feeling, not technical guessing!). Porsche said it is a known, non-fixable problem as well, and I was reassured again not to worry about.
7. My car has the bad habit to gather up dried-up leaves, plastic bags and other litter from the road and "store" it inside the front bumper intakes, just before heat exchangers (no protective grid is present - at least on my car). Rarely, such stuff may alternatively "feed" the front brake air ducts placed under car's body. It is very annoying to clean up, and I am wondering if any serious damage can occur if such stuff is not promptly removed.
Finally, a disappointing experience. Two weeks after I became a "Porscher", one of the front tires got a hole thanks to a screw some moron left on the road. I had my car towed to my dealership by the official Porsche Road Assistance, but the guy operating the tow, after having correctly uploaded the car (I attended the operation), downloaded the car in a hurry (I was NOT attending) and caused the "infamous" front plastics spoiler to be torn away... The point is that Porsche did not admitted its indirect fault (actually the tow belongs to a third party Porsche relies on) and so I was charged for a new spoiler replacement (little expense, OK, but I felt a little fooled...).
Anyway, despite the misfortunes above, I am very happy with my car, because it makes me feel as the "king" of the road and provides me with plenty of emotions... Indeed, doctors should prescribe "Porsche" instead of "Prozac": both are antidepressants and both brands start with "P"!
Thank you in advnace for any suggestion/advice/feedback you can provide to me! In the meanwhile, I wish you all a very Performing New Year! Wrooooom!
Bye